Give to Lincoln Day: Group seeks to save Pershing Auditorium mural

The group needs to raise about $250,000 by Wednesday

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Give to Lincoln Day culminated on Thursday with one final push for donations.

One organization is looking for donations to save the 7-decade-old mural on the old Pershing Auditorium on Centennial Mall near M Street.

The mural is scheduled to be demolished with the building in early September. A committee to save the mural was created to save the artwork and preserve a piece of Nebraska history.

But that won’t be cheap. It’s going to take around $1 million just to take the mural down.  The group has until Wednesday to get that much raised.

But it is close to that goal. Chairwoman Liz Shea-McCoy said they need only around $250,000.

Shea-McCoy explained why people should consider donating to save the mural.

“The mural reflects Nebraska, our culture, our topography,” she said. “It was made for Nebraska. It’s part of our history, and it’s worth preserving.”

To donate during the Give to Lincoln campaign, visit the Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation page on the Give to Lincoln website.

If you ran out of time to donate during the campaign, mail a check to the Nebraska State Historical Foundation (128 North 13th Street, Suite 1010, Lincoln, NE 68508) and write “Pershing Mural” in the memo line.

You can also go to the Pershing Mural page on the NSHSF website and donate online.