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Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer

Stuhr Building
Restored
  • New Formalist
  • Identity of Building/Site
  • History of Building/Site

Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer

View at dusk of the west side of the Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer, featuring the square geometry of the museum by Edward Durell Stone, centered on the round island and pond designed by Edward Durell Stone Jr.

Credit

Tom Kessler Photography, 2016

Site overview

The Edward Durell Stone-designed Stuhr Building is the visual anchor of the Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer’s 200 acre living history experience. The white concrete structure elegantly rises out of the surrounding prairie, a guidepost to the museum which rests at the intersections of US Highways 34 and 281. Ducks, geese and a great blue heron dip their heads into the moat encircling the building to forage for flora while goldfish slurp at the water's surface. Visitors cross a bridge over the water and continue towards large glass doors leading inside. The building’s interior features uninterrupted sight lines and repeats the exterior’s geometry and incorporation of water features. Following a $7 million capital campaign, the Stuhr Building — dubbed the Gem of the Prairie — was restored in 2014 and 2015, updating mechanical and electrical systems, instalingl climate controls, and returning the interior space to the architect’s original vision for the project. (Grand Island Nebraska Visitors Bureau website)

Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer

Water garden after rehabilitation, with tempered glass barriers that visually open up the space as originally intended, and monumental stair.

Credit

Tom Kessler Photography, 2015

Site overview

The Edward Durell Stone-designed Stuhr Building is the visual anchor of the Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer’s 200 acre living history experience. The white concrete structure elegantly rises out of the surrounding prairie, a guidepost to the museum which rests at the intersections of US Highways 34 and 281. Ducks, geese and a great blue heron dip their heads into the moat encircling the building to forage for flora while goldfish slurp at the water's surface. Visitors cross a bridge over the water and continue towards large glass doors leading inside. The building’s interior features uninterrupted sight lines and repeats the exterior’s geometry and incorporation of water features. Following a $7 million capital campaign, the Stuhr Building — dubbed the Gem of the Prairie — was restored in 2014 and 2015, updating mechanical and electrical systems, instalingl climate controls, and returning the interior space to the architect’s original vision for the project. (Grand Island Nebraska Visitors Bureau website)

Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer

Second floor galleries, exhibiting historic artifacts from Nebraska plains pioneers, with new LED light fixtures to match configuration of the originals.

Credit

Tom Kessler Photography, 2015

Site overview

The Edward Durell Stone-designed Stuhr Building is the visual anchor of the Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer’s 200 acre living history experience. The white concrete structure elegantly rises out of the surrounding prairie, a guidepost to the museum which rests at the intersections of US Highways 34 and 281. Ducks, geese and a great blue heron dip their heads into the moat encircling the building to forage for flora while goldfish slurp at the water's surface. Visitors cross a bridge over the water and continue towards large glass doors leading inside. The building’s interior features uninterrupted sight lines and repeats the exterior’s geometry and incorporation of water features. Following a $7 million capital campaign, the Stuhr Building — dubbed the Gem of the Prairie — was restored in 2014 and 2015, updating mechanical and electrical systems, instalingl climate controls, and returning the interior space to the architect’s original vision for the project. (Grand Island Nebraska Visitors Bureau website)

Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer

South east corner of the building at dusk from across the lake.

Credit

Tom Kessler Photography, 2016

Site overview

The Edward Durell Stone-designed Stuhr Building is the visual anchor of the Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer’s 200 acre living history experience. The white concrete structure elegantly rises out of the surrounding prairie, a guidepost to the museum which rests at the intersections of US Highways 34 and 281. Ducks, geese and a great blue heron dip their heads into the moat encircling the building to forage for flora while goldfish slurp at the water's surface. Visitors cross a bridge over the water and continue towards large glass doors leading inside. The building’s interior features uninterrupted sight lines and repeats the exterior’s geometry and incorporation of water features. Following a $7 million capital campaign, the Stuhr Building — dubbed the Gem of the Prairie — was restored in 2014 and 2015, updating mechanical and electrical systems, instalingl climate controls, and returning the interior space to the architect’s original vision for the project. (Grand Island Nebraska Visitors Bureau website)

Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer

South east corner of the building at dusk, featuring the new crabapples trees, part of the Edward Durell Stone Jr’s original design that were long gone and replanted in original locations as part of this project.

Credit

Tom Kessler Photography, 2016

Site overview

The Edward Durell Stone-designed Stuhr Building is the visual anchor of the Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer’s 200 acre living history experience. The white concrete structure elegantly rises out of the surrounding prairie, a guidepost to the museum which rests at the intersections of US Highways 34 and 281. Ducks, geese and a great blue heron dip their heads into the moat encircling the building to forage for flora while goldfish slurp at the water's surface. Visitors cross a bridge over the water and continue towards large glass doors leading inside. The building’s interior features uninterrupted sight lines and repeats the exterior’s geometry and incorporation of water features. Following a $7 million capital campaign, the Stuhr Building — dubbed the Gem of the Prairie — was restored in 2014 and 2015, updating mechanical and electrical systems, instalingl climate controls, and returning the interior space to the architect’s original vision for the project. (Grand Island Nebraska Visitors Bureau website)

Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer

View of the water garden as seen upon entering the building, featuring the restored terrazzo floors, pools with glass railing enclosures, original planters hanging from the ceiling that have been converted into light fixtures and curved grand staircase.

Credit

Tom Kessler Photography, 2015

Site overview

The Edward Durell Stone-designed Stuhr Building is the visual anchor of the Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer’s 200 acre living history experience. The white concrete structure elegantly rises out of the surrounding prairie, a guidepost to the museum which rests at the intersections of US Highways 34 and 281. Ducks, geese and a great blue heron dip their heads into the moat encircling the building to forage for flora while goldfish slurp at the water's surface. Visitors cross a bridge over the water and continue towards large glass doors leading inside. The building’s interior features uninterrupted sight lines and repeats the exterior’s geometry and incorporation of water features. Following a $7 million capital campaign, the Stuhr Building — dubbed the Gem of the Prairie — was restored in 2014 and 2015, updating mechanical and electrical systems, instalingl climate controls, and returning the interior space to the architect’s original vision for the project. (Grand Island Nebraska Visitors Bureau website)

Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer

North side of the island, with the Stuhr museum in the center.

Credit

Tom Kessler Photography, 2016

Site overview

The Edward Durell Stone-designed Stuhr Building is the visual anchor of the Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer’s 200 acre living history experience. The white concrete structure elegantly rises out of the surrounding prairie, a guidepost to the museum which rests at the intersections of US Highways 34 and 281. Ducks, geese and a great blue heron dip their heads into the moat encircling the building to forage for flora while goldfish slurp at the water's surface. Visitors cross a bridge over the water and continue towards large glass doors leading inside. The building’s interior features uninterrupted sight lines and repeats the exterior’s geometry and incorporation of water features. Following a $7 million capital campaign, the Stuhr Building — dubbed the Gem of the Prairie — was restored in 2014 and 2015, updating mechanical and electrical systems, instalingl climate controls, and returning the interior space to the architect’s original vision for the project. (Grand Island Nebraska Visitors Bureau website)

Awards

Design

Citation of Merit

Civic

2017

The jury awards a Citation of Merit for the conservation of the Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer designed by Edward Durell Stone. The open plains provided Stone and his son, landscape architect Edward Durell Stone, Jr., with a blank canvas resulting in a quintessential example of New Formalism that became one of Stone’s most unique works in terms of setting and integration between building and landscape.

“the project showed sensitivity to the original concept, restoration of significant features and materials while balancing new interventions that were needed to make the building and site more efficient and useful for the present day.”

 

“the museum is an important example of regional modernism and played a significant part in the progressive history of Grand Island, Nebraska.”

- Barbara Campagna, FAIA, LEED AP BC+C ; Theodore Prudon, FAIA
Client

Staff and Board, Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer

Restoration Team

BVH Architecture (Restoration Architect) | Dan Worth, AIA – Principle in Charge, Greg Munn, AIA

Primary classification

Education (EDC)

Terms of protection


Designations


How to Visit

Open to the public

Location

3133 US-34
Grand Island , NE, 68801

Country

US
More visitation information

Case Study House No. 21

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View at dusk of the west side of the Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer, featuring the square geometry of the museum by Edward Durell Stone, centered on the round island and pond designed by Edward Durell Stone Jr.

Credit:

Tom Kessler Photography, 2016

Water garden after rehabilitation, with tempered glass barriers that visually open up the space as originally intended, and monumental stair.

Credit:

Tom Kessler Photography, 2015

Second floor galleries, exhibiting historic artifacts from Nebraska plains pioneers, with new LED light fixtures to match configuration of the originals.

Credit:

Tom Kessler Photography, 2015

South east corner of the building at dusk from across the lake.

Credit:

Tom Kessler Photography, 2016

South east corner of the building at dusk, featuring the new crabapples trees, part of the Edward Durell Stone Jr’s original design that were long gone and replanted in original locations as part of this project.

Credit:

Tom Kessler Photography, 2016

View of the water garden as seen upon entering the building, featuring the restored terrazzo floors, pools with glass railing enclosures, original planters hanging from the ceiling that have been converted into light fixtures and curved grand staircase.

Credit:

Tom Kessler Photography, 2015

North side of the island, with the Stuhr museum in the center.

Credit:

Tom Kessler Photography, 2016

Designer(s)

Edward Durell Stone

Architect

Nationality

American

Other designers

Edward Durell Stone Jr.

Related News

Celebrating the Best of Modernism

Newsletter, Modernism in America

October 12, 2017

Mid Century Modern in the Midwest

Newsletter, Modernism in America

November 30, 2017
Completion

1967

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