Downtown in Lincoln in Lancaster County, Nebraska — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

The Protecting Hand Sculpture

Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, July 23, 2022

1. The Protecting Hand Sculpture Marker

Inscription. The Protecting Hand sculpture, created by artist Lawrence Tenney Stevens, was dedicated on October 6, 1955 on the façade of the late Woodmen Accident and Life Company building located at 1526 K Street. The sculpture weighs in at roughly 200 tons and was sculpted out of the same Indiana limestone used to construct the Nebraska State Capitol. The artwork was sculpted to represent support of the family circle by nestling six family members into one palm.

In 2007, the building was purchased by the State of Nebraska and was later dedicated as the First Nebraska Administrative Building, to honor the First Nebraska Infantry Regiment that fought heroically in the Civil War. This plaque was dedicated in 2021 with the support from Assurity Life Insurance.

Pete Ricketts Governor
Jason Jackson Administrative Services Director
Tom Henning President & CEO Assurity Life

Erected 2021 by Assurity Life Insurance.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is October 6, 1955.

Location. 40° 48.56′ N, 96° 41.94′ W. Marker is in Lincoln, Nebraska, in Lancaster County. It is in Downtown. Marker is on K Street west of South 16th Street, on the left when

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traveling east. Marker is on the south side of the Nebraska Department of Insurance building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1526 K Street, Lincoln NE 68508, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Chief Standing Bear (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Chief Standing Bear (about 700 feet away); The Ferguson House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Nebraska Statehood Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Nebraska Governor's Residence (approx. 0.2 miles away); Rediscovering The Rear Wing (approx. 0.2 miles away); Mari Sandoz in Lincoln (approx. ¼ mile away); County - City Building (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lincoln.

Also see . . . Smithsonian Listing. Excerpt:

Description: Family grouping of six full-length figures nestled against the palm of a hand is installed on the façade of the Woodmen Accident and Life Company. The parents stand in the center, the mother holding a baby in her proper left arm. Her proper right arm is around a little girl and the father's proper left arm is around a little boy. A younger girl stands in the center. The figures are mostly nude except for drapery.

(Submitted on December 8, 2022, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan.)

Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, July 23, 2022

2. The Protecting Hand Sculpture Marker

Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, July 23, 2022

3. The Protecting Hand Sculpture Marker

The Protecting Hand image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, July 23, 2022

4. The Protecting Hand

A portion of the sculpture is obscured by a tree.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 8, 2022, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. This page has been viewed 292 times since then and 73 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 8, 2022, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.