Crane Quest, Day 4a -- In Town in Kearney NE

Trip: Crane Quest
Cold in Kearney NE, by Brian:  27 Mar 2010 -- We spent a bitterly cold day with our six crane-seeking traveling companions who met us in Kearney.  Grey clouds, howling north wind, predicted rain -- a perfect day to explore town.  

Museum of Nebraska Art:  We all wanted to see MONA -- Museum of Nebraska Art.  So we trooped downtown to check out the Central Avenue area and MONA.  MONA is located in the old post office, and it's as nice an art venue as you are going to find -- not just in the Midwest, but in many far-more populated areas of the country.  And they've done a lovely job in presenting the art in there. MONA is at 2401 Central Avenue, surrounded by nicely textured, herring-bone brick streets.
MONA (Museum of Nebraska Art) on Central Ave in Kearney NE
MONA (Museum of Nebraska Art) on Central Ave in Kearney NE
The interior, thanks to the Postal Service of that era when they used marble, is beautiful.  We spent two hours in MONA, enjoying the collection of art that ranges from Audubon and Catlin to modern accomplished Nebraska artists.
MONA (Museum of Nebraska Art) Interior Gallery 1
MONA (Museum of Nebraska Art) Interior Gallery 1
MONA (Museum of Nebraska Art) Interior Gallery 2
MONA (Museum of Nebraska Art) Interior Gallery 2
Inlaid Marble in MONA (Museum of Nebraska Art) Floor
Inlaid Marble in MONA (Museum of Nebraska Art) Floor
MONA (Museum of Nebraska Art) Stair Detail
MONA (Museum of Nebraska Art) Stair Detail
1844 George Catlin Lithograph
1844 George Catlin Lithograph
John James Audubon Crane Painting
John James Audubon Crane Painting
Molly Anderson Quilted Bird Nest
Molly Anderson Quilted Bird Nest
Michael Forsberg Prairie Bobcat Photo
Michael Forsberg Prairie Bobcat Photo
1925 Thomas Hart Benton Watercolor
1925 Thomas Hart Benton Watercolor
After MONA, we walked along Central Avenue, with all its late 1800 and early 1900 buildings.  They've done a great job restoring the facades and giving the downtown area a nice hometown feel.
French Roof Cafe in Kearney NE
French Roof Cafe in Kearney NE
Dentistry As Theatre in Kearney NE
Dentistry As Theatre in Kearney NE
Coffee Shop Entrance in Kearney NE
Coffee Shop Entrance in Kearney NE
Henline Building 1889 in Kearney NE
Henline Building 1889 in Kearney NE
Red Brick Corner Building in Kearney NE
Red Brick Corner Building in Kearney NE
After walking Central Avenue, we popped into an antique shop with an interesting and entertaining collection.
Antique Store Window in Kearney NE
Antique Store Window in Kearney NE
Antique Pins
Antique Pins
Indispensible Blue Hair Wig
Indispensible Blue Hair Wig
Bedtime Girl
Bedtime Girl
Carnival Glass
Carnival Glass
Antique Sun Hat for the Sultry
Antique Sun Hat for the Sultry
We ate lunch at the Alley Rose restaurant -- highly recommended.  They have a lunch buffet of high-quality items, including some of their specialty spud dishes, and a very attractive lunch menu that included all the prime rib I could possibly eat for $10.  Add another buck and get their amazing salad bar.  And they have a good selection of beer.  Their dinner menu looked very inviting as well. 

After lunch we headed for the motel for a break from the icy wind and to start layering up for the evening in the blind at the Rowe Sanctuary to see the cranes return to the river after gorging on corn all day (Post Crane Quest Day 4b). 

Brian, with Photos by Brian. Text and Photos copyright Goin Mobyle LLC 2010.

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