Seeming to be the stepchild of the larger city of Omaha to the west across the Missouri River, Council Bluffs has undergone a marketing campaign to differentiate itself by being unlike anywhere else — but is that statement true?
Council Bluffs: Unlike Anywhere Else?
In addition to the official Internet web site of the convention and visitors bureau of the city, reminders that Council Bluffs is unlike anywhere else are small monuments which are found in different places around the city in the shape of a circle with a corner and the letters un cut out.
Pottawattamie Arts, Culture & Entertainment has partnered with the City of Council Bluffs to place ten art installations throughout Council Bluffs to celebrate how Council Bluffs is “Unlike anywhere else. On purpose.”
Furthermore, each sculpture is unique because an artist decorated it in his or her own way. For example, the sculpture which is featured in the above photograph is called Beauty of Diversity by Jonathan Riggle as part of the UNSculpture Project.
The blue sculpture in front of the Union Pacific Railroad Museum which is featured in the above photograph is called Van Gogh in the Bluffs by Richard Harrison as part of the UNSculpture Project.
Final Boarding Call
I have to admit that what was done in Council Bluffs is rather unique — but I believe there are more than ten UNSculptures. For example, the red UNSculpture which is featured at the top of this article is located at the Lewis and Clark Memorial Park.
Finding all of the UNSculptures could be like a scavenger hunt — if you are into doing that — unless you peek here to find out where each of them are located before visiting them…
…but I do wonder if the official soft drink of Council Bluffs is 7UP, as it was once called the Uncola.
Does anyone even drink 7UP anymore? I cannot remember the last time I drank one…
All photographs ©2023 by Brian Cohen.
