Journey Museum announces opening of ‘Where Eagles Soar’

The Journey Museum is pleased to announce the opening of an exciting new exhibition, “Where Eagles Soar,” on October 11, 2024. The family friendly exhibition is free to the public in the Adelstein Gallery through May 25th, 2025. The exhibition features over twenty paintings that Lakota artist S.D. Nelson created to illustrate the book Wings of an Eagle. Written by Billy Mills and Janell Brown, the book tells the story of Billy Mills, a ground breaking Oglala Lakota athlete and the only American to win an Olympic Gold medal in the 10,000 meters.

The Journey Museum is also offering free admission to the entire museum from October 11-13. This is a welcome to all in our community to enjoy the museum and learn about the unique art, history, cultures, and science of the Black Hills area.

Wings of an Eagle has received widespread acclaim:

“Mills and Bowman’s language is at turns inspiring and haunting. Nelson’s exquisite artwork (done in liquid acrylic on Masonite panel) is reminiscent of the work of Raúl Colón, in that his creamy colors blend and mix, creating illustrations that seem to have been dipped in light. Extensive back matter includes more about Mills, as well as an explanation of Nelson’s “contemporary interpretation of Lakota ledger-style artwork.” The efforts of Mills, Bowman, and Nelson result in a gold medal-worthy picture book.” — Jen Forbus, freelance reviewer

Billy Mills, also known by his Lakota name Tamakhóčhe Theȟíla, is best known for winning a gold medal in the 10,000- meter run at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. His victory is considered one of the greatest upsets in Olympic history, as Mills was a relatively unknown runner at the time and the first (and only) American to win gold in the 10,000 meters. Born and raised on the Pine Ridge Reservation, Mills overcame significant personal challenges, including poverty and the loss of both parents at a young age. A U.S. Marine Corps officer at the time of his Olympic triumph, Mills has since become a prominent advocate for Native American rights and youth sports programs. His life story was dramatized in the 1983 film Running Brave, and he continues to inspire generations with his message of perseverance and hope.

S.D. Nelson is an award-winning Lakota artist and author who has illustrated over 15 books. His work often depicts the imagery of the open prairies where S.D. spent his childhood summers, with expansive skies, towering clouds, and endless seas of grasslands. Combining timeless Lakota stories with contemporary art, his books have captivated audiences both young and old for over twenty years. A member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, spent his childhood summers on the Standing Rock Reservation. During this time, his mother told him the traditional Lakota stories that would become the subjects of his books. S.D. spent 26 years as a teacher in the Flagstaff public schools before his first book Gift Horse, a Lakota Story, was published in 1999.

His books have received the American Indian Library Association Honor Book Award, American Library Association Notable Book Award, and Western Writers of America Spur Storyteller Award and has been exhibited at the Heard Museum, the National Museum of the American Indian, and the Coconino Center for the Arts.

The Journey Museum’s mission is to preserve, educate and explore the heritage, cultures, and environment of the Black Hills region to understand our past, enrich our present and sustain our future.

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