The Celestial Mechanic (buried spaceman sculpture, WSU campus)

Buried in a Kansas pasture for years to rust convincingly, then installed half-excavated under a glass dome on the WSU campus, Randy Regier's 2018 sculpture depicts a fictional fallen astronaut assembled from a 1951 Kelvinator refrigerator torso, a jukebox selector helmet, an airplane nose cone pelvis, and chrome cookware limbs sourced from thrift stores. The dome can be lifted, and in September 2024 Regier literally opened it on-site to walk visitors through his process — the piece is still out there, still dirty, still glinting under glass. WSU's own "15 little-known facts" listicle warns it's easy to miss, which is exactly what makes finding it feel like a secret handshake.

The move: Walk the WSU campus to the south side of Ahlberg Hall and crouch down to peer through the dome at the rust-patinaed spaceman, then see how long it takes your date to spot the small dove riveted into his orange belly — Regier hid it there as a quiet nod to his Mennonite faith.

• 📍 Wichita
• 💸 $$
• ⚡ Up for anything
• 🌗 Indoors

Where: 1845 Fairmount St, Wichita, KS 67260 (south of Ahlberg Hall, near the Geology Building)

Hours: Added 2026-06-09 — confirm current hours before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Proof: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4

Verified 2026-06-09.