Hours for the 2005 Season
May 1 - September 25
Mon-Sat: 9 am - 5pm
Sun: 1 pm - 5 pm
Adults $3.00
Children under 16 free
Family $8.00
Group tours available
Monthly Exhibits
May
1 Opening Day 1-5
1-28 War Mothers of Maxwell
1-31 Historic Preservation Mo.
June
11 Ethnic Heritage Day 9-4
1-25 Weaver Brothers
July
TBA
August
1-27 Mrs. Neville’s Closet
September
1-29 Tenting Tonight;
Nebraska and the Civil War
November
11 Veteran’s Day
Lincoln County Historical
Society Museum Preserving a community
By Sara Aden
Editors Note: In lieu of our regular “History
of North Platte” column we are pleased to present this article written
by Sara Aden, Assitant Director for the North Platte Library. Our history,
culture and traditions play an important part in the way we define ourselves,
not only as a people, but as a community. It’s easy to forget the
role that the Historical Society plays in keeping our history alive for
future generations. The North Platte Traveler encourages you to support
the Lincoln County Historical Society by becoming a member.
Curator: Chadwick Boehlke
Telephone: 308-532-5640
Address: 2403 N. Buffalo Ave,
North Platte, NE 69101
Email: lincomuseum@hamilton.net
North Platte is a community filled with stories, laughter, hardships,
and tears. What community isn't? This is the stuff that makes history
and every community has a history. Back in 1932 several citizens realized
that it was important to preserve the history of this community. It was
in that year that The Lincoln County Historical Society and Pioneer's
Association was formed. The main goal of the society was to "keep
alive the history, preserve the legends and traditions and honor the early
settlers of Lincoln County, Nebraska".
Membership in the original society was open to residents of Lincoln County
for twenty-five years or more. Annual dues were .25 cents, meager by today's
dollar. The Charter members of the Society were familiar family names
in the county including McDonald, Tout, Bare, Hinman, Wyman, Prosser,
Ericsson, Peckham, Macomber, Patterson, Lowe, Salisbury, Kramph, Wheeler,
Hendy, Yost, Fox, Johnson, and many more. Many descendents of the charter
members and pioneers still call Lincoln County their home. What was their
vision?
In the beginning, the Society held an annual picnic where pioneer friendships
were renewed and stories of old times were told. The group had a museum
which was housed in a room at the courthouse. The Society secretary was
custodian for the collection which contained articles relating to historical
Western Nebraska including Lincoln County, formerly known as Shorter County.
After the Civil War, the county was renamed in honor of President Lincoln
by the Nebraska Legislature in 1866. Lincoln had been assasinated the
previous year. In 1867, the county seat was moved from Cottonwood Springs
to North Platte. In 1871, the county was redefined to its present boundaries.
On July 4, 1976, Lincoln County gave itself a new museum for the country's
Bicentennial. The Lincoln County Historical Society built the 10,000 square
foot facility costing approximately $75,000 with a county mill levy, revenue
sharing funds, and many kinds of donations and volunteer labor. The large
eagle standing tall at the museum entrance was originally part of the
old First National Bank building, formerly located at Sixth and Dewey.
Since 1976, the museum has grown into a small village, complete with a
school, general store, pony express station, depot, church, library, harness
and leather shop, a millinery shop, and more. The latest edition will
be a working blacksmith shop opening for visitors next season. The museum
is seeking volunteers interested in making the village come alive for
special occasions and limited summer weekends. If you are interested in
dressing the part of a pioneer and being a village actor, please contact
the museum director at 308-534-5640.
Today, the Lincoln County Historical Society, funds a majority of the
salary and operational costs of the Lincoln County Museum and Historical
Village with a goal of being self supporting in the future. How will future
generations remember us? What displays and artifacts of today should be
preserved? It's up to us to ensure that our children and grand children
appreciate their past.
Find out how your community is preserved by bringing a friend and touring
one of North Platte's greatest attractions. Museum admission is reasonable
at under $5 per person. Current Society members may present their valid
membership card in lieu of paying their admission fee during any museum
visit. Volunteering your time at the museum is always welcomed by the
Museum Director and Society Board. However, the best way to support the
museum is to join the society. Today, membership is open to anyone. Ten
dollars per year is the current going rate for an individual membership.
The society offers eight membership classes so you can choose a level
that fits your budget and your commitment to preserving our community.
Even if you are not from Lincoln County Nebraska, you will find that the
museum and village is a hearty dose of all things historical and cultural.
If you can't make it to North Platte, visit and support your local museums.
Who knows, you might even learn something about your community.
Note: The Lincoln County Museum & Historical Village is
open for regular public hours May through September. See a complete listing
of dates and times on page 4 sidebar. Please call Chad Boehlke, Museum
Director at 308-534-5640 to arrange a tour anytime of the year.
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