Celebrate the 4th of July the Old Fashioned way at Stuhr Museum!

GRAND ISLAND, STUHR MUSEUM - Come celebrate the 4th before heading off to the fireworks with an "Old-Fashioned Fourth of July" -- a day filled with family fun at Stuhr Museum! Special events for the day are as follows:

10 a.m.: German Language Church Service, Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, officiated by Pastor Walter Rowaldt of Lincoln. Printed English translations will be provided and coffee and cookies will be served following the service.
11 a.m.: A rousing game of Vintage Base Ball will commence at 11 a.m. on the ball field just north of the church. The home team will compete against a team of young visitors who will be here from Japan!
2 p.m.: Patriotic concert by the Railroad Town Silver Cornet Band
2:30 p.m.: "Mammoth" parade down Front Street
Following Parade: "Patriotic Programme"
Following Patriotic Programme: Pie Eating Contest at the Depot and Kids Games on the green just north of the bandstand. Pies will once again be provided thanks to the Grand Island Village Inn.

Regular admission fees apply. Stuhr Museum and Hastings Museum members admitted free! For questions, call the Stuhr Museum at 308-385-5316 or log onto www.stuhrmuseum.org.

For questions, contact the Stuhr Museum at (308) 385-5316.

 

43rd Army Band to present free concert at Stuhr Museum!

GRAND ISLAND, STUHR MUSEUM - Stuhr Museum invites the public to a free concert of the 43rd Army Band of Lincoln. The concert, to be held on July 13, will take place on the East Lawn of the Stuhr Museum's main building at 7 pm.

Under the direction and command of Chief Warrant Officer Jeff Klintberg of Lincoln, the 43rd Army Band is comprised of citizen soldiers who bring a wide variety of skills, talents and longevity to the unit. The average years of service of the senior non-commissioned officer staff are in excess of 31 years. The group meets one weekend a month and 15 days during the summer to rehearse and to fulfill military training requirements.

The mission of the band is to provide musical entertainment for the morale of soldiers and to support the local communities when possible.

The 43rd Army Band's evening concert will include patriotic selections, marches and popular music performed by the 55 member concert band. The concert will then conclude with a performance by the Jazz Band or Rock Combo.

Grand Island locals who will be performing with the band include instrumental music instructors Robert Kercher of Northwest High School and Jim & Nicole Kordik of Grand Island Public Schools.

There is no admission charge to attend the performance.
For questions, call the Stuhr Museum at 308-385-5316 or log onto www.stuhrmuseum.org.

 

All Hallows Eve at Stuhr Museum October 17-18!

GRAND ISLAND, STUHR MUSEUM- Experience old fashioned Halloween fun at Stuhr Museum's spooky All Hallows Evenings October 17 & 18!

Start your spooktacular visit with a stroll through the lamp-lit Hornady Arboretum and check out the various local businesses and organizations who await you at their Treat Trail booth! As you move into Railroad Town, look for the jack-o-lanterns to find areas of activity. Stop at the Milisen house and trick-or-treat. Step over to the Lesher House and attend the re-created children's Hallowe'en party and participate in popular 19th-century parlor games. Stroll down Depot Street and look for Bill and Bell, pulling the hayrack for you to ride! Be sure to pay close attention to your surroundings, because the hooligans are once again on the loose. Marshal Watson has a particular problem each year with rowdy hooligans as they haunt the streets of town looking for mischief and scaring the wits out of townfolk. See if you can spot all the tomfoolery they have caused throughout town, and be sure to report any strange activity to Marshal Watson or his deputies and to Mr. Miller at the newspaper office.

Dying for a scary story? Stop at the Town Hall next to Peters School for ghost stories read by local tradesmen, Mr. Turnbull. The Depot will once again be the site of the ever-popular apple and donut ducking! Test your skill at biting into a juicy apple or a tender donut as it is suspended from a string and you hold your hands behind your back! The Mercantile will offer a unique shopping experience, or enjoy the evening with a warm drink of cider or other tempting treats that will be available for purchase at the Silver Dollar.

Ghosts? We've heard that others before you have seen a ghost or two in town this time of year. Perhaps this year, so will you!

Come on out and join us for an evening of spooky family fun, October 17 & 18 at Stuhr Museum!

Admission will be reduced to $5 for adults and $3 for children. Stuhr Museum and Hastings Museum members admitted free! For questions, call the Stuhr Museum at 308-385-5316 or log onto www.stuhrmuseum.org.

 

Stuhr Museum's Double Header Weekend: 15th Annual Wonder of Wheels & Vintage Base Ball Tournament!

GRAND ISLAND, STUHR MUSEUM- Experience a Double Header Weekend full of fun October 11-12 at Stuhr Museum!

The 15th Annual "Wonder of Wheels" held October 11-12 at Stuhr Museum. Come check out antique wagons, tractors, engines, vintage autos, and steam, diesel, gas and horse-powered exhibits as their owners make them roar to life! The show runs from 9 am to 4:30 pm on Saturday, and 12 to 4:30 pm on Sunday. A Parade of Power will take place both days at 3 pm. Various unique models will be on display to delight visitors of all ages.
For those interested in displaying a piece of equipment, please call 308-385-5316 and ask for the Education Department. Registrations will still be accepted on the days of the show, with registration taking place in the Farm Machinery building on the east end of the Stuhr grounds.
~AND~
Come see hurlers hurling balls, strikers with ashes, cloud-hunters, bug-bruisers, and even flying muffins! Is it rioting? Mayhem??? Chaos??? No, just the annual Stuhr Museum Vintage Base Ball In-state Tournament on Sunday, October 12! This will be the final Vintage Base Ball Tournament for the year!
If you have never seen Vintage Base Ball before, mark your calendar now to bring the entire family and join Stuhr Museum for this unique experience in America's favorite pastime! See baseball of over 100 years ago, before there were ball gloves, when players were required to use manners, and the batter's strike zone was wherever he or she indicated as such!
Games begin Sunday at noon on the south ballfields near the rural church.

Come on out and join us for a Double Header Weekend of fun for the whole family, October 11 & 12 at Stuhr Museum!

Regular admission fees apply. Stuhr Museum and Hastings Museum members admitted free! For questions, call the Stuhr Museum at 308-385-5316 or log onto www.stuhrmuseum.org.

 

It's Back to School time in Railroad Town at Stuhr Museum!

GRAND ISLAND, STUHR MUSEUM- Learn some old fashioned readin', writin' and 'rithmetic with your family at Stuhr Museum's Back to School Weekend, August 30-31 and Sept. 1!

Peters School in Railroad Town will be bustling with activity as eager students stop by to register for the fall term and 'test' for their placement. Mathematics, geography and penmanship will be the subjects of choice, and there are sure to be a few spelling bees. 'Students' of all ages are encouraged to stop by and see if they can pass the advancement exams. Be sure to take home a Reward of Merit for a job well done! This fun and educational event will enable 'students' to compare books and educational styles of the 19th century in an enjoyable way.

Come on out and join us for a weekend of real family fun August 30-31 and September 1 at Stuhr Museum!

Regular admission fees apply. Stuhr Museum and Hastings Museum members admitted free! For questions, call the Stuhr Museum at 308-385-5316 or log onto www.stuhrmuseum.org.

 

Get out of the house for Cabin Fever Weekend!

GRAND ISLAND, STUHR MUSEUM- Get out of the house and come on over to Stuhr Museum for Cabin Fever Weekend March 15-16! It will be a weekend of fun and relaxation as visitors can try their hand at arts and crafts, visit with craftspeople, see folk arts and demonstrations, enjoy beautiful music, and more!

Get your hands-on history with quilting, children's games, such as marbles and cat's cradle, or try out Indian Beadwork! Make clothespin dolls or even finger puppets! Watch and visit with talented doll makers, wood carvers, painters, knitters and even china painters! How about learning to press flowers and make homemade paper? Or get an old-fashioned photo taken-just like back in the good old days! View the fantastic Wings Over the Platte Art Show and Sale, and bring the kids to the Kids 'N' Cranes Blind for some hands-on nature fun!

On Sunday, Stuhr Museum will host "Voices from the new land: Danish Immigration to America", a program presented by the Nebraska Humanities Council at 2 pm in the auditorium. Presented by John, Mark & Dawn Nielsen, this program is designed for grade five to adult. Danish immigration to Nebraska is explored through dramatic readings from immigrant letters, journals and diaries, as well as slides of old photographs, drawings and scenes of present-day Denmark and Nebraska. The presentation focuses on the stories of individuals-what motivated them to emigrate, how they struggled with the land and faced the hardships of drought and the deaths of loved ones. The Nielsens describe how immigrants experienced the joys of community and the satisfaction of realizing their dreams.

Come on out and join us for a weekend of family fun, March 15 from 9 am to 5 pm and March 16 from 12 to 5 pm at Stuhr Museum!

Winter admission rates apply for the Cabin Fever Weekend event. Stuhr Museum and Hastings Museum members admitted free! For questions, call the Stuhr Museum at 308-385-5316 or log onto www.stuhrmuseum.org.

 

"Christmas: Past and Present" to be celebrated at Stuhr Museum Dec. 6, 12 & 13

GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA--Stuhr Museum will present its annual Christmas event, "Christmas: Past and Present," this December 6, 12 and 13 from 6 to 9 pm. Members Only Night for the Christmas Past and Present event will be held on December 5, also from 6 to 9 pm.

Enjoy Christmas Past with a lantern-lit walk around 1890s Railroad Town, the 1893 farming community with its rural church and schoolhouse, and the 1860s log cabin homes. The Christmas spirit is alive and well under the starry sky, even in 1893. Step back in time and be a part of the holiday festivities as the residents of Railroad Town prepare their homes for Christmas, visit with friends and family, take part in long-time traditions, and sing holiday carols. Father Christmas will be visiting Railroad Town, as shopkeepers and tradesmen entertain all with their hand-made goods, crafts, and a little yarn-spinning too. The Mercantile Store in Railroad Town will be open with treasures galore. The 1893 Farming Community will be open for a taste of the season being celebrated in each room of the house. The rural church is alive with familiar song and a reflection on the true meaning of Christmas. Reflecting on the current century, the Stuhr Building will display the ever-popular Fantasy of Trees, and Santa Claus himself will be waiting in his historic sleigh for the little ones to whisper their wishes and have a photo taken with him. Prairie Treasures, the official gift shop of the museum, will be open with a wide array of gifts perfect for everyone on the list.

Admission is $5 for Adults, $3 for Youth (7-12), and Children under 7 are free. Stuhr Museum and Hastings Museum members are admitted free to the Christmas events.

Bring friends and family for a memorable evening at this celebrated tradition, December 6, 12 or 13 from 6 to 9 pm at Stuhr Museum! Events will be held in multiple buildings across Stuhr Museum's grounds, both indoors and outdoors, so be sure to dress for the weather.

Privately guided tours of Christmas in the Homes of Railroad Town are also available for groups on separate dates.

Please call the Stuhr Museum office at 308-385-5316 or log onto www.stuhrmuseum.org for additional information about Christmas Past and Present or about the private tours.

 

Experience A Day at the Farm at Stuhr Museum!

GRAND ISLAND, STUHR MUSEUM- Experience A Day at the Farm at Stuhr Museum's 1893 Farmstead on Sunday, September 29!

It's time to prepare for a long winter on the farm. Many folks watched the corn being check-planted near the Cleary Farmhouse back in May. The summer has been tough on all farmers, but now it is harvest time. Weather permitting, we will harvest what we can on that day. This event will help visitors understand some of the trials of farm life in the past while at the same time learning that people often made do with what they had, while still having a great deal of fun along the way. The cook stoves in both the Cleary Farmhouse and the Brasee Family Summer Kitchen will be fired up while the ladies prepare a traditional harvest meal for the hands, or put up produce for the winter.

Don't be surprised if there is some mention of preparations for Christmas, for it would not be uncommon for a traditional fruitcake to be baked this early so that it can age for the holiday. I'm sure the folks at the farm wouldn't mind if visitors stopped by to lend a hand, so be sure to come out and get your hands on some history!

Come on out and join us for an afternoon of harvest time fun for the whole family, September 29, 12 pm-5 pm, at Stuhr Museum!

Regular admission fees apply. Stuhr Museum and Hastings Museum members admitted free! For questions, call the Stuhr Museum at 308-385-5316 or log onto www.stuhrmuseum.org.

 

Celebrate summer with "An Evening in the Country" at Stuhr Museum!

GRAND ISLAND, STUHR MUSEUM- Celebrate summer with your family at Stuhr Museum's "Evening in the Country" on Thursday, July 24 from 6 to 9 pm at the 1890 Farm! It's going to be an evening filled with good old-fashioned fun, fresh country air, music, laughter, and more!

Live bluegrass music will delight your ears all evening long on the Cleary Farmhouse lawn. The "Stuhr-fried Bluegrass Band," featuring fiddler Dave Fowler, also consists of Dave Morris on bass and vocals, Mike Paul on banjo and Pete Blakeslee on guitar and vocals. These boys have more years experience playing bluegrass than they care to count, so come enjoy a rip-roarin' good time!

Traver DeMaranville will have his horses, Bill and Bell, ready to take you for a wagon ride, and there will be demonstrations of cooking and sewing! Kids games will take place as well, and snack items will be available.

Ice cream treats and live bluegrass music are provided courtesy of Home Federal Bank.

Come on out and join us for an evening of real family fun on July 24 from 6 to 9 pm at Stuhr Museum!

Reduced admission: $5 adults, $3 kids 7-12, 6 & under free. Stuhr Museum and Hastings Museum members admitted free. For questions, call the Stuhr Museum at 308-385-5316 or log onto www.stuhrmuseum.org.

 

It's FAIR TIME in Railroad Town at Stuhr Museum!

GRAND ISLAND, STUHR MUSEUM- Come one, come all to the greatest Fair on Earth: the Railroad Town Fair August 16 & 17 at Stuhr Museum!

The citizens of Railroad Town have outdone themselves this year, and the exhibit locations will be filled with the finest examples of agriculture, industry and domesticity. Banker Black has once again agreed to share a selection of his collected oddities and curiosities, and carnival games and stands are planned. Madame Wanda plans to return with her obnoxious tent to forecast the future by the palm of all visitors. The tradesmen intend to put on special exhibits, and the Railroad Town Silver Cornet Band will play their final summer concert on Sunday the 17th at 2 p.m.

Entries are encouraged in farm produce, baking and cookery, artwork, needle arts, floral and domestic artistry and commercial concerns. Visitors to the fair will find prime examples of nineteenth-century industry recreated for their enjoyment, and all are encouraged to enter items for display. Trades in Railroad Town will have their best on display for all to see and judge.


Come on out and join us for a weekend of real family old-time FAIR fun, August 16 & 17 at Stuhr Museum!

Regular admission fees apply. Stuhr Museum and Hastings Museum members admitted free! For questions, call the Stuhr Museum at 308-385-5316 or log onto www.stuhrmuseum.org.

 

It's a FIRE CALL Weekend at Stuhr Museum!

GRAND ISLAND, STUHR MUSEUM - Tired of the heat? Looking for something unique to do? If you like things really hot, don't miss the Fire Call at Stuhr Museum on July 19 & 20!

The fire lads are holding training and muster days to sign up new volunteers for Railroad Town's Learned Hose Company No. 1. Everyone is invited to participate in each activity. Testing stations will be set up on the green in Railroad Town on Front Street. Each potential firefighter will be given a scorecard to keep track of their tests.

The Run and Un-reel tests the firefighter's speed and ability to run with a hose cart from a dead stop position and then, upon reaching the mark, stop, set up the cart and reel out the hose. The Reel-up tests speed in reeling up the hose. The Bucket Drill will determine the abilities of the firefighter to speedily pass a filled water bucket down a fire line. Dead Sprints test the speed and agility of the firefighter in a timed race and the Hose Pull determines the firefighter's ability to drag a length of hose over a distance.
The most modern fire equipment - for 1893 - will be on display near the bandstand, and each firefighter is expected to know what the equipment is and how it is used.

After completing all the tests, the applicant can return the scorecard for their official Firefighter's Training Certificate. New firefighters should be cautious. With Railroad Town's Fire Lads, you never know what might happen, but as always, they are prepared for anything - even a fire alarm!

Bring the family for some hot July fun, on the 19th from 10-5 and the 20th from 12-5. Regular admission fees apply. Stuhr Museum and Hastings Museum members admitted free! For questions, call the Stuhr Museum at 308-385-5316 or log onto www.stuhrmuseum.org.

 

Native American Pow Wow to be held at Stuhr Museum

GRAND ISLAND, STUHR MUSEUM- Stuhr Museum will hold its first ever Native American Pow Wow on September 6 & 7. See Traditional, Grass, Fancy, Shaw, Hoop and many other dancers from tribes across the Midwest. Enjoy the music of the drum groups, shop with the Native American vendors and enjoy some fry bread or an Indian Taco.

About Pow-Wows: Pow Wows are a celebration of the Native American culture. At a Pow Wow, there are dancers from tribes all over the country. There are several general types of dances: Shaw, Straight, Fancy, or Hoop are just a few. Men, women and children all participate, and visitors will see many styles of dress and regalia in each category. The different dances will be announced and explained. A Head Man Dancer and a Head Woman Dancer lead each group; these positions are places of honor. Several drum groups may attend a Pow Wow but one group is usually named as the host drum. The Pow Wow is started with the Grand Entry of all Dancers and a posting of colors. There are also food and other vendors who attend.

This is Stuhr Museum's first Pow Wow, so be sure to join us for this unique event!

Come on out and join us for a weekend of real family fun September 6 from 10 to 5 and September 7 from 12 to 5 at Stuhr Museum!

Regular admission fees apply. Stuhr Museum and Hastings Museum members admitted free! For questions, call the Stuhr Museum at 308-385-5316 or log onto www.stuhrmuseum.org.



Stuhr Museum is Puttin' on the Ritz!


GRAND ISLAND, STUHR MUSEUM - June 27-September 1, 2003 are the dates for the Stuhr Museum's upcoming exhibit, "Puttin' on the Ritz: An Exhibit of Formal Attire."

Stuhr Museum's annual summer textile exhibit this year focuses on formal attire. Visitors can enjoy seeing ladies' formal gowns, fur coats, and all of the accessories needed to transform a woman into a lady of elegance. Suits, puff ties, top hats and walking sticks transform the 'rough around the edges' man into the gentleman. Even children don't escape the formality of the era, abandoning their play clothes for miniature versions of their parents' formal attire. Additional displays will present the wide variety of fashion found in the assortment of hats and footwear from Stuhr Museum's collection. Etiquette books will also pique the visitor's interest as they read to compare and contrast the roles of men and women in 'proper' society then and now.

The ever-popular hands-on paper dolls will return with a number of new friends and new fashions for visitors' enjoyment, along with the opportunity to create original fashions using just colored pencils and an imagination to put an original spin on the attire of the late 19th century.

Come see and learn about the elegance of the past and experience the fashions of yesterday for yourself!

Stuhr Museum and Hastings Museum members admitted free! For questions regarding this exhibit, contact Joe Black or Janie McBride in the Exhibits Department at Stuhr Museum, (308) 385-5316. For additional information, call Stuhr Museum at (308) 385-5316 or visit www.stuhrmuseum.org


Stuhr Museum is Tying the Knot with an 1860s Wedding

GRAND ISLAND, STUHR MUSEUM-Join Stuhr Museum June 21-22 for a very real and very special event. It will be a weekend of old-fashioned romance, as Mr. Thor Elliott and Miss Cyndi Werner finally tie the knot in a genuine 1860s Wedding at the Menck Cabin.

On June 21, preparations will take place for the wedding by making decorations and arranging the arbor near the cabin for the wedding. The ladies have planned a shower for Miss Werner at 2 p.m., so be sure and stop by and listen in as they try to gently prepare her for married life.

The big day is June 22; the Justice of the Peace will arrive and at 2 p.m. the couple will be married under the arbor of the Menck Cabin in true 1860s fashion. A reception and shivaree will follow.

Please join us for this special event and to pass on congratulations to the new couple!

Regular admission fees apply. Stuhr Museum and Hastings Museum members admitted free! For questions, call the Stuhr Museum at 308-385-5316 or log onto www.stuhrmuseum.org.

 

15th Annual Wings Over the Platte Art Show & Sale

GRAND ISLAND, STUHR MUSEUM--The 2003 Wings Over the Platte Art Show & Sale marks the 15th year that Stuhr has hosted the nature inspired art show. Just about the time Central Nebraskans begin to recognize the familiar shapes and sounds of migrating Sandhill Cranes, the Main Gallery in the Stuhr Building is invaded by some unique wildlife.
February 7, 2003, was the opening of an exhibit that has traditionally been one of the museum's most highly anticipated. Amateur and professional artists from around the country are invited to submit pieces that reflect the wildlife and landscape of the Platte River.
Each year, in addition to the numerous pieces displayed by regional artists, a featured artist is chosen for Wings Over the Platte. In the past, Stuhr has been fortunate to receive the talent of nationally and internationally known artists to fill this position. This year is no exception.
Thomas Palmerton was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He graduated from the Kansas City Art Institute in 1959, and has successfully pursued a career in the fine arts. In 1976 he built Seven Hills Art Casting Foundry in Brownville, Nebraska, where he now resides with his wife, Betty. His acrylic paintings and bronze sculptures grace many prominent collections throughout the United States including those of the Ford Motor Company; Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery in Lincoln, Nebraska; Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, Nebraska; and the Mutual of Omaha Building, also in Omaha. His work is also a part of the private collections of Lady Bird Johnson, Lee Iaccoca, Eddie Rabbit, Gary Morre, Lou Rawls, and Vincent Price. Palmerton was a featured artist in American Artists Magazine and NebraskaLand Magazine and has won numerous awards in juried shows including Best of Show in Watercolor USA. Mr. Palmerton is currently working with Dr. Lee Simmons of Omaha's Henry Doorley Zoo, producing a unique collection of sculptures for display in the zoo's Garden of the Senses.
This year's show will include new features such as kids activities including a kid-sized crane-watching blind, the 'Stuhr Crane Count' with the goal of 1000 origami cranes to be made by visitors, crane puppets, stamping and coloring activities, and more.
This art show allows Stuhr Museum to emphasize a community focus on the arts during the time that our feathered friends visit. Not only does Wings Over the Platte bring attention to our natural surroundings, but it also helps promote the local arts community by allowing the art that is on display to be sold by the artists. Wings Over the Platte closes March 30, 2003.
For questions, please call Joe Black or Janie McBride at the Stuhr Museum at (308) 385-5316, or visit www.stuhrmuseum.org



Trek West films at Stuhr Museum


GRAND ISLAND, STUHR MUSEUM-Trek West, a Utah-based film company, will be filming this week through Wednesday at the Stuhr Museum. The company will be using nearly a dozen buildings and locations within the museum as the setting for two episodes of their current series. Trek West is producing a series entitled The Modern Prophets, comprised of fourteen episodes about the early and more recent leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Five other episodes were filmed in part at Stuhr in previous years and have now been released. Those have been entered in several national and international film festivals and each have consistently received a number of awards.

According to producers, Stuhr Museum continues to excel in their efforts to acquire, preserve and display buildings, artifacts and memorabilia about times gone by. "We are pleased to see the great work that goes into this museum and are grateful that it is available for us to use in our projects. Stuhr is an excellent example of this area's pride."

Laurie Stephens, Producer/Director for Trek West, has also commented on how helpful the staff at Stuhr has been with these projects. "Year after year, they have been remarkable in providing props, facilities, and whatever is needed to make our scenes and re-enactments realistic and accurate." Preproductions crews have been in Grand Island since last week making preparations and signing up extras for this week's filming.

Contact on set is Heidi Barlow, Production Coordinator for Trek West.

Filming to take place May 19-21, 2003.