STUHR MUSEUM
The Stuhr Museum - near Grand Island, 160 miles east of Mullen - is the perfect place to learn about early prairie life. Praised as “one of the top ten places to re-live America’s past” by Good Housekeeping magazine, Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer offers a living history experience that tells the story of early town building in Nebraska. Stuhr Museum, 175 miles east of Mullen on Nebraska Highway 2, provides visitors the experience of life as a pioneer through over 70,000 three-dimensional artifacts plus historic photographs, books, and documents. Set on 200 acres, the 1890s Railroad Town comes to life from May 1 through September 30. Four historical homes grace Railroad Town, including the cottage where Henry Fonda was born in 1905. Dressed for life in the 1890s, the “residents” of Railroad Town help visitors experience the lifestyle of the early prairie town builders. Walk the town’s wooden boardwalks or stop at the blacksmith’s shop to see demonstrations. Play an old-fashioned game, create a hat at the Millinery, visit the one room school, write a telegram at the Depot, see what the Tinsmith is making, or have a snack at the Silver Dollar Cafe. Shop for handmade tin, iron, and wooden reproduction items at the Mercantile, where women’s jewelry, hat pins, bonnets, candy, coffee, pottery and scented soaps are just a sampling of the items available. South of town, Runelsburg is home to a turn of the century farm, charming rural church and authentic one-room schoolhouse. To the north, a collection of log cabins represents a Road Ranche, an early settlement on the Plains.
The Stuhr Building, open year-round, includes indoor exhibits such as period rooms, tools, household articles, and furnishings on the 2nd floor. It introduces visitors to Nebraska’s history by tracing pioneer lifestyles from 1880 to 1920. The lower level features changing exhibits from those created using Stuhr’s collection of nationally touring shows on any number of historic topics. The Prairie Treasures Gift Shop carries a wide assortment of unique gift items as well as books on Great Plains history and people. Outdoors, visit the restored, authentic Railroad Display, and view a 1901 Steam Locomotive, a 1912 Caboose, and an 1871 Coach at walk-in level before taking a stroll through the beautiful arbor with dozens of varieties of flowers, native plants, and friendly ducks.
Visit www.stuhrmuseum.com for more information.
