Genoa Indian Industrial School facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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U.S. Indian Industrial School
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Shop building, now operated as a museum
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 Location in Nebraska
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Genoa, Nebraska |
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| Area | 470 acres (190 ha) |
| Built | 1884 |
| NRHP reference No. | 78001706 |
| Added to NRHP | May 22, 1978 |
The Indian Industrial School at Genoa, Nebraska, United States was a special boarding school for Native American children. It was one of the first schools of its kind, built by the United States government. The school opened in 1884 and closed in 1934. Today, one of its buildings has been restored and is now the Genoa U.S. Indian School Museum. This building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important historical site.
Contents
About the Genoa Indian School
The Genoa Indian Industrial School opened on February 20, 1884. Its main goal was to teach Native American children about Christianity and European-American culture. The government wanted these children to adopt new ways of life and fit into the wider American society. The town of Genoa, Nebraska was chosen because the government already owned land there. This land was once part of the Pawnee Reservation, but the Pawnee people had moved away in 1879.
The main building of the school was a simple, three-story structure. It had a sloped roof and a small triangular shape above the main entrance. The design was popular in the late 1880s, with tall windows and strong horizontal lines.
Life and Growth at the School
Over time, the school grew much larger. It welcomed Native American children from ten different states and more than 20 different tribes. At first, there were only 74 students. But the school quickly expanded to have 599 students. The campus eventually included over 30 buildings and covered 640 acres of land.
However, conditions at the school were often very difficult for the students. Many children faced poor living conditions and a lack of proper care. Sadly, at least 102 children died while attending the school. The actual number of deaths might be even higher. Common causes of death included illnesses like influenza, tuberculosis, and pneumonia. Some children also died from accidents or heart problems. The United States government closed the school in 1934, during a tough economic time known as the Great Depression.
Genoa U.S. Indian School Museum
Today, the Genoa US Indian School Foundation owns one of the original school buildings. This building was once used for manual training, where students learned practical skills. The foundation has carefully restored it. Now, it operates as the Genoa U.S. Indian School Museum. The museum helps people learn about the history of the school and the experiences of the children who lived and studied there.
Gallery
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Students at the Genoa Indian School appeared anxious in a photo taken in 1910. Young children were often taken away from their families and tribes to attend these schools. The goal was to educate them and help them fit into the main Anglo-Saxon culture.
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The Genoa School Museum has two floors of exhibits. One display shows a classroom set up to look like it did when students studied there.
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The Genoa Indian School Museum displays awards won by its students from 1914 to 1924. Native American students were very skilled at farming and raising animals. They won many awards at local country fairs.
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Student artists at the Genoa Indian School painted signs. These signs showed the different types of equipment for horses and carriages that other students made to sell.
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Museum staff asked the tribes whose children attended the school if they wanted to send banners. These banners would remember the children's time there. More than 30 tribes sent banners, which are now displayed at the school.
