Sarpy County Museum facts for kids
The Sarpy County Museum is a cool place to visit in Bellevue, Nebraska. It's filled with old things and stories about the history of Sarpy County, Nebraska. You can learn about towns like Bellevue, Gretna, La Vista, Papillion, and Springfield. The museum shows what life was like for fur traders and missionaries. It also has rooms set up like they were long ago, and even a small model of Fort Crook, which later became Offutt Air Force Base.
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Museum History
The Sarpy County Historical Society started a long time ago, during the Great Depression. This was in the 1930s. Later, in the 1960s, a small "storefront museum" opened. It had just a few old items on display. The building where the museum is now was built in the late 1970s. The museum tells the story of Sarpy County from its very beginning as a fur trading spot all the way up to today.
What You Can See
The museum has many interesting things to explore.
Period Rooms
You can step back in time in the museum's period room exhibits. These rooms show how people lived in the 1800s and 1900s. You can see furniture and items from those times.
Fort Crook Model
There's a detailed model of Fort Crook. This model shows what the fort looked like before it became the Glenn L. Martin Bomber Plant and the Strategic Air Command. Fort Crook eventually grew into the important military base we know today as Offutt Air Force Base.
Historical Records
The museum keeps many important old papers and items from Sarpy County. Its collections include histories of local churches, old newspapers, and photographs. If you're interested in your family's past, they also have records like old school papers, naturalization documents, and marriage records. You can also find early letters between county leaders and important citizens.
Explore Sarpy County
The museum offers tours to special historical places around Sarpy County. There are four main spots you can visit:
- Omaha and Southern Railroad Depot: This old train station from 1869 is right on the museum's property.
- Old Presbyterian Church: Built in 1856, this church is still used today. It has beautiful stained glass windows and oak pews from the 1800s. It's the oldest church in Bellevue that is still standing.
- Old Log Cabin: This cabin was built in the 1830s. Guess what? The very first twins born in Nebraska Territory were born right here!
- Fontenelle Bank: This was Nebraska's first and oldest public business building. It still has its original walk-in safe and an accountant's desk from the 1870s.
