The Plainsman Museum facts for kids

The Plainsman Museum is a cool place in Aurora, Nebraska. It teaches visitors all about the history of people who settled in the central Nebraska plains region. The museum officially opened on July 4, 1976. This was a special day because it was part of the United States Bicentennial, celebrating 200 years of the United States. The museum has many buildings filled with items that show what daily life was like for early settlers. It also highlights the history of farming in the area.

Exploring the Plainsman Museum

The Plainsman Museum is made up of several buildings. Each building helps tell a different part of the story of the Nebraska plains. You can explore different parts of history, from homes to farm equipment.

Inside the Main Building

The main building at the museum is called the Plainsman Building. This is where most of the museum's collections are kept. Inside, you can see a copy of a sod house. A sod house was a home built from blocks of grass and soil, common for early settlers. There's also a replica of a log cabin, another type of early home.

One exciting part is a smaller version of a Main Street. It shows what town life was like in the late 1800s and early 1900s. You can peek into different shops like a hardware store, a doctor's office, and even a town jail. There's also a bar and a bank. This building also holds many other interesting items from local history.

Discovering Farm History

Right behind the Plainsman Building is the Agricultural Building. It was built in 1986. This building is special because it was built around an actual homestead. A homestead is the land and home of a pioneer family.

Inside, you'll find a huge collection of farm machines. This includes old tools pulled by horses, like plows and threshers. You can also see an early steam-powered tractor. There are many other tractors too, from the 1920s all the way up to more modern ones. Plus, there's a collection of cool old cars from the 1920s and 1930s.

Learning in a One-Room School

The Fairview School is a one-room schoolhouse. It was moved to the museum in 1981. This schoolhouse shows what education was like in the 1800s. You can see real old desks and tools that students used back then. It's also located behind the Plainsman Building.

A Historic Home: The Bates House

Across from the Fairview School, you'll find a 19th-century home called the Bates House. This house is dedicated to its former residents, General Delevan Bates and his wife Lana. General Bates was a hero who won the Medal of Honor during the American Civil War. The Bates family played a big part in setting up Hamilton County, Nebraska. Their home was moved to the museum grounds in 1993.

The Blacksmith's Workshop

There's also a blacksmith shop at the museum. It was moved to the property and is used for demonstrations. During special events and school trips, visitors can watch how a blacksmith used to work with metal.

Restoring a Railroad Car

Most recently, a retired Burlington Northern Railroad caboose was brought to the museum. A caboose is the last car on a freight train. This caboose is currently being fixed up and restored so visitors can enjoy it.