Historic House Museums in Nebraska

We try to keep this list of historic house museums for Nebraska current, but it is best to check directly with the museums for their hours and other information. If you know of a historic house museum in Nebraska that should be listed here, please use our submission form to let us know about it.

Brownville

The Captain Bailey Museum

The seven gabled Victorian was once the home of a Civil War veteran and now displays period furniture, clothing, toys, and quilts.

Open daily 1-5 Jun-Aug; Sun 1-5 May, Sep-Oct & 5th and Main Sts. & (402) 825-6001

The Carson House

Built in 1860 by Richard Brown, the founder of Brownsville, it later became the home of John Carson a prominent bank president. Since the home was occupied by Carson's descendants until being donated to the Brownville Historical Society in 1966, the home contains many of its original furnishings and has not been updated with any modern conveniences.

Open daily 1-5 Jun-Aug; Sun 1-5 May, Sep-Oct & 3rd & Main Sts & (402) 825-6001

Dakota City

O'Connor House

Captain Cornelius O'Connor was born in 1821 in County Cork, Ireland and came to the United States in 1829. He lived in Boston, Mass. and New York City before coming west with his wife Katherine (Duggan) and family in 1857. They took a steamer from St. Louis and landed on May 18 at the already-established St. John's Colony near Jackson, Nebraska. O'Connor filed a claim near Elk Creek and lived there for four or five years before moving to the homestead near Homer. The family lived in a one-room house there until the mansion on the 1,000 acre farm was built.

Call for hours and directions • (402) 698-2288

Fremont

Louis E. May Museum

Fremont's first mayor, Theron Nye built this Colonial Revival style home in 1874. The house features numerous mantels, richly carved oak and mahogany paneling, art glass windows, and exceptional tilework in the master bathroom. Rooms are decorated with turn of the century furnishings.

Open Wed-Sun 1:30-4:30 Apr-Dec & 1643 N. Nye Ave & (402) 721-4515

Lincoln

Thomas P. Kennard House

Considered to be the oldest house in the original plat of Lincoln, the Kennard house was built in 1869 and was the home of Nebraska's first secretary of state.

Open Tue-Sat 9-12 & 1-4:30 Sun 1:30-4:30 & 1627 H. St. & (402) 471-4764

Fairview

Fairview, the former home of William Jennings Bryan is now a museum and interpretive center. It has been faithfully restored to depict the family's life in the early 1900's. The home was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1964.

Open Tue-Fri 1-4 & 49th and Sumner St. & (402) 483-8300

Governor's Mansion

The home features a doll collection of the state s first ladies in their inaugural gowns.

Open Thu 1-4 & 1425 H Street. & (402) 471-3466

McCook

Senator George Norris State Historic Site

The restored home of Nebraska senator and founder of th Tennessee Valley Authority. The home contains furniture and memorabilia collected during Norris' lifetime.

See their web site for hours & 706 Norris Ave. & (308) 345-8484

Merriman

Arthur Bowring Sandhills Ranch State Historical Park

This 7,200 acre working cattle ranch is also a living history museum. Established in 1894, the Bar 99 ranch was maintained by the family until 1984. The ranch house contains displays of the family's collections.

Open daily 9-5 Memorial Day-Labor Day & 1.5 miles north on SR 61 then follow the signs & (308) 684-3428

Nebraska City

Arbor Lodge State Historical Park

The 52 room neocolonial mansion was built by J. Sterling Morton, the secretary of agriculture under President Cleveland and the founder of Arbor Day. His son, Joy Morton founded Morton Salt and completed the last of the mansion's four renovations. The 65 acre park contains a rose garden, a prairie garden, and an arboretum with more than 250 varieties of trees and shrubs.

Park open daily 8-dusk. Mansion open daily 9-5, mid-May to Labor Day; daily 1-5, late Apr to mid-May and Labor Day to Oct 31 & West edge of town & (402) 873-7222

Wildwood Period House

Built in 1869 the 10 room home has been restored and is decorated in mid-Victorian style.

Open Mon-Sat, 10-5; Sun 1-5; End of Apr to end of Oct & 420 Steinhart Park Rd. & (402) 873-6340

North Platte

Lincoln County Historical Museum

This museum complex contains several furnished homes from the mid to late 1800s.

Open daily 9-8, Memorial Day-Labor Day & 2403 Buffalo Bill Ave. & (800) 955-4528 or (308) 534-5460

Omaha

The General Crook House Museum

Built in 1878, Quarters 1 of Fort Omaha served as the residence of Gen. George Crook. Gen. Crook was a staunch supporter of Native American's rights and his support of Standing Bear led to the decision that an Indian was a "person" and therefore entitled to the rights and protections of the Constitution. The two story Italianate house is furnished with period pieces. The grounds are landscaped in the Victorian style.

Open Mon-Fri 10-4, Sun 1-4 & 30th & Fort Sts. On the campus of the Metropolitan Technical Community College & (402) 455-9990

Red Cloud

Webster County Historical Museum

A Classical Revival mansion built in 1907 houses exhibits of Victorian furniture, photographs, guns, toys, and military memorabilia.

Open daily 1-5 Apr-Oct & 721 W. Fourth Ave. & (402) 746-2444