Why are there rodeos? Why are there cowboys? Why are there horses in America? Where did the word cowboy come from? The Stetson cowboy hat? Why were there TV shows like Gunsmoke, The Lone Ranger, and The Cisco Kid? This fascinating presentation traces cowboy culture’s roots from the open plains of Spain to the establishment […]
This session will discuss the various Nebraskans, some well-known and some lesser-known individuals, who have shaped the history and culture of our state. Presented by Dr. Sara Crook, Professor Emeritus, Peru State College This talk will be given in the East Room.
Speaker: Dr. Steven P. Howard, PhD Dr. Howard, director of the Archaeology and Anthropology department at Eastern Wyoming College will provide a brief synopsis of what is known about peoples that lived in this region prior to contact, and a discussion of developments during and after the Contact Period.
An experienced storyteller, Linda Garcia-Perez draws on her experiences as a young girl in Omaha’s Mexican-American barrio. Her stories convey a universal message of humor, wonder and tradition. This program is appropriate for all ages. This presentation will be given in the East Room.
This session will discuss the history and politics of Nebraska’s admittance as the 37th state in the Union. As the first state admitted after the Civil War, Nebraska not only faced the politics within the state, but Reconstruction politics as well. Presented by Dr. Sara Crook, Professor Emeritus, Peru State College This talk will be […]
This program takes a look at black American influences in the early west, and at the movement of freed blacks after the civil war as they move into and settle in the west. We will look at black settlements in the plains and the causes for their ultimate demise. This program is not a broad […]
Abigail Adams played an important role in the founding of this nation. She and her husband, John Adams, were intellectual equals who discussed the complex issues of founding a nation together. She wrote him many letters that contained her astute advice while he worked with other patriots. Presented by Jessica Downing-Ford
Big Elk was chief of the Omaha Tribe during the 1800s. As the expanding U.S. threatened First Peoples, he sought ways to protect his tribe and their culture from obliteration. He created alliances and attempted to prepare for a future that he thought depended on a closer relationship with the U.S. Chief Big Elk will […]
A bed turning is quilt show where multiple quilts are stacked on a bed and removed one by one, with a presenter sharing the history, techniques, and stories behind each piece. Bed Turnings started as a way for women to showcase their finest needlework to neighbors. This Bed Turning is a way for the Hastings […]
Step back to 1872 and experience a Chautauqua portrayal of Thomas Doane, the chief engineer of the B & M Railroad and famous Hoosac Tunnel Project. Doane was responsible for 240 miles of railroad and telegraph from Plattsmouth to Kearney. He was the co-founder of the town of Crete, Nebraska, founder of the first bank […]
Speakers: Becky Matticks and Marilee Aufdenkamp
Sorry, folks. The weather is not cooperating, so this event has been cancelled. 2200 W. 3rd St, Hastings Please join us to enjoy food, fun, and community at a picnic for everyone! Please bring lunch and picnic blanket. (Some picnic tables will be available in the park) Play lawn games with Hastings Parks & Recreation, […]
