Seward Rotary received the latest update on activities at Seward's Nebraska National Guard Museum during its September 7th meeting
On Wednesday, September 7, 2022, Gerry Meyer, historian of the Nebraska National Guard Museum, was the featured program, discussing the history of the museum, the museum’s exhibits and the museum’s activities-past and present –while also touching on the future plans for the local attraction.
Meyer pointed out that the Nebraska National Guard Museum opened in 2014, moving to Seward from its former site at the State Arsenal in Lincoln. The museum is located in the Seward Armory, which was built in 1956, and the museum's move was made possible by generous local support, including from Hughes Brothers, Cattle Bank, Jones Bank, and Concordia University, as well as many, many area residents.
The Nebraska National Guard Museum has sponsored two trips overseas to see “Battle Sites of World War II” and have two more trips in the making to see the battle sites in France, Luxemburg and Belgium in the summer of 2023 and 2023. A highlight of the trip is the stop at St. Lo, France, where the Nebraska National Guard played a key role in liberating the town from the Germans in WWII.
The Museum staff have been integrated into the various volunteer groups in Seward: Fourth of July Committee, Kiwanis, the SCCDP and Christmas Festival Committee. The Nebraska National Guard Museum has quickly became a tourism pillar of the community! Since 2014, the Museum has taken a prominent role in the tourism business in Seward and around the state of Nebraska.
Meyer stated, “The Museum has made an impact in many Seward events since moving to the city in 2014. The inclusion into the Fourth of July Committee and the planning cycle reflect that impact. Many of the themes for the July 4th holiday are derived from the Museum. The themes drive the events that are planned at the Museum. The Museum brings in nationally known re-enactors to portray historical figures related to that years’ theme. In 2022, the theme was “Rally Around the Flag” in honor of the 160th anniversary of the Union victory at Fort Donelson and the role of the First Nebraska Infantry (NENG),” He continued, “The historical figures portrayed were President Abraham and First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln and General Ulysses and Mrs. Julia Grant, sponsored by Dr. Van and Becky Vahle and Berry Law Firm in Lincoln and Seward. They participated in Chautauqua style presentations, leadership seminars, a Presidential Reception and meet and greets. They were included in the Civil War Revue with the Seward Municipal Band to provide a kick-off event for the holiday. They and other re-enactors brought in 3,000 patrons to visit the facility over the holiday. The Museum has hosted over a dozen actors and many events in support of the July 4th Committee in Seward that has helped bring patrons from around the state to the city.”
Meyer shared, “A very popular exhibit has been the “Marxhausen in the Military” exhibit, featuring the experience of local artist, the late art professor, Professor Reinhold Marxhausen, who served in the Philippines during WWII. The show is an excellent example of life served at that base and features a very special 16mm black and white movie film of Marxhausen on the base.”
Meyer feels that one of the main pillars of the Museum is educational outreach. Every year the Museum hosts the “Run to St. Lo Memorial 5K and 1 Mile Run/Walk” in June. It is a memorial run to remember the 53 Nebraska National Guard soldiers killed in the liberation of St. Lo, France in World War II. Volunteers and Gold Star Family members hold memorials to the fallen soldiers along the route. The run brings in about 100-200 runners and hosts shadow runs around the country.
Another annual event is National Airborne Day on August 16th. This event marks the start of airborne operations at Fort Benning, Georgia in 1940. The Museum hosts the 2-134th Infantry (Airborne) for an exercise at the Seward Airport and events related to the day. Lastly, is Andrew Jackson Higgins Day at the Museum on August 28th. He is a Columbus native and NENG soldier who helped win World War II with his unique landing craft.
Meyer noted that the Museum hosts many educational events annually, such as the youth, week long Summer Horizons program for Grades 3-6 (classes on WWI, WWII and Rockets), POW-MIA Recognition Day in September, National Guard Birthday in December, and classes for local and surrounding schools. The Museum has interactive rooms designed to bring in more patrons. The “I Am the Guard” Room starts with a patron being addressed by a drill sergeant and then they are able to use touch screen technology to learn more about the NENG.”
He is most proud of the “Cornrow to Hedgerow 4D Experience” which is a French hedgerow display that immerses the patron in the sights and sounds of the World War II battle for St. Lo’s liberation. The new John and Darlene Wood Weapons Display Room features replicas of the weapons in the collection for patrons to handle.
He was excited to share and feels that the future of the Museum is looking great. With the discovery of PA31-17 Higgins Boat Landing Craft in California and the making of a documentary on the boat and Higgins and the eventual arrival of the boat at the Museum, the momentum will continue. The Museum finished a new five year plan that calls for an expansion of the facility to the west of the current building. This would allow for additional space to showcase large macro-exhibits (like the Higgins Boat) and provide addition venue space to utilize for education (i.e. new library and conference room, art gallery, multi-purpose room).
Meyer commented, “The museum continues to evolve with new exhibits that have increased visitations. The addition of the Nebraska Tourism Passport Program has seen an increase of over a thousand patrons a month (May-Sep). It continues to work with the tourism leadership in Seward to plan and execute events that bring in more patrons to visit. It continues to build on the goal of 35,000 patrons a year to visit. The Museum was recently nominated for Keep Nebraska Beautiful award for its exterior landscaping plan. The collaboration with local, state and national tourism
entities continues to bring patrons to Seward, Nebraska and to the Museum.
For more information on the Nebraska National Guard Museum, visit www.nengm.org or their Facebook page. The museum is located at 201 North 8th in Seward and is currently open M-F from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm and Saturdays from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. You can contact Gerry Meyer at 402-309-8763.