Richardson County Museum

Sep 8, 2014 | by Becky Oeltjenbruns

My great, great grandma’s fancy work bag

Our Labor Day weekend journey led us to Falls City, Nebraska. We were there to celebrate my grandparents’ 60th wedding anniversary, but the occasion also served as a great excuse for the family to get together. For me it was not only a real joy to reconnect with my cousins, aunts, and uncles – but a perfect opportunity to reacquaint myself with the family lineage.

I am lucky. I come from a long line of amazing men and women; appreciating my ancestry is something my mother and grandmother taught me by example. While it may be common for a family to hold on to heirlooms and pass down stories through the generations, it is hard to find public places where this same sense of commitment is conveyed.

One of the highlights during our stay was the Sunday dinner held at the Richardson County Museum. This museum is one of those rare public places. As we pulled up to the white, unassuming building I had no idea what to expect. But once inside I was immediately impressed by the size of their collection and the level of care taken during the curating process. Every item has been lovingly displayed and its particular background is documented for the visitor’s enjoyment. If you are a student of history and want to see how a city and region evolved over the years, you’ll enjoy this gem.

Richardson County Museum

Visit the Richardson County Museum
1401 Chase Street
Falls City, NE 68355
402-245-4407

At only an hour and a half from Kansas City, MO it makes for an amazing side trip.

Learn more about the area on the Falls City website.

My great grandparents’ wedding day attire

The collection occupies three levels, with the third floor being more a “live-in” display. Here the pieces are arranged like they would be in a home, rather than in a traditional museum format. There is a lot of available space and although they have many exhibits, you don’t feel crowded. Each piece is clearly displayed and easy to appreciate. You’ll feel comfortable setting your own pace as you make your way through the different rooms and decades. The vintage fashionista will find many stunning pieces to admire, the war aficionado will have fun looking through the various artifacts, and the history enthusiast will have no end of unique treasures to explore.

The displays reflect the country-at-large by highlighting the region and its citizens. Many of the local families have kindly donated their individual antiques, making the museum feel very personal without making you feel alienated if you don’t know any of the people involved. I could have spent hours pouring over all the descriptions and individual stories written on the placards, proudly carrying on their legacies. The needlework piece that ended up bringing a young couple together at a fair, the bomber jacket that bears the patch made by prison inmates, the spears collected from an explorer and military hero – these are the people that remind us that stories from our past may seem foreign, but we can still see bits of ourselves despite the differences.

All of the volunteers are experts on the diverse collection, able to answer any follow-up questions you may have. If you love learning about history, enjoy a small town getaway, or simply want to do research and need some advice, the Richardson County Museum will serve as a great resource. We truly enjoyed our time here and want to hear about your favorite “off the beaten path” spots in the comments!