Hall County's 150th Anniversary Celebration

Celebrating
150 Years of Hall County

GRAND ISLAND, STUHR MUSEUM - After more than a year of planning, Stuhr Museum's celebration of the 150th Anniversary of Hall County finally arrived on Sunday, July 1. By the time Baxter Black took the stage for the finale of the event on Saturday, July 7, several thousand people had enjoyed the festivities ranging from Native American dancers to Fourth of July parades.

Beginning on Monday with a performance by Native American Dancer Kevin Locke, each day featured a theme vital to the growth and development of Hall County. Aside from Locke, Monday's theme of Native American Heritage featured a Buffalo Cook-Out and a presentation on Pinch Pots, which were a part of the culture.

Tuesday's festivities focused on the Overland Trail, and featured games by the log cabins, and music by musicians Rideout and Gardner, whose music and methods mimic those of musicians from the 1800s. Their performance was one of three during the week, including a performance at the Grand Island Veterans Home.

Wednesday, July 4, began with a German Language Church Service in the rural church which over 100 people attended, and went on to feature a massive Fourth of July celebration including a parade, patriotic program in the style of 1890s celebrations, a pie eating contest, games on the green and more.

Thursday's event revolved around the concept of Townbuilding, and told that piece of Hall County history through a Settler's Dance and Social, which included music, decorations and crafts by the local women of our 1890s Railroad Town.

Agriculture was the order of the day on Friday, where a performance by vocal trio Baby Needs Shoes" was set against the backdrop of the 1890s farm stead. While listening to the sweet vocal harmonies, children played games like "penny in the haystack," walking on stilts, croquet and enjoyed the petting zoo on the grounds.

Finally, Saturday night's grand finale, meant to celebrate 150 Years of Hall County, featured Cowboy Poet and Humorist Baxter Black, who not only gave the crowd a great show full of cowboy stories and poems, but took time afterward to personally talk with everyone who came to the stage after the show.

In addition, most of the days featured a humanities presentation by a local expert on subjects ranging from the Civil War to the importance of Feed Sack Quilts. The presentations were highly educational and many positive comments were made about them. Stuhr Museum sincerely wants to thank those who took the time to come out and share part of history with our visitors.

During the entire week of the event, around 80 Living History Interpreters spent the week living in Stuhr Museum's 1890s Railroad Town, and event known as Founder's Week. These hearty souls lived, worked, slept, played and interacted in an 1890s manner, without the benefit of modern amenities like air conditioners, radios or cars.

Stuhr Museum sincerely wants to thank all the visitors who braved the July heat to make this event a smashing success, as well as all the speakers, sponsors, performers, volunteers and gave us so much support in planning and executing this event.