More than 40 people gathered in Plainview on September 13 for the Fall 2025 Northeast Nebraska Heritage Museum Network meeting, enjoying a day of fellowship, history, and community spirit.
The day began with a warm welcome and refreshments provided by volunteers at the Plainview 1880 Railroad Depot Museum. Attendees toured exhibits showcasing the town’s past and the efforts of local historians to preserve it. They could also visit with Shirley Wacker, who lived above the depot in the 1950s. Her late husband, Warren Fusselman, was the last depot agent.
Stops during the meeting included the Klown Museum, with its nationally recognized collection of clown costumes, posters, dolls, and memorabilia; the Congregational UCC Church, built in 1903 (still the home of an active congregation), featuring numerous handcrafted crosses; and the Carnegie Preservation Center, home to historic wedding gowns and other attire, where volunteers are currently working to preserve textiles and prepare pennants for Fort Hartsuff State Historical Park’s 1875 Grand Thanksgiving Ball on November 15, 2025.
In addition to tours, participants shared updates from their own museums and historical societies, discussed new projects, and exchanged ideas for community engagement. Presentations highlighted creative approaches to exhibits, events, and fundraising.
“Days like this show the strength of our network and the importance of working together to preserve our shared history,” said Dianne Lingenfelter, chairperson of the Northeast Nebraska Heritage Museum Network.
The meeting concluded with networking and conversation, underscoring the group’s mission statement: “To Preserve the Past so we can Prepare for the Future.”