Our American Stories: Celebrating 250 Years!

Join the Legacy of the Plains in celebrating the United States’ history
through a series of presentations Saturday, June 6, 2026.
All events are free and open to the public.

10:00 “Abraham Lincoln, America’s Greatest Political Orator” Using humor, lawyer-like reason or biblically inspired prose, Lincoln saved our country with his words and defined the meaning of the American Revolution for future generations. Presented by Fred Nielson

11:00 “Death, Poverty, and Bread: How German Russians found Success in Nebraska.” Karen Keehr, Germans from Russia Museum

1:30 Japanese American Quilt Panel Discussion:  Created in 1995 by Japanese American women from the High Plains, these quilts reflect the journeys of their families, sometimes through extreme hardship with Gaman (Perseverance), one stitch at a time.

2:30 “The Mexican People of the Panhandle.”  Presented by Jackie Cervantes Guzman

3:30 Quilts of Valor: Honoring veterans and active-duty personnel for their service and sacrifice in serving our nation.  Hear how the organization works by awarding handmade quilts in a ceremony that manifests “Thank you.”
Presented by Chris Wolf

Special Exhibits will be available from the museum’s collection, including a camel hair quilt and a driftwood spinning wheel from our Germans from Russia collection. The Rotating gallery will include a 42-star flag from the 1800s, several military uniforms and Quilts of Valor.

Quilts made in the Japanese American community, a special quilted chair, and quilts dedicated to those who perished during 9/11 on loan from the International Quilt Museum at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln will be displayed from June 6 through July 19.

Partial program funding was provided by Humanities Nebraska!