Custer County Historical Museum – Broken Bow, Nebraska
Sharing the stories of the 19th century this museum such as the General Store display which has many of the original artifacts for you to see. There is also a drug store from the era on display. Things have certainly changed.
There is a fabulous Research Library in the museum where you are welcome to delve into the past to find out about your roots or those of others from the area. There are maps, obituaries, pictures, marriage records, and much more for your research all located at the museum.
Custer County Homesteads & Timber Claims were taken from the US General land Office Tract books. These books are on microfilm at the Historical Society and are being transcribed by volunteers.
Location: 445 9th Ave., Broken Bow, Nebraska
Summer hours: Mon-Fri, 10am-5pm; Sat, 10am-4pm. Rest of the year, Mon-Fri, 1-5pm. Closed holidays.
Admission: Free, donations welcome.
Phone: 308-872-2203
Email: cchs@inebraska.com
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Was in Broken Bow Saturday before last but the museum was closed as was the county courthouse, Was wondering if you might have anything related to my great uncle Billy Lovelace who rode a horse from his home in Western Kentucky all the way to Broken Bow to homestead land in the late 19th or early 20th century. I’m told he married and had one child in the several years he lived there until the death of his wife when he returned to Kentucky.
I realize this is a long shot at a connection but all family records of his travels are nowhere to be found and those relatives who knew of him are either passed,can’t remember or were too young to have any reliable information regarding him.
Best regards,
Suzanne Jackson
Cunningham, KY
We have a photograph taken around 1886 of our ancestors in the Broken Bow area. We are making copies and would like to donate the original to your museum. The size is 14 x 20 inches and was re-framed about 50 years ago.
The photo is of a sod house with the DeMerritt family members standing in front. We have figured out who all the people are and have figured out from the apparent ages of the children that it was taken in 1886.
The story handed down is that a photographer came by and took the photo. We don’t know the name of the photographer.
Please email me to let me know if you would accept this gift. Of course, a monetary donation would accompany the gift. Once I have an email address for you, I can send a jpg of the photo.
Thanks, Stephonie
Yes, we would like copy of the photo. It’s possible it may have been taken by the now famous, Solomon D. Butcher, pioneer photographer, or it may have been taken by some other photographer.
Custer County Historical Society
PO Box 334
Broken Bow, NE 68822
308 872-3302
cchs@inebraska.com
My father , as well as my mother, was born in Mason City. He has a fair sized collection of Indian artifacts which he found over the course of growing up in the area during the 20’s and 30’s. He would like to donate them if the museum is interested.
Please advise.
Thank you,
Sheryl Banning Maggi