Events at the Anna Bemis Palmer Museum
There are currently no new events scheduled, please check back soon for updates.
Join us at the Anna Bemis Palmer Museum (520 North Grant Avenue, York) on Sunday, February 16th at 2PM for “Rural Radio Record: A History of Nebraska’s Rural Radio Association.”
In this free presentation, special guests Gene Curtis and Anthony Jacobsen will discuss the history of the Nebraska Rural Radio Association and how it’s the only radio group in the nation that is COOP owned by farmers and ranchers. They will also cover the history of the radio station in York, as well as the changes over time, specifically highlighting those after 2015 when the NRRA purchased the radio station in York. About the presenters: Gene Curtis is General Operations Manager and Morning Show Host for 104.9 Max Country and has been at the station since 2013. Anthony Jacobsen is the Station Manager and has been with the station since 2016. This presentation is part of a series of presentations on institutions vital to York County, to go along with the museum’s current exhibit on the History of York County. This display will run until February 28th, 2025. Regular open hours are Tuesdays-Fridays from 10AM-4PM. |
Join us on Sunday, January 12th at 2PM at the Anna Bemis Palmer Museum (520 North Grant Avenue) for Stories from the Stacks – a review of the history of York’s Public Library.
This free presentation will be led by Library Director Deb Robertson. In it she will cover the early days of the library, the Woods building era, the Kilgore family donation, and how technology has changed the library. This program is part of a series presenting the history of different institutions vital to York, Nebraska to go along with the museum’s current exhibit on the history of York County. The exhibit will be available until the end of February. |
Join us on Saturday, December 14th at 2PM at the Anna Bemis Palmer Museum (520 North Grant Avenue) for "Hometown Heroes" a presentation on the history of the York Fire Department, led by Fire Chief Tony Bestwick!
In this presentation he will talk about:
Tony Bestwick started as a Volunteer Firefighter in August of 1986. He trained up and got his EMT and FF1 Certification as a Volunteer. He was hired as a Career in November of 2000. He was then promoted to the Training Safety Officer in August of 2013. After that he was promoted to Fire Chief in October of 2020. This is a free presentation as part of our History of York County Exhibit. The display is available for viewing until February 28th. Regular open hours are Tuesdays-Fridays from 10AM-4PM. |
Join us on Sunday, November 10th at 2PM at the Anna Bemis Palmer Museum (520 North Grant Avenue) for “On the Hill of the Rising Sun” a presentation on the history of York University.
About the Program: Special Guest Dr. Jared Pack will talk about a century plus of college education in York County, focusing on the historic buildings and stories from past and present, an important transition period in the 1950’s, plus moving from College to University and what that entails for the future. About the Presenter: Dr. Jared Pack moved to York in December of 2023, and became the Associate Professor of History and Chair of the History Department at York University in January of 2024. He previously served as Visiting Assistant Professor of History at the University of Mississippi and Instructor of History at the University of Arkansas. He is a graduate of the University of Arkansas, where he completed his MA and PhD in History, and Freed-Hardeman University, where he earned his BA in History and Biblical Studies. He regularly teaches courses in US, World, European, and Public History. Dr. Pack also currently serves as a member of the Curriculum and Training Committee of the National Council on Public History and the Management Committee of the Transatlantic Studies Association. When he’s not in the classroom, you can likely find Dr. Pack enjoying great food or spending time with his wife and two children. |
Date: Saturday, June 15th 1-2PM
Location: Harrison Park (140 S. Kingsley Ave) Program: Outdoor Photography Class Doug Rood of Doug Rood Photography will be teaching an outdoor photography class focusing on different settings and camera features at Harrison Park. The York Area Cruisers 2nd Annual Car Show will be going on at the same time, and would be a great opportunity to practice and show off what you’ve learned during the class! We plan to meet by the basketball courts for the class and then wander over to the car show after. Participation is free – just bring your own camera or smartphone. About Presenter: Doug works full time at Collins Aerospace, but has made photography a side business and focused hobby over the last 5 years. He has enjoyed photography since he was little, and also enjoys traveling to National Parks and capturing landscapes and wildlife. Recently, he’s found himself doing more family and portrait photography. Date: Saturday, July 6th 3-4PM Location: Anna Bemis Palmer Museum (520 North Grant Avenue) Program: Picturing the Midwest: Regionalist art and other representations of rural American life This program led by Jacqueline Spackman will briefly discuss the art of Regionalism and how artists of the 1930s and 1940s viewed rural America. We will consider the lasting impact the movement and its artists had on art by exploring connections with works currently displayed as part of the Anna Bemis Palmer Museum art exhibition. About Presenter: Jacqueline graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a Master’s in Art History. She has worked as an adjunct instructor at Southeast Community College, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and University of Nebraska-Omaha. She has also held positions at Sheldon Museum of Art and Lincoln City Libraries. She currently works as an academic advisor in the College of Fine and Performing Arts at University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Date: Saturday, July 20th 3-4PM Location: Anna Bemis Palmer Museum (520 North Grant Avenue) Program: Music of the Plains Dr. Clark Roush will share anecdotes and music from Nebraska and America’s western expansion. Come enjoy an exploration of American folk music. About Presenter: Dr. Clark Roush recently finished his 38th year at York University. Before that he taught K-12 in Walnut, IA for four years. He is currently the administrator for the Nebraska Arts Council (NAC) designated York Creative District and is a gubernatorial appointee to the NAC board of directors. |
Come to the Anna Bemis Palmer Museum on Saturday, April 27th from 1-2pm to learn how to draw Maze Art! Supplies will be provided and all ages are welcome to participate.
This class will be taught by York resident Eric Eckert, who has broken the Guinness Book of World Records for the "Largest Hand-Drawn Maze" three times! The most recent submission was more than a thousand square feet, took 160 hours and used up 160 sharpies! |
Join us for a free concert at the York City Auditorium (612 North Nebraska Avenue) on February 17th at 1PM.
Special guest, the 1st Nebraska Volunteers Brass Band, will be wearing Union infantry uniforms while playing musical arrangements from the Civil War on authentic Civil War-era instruments. This performance will also include a narration sharing Civil War stories. This 15-member musical ensemble, based out of Omaha, represents the original 1st Nebraska Volunteer Infantry Regiment from 1861-1862 and has performed at several events and festivals, keeping alive the wonderful heritage of Civil War music and brass bands. Several members in the group hold graduate degrees in music. |
WW2 POW Camps in NebraskaCome join us on January 27th from 2-3PM at the Anna Bemis Palmer Museum (520 North Grant Avenue, York) to learn about a wildly overlooked chapter of Nebraska History, the German-captured Prisoners of War that were held all throughout Nebraska and the Midwest.
Speaker Micah Huyser will cover the origins of why POWs were sent to the heartlands, and what life was like once they arrived. One of the primary camps in the region, Camp Atlanta, housed a total of 4,500 POW at one given time, but saw over 100,000 POWs through its gate between 1943 to 1946. It managed 16 satellite camps around South Central Nebraska and Northern Kansas. Micah Huyser is the Executive Director at the Nebraska Prairie Museum in Holdrege Nebraska. He is on the boards for the Nebraska Museum Association and Mountain-Plains Museums Association. |
"Vibe at 5" at the Palmer Museum
November 16, 2023 4:30-6:00pm CALLING ALL VETERANS!
If you're a veteran and interested in sharing your story or answering questions from museum visitors please reach out to us via our contact page - we would love to have you in attendance for Vibe at 5 on the Thursday after Veteran's Day. We will have a hot cocoa bar plus patriotic treats! |
Anna Bemis Palmer Museum
520 North Grant Avenue
York, Nebraska 68467 402-366-2788 |