We found a story the other day, on the green bench outside our door, anonymously drawn by our “Open” sign. It was patiently waiting to be noticed and brought inside, where it sits on a golden oak deacon’s chair, quietly watching me. Our story’s name is written in gold letters on its sleek black surface: Remington Standard, #12. It is black with beautiful ivory keys. Every day since it came, I wonder about the stories written by Remington since her birth in 1922. Wikipedia

In 2016, Congress passed legislation, the National Bison Legacy Act, which named the hoofed beast as a “historical symbol of the United States” and established it as the nation’s landmark mammal. The Bison. Not the Buffalo. Sorry Buffalo, you are a different animal that only lives in Asia and Africa. Early American settlers probably called bison “bufello" because French fur trappers called these huge animals boeufs due to their similarity to oxen. Julia Child made a deliciou

Painting by Aurora native Bill Moderow. As you begin your journey through yesterday, walk through the covered wagon and enter the Plainsman Museum. You'll see a large loom, a log cabin, and the sod house. Now, a sod house was constructed with little cost, and was cool throughout the summer and warm in the winter. Our sod house here in the Plainsman is typical of the sod houses built by the early pioneer in Hamilton County. The walls of the soddie were an average of 10" thick

The magnitude of responsibility that we have here at the Plainsman Museum, to preserve the stories of Hamilton County, became very real to us one afternoon several years ago. A woman came to the museum with her granddaughter and in her possession was a beautiful china doll given to her when she was 4 years old. The doll was in perfect condition and you could tell by the way she held it, even then, that it was a most precious belonging. She proceeded to tell the story of the

Coronado Comes to the Plains - 1541 by Ernest Ochsner Francisco Vásquez de Coronado explored the American Southwest and the Great Plains from 1540 to 1542. Coronado's journey gave the European world their first knowledge of these unexplored lands. Coronado and the Spanish were probably the first Europeans in the region. Mallet Brothers Cross Nebraska - 1739 by Sidney King (1906-2004) The Mallet Brothers were French explorers who were some of the first Europeans to see the Gr

Museums are the best first date spots ever. Inexpensive, and halls lined with conversation starters. Museums give you a chance to meander without feeling overwhelmed or rushed. It's a perfectly dreamy way to get to know someone. Time travel is cool, right? Take a deep breath, casually suggest to the guy/gal of your dreams that a leisurely stroll through yesterday at The Plainsman on Saturday afternoon might be fun. Then follow this guide to a perfect first date. 10 Steps t

Local military veterans (Heroes) and 11th grade American History students at Aurora High School (Huskies) have been paired together to share and learn about service and sacrifice for our country. The brain child of Aurora teachers Brenda Klawonn and Tim Elge, the object of this project to establish relationships with community members and to record the veterans' stories about their military experiences. Visit the Gallery of Heroes, and read the Field Notes to discover how the