The Superior Express -

While the Nuckolls County Museum has been closed to the public because of the pandemic, the staff and volunteers have been busy. They have been going through the many letters, documents and artifacts stored at the museum and making plans as to the best way to present them to the public. Then came the question, how can we fund changes to make the museum’s information easily accessible to the public during a pandemic like COVID-19?

Janice Fullerton, a member of the board, has been writing grant applications to help with funding for technology. She said technology is one way the museum can help display the history of Nuckolls County and its people. She was assisted by Kelly Bouray, who gathered information for Fullerton to use for the grant writing. They have applied for 10 grants so far. Recently they received a $5,623 grant from Humanities Nebraska as pandemic relief money to help with the museum’s closure because of COVID-19. Their goal is to raise $26,000 to purchase iPads and programs to create YouTube videos of primary sources stored at the museum that most people would never get to see. Technology will help the museum present history in an easy format. For instance, walking into the museum can be overwhelming if searching for one specific topic. Computer assistance can help to easily pinpoint where to find desired information. While one walks through the museum, an iPad could be used to add more information on the displays.

The museum has a large amount of reference material that has been overlooked or forgotten. In one file is Lady Vestey’s horticulture class portfolio of 100 plant specimens and her report on each. The plants are well preserved and the reports all handwritten. The museum board is hoping to use technology to make these easily available to the public.

Technology can help the museum broaden its base and be more accessible. The staff hopes to record audio history from community members. Virtual tours can be made of the museum to help tell the history of Nuckolls County. Technology can help with education for virtual schooling and story trunks. The museum has a new webpage and gmail account.

Board members hope to open the museum at the first of the year. They have had a lot of time to plan and work on displays for the future, but their income is down because they have been closed. The annual Christmas trees and church service will not be held this year. They have received a sizable donation, but they still have a long way to go to reach their goal of $26,000 to help with their plans for technology to tell the story of Nuckolls County. Donations are welcome.