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Friday 1pm - 4pm Sunday 1pm - 4pm

G.W. Frank Museum of History and Culture

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United States
Kearney, NE
G.W. Frank Museum of History and Culture

Free entry during our open hours
Guided tours available at 2:00pm Take a walk through Nebraska history! See the house’s ongoing restoration.

Located in a beautiful Richardsonian Romanesque mansion, the G.W. Frank Museum is part house museum, part history museum, part cultural center. Built in 1890, the opulent home of capitalists George and Phoebe Frank was among the first electrified houses in the American West. Its unique story as a once modern, stylish residence, turned rental property, sanitarium, and tuberculosis hospital offers a window into Kearney’s past – its early rise and fall, and its rebirth as a center for health and education. Exhibits, tours, and programs explore the history and culture of central Nebraska, from the Gilded Age to the present. Learn about the industrialists, factory workers, and domestic servants who experienced Kearney’s rapid boom and bust. Find out what life was like for the doctors, nurses, and thousands of patients at the Nebraska Hospital for Tuberculosis. Or simply enjoy our rotating displays of Victorian decorative art. There’s something for everyone!

09/01/2026

✨️⚜️️ Museum Vibes️ ⚜️✨️

08/24/2026

✨Welcome Back Lopers!✨
Since 1973 we've been a foundational piece of campus, first with Kearney State College and now with the University of Nebraska at Kearney, and each year we're happy to welcome the start of a new semester full of hope and possibilities, and the chance to make even more history. We're proud to consider ourself a Loper, and looking forward to working with all of our students and faculty throughout this academic year.

This photo is of the 1980 basketball team in front of the "Stone House" as it was called during the Museum's early years. Its definitely one of our favorites from the archives! Both the team AND the Frank Museum seen sporting the happenin' styles of the day 😅 Fashions have certainly changed since then!

08/08/2026

In celebration of International Cat Day today, we have a pretty great cat story we love sharing:

In 1888, visiting Rev. George Allen Beecher recalled a particularly memorable moment during a Sunday afternoon service at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Kearney. Members of the Frank family were there that day, as they belonged to St. Luke's when they lived in Kearney. During the service, a local cat decided to stroll into the church and surprise the congregation. When people tried to catch the cat it "jumped over the altar rail into the choir" and caused quite the commotion in true cat fashion. Anyone who knows cats can likely imagine the scene that unfolded. Our favorite line in the excerpt below has to be Rev. Beecher's lighthearted musings on the entire scene when he says, "Anything extreme is funny at a solemn service, and this was no exception." We can only imagine the the laughs that were shared, and we're grateful he wrote down the story for us to also enjoy over a century later. Overall, it goes to show you that cats will be cats no matter the time or place.

08/06/2026

Please join us at noon next Wednesday August 12th at the Kearney Public Library for a very special presentation by UNK History Department grad student Delaney Tracy. She'll be sharing her extensive and super interesting research on the Frank family's.....let's just say, "complicated" history with business in Kearney. You'll gain some interesting new perspectives, for sure!

The Frank Museum is happy to partner with the UNK History Department for this special event that is FREE and open to the public. For more information please visit the library's event page: https://kearney.events.mylibrary.digital/event?id=364335

07/17/2026

We loved being a part of the Kearney Public Library's super cool summer program! The two groups we hosted were the best- so much genuine interest and great discussions. Thank you again for including us!

07/07/2026

Front Door 2026 Update!!
Frank Museum Front Door has been restored and....OMG!!... Words cannot do it justice. You'll just have to come see it in person and get a first look at our newly restored front door that is now the most beautiful entryway and first impression in Kearney 😁✨️

07/04/2026

We wish you all and everyone a very Happy and Safe 4th of July! Its a great day to celebrate the United States' 250th Year, and remember the people, events, and progress that have shaped our story.

The Frank Museum will be CLOSED Saturday July 4th in observance of the national holiday. We will reopen on Sunday the 5th.

06/19/2026

The Frank Museum will be closed today 6/19 in observance and appreciation of Juneteenth.

05/22/2026

Due to unexpected damage to our main water line, the Frank Museum will be CLOSED this weekend on Saturday 5/23 and Sunday 5/24. We sincerely apologize and know that this may impact some plans for memorial day weekend. Please reach out if you have any questions, and we hope you will visit again soon!

05/11/2026

We are currently looking to hire one or two UNK students interested in being tour guides for this summer and into the upcoming Fall/Spring semesters. To apply, please log into Handshake online and search for Job #11037396. Please PM or email us any time with any questions.

Log into your Handshake account at: https://app.joinhandshake.com/login

Address

2010 University Drive
Kearney, NE
68849

Opening Hours

Friday	1pm - 4pm
Sunday	1pm - 4pm

Telephone

+13088658284

Website

http://frank.unk.edu/

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