Overland Trail Museum in Sterling Presents “A Presidential Showdown: Honest Abe vs. The Father of our Country” Feb 15

***Press Release***

There’s no better way to kick off the President’s Day weekend than to head out to the Overland Trail Museum and attend “A Presidential Showdown: Honest Abe vs. The Father of our Country,” on Saturday, February 15 from 1:00 – 3:00 PM. This fun, informative and festive President’s Day children’s program will be jam-packed with history, games, treats and surprises, as the participants will try to determine whether George Washington or Abraham Lincoln was our nation’s greatest leader. “A Presidential Showdown” is recommended for children ages 5-11, and the regular museum admission of $1.50 for children and $3.00 for adults applies. Reservations are required, as space is limited, so call the museum at 522-3895 and reserve a spot today!

Overland Trail Museum in Sterling hosting Smithsonian Exhibit October 14-November 23

The Overland Trail Museum in Sterling is offering a unique opportunity to area school children when the Smithsonian exhibit, Journey Stories, is exhibited.  The exhibit examines how transportation and migration helped build our nation, how it has changed us and how our mobile world looked to travelers along the way.

The Museum staff will be offering tours with hands-on activities FREE of charge to school children during the exhibit which will run October 14 - November 23, 2013. 

Unfortunately, transportation costs can often make it difficult for school groups to visit our facility.  We would like to offer your group/business an opportunity to help assure that our kids can experience this wonderful exhibit by helping to build a "scholarship" fund for transportation costs.  Transportation costs typically run about $150 - $200. per bus.  As we build this fund, we will be offering free or lower cost transportation to school groups and will credit your group or business as a partner with the Overland Trail Museum.

Thank you for considering a donation to this project.  Please contact Kay Rich or Perry Johnson at the Overland Trail Museum at 970-522-3895 for more information or to make your donation.

Overland Trail Museum in Sterling Closed May 14

The Overland Trail Museum in Sterling will be closed on Tuesday, May 14 to accommodate the 2013 Water Festival.  The Water Festival is sponsored by the Lower South Platte Water Conservancy District, and will welcome 375 5th graders from Sterling and surrounding area schools.  Seventeen "stations" led by area professionals will be set up around the museum and grounds to teach about a variety of subjects pertaining to our Northeast Colorado prairie home.  The Overland Trail Museum apologizes for any inconvenience this closure may cause.  Please call 522-3895 if you have any questions or concerns.

Overland Trail Museum in Sterling to Hold Cinco De Mayo Event May 4

The Overland Trail Museum in Sterling will be presenting a Cinco De Mayo event Saturday, May 4 from 9am-5pm.

The Bansa Apache Dancers will perform their native dances in the High Plains Education Center at 2pm.

Families are invited to take part in the celebration, which will include a traditional breaking of a pinata at 3pm, music, a craft, and snacks.

Children are admitted free of charge with a paying adult.  For more information call the museum at 522-3895.

Prairie School Registration at Overland Trail Museum in Sterling May 11

Prairie School registration will be held at the Overland Trail Museum in Sterling on Saturday, May 11 from 9am-12pm.  Dates for Prairie School are determined by the volunteer teachers, and will be posted the date of registration.  Prairie School is recommended for children who have finished kindergarten.  Registration must be done in person.  For more information call 522-3895.

Overland Trail Museum Summer Hours Start April 1

The Overland Trail Museum will be open Monday-Saturday from 9am-5pm, holidays from 10am-4pm, and will be closed on Sundays.  These hours will begin April 1 and continue through October 31.

"Fall Back In Time" at Overland Trail Museum in Sterling Postponed

Due to scheduling conflicts, the Overland Trail Museum is postponing the November 3 "Fall Back In Time" event.  This event will be rescheduled at a later date.  The Museum will, however, be presenting some of the historic characters planned for this event at the NJC "Ladies Lunch Out" on November 8.  Please call NJC for more information.

The Museum will host its holiday events beginning on Saturday, December 1 with "A Child's Christmas on the Prairie."  Children and families are invited to experience an old-fashioned Christmas which will include cookie decorating, Christmas caroling, and ornament making.  The Museum will also be open extended hours (5-7pm) on Tuesday December 18, Wednesday, December 19, and Thursday, December 20 for the annual "Christmas on the Prairie" open house.  Visitors will enjoy a holiday stroll through the beautifully decorated buildings and grounds, taste roasted chestnuts, join in traditional holiday carols, and have cookies and cider by the fire in the High Plains Education Center.  For more information call the Overland Trail Museum at 970-522-3895.

Winter Hours at Overland Trail Museum in Sterling

Beginning November 1, the Overland Trail Museum in Sterling will switch to winter hours.  The museum will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 4pm, and will be closed Sunday, Monday, and holidays.

Moccasin Walk Cultural Arts Program Sept. 1 at Overland Trail Museum in Sterling

***City of Sterling Press Release***

You'll want to head out to the Overland Trail Museum on Saturday, September 1, for the Native American-themed "Moccasin Walk Cultural Arts Program."  This all-day children's event will give kids the opportunity to create either a sand painting or a more conventional picture using a variety of Indian designs.

In addition, participating children can also create a Jack Rabbit Hit, which is similar to a badminton birdie and was thrown at targets by Indian children in order to sharpen their hunting skills.

Regular museum admission applies, but pre-registration is no required - simply show up any time on September 1 and your children can create a fun and interesting Indian craft which can be taken home or displayed at the museum.  Call the museum at 522-3895 for more details.

Tickets On Sale For September Tea At Overland Trail Museum In Sterling

"Love Is In The Air" will be the theme for the 7th Annual September Tea at the Overland Trail Museum, which will take place Thursday, September 13 at 2pm.  This year's tea will feature a wedding theme with displays, entertainment, and food centering around weddings throughout the ages.  Traditional tea fare will include scones, tea sandwiches, a variety of teas, and, of course, wedding cake!  A musical program will be presented by Museum Assistant, Janet Bigler.  The museum will also have on display wedding dresses dating back to the late 1800s.  Guests that would like to display their wedding dress or other wedding memorabilia are encouraged to call the museum.

Tickets are on sale for $10.  Seating is limited and tickets will sell out fast.  Please call the museum at 522-3895 to reserve your spot.  Tickets must be paid for and picked up one week prior to the event.

See and Say Collection Day June 23 at Overland Trail Museum in Sterling

On Saturday, June 23, from 10am-2pm the Overland Trail Museum in Sterling will be hosting the "See and Say Collection Day" children's event.  This special event is open to children ages 5-12 and will allow the kids to display their very favorite collections at the museum, while also sharing a few details about those items.  Whether it's baseball cards, dolls, stamps, rocks, stuffed animals, marbles, arrowheads, coins, model cars, or anything else that kids like to collect, the museum wants to display it!  Not only will the museum display the collections, but the kids will learn all about the museum donation process and will receive a commemorative souvenir of this event.

There will also be several other activities to entertain and educate the children during the day, including gold panning in the museum's very own gold panning creek and a tour of the state-of-the-art education center.  Children are also asked to bring a sack lunch, and the museum will provide a beverage and cookies.

Admission for this special event is free for all children who bring in a collection, but reservations are required, so call the museum at 522-3895 and reserve a spot today!

Overland Trail Museum Heritage Festival July 4 in Sterling

The Heritage Festival will be held at the Overland Trail Museum on Wednesday, July 4.  This annual event offers entertainment and activities for all ages.

Following the opening ceremony in front of the Museum at 10:00am, the Heidi Park stage will feature Leo Everett and the Clear Creek Cowboys, The Prairie Pickers, and local group Boots in Motion.  Dr. John Elliff will also be presenting and signing his new book, "Sterling Heroes of World War II."  "Rodeo Gal" Gail Woerner will be speaking in the new High Plains Education Center.  She is a celebrated rodeo historian and author and will be speaking on the History of Rodeo, and the History of the Rodeo Clown.

The event will also feature a variety of heritage crafters, children's activities, face painting, Gold Panning, a display from the Colorado Centennial Farms, great food and more!  An added attraction this year will be a "Bungee Bull," a real-life rodeo experience for all!

County Express will be providing free shuttle service from the Tourist Information Center and at specified times (which will be posted) free shuttle service from the Logan County Courthouse.

Lunch will be offered by the Lions Club, Foursquare Gospel Church, and the Sterling Masons.  The 125th anniversary committee from Logan County will be selling ice cream and water and commemorative coins in the Dailey Store and the boy scouts will be selling bags of popcorn.

Free admission will be offered all day at the Overland Trail Museum.  Museum hours are 10am-4pm.

Overland Trail Museum in Sterling Now On Summer Hours

***Contents Taken From City of Sterling Press Release***

The Overland Trail Museum in Sterling will be open Monday-Saturday from 9am-5pm, holidays from 10am-4pm, and will be closed on Sundays.

These hours will continue through October 31.