History Cafe at the Overland Trail Museum in Sterling

Please join the museum staff at the Overland Trail Museum in Sterling for muffins, coffee and a tour of the Smithsonian exhibit, Journey Stories. History Café will take place in the High Plains Education Center on Wednesday, April 9 and again on Wednesday, April 16 at 10am both days. An introduction to Journey Stories will be given while guests enjoy a muffin and coffee, followed by discussion and a tour of the exhibit. Guests will also have the opportunity to visit the Logan County Journey Stories exhibit in the Dave Hamil building as well as view the recent renovations and restoration in the old, original museum building. The museum has been closed due to damage sustained in the September 2013 flood and will be re-opened to the public on Saturday, April 5. Regular museum admission will be charged. Please call the museum for more information at 522-3895.

Journey Stories International Tea April 30 at the Overland Trail Museum in Sterling

A new date has been set for the Journey Stories International Tea at the Overland Trail Museum in Sterling. The tea, which was to take place last fall, will now take place at the museum in the High Plains Education Center on Wednesday, April 30 at 2 p.m. Seating is limited and tickets are currently available for $12.00 each. Because the main museum is currently closed during construction, please call to reserve your ticket at 522-3895. Once your ticket is reserved, you may pick it up at the front desk at City Hall. Guests at the tea will enjoy a truly global experience including international food, international table décor and access to the Smithsonian exhibition “Journey Stories”. Speaker, Lynne Swanson, will be portraying 19th century traveler/adventurer Isabella Bird. Please call the museum at 522-3895 for more information.

Journey Stories opens at the Overland Trail Museum in Sterling

The Overland Trail Museum is proud to announce the opening of the Smithsonian exhibition, “Journey Stories”. This exhibition shows how our evolving mobility changed a young nation. Accounts of travelers themselves express the hopes and promises of fresh starts, the grim realities of forced migrations and difficult journeys and the thrills of personal travel. The exhibit can be seen in the High Plains Education Center beginning April 5th, to be closing the weekend of May 17. Due to damage sustained in the September flood the main museum building will remain closed while construction is being completed. Visitors may enter the museum grounds through the courtyard gate by the main parking lot and proceed to the High Plains Education Center to view the exhibit. The village buildings and the High Plains Education Center will be open during regular business hours: Monday – Saturday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Regular Museum admission will be charged. Please call the museum for more information and watch for information about special programs and events surrounding this exhibit: 522-3895.

No Family Fun Saturday Activities March 1 at Overland Trail Museum in Sterling

In the aftermath of the September flood, the Overland Trail Museum remains closed to the public and there will be no “Family Fun Saturday” activities on Saturday, March 1. Please call the museum at 522-3895 if you have any questions.

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!

Christmas on the Prairie at The Overland Trail Museum in Sterling

"A Child's Christmas on the Prairie" will be held Saturday, December 7 from 1-3pm at the Overland Trail Museum in Sterling.  There will be hands-on activities, Santa, caroling, and more.  Children 12 and under get in free with a paying adult.  The Overland Trail Museum Community Open House will be held Monday, December 16, Wednesday, December 18, and Friday, December 20 from 5-7pm each night.  Step back in time as your stroll the beautifully decorated historic buildings and grounds, taste a roasted chestnut, enjoy cookies and cider by the fire, and much more.  The open house is free to the public.  These are the first public events at the Overland Trail Museum since the September flood.  Be sure to go celebrate!

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.

Overland Trail Museum offers upcoming holiday ‘gifts’ to the public

***Press Release***

Ladies Lunch Out event marks start of season

The holiday season is upon us. As we turn the calendar from October to November, the end of year rush officially begins. With tough economic times here as well, families may be looking for activities to do that are more affordable, if not wholesome. For some families, gift giving may take a back seat to simply spending quality time together. Adding the experience of learning and the gift of knowledge to any family outing only makes it better. One way to do this is to include a visit to the ever changing Overland Trail Museum to your holiday activities.  The High Plains Educational Center at the Museum has some great, inexpensive holiday activities planned.

November starts out with the Overland Trail Museum cooperating with Northeastern Junior College and the Logan County Chamber of Commerce to host the monthly Ladies Lunch Out  event on November 8. The museum staff will reenact persons from Logan County who have shaped our heritage and museum curator, Kay Rich will discuss, “Everyone Has a Story”. The admission to the museum for the luncheon is free and you will have an excellent time browsing the ever changing Overland Trail Museum. The luncheon and presentation are $10 and you can make reservations by calling NJC at 521-6900 by Tuesday, November 6.

During  “A Child’s Christmas on the Prairie”,  families will enjoy an afternoon of old-fashioned Christmas activities including cookie decorating, Christmas caroling in the country church, a Christmas story in the O’Connell house, a visit with Santa by the fireplace and ornament making.  No reservations required for this event, just show up for  “A Child’s Christmas on the Prairie” on Saturday, December 1, from 1-3 p.m. 

 The Annual Christmas on the Prairie open house will be held December 18, 19 & 20 from 5-7 p.m.  Participants may take a stroll through the beautifully decorated courtyard and village buildings at the Museum, taste a roasted chestnut and enjoy cookies and hot cider in the High Plains Education Center. This event is always free to the public.

Note these upcoming activities on your calendar. Watch for more details about these holiday happenings at the Overland Trail Museum as the dates get near. For more information, you can contact Kay Rich, Museum curator at  521-7135. The Museum is located at 20153 County Road 26, just west of the I-76 interstate exchange across from the Best Western Sundowner Hotel. 

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.

Overland Trail Museum in Sterling to Offer Bison Days August 8 and 10

***Press Release***

It's almost time for the Overland Trail Museum's premier children's event of the summer: the 5th annual "Bison Days!"  During this entertaining and informative program, we'll introduce the kids to Buffalo Bill Cody, Annie Oakley, Sitting Bull, and, of course, bison.

The program kicks off with actual film footage of Buffalo Bill Cody's famous show, "Buffalo Bill's Wild West."  This film footage is over 100-years-old and features both Buffalo Bill Cody and the world-renowned sharpshooter: Annie Oakley.

Next up is a variety of exciting Old West activities including Buffalo Bill's Pony Express Relay, the Annie Oakley Shooting Gallery, gold panning, a refreshing squirt gun competition and much more!

"Bison Days" is recommended for children ages 5-11 and runs from 10am-noon.  There are two days to choose from: Wednesday, August 8 or Friday, August 10, and regular admission applies.  Space is limited and reservations are required, so call the museum at 522-3895 and reserve your spot today!