The original museum was built as a private home in 1900. The house was donated to the Historical Society in 1964 by the A. K. Lammers daughters. Since that time, the Society has collected a wealth of Nebraska heritage to display in the facility. The museum complex also includes a genuine log cabin and a carriage house on the premises.
The new 40-by-60 foot building houses antique machinery and horse drawn buggies. The museum also houses Hartington's first fire engine and a restored Model T. The new exhibit hall is located directly east of the current museum.