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Tecumseh, Nebraska

The Johnson County Historical Society Museum complex consists of three historic buildings with the main building and the rural schoolhouse located at one site and the Old Jail standing on its original location nearby. The main museum is housed in the historic Christian Church that was built in 1888 with pews from the original church, an organ, and pulpits displayed at the front of the building. Adjacent to the church is the restored District 73 schoolhouse.

The church building includes a variety of exhibits, many of which are displayed in free-standing cases. Significant displays include a collection of farm toys, the McCrosky Collection of statuettes and fans, china and household items, quilts, and military artifacts. The basement includes collections of farm implements and tools, Indian artifacts, and an early kitchen display.

  • 1200-1450 AD Indian Pottery
  • Glass from the late 1700s
  • 1800 English Blue Willow dishes
  • 1833 Antique Clock
  • 1863 large Sherman Family Bible
  • Edison Cylinder Phonograph with horn
Other items include a collection of dolls, glassware, band instruments from the Tecumseh Military Band, many Indian artifacts, numerous pictures of residents, scenes of towns in the county, the Ingersoll unicycle, Frederick Prill emigrant trunk from Germany, a picture of the Civil War Andersonville prison, Donald J. Van Winkle's tractor collection, vintage clothing, biographical writings of prominent Johnson County residents, the papers of Col. Barney Oldfield, the story of the 17-year-old, 4-H club member who developed high-yield Hybrid Seed corn, becoming Dr. Charles O. Gardner, and recognized nationally and internationally for his genetic research in agronomy, plus numerous other exhibits on display.

Records of all Johnson County cemeteries and the obituaries from 1900 to 1939 are on file. There is much history about Johnson County and its residents that is recorded in the libraries on file as well as copies of the various Johnson County Newspapers.

Attractions and Upcoming Events

Barney Oldfield Exhibit

Johnson County has a very well-known citizen in the person of Col. Barney Oldfield. Col. Oldfield started his military career with an ROTC membership when he was attending the University of Nebraska where he graduated in 1933

Tecumseh, NE Museums

Chief Tecumseh

The town of Tecumseh, Nebraska was named after the great Shawnee (Shawenese) Indian Chief Tecumseh born in 1768. At the moment of his birth a comet flashed low across the sky. His father, who was a respected Shawnee warrior named Puckesinwa, named his son "Tecumseh" or "

Tecumseh, NE Indian Heritage

Johnson County Historical Society Museum

The Johnson County Historical Society Museum complex consists of three historic buildings with the main building and the rural schoolhouse located at one site and the Old Jail standing on its original location nearby. The main museum is housed in the historic Christian Church that was built in 1888

Tecumseh, NE Museums

Tecumseh City Hall

Tecumseh's city hall was erected in 1890, at the cost of just over $4,000, and is another of the fanciful architectural treasures of the historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places

Tecumseh, NE National Register

Memorial Cannon

This replica of a World War I cannon stands on the west courthouse lawn in memory of the USS Maine destroyed in the Havana Harbor, February 15, 1898.

Tecumseh, NE Memorials

Things to do near Tecumseh, NE

Historic Seven Trails

In the early development of Tecumseh and Johnson County seven historic trails criss-crossed the county as commerce and tra...

Frontier Trails Across Gage County

The Oregon Trail enters Nebraska and crosses the southwest corner of Gage County. In ...