Historical Kearney is More Than Museums

A tourist or historian could spend weeks or months in area museums that house historical artifacts and information from The Great Platte River Road Archway Monument to the Trails and Rails Museum. But historic Kearney has much more to offer.

On the western side of Kearney, Nebraska, you'll discover The Frank House now on property owned by the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK). The George W Frank house has been restored to its original condition and offers tours, concerts, teas, lectures and recitals. The Frank House, built in 1889 of Colorado Sandstone, was one of the first places west of the Mississippi to have electrical wiring incorporated into the actual building construction. The Frank House is a prime example of the luxury, many of Kearney's earliest successful entrepreneurs used in constructing their homes.

But The Frank House isn't the only historical building saved from destruction and used for modern day living. The First Baptist Church was scheduled for demolition when a, then, new to Kearney dentist, Dr. Walter Martin, purchased the 1800's Gothic-style building. He was horrified that this piece of history would be lost. After all, the First Baptist Church was a church visited by President Truman himself.

At first, Dr. Martin considered using the historic First Baptist Church as his office. When he realized doing so would mean too many changes to the historic building, he instead restored it, carefully modernizing it without destroying the historical aspects of the building, and turned the First Baptist Church into his residence.

For his office, he purchased the Fort Theatre, which had closed down and was falling into disrepair. A historian preservationist at heart, Dr. Walter Martin, found a way to preserve the historical Fort Theatre while turning it into a very unique dental office--Fort Theatre Dentistry . The whole theme of Fort Theatre Dentistry is about movies and theater. Though Fort Theatre Dentistry is a dental office, it is one of the places I direct both residents and tourists to Kearney who have not seen how this theater has been preserved, while still using it for a thriving business.

Down the street is another must for those visiting Kearney. The Museum of Nebraska Art (MONA), is housed in what used to be the Kearney Post Office. Finished in 1891, the Kearney Post Office was a beautiful gray stone block building of the New-Classical Revival style. But when Kearney built a new, more accessible, post office, Kearney area citizens were unwilling to allow the graceful building to be torn down. In stepped those who needed a home for a Nebraska collection of art and artifacts. With the purchase of the old Kearney Post Office in 1986, the Museum of Nebraska Art (MONA) came into existence. Today MONA not only collects and preserves Nebraska art, it has become a place of cultural and educational opportunities. The MONA website states, "MONA's permanent collection reflects the history and culture of the state..."

Many of Kearney's historic buildings line main street, which is of itself, historical. Kearney has chosen to retain a main street topped with carefully laid and leveled red bricks. Restoring the brick faced roadway took time, effort and money. But today because of the restored brick road through the main part of town, downtown Kearney is called "The Bricks."

Kearney is a modern, thriving city on the plains that has learned to balance history preservation with modern living. From Fort Theatre Dentistry and MONA on The Bricks to The Frank House, Kearney offers a unique opportunity for residents and visitors alike to enjoy both history and the benefits of modern business.

http://www.nebraskahistory.org/histpres/nebraska/buffalo.htm