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Museum Features Family Tractor Collection
The Legacy of the Plains Museum in Gering, Neb., features stunning views of Scotts Bluff National Monument, an 80-acre working farm, and a remarkable collection of pioneer artifacts.
“The Museum was created in 2013 with the merger of the North Platte Valley Museum and the Farm and Ranch Museum (FARM),” says muse
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Museum Features Family Tractor Collection
The Legacy of the Plains Museum in Gering, Neb., features stunning views of Scotts Bluff National Monument, an 80-acre working farm, and a remarkable collection of pioneer artifacts.
“The Museum was created in 2013 with the merger of the North Platte Valley Museum and the Farm and Ranch Museum (FARM),” says museum representative Dave Wolf. “The Krejci Collection is a great story and a wonderful addition to our museum.”
Wolf shares that the North Platte Valley Museum was founded in 1961 with a mission to focus on the history of the North Platte Valley, especially focusing on Native Americans, emigrant trails, early settlements, and the cattle industry.
FARM aims to preserve regional farming implements and equipment. The mission has expanded to include farming practices, irrigation, crops and research. FARM features a farmstead, a blacksmith shop, a maintenance shop, and more. The collection of over 1,000 items spans more than 2,000 years of human life in the North Platte Valley, making it a valuable resource for historians, agronomists, scientists and visitors alike.
“The joining of the two museums makes us a one-stop shop for anyone interested in history,” Wolf says.
The Krejci tractor collection adds to the displays. The 34-tractor collection features John Deere, Minneapolis-Moline, Allis-Chalmers, Ford, Avery, Farmall, Massey-Harris, Co-op, and an Oliver, along with a Superior grain drill by Oliver.
“George and Belva Krejci farmed east of Hemingford, Neb.,” Wolf says. “Restoring tractors was their winter project. George would get them running and painted, and Belva would then help with the detailed paint jobs and decals.”
George Krejci operated the restored tractors in parades and hosted tours for those interested in seeing them.
“He asked us if we would like to have them several years ago,” Wolf says. “We didn’t have the building to keep them out of the weather. After George passed, the family approached us again, and we agreed to take them in.”
Today, the collection is on display in the Museum’s tractor shed.
“All of them are together, and we are hoping to have identification signs on them soon.”
But there’s still more to explore once visitors have their fill of tractors.
“We receive compliments on several of our artifacts and exhibits,” Wolf says. “Our clothing, tractors, houses, home life, quilts and videos all get rave reviews.”
The Japanese Hall/Community Center has become an unexpected crowd favorite.
“Built in 1929, it served the Japanese American community until 2019 and was moved to our campus in June of 2024. It’s a great exhibit and testament to one of the cultures that helped build our area.”
The Museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Legacy of the Plains Museum, 2930 Old Oregon Trail, Gering, Neb. 69341 (ph 308-436-1989; info@legacyoftheplains.org; www.legacyoftheplains.org).
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