Museum
The Otoe County Museum of Memories consists of four buildings at 366 Poplar Street. A variety of historical attractions are available at the museum. The Otoe County Museum Society was organized Nov. 9, 1972. The main building is the former First Lutheran Church, which was dedicated Nov. 20, 1881. The church, built for $1,500, was a daughter church of First Lutheran Church, North Branch, near Avoca.
Today, the downstairs rooms in the parsonage display vintage furnishings in the kitchen and parlors. Upstairs is an old-fashioned bedroom. The Thomas Edison room exhibits the beginning of movies, electric lights, the phonograph and many other things. The Otoe County room has the desk and sofa that were used by the Otoe County Commissioners for many years. A map on the wall shows every landowner in Otoe County in 1870.
The church has five display rooms: an old-time butcher shop, a carriage room with sleigh, a country store made from cottonwood logs, a loom room which also includes a section of the 1912 Syracuse switchboard from the telephone office, and a doctor’s office.
Museum Board
Co-Presidents –Judy Moore & Jan Zeiger
Treasurer – Lori Carper
Secretary – Lael Spaeth
Record Keeper – Jennie Bennett
Historian – Judy Moore