NEBRASKA
Three years and 140,000 miles later, Mr. and Mrs. Jensen saw the
items they had gathered completely restored, arranged in groups and
also in chronological order of their development, ready for public
viewing.
Since the opening day, June 6, 1953, more than 150,000 have
marveling at the comprehensive way that the displays have been
arranged. No item is duplicated, since the scope of this museum is
so great that only ‘one of each’ could be included.
Some antique lovers criticized Warp when he began cleaning,
repainting and mending the items he had acquired. But, according to
Warp, these people missed the point of the whole display. He wanted
the items to appear as they were when they were being used. So far
as possible, the items included in the display are in operating
condition.
Two men have worked continuously restoring the items and about
20 people are on the payroll. Pioneer Village is operated on a
non-profit basis, but Warp does hope to have it become
self-supporting. Therefore, adults are charged 50c, children 25c-a
fee intended to maintain the Village, not to gain profit.
In strolling from building to building, arranged in circular
formation behind the huge main building which faces the highway,
visitors can see the wondrous development of transportation,
communication, agriculture, home appliances, guns, clocks, cameras,
musical instruments and illumination.
Unfolded before visitors’ eyes are 5 period kitchens,
ranging from 1830 to 1930, complete with authentic, original
equipment, 14 craft shops, replicas of a country doctor’s
office, barber shop, drug store, harness shop, a printing plant,
and others.
Here, too, is the Warp collection of John Roger’s sculpture.
Rogers, considered one of America’s greatest sculptors, created
80 known pieces-38, including his first, ‘Checkers up at the
Farm,’ are found at the Village.
Twenty original paintings by Jackson, internationally known
Western artist, are exhibited.
Visitors at this unique village of the past can go on and on,
marveling at each exhibit, which so authentically portrays our
pioneer history. Open 7 days a week, it attracts tourists from many
states and serves as a lasting tribute to our forefathers, whose
initiative and ingenuity paved the way for our modern way of
life.
