The mission of the Gage County Historical Society is to preserve, enhance, and showcase the unique history of Gage County by connecting our stories to develop appreciation throughout the wider community.
Gage County Historical Passport
May 1- September 30, 2025.
Experience Gage County History & Earn Prizes!
Document your adventure by getting your passport stamped at each participating historical place in Gage County or submit a selfie electronically. If you make it to 7 places, you will receive a participant prize. October 15, 2025, is the deadline for submissions. Each entry will be automatically entered into a drawing for a prize from the Gage County Tourism.
You can pick up a passport at these participating places:
- Gage County Historical Society and Museum in Beatrice.
- Stone Hollow Brewery in Beatrice.
- Great Plains Welsh Heritage Centre in Wymore.
- Terry's Steakhouse in Virginia.
Coming Soon!
"Images of America: Beatrice" by Gage County Historical Society and Museum published by Arcadia Publishing.
Pre Order sites
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/beatrice-gage-county-historical-society-and-museum/1146483696
Arcadia Publishing: https://www.arcadiapublishing.com/products/9781467162364?srsltid=AfmBOoq_kS7mgoXhJMoxUdAehRB-_asqvR2Oha59iGNp5Y4l8RMsUK-C
On-site purchase opportunities at the museum (cost will be significantly cheaper)
May 23, 2025, Members Only Sneak Peak of “170 years of Gage County History through Photography” 5:00pm- 7:00pm. We will be selling books throughout the night.
May 24, 2025, Opening Day of “170 years of Gage County History through Photography.” 10:00am- 4:00pm. We will be selling books throughout the day.
June 19-22, 2025, - Homestead Days- We will be selling the book throughout the week. As well as a special pop-up shop at the Carnegie during the Charles Park Jamboree from 12:00pm-3:00pm on June 21.
Keep an eye out for our summer exhibit:
"170 Years of Gage County Through Photography"
Opening May 24, 2025, we will be honoring photographers throughout the county who have taken pictures of our history. We will also be honoring new and upcoming photographers as well. Throughout the summer, the historical society will offer photography classes and classes on how to preserve your photos. Culminating in our Annual Banquet with a presentation from a well-known Nebraskan photographer.
Help Restore the Historic 1906 CB&Q Burlington Depot
The last major masonry work on the 1906 CB&Q Burlington Depot was completed in the 1990s. Since then, decades of Nebraska weather have taken their toll. To preserve the historical integrity of this treasured landmark—and to prevent further deterioration and rising repair costs—critical masonry repairs are now urgently needed.
Scope of Repairs Needed:
Brick Repairs:
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Restore brick columns at the east canopy and above the east garage door.
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Address various brick issues on the west side, including above the window lintel.
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Repair brick at the southwest pier.
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Remove failing caulking at brick step joints in the northeast corner and replace with mortar.
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Repair the concrete threshold at the northeast doors.
Limestone Repairs:
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Repair four limestone base blocks at the east canopy.
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Restore damaged stonework on the east, west, and north elevations.
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Includes two major repairs to west side base stones.
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All stone repairs will use specialized limestone mortar from Cathedral Stone Products.
Repointing:
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Repoint the north wall of the main east entry and the east canopy columns.
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Additional repointing work around the building’s perimeter.
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All repointing will use historical Type O mortar to ensure historical accuracy.
Additional Work:
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Wash down of brick surfaces.
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Scaffolding, cleanup, and protection of existing architectural features included.
Funding Needs:
The total cost for this restoration project is $37,304.
Thanks to generous support from the 2024 Year-End Appeal and the Gage County Settler’s Fundraiser in March, we’ve raised $4,959.76 so far. Although we applied for a grant from the Nebraska State Historical Preservation Office, we were not selected this cycle.
How You Can Help:
We are now reaching out directly to the community for support. Your contribution will help us preserve this piece of Nebraska’s railroad and architectural heritage for future generations. Every dollar brings us closer to protecting this historic landmark.
Help Us Preserve a Landmark: Filley Stone Barn Needs You
Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, we’ve made major strides in restoring the Filley Stone Barn, one of Gage County’s most iconic and historically significant structures. With your help, we raised $8,014 through Big Give Gage 2022, and an additional $16,149 from memorial gifts, local businesses, and private donors. These funds allowed us to:
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Rebuild damaged window wells
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Repair the barn door tracks
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Add a protective eave to keep rain out
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Give the barn a much-needed fresh coat of paint
- First round of Masonry work
But during our first round of masonry work, our contractor uncovered more damage than expected—hidden structural issues that threaten the long-term integrity of the barn. A new quote for the next phase of repairs came in at $24,813.
We’ve already begun raising funds through our Filley Stone Barn Chocolate Bar fundraiser and private donations, but we need your help to close the gap. So far, we’ve raised $456.07 toward this urgent goal.
This barn is more than just a building—it’s a physical link to our agricultural past, and a gathering place for our future. With your support, we can preserve it for generations to come.
👉 Here’s how you can help:
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Make a tax-deductible donation online https://secure.qgiv.com/for/filleystonebarn/ or by mail.
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Share this campaign with family and friends.
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Support our fundraising events throughout the summer- see our event calendar for more details.
Every dollar brings us closer to saving this piece of Gage County history.
Donate today—your gift makes a lasting difference.
Buy merchandise in our Gift Shop.
