Although the Nebraska National Guard Museum was built for the benefit of everyone across the state, Seward has fully adopted the museum as its own since 2014.
“People were surprised when the museum came here. There was a list of several cities that it could have gone to,” Jerry Meyer, the museum historian, said. “But Seward outweighed them in a lot of categories, like volunteerism.”
Meyer said that staffing was a big uncertainty when the museum was brought to Seward—how could it be sustained with one or two full-time employees when five or six is the ideal?
The answer came in the form of overwhelming community support.
“We have 32 docents that are trained to come in on Saturdays and do this,” Meyer said. “You wouldn’t have gotten that in other communities.”
Meyer, who retired from the military in 2016 and has been working with the museum for 11 years, also spent 15 years as a history teacher.
“I’m very big into outreach and student involvement in the museum,” Meyer said.
The museum offers a variety of events, bringing in historical actors during the Fourth of July, participating in the Fourth parade and hosting the Run to St. Lo memorial run and walk.
Meyer said the Run to St. Lo event is special because it helps educate people about what St. Lo was—the site of 53 Nebraskan soldiers’ deaths during World War II. As runners and walkers follow the route, they pass by signs honoring those soldiers who helped liberate St. Lo, France.
The museum offers free entrance to all, giving the public access to a variety of exhibits. These include a world-class weapons collection, including the gun that Gary Anderson, a previous member of the Nebraska National Guard, used to win the gold medal in shooting at the 1964 Olympics.
Another impressive sight at the museum is a Higgins boat, one of only nine known to still exist. These boats were instrumental to the Allied Forces’ success during World War II.
Many of the exhibits would not be possible without the help of locals. For example, the Higgins boat was transported to the museum from California with the help of Greg and Terri Whisler of Whisler Aviation.
Before she died, Virginia Cattle helped fund many of the museum’s projects, including a $75,000 donation for the replica aircraft hanging in the main floor.
As for the sculpture that stands outside the entrance to the museum, that was donated by Hughes Brothers.
“Who gifts you a hundred-some-thousand dollar piece of art?” Meyer said.
Adding further to the museum’s collection, Dave Geis took it upon himself to restore a M29C Weasel vehicle. Meyer reports that Geis sanded the Weasel by hand and did all of the restoration for free.
“I didn’t ask him to, he just did,” Meyer said. “That’s the kind of people we have here in Seward that just believe in the mission of what we’re doing here.”
During Seward County Gives 2025, the museum surpassed their $2,000 goal, raising money for the “Commanders in Chief” exhibit that was dedicated on the Fourth. The exhibit tells the story of the relationship between the Governor and the Nebraska National Guard, displaying uniforms worn by governors, challenge coins given out by governors and more.
“We’re supported real well,” Meyer said.
To learn more about the NE National Guard Museum, visit their website at nengm.org.
