Show colorful old west lives again in omaha historical museum railroad exhibit Is visual record of pioneer days i features OMAHA NEB the roaring hectic days of the old I 1 west are not dead they still iivo live III in all all their flamboyant glory in the union pacifica historical museum located in the companas comp anys headquarters building here fascinating documents maps relics weapons furniture books hb articles farm implements personal possessions and other mementos of 0 the men and events which carved an empire out of a wilderness comprise a dramatic and graphic visual record of 0 the struggles tragedies and triumphs of the pioneer west portray progress interwoven with the faded relics and ghosts of long dead pioneers and heroes of the west are arc exhibits portraying the epic record in the building of the union pacific which played an instrumental role in the westward expansion of the empire shunning away from the musty and moldering atmosphere of the typical museum idea all the exhibits are designed to preserve all the color and adventure which prevailed in the pioneer da days ys since this valuate valuable historical collection was opened to the public in 1939 approximately visitors representing every state in the union and 41 foreign countries have registered at the museum reminisce on careers bearded oldsters wander through the exhibits musing over items which recall their own picturesque careers when they and the west were young in contrast are school children and street urchins intrigued by the drama in the winning of the west side by side come scholars and business men housewives and railroad executives while during war years many a ter Ber discovered that browsing around the exhibits provided an ideal means of whiling away the seemingly endless wait for trains curator of the museum is mrs ruth kuth cultra hamilton former school teacher who has been associated with the railroad tor for many years lauds lands womans comans role true to her clan mrs hamilton admits that her one regret is that the museum collections are almost wholly a memorial to the great men of the past no one remembers those anonymous women who ranked with their men as courageous pioneers she complains to museum visitors however she can point out a few household articles which serve as mute reminders that even while heroes conquered the west someone had to cook and wn 4 ak HISTORY WAS with the rifles saddle and other equipment included in this general view of a section of the historical museum sew rear children and help with frith the farming modern day housewives stare uncomprehendingly at such primitive devices as candle molds a sauerkraut a broom of hickory splints a spinning wheel and reel dating back to 1859 typical ol of the hardships which the pioneer woman endured are exhibits of crude farm implements an awkward flail clumsy hoe and handmade barley fork the old iron dutch oven and grill in the museum once were the only cooking utensils owned by some mormon family which carried them across the plains on the historic migration from nauvoo ill to utah recall indian raids many souvenirs of the constant guerrilla warfare between the hostile indians and workmen who pushed the rails ever westward also are on display supplementing the tomahawks and arrows is the handiwork of indian women who engaged in more peaceful pursuits than their warriors included in the display are fine baskets and beadwork tobacco pouches medicine bags amulets and other articles fashioned by sioux women and decorated with embroidery ot of flattened porcupine quills dyed with roots and berries wild eyed youngsters gaze in awe at the pistols which spat flame and lead in the hectic early days but which now rest peacefully in the museums display cases many guns shown A huge 69 horse pistol Is on display along with flintlocks flint locks dating back to the american revolution and pepperbox pepper box types derringers der ringers hall ball and cap and muzzle muzzie loading types in one case are guns taken from train robbers while another case contains bullet molds cartridge loaders powder flasks flacks and horns J az J 4 4 EN ROUTE TO PROMISED LAND mormon pioneers used these crude farm implements and household utensils on their historic trek from nauvoo ill to utah shot pouches and other pieces of equipment used in pistol shooting A rare old book showing the trails from texas to eusworth ellsworth kas one of the roaring cow towns of the and a collection of branding irons highlight the mementos of the day of the cattleman and cowboy mute symbols of a still earlier day when the buffalo and bison roamed the western plains by the 4 4 W THE WILD AND WOOLLY WEST Is recreated re created for goggle eyed youngsters in this display of guns and knives millions are the watch and scissors used by old jim bridger and a money belt and autographed picture of buffalo bill cody the epic migration of pioneers over the mormon trail oregon trail and other pathways to the west is represented by many relics attracting major interest Is an original map issued to westbound pioneers showing every place across the prairies where food could be obtained and the location of blacksmiths rare and original photographs of the great emancipator hold the spotlight in an extensive lincoln collection A replica of the lincoln funeral car also is displayed tribute to rails with the building of the west irretrievably linked with the development of rail transportation the museum seum features mementos in the history of of railroading principal item is a yellowed telegram bearing a single sentence you can make affidavit of completion of road to promontory summit this message sent by grenville M dodge chief engineer to oliver ames then president of the U P signified completion of construction st work and on the following day the golden spike was driven to join the union pacific and the central pacific as the first transcontinental railroad linking the east and west |