museum live Access
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museum live episodes (season 5)
EPISODE 1 – 9/16/24
Theme: Constitution Day
We kick off the new season by sharing facts on Constitution Day, which celebrates the adoption and official signing of the US Constitution. This week’s show includes an appearance from a special guest from the USS Constitution Museum in Boston, and we show off some neat and rare documents once collected by Omaha’s Byron Reed. Professor Durham has lots of great history to share, too!
EPISODE 2 – 9/23/24
Theme: Hispanic Heritage Month
Join us as we celebrate the histories, cultures and contributions of the Hispanic community. Learn about the impact of the stockyards in South Omaha, the legacy of Omaha native “Babe” Gomez and more. Dr. Mireya Loza of Georgetown in Washington D.C., tells the history of Latino women in journalism, while Professor Durham shares one of his favorite books, which highlights Supreme Court justice Sonia Sotomayor.
EPISODE 3 – 9/30/24
Theme: Agriculture
This week’s episode focuses on the history of Agriculture. Join us as we explore the Great Plains in the early 1800s and life in a log cabin in the early 1900s. Learn more about the state’s history in farming with our friends from the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, and find out what impact the railroad made on the cattle industry in the 19th century in a visit with the National Museum of American History. We have some cool show-and-tell items, too, including a scythe that Professor Durham loves to talk about!
EPISODE 4 – 10/07/24
Theme: Maps and Navigation
This week, we navigate our way through the fascinating world of maps! We are joined by Dr. Paul Johnston from the National Museum of American History, who discusses charts and their importance to sea travel. Our Collections team shares how we used maps to navigate the Interstate road system, while our Exhibit Exploration segments take us back in time to the Transcontinental Railroad and the travels of Lewis & Clark. Oh, and don’t miss a special item in Professor Durham’s pocket segment!
EPISODE 5 – 10/14/24
Theme: Communication
Hold the phone (or your favorite communication device)! This episode is sure to excite your class! We’re joined by our friends from the National Museum of American History, who share some fun research projects, including a show-and-tell of Mr. Rogers’ cardigan. Our Collections team shares some fun objects from our permanent collection, including a telegraph machine while our Exhibit Exploration segment highlights an old printing press located right here at the museum.
EPISODE 6 – 10/21/24
Theme: History of Omaha
Think you know Omaha? This episode takes students on an adventurous ride through the history of Nebraska’s biggest city. We revisit some of the most notable events of Omaha’s past like the Trans-Mississippi Exposition in 1898 and the Schoolhouse Blizzard of 1888, while our Collections team shows some cool photos and items from Omaha’s 100th birthday celebration. Our friends at Morrill Hall at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln turn the clock way back to when some unique animals roamed the area.
EPISODE 7 – 10/28/24
Theme: Halloween
Time for a scary-fun learning experience! This week we take a spooktacular look at one of our favorite holidays. We are joined by Ben Ross of the Omaha’s Children Museum, as well as our friends with the Nebraska State Historical Society, who highlight some scary objects. The National Museum of American History tells some fun history behind scary movies and our KETV weather segment shares fun Halloween weather facts. And there’s more!
EPISODE 8 – 11/04/24
Theme: S.T.E.A.M.
We’re combining our love of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics into one fun episode! We’ll visit the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C., to see some fascinating art. Our friends from the Kiewit Luminarium share a fun science experiment, while our Collections team pushes all the right keys about technology. And don’t miss how math and art played a role in the construction of our very own building — Omaha’s Union Station!
EPISODE 9 – 11/11/24
Theme: Native American Heritage Month
This week’s episode celebrates the history and cultures of Native American nations, including those in Nebraska. We turn to our friends at Morrill Hall at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for the history behind the “pow wow.” Our Collections team shares a fascinating object, a Dakota Tribe dictionary, while our Exhibition Exploration segments take viewers to our Native American display to learn more, including the lasting impact made by Chief Standing Bear.
EPISODE 10 – 11/18/24
Theme: Thanksgiving
This week, we have an appetite for learning about one of our country’s most popular holidays! We are joined by Abby Anderson of Lauritzen Gardens, who talks about plants related to Thanksgiving, while our Collections team highlights some vintage postcards and menus from the past. We’re also talking holiday travel from our very own lounge car. What role did trains play during the busy travel season?
EPISODE 11 – 11/25/24
Theme: Traditions
Traditions and history go hand and hand, which is why we are super-excited about this week’s episode! Our friends from the Natural Museum of American History highlight traditions from their Indian Congress exhibition, and we’re joined by a special guest from the Nebraska State Historical Society, who shows us just how old the tradition of baking cookies really is. We also hear about the tradition of the Poinsettia tree at Lauritzen Gardens. Of course, it’s not a traditions episode without The Durham Museum sharing the history of our favorite tradition — Christmas at Union Station!
EPISODE 12 – 12/02/24
Theme: Weather & Winter
Brrrrr! It’s getting cold outside! Luckily, you can enjoy this “cool” episode from the comfort of your classroom. We start in the KETV weather studio where we learn some new winter terms. Lauren Walker from Fontenelle Forest talks about how animals here in Nebraska adapt to the cold, while our friends from Morrill Hall at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln explore how weather affects our behaviors. Show-and-tell with our Collections team reveals a pair of skates from the mid-1800s, while our Exhibit Exploration segments discover how pioneers and Native Americans survived the brutal winter months.
EPISODE 13 – 12/09/24
Theme: Electricity
This is our most “electric” episode yet! Join us as we explore the world of electricity. Dr. Hal Wallace with the National Museum of American History shows some fascinating objects from the early era of electricity, while we ride along for a fun science experiment with our friends from the Kiewit Luminarium. Our weather segment strikes with lighting, and inside the museum we explore just how much electricity it takes to power the region’s largest indoor Christmas tree for the holiday season.
EPISODE 14 – 1/06/25
Theme: Gold Rush & Migration
Travel back with us to the Gold Rush era! Amy Sandeen with the Crane Trust talks about the amazing migrations of the Sandhill Cranes through Nebraska. Our Exhibition Exploration segments stop by two of our signature exhibits, including our Conestoga wagon, to talk about transportation in the 18th and 19th centuries. A shoe brush from our Collections team sparks a fascinating look at outfitting posts.
EPISODE 15 – 1/13/25
Theme: Celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr.
Join us for a very special episode where we celebrate and explore the impact of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. Special guests from the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tennessee, and the National Museum of American History share stories and objects related to MLK and his legacy. We’ll take learners to our Conflict and Change exhibit at The Durham to talk about the local civil rights impact made by Mildred Brown and the DePorres Club. Finally, we welcome Stephon Ferguson, who reenacts a portion of Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
EPISODE 16 – 1/27/25
Theme: Natural History
Get ready for a fun trip around the world of natural history! Our friends from KETV will have you looking up at the sky for a planetary parade. The Exhibit Exploration team takes a closer look at the Missouri River’s impact on the development of Omaha, while the Nebraska History Museum shares the evolution of some notable animal species through time. A special guest from the Hastings Museum has some cool rocks to show off. You can say that this episode rocks!
EPISODE 17 – 2/3/25
Theme: Black History Month
In this episode, we explore and celebrate national and local contributions of African Americans throughout history. Our Exhibit Exploration segments discuss the Pullman Porters and the history of Black educators in Omaha, and we share some notable items related to the late Mildred Brown, one of Omaha’s biggest civil rights activists. We are joined by Eric Ewing, the Executive Director of the Great Plains Black History Museum in Omaha, as well as a curator with the National Museum of American History, who discusses the connection between the Grammy Awards and notable jazz singer Ella Fitzpatrick.
EPISODE 18 – 2/10/25
Theme: Valentine’s Day
We hope you love this episode of Museum Live! We’re joined by a special guest with the National Museum of American History, who shares some fascinating objects related to telegraphs and communication. Our Collections team shows off Valentine’s Day cards from the late 19th century, while our Exhibit Exploration team highlights the “sweet” history of Omaha’s Buffett Grocery Store. And, of course, we’re joined by our favorite Valentine, Professor Durham.
EPISODE 19 – 2/17/25
Theme: Presidents’ Day
We’re celebrating our country’s most notable leaders. A curator with the National Museum of American History shares fun objects related to US Presidents, including a fishing rod belonging to President Cleveland, while a special guest with the Allen County Library in Indiana shares the history of Abraham Lincoln’s “many hats.” Our Exhibit Exploration segment takes us to the Cornhusker Club Railcar as we dive into the history of presidents and trains. Last but not least, our Collections team shows a fun presidents puzzle.
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