Trails and Rails Museum, Buffalo County Historical Society, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
KEARNEY — Each spring, Kearney Public Schools’ fourth-grade students take a step back in time to experience life in the 1800s during Pioneer Days at the Trails and Rails Museum.
This year’s event will take place from April 28 through May 7, offering students a hands-on enrichment experience that brings their Nebraska history curriculum to life.
Now in its 26th year, Pioneer Days is a beloved KPS tradition. Students spend the day dressed in pioneer attire and rotate through a series of immersive activities set throughout the museum’s historic buildings. From punching tin in the Blacksmith shop to handwriting lessons in a one-room schoolhouse, the day is packed with opportunities for students to explore pioneer life in authentic and meaningful ways.
“This day brings our curriculum to life—it is living history,” shared one KPS teacher. “Students remember what they’ve learned because they’ve lived it.”
Additional activities include making cornhusk dolls and marble bags in the historic Freighter’s Hotel, creating beadwork in the Native American tipi, and enjoying a traditional pioneer lunch of beef stew and cornbread. Students also tour the Shelton Depot and steam locomotive, learn about 19th-century travel and communication, and end the day with classic pioneer games in the schoolyard.
The success of Pioneer Days is made possible by the dedication of numerous volunteers, including museum staff, retired educators, and KPS parents. Their contributions create a memorable and educational experience for every child who attends.
Pioneer Days 2025 Schedule:
- April 28 – Glenwood & Buffalo Hills
- April 29 – Northeast
- April 30 – Central
- May 1 – Meadowlark
- May 2 – Kenwood
- May 5 – Emerson & Bryant
- May 6 – Park
- May 7 – Windy Hills
All activities take place at Trails and Rails Museum, located at 710 West 11th Street, Kearney.
