Fabulous Friday, March 13, 2026 at 2 p.m.: Dr. Lina Cordia “Ned Dunlap and His Ships: An Unraveling Mystery” (Trails and Rails Museum, Courtesy)
KEARNEY — Fabulous Friday, March 13, 2026 at 2 p.m.: Dr. Lina Cordia – “Ned Dunlap and His Ships: An Unraveling Mystery”
Nelson C. Dunlap, one-time foreman of Watson’s 1733 Ranch, inspired many tall tales over the past century. A so-called cowboy candidate for the state Legislature, a college graduate, a soldier, a sailor and an artist, his real-life accomplishments and his legacy – in the form of three hand carved ships – tell a more interesting story.
Generations of Kearney residents recall these ships on display at Kearney Public Library, before arriving at the Buffalo County Historical Society and Fort Kearny. Like the man, these ships have confounded the best efforts of BCHS staff to locate and correctly identify each of them. Join us for a deep dive into the unraveling mystery of these ships and the man who made them.
Dr. Lina Homberger Cordia is the Curator at the Buffalo County Historical Society/Trails & Rails Museum. She earned her doctorate in history from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and is currently completing a master’s degree in library and information sciences with an archival studies specialization from Louisiana State University. Her work has been featured in the Oregon Historical Quarterly and Library of Congress.
Q&A session will follow.
Please join us at the Trails & Rails Museum at 2:00pm on Friday, March 13th at 710 W. 11th St., Kearney, for this free event.
Please direct any questions to Andie Trembley, Community Engagement Director, atrembley@bchs.us or 308-234-3041. For more information, please visit our website, www.bchs.us, or follow us on Facebook at “BuffaloCounty HistoricalSociety.”
