General Crook House Museum


General Crook House Museum

GENERAL CROOK HOUSE MUSEUM

The Crook House is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and weekends from 1 to 4 p.m. Enjoy the only metro area museum open on Monday.

The Museum is the authentically restored home of General George Crook. It was constructed in 1879 and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
General Crook was a Civil War and National Indian Wars hero considered the “greatest Indian fighter in the history of the United States.’’ Fierce in battle, General Crook over time became a defender of Native American rights. Though named as the defendant in the landmark 1879 trial of Standing Bear v. Crook, many believe that General Crook helped arrange the trial for Ponca Chief Standing Bear. Crook twice served as Commander of the Department of the Platte, from 1875 to 1882 and again from 1886 to 1888.

The house is an Italianate style, which represented the no-nonsense grandeur of the military frontier. The furnishings are from the 1880 Victorian period. From early November through the end of December, the museum celebrates Nineteenth Century Holidays. The Crook House Guild, with help from area designers and design students, transforms every room in the house into a captivating glimpse of Christmas past.

Collections at this living history museum include decorative arts, costumes, art & crafts and period furnishings. Classes and a reference collection on the history and appreciation of antiques are available.

The General Crook House Museum is proud to be part of Blue Star Museums, which gives us a chance to thank our military families for their service and share with them America’s cultural treasures.
Blue Star Museums is a

partnership with the National Endowment
for the Arts, Blue Star Families, and more than 1,300 museums across America to offer free admission to all active duty military personnel and their families during the summer months. The program is effective at the Crook House from the day after Memorial Day through Labor Day (May 31 to September 5, 2011). The General Crook House Museum offers free admission to active-duty military and their immediate family members (military ID holder and up to five immediate family members). Active duty military include Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and active duty National Guard and active duty Reserve members.

VICTORIAN HEIRLOOM GARDEN

Adjoining the Museum is the Crook House Victorian Heirloom Garden, which overlooks the majestic parade ground and historic buildings of Historic Fort Omaha. Many of the more than 110 varieties of heirloom flowers, trees and shrubs are native to Nebraska. Some plants were originally carried here on wagon trains or were available by mail order catalog in the 1880s. Perennials surround four central “carpet beds” of annuals, patterned like an Oriental rug to create an outside parlor where many hours would have been spent to capture the cool breezes. Our thanks to Addie Kinghorn and Metro Community College's Horticulture students for designing and maintaining the gardens.

AFTERNOON TEAS AT THE CROOK HOUSE

The General Crook House Museum hosts teas for a minimum of 12 guests. Guests may choose from a proper afternoon tea, a dessert tea or a cream tea. Click on the bar below for descriptions of each. Teas must be booked at least two weeks in advance and number of guests confirmed four days prior to the event. Call 455-9990 for reservations and pricing information.

click on the teacup for details about each Tea

Proper Tea

Dessert Tea

Cream Tea

MUSEUM GIFT SHOP

Stop on the second floor and visit the Crook House Museum Book Store, where you will find one of the largest selections of books by and about Nebraskans anywhere in the area. The Museum shop also offers a unique collection of videos, guides and memorabilia about local history, pioneer life, Indian military history and more.

Hours: The Museum is open to the public Tuesday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m.

Guided tours for groups are available by appointment.

Admission: $5.00 adults ($6 mid-November through December), $3.00 children ages 6-12, $4.00 students, free for members of the Society. (Prices may be higher for special exhibits.)

The Museum is available for private functions such as weddings, receptions or teas.

Contact 402-455-9990, to arrange tours or private functions.
or house@omahahistory.org