FALL 2022
The iconic wardrobe
of Downton Abbey
™
on display
PAGES 4-5
Downton at The Durham:
Get Your Event Tickets!
PAGE 6
Hall of Heroes:
Newly Announced Exhibit
PAGE 9
Spooktacular Halloween Fun
PAGE 10
Letter from the Executive Director
3 Letter from the Executive Director
4 Dressing the Abbey Exhibition
8 Current Exhibits
9 A Look Ahead
10 Halloween
11 Upcoming Events
12 Educational Programming
14 Collections Highlight
15 Calendar of Events
Admission $13: Adults
$10: Seniors (62+) and Military/Veteran
$7: Children (3-12)
FREE: Members and children 2 & under
Fall Hours SEPTEMBER–NOVEMBER
Sunday: Noon-4PM
Monday: Closed
Tuesday - Saturday: 10AM-4PM
Closed Major Holidays
Address 801 South 10th Street
Omaha, Nebraska 68108
Contact Phone: 402-444-5071
Website: DurhamMuseum.org
Contents
DurhamMuseum.org 3
Letter from the Executive Director
“At my age, one must ration one’s excitement.”
Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham
The historical TV drama series Downton Abbey
™
has wowed
audiences from across the country since it rst aired in the
United States on PBS in 2011. While I was aware of its initial (and
continued) popularity, I did not have much interest in the series
until our team expressed excitement about bringing Dressing the
Abbey to The Durham Museum. Citing complex and fascinating
character stories, set against a backdrop of signicant historical
events, it became clear that this exhibit would resonate with
a larger audience than I had anticipated. Of course, I knew I
would need to nd some time to get familiar with the series
and the characters who donned the featured costumes, and
a required quarantine provided the perfect opportunity. Only minutes into the rst episode
and I was hooked. The writing, the characters and, yes, the costumes created an immersive
and educational experience that left me wanting more. We are beyond excited to bring these
costumes and a part of Downton Abbey
™
to the Omaha community.
Of course, we are always excited when a new exhibition makes its way to The Durham. This year,
the museum is celebrating its 20th Anniversary as an afliate of the Smithsonian Institution. In
a sense, it was this partnership that launched our traveling exhibition program. For those who
have been with us since 2002, you may recall our very rst national display entitled American
Originals: Collections from the Smithsonian. This exhibit brought 120 historic objects to the
midwest from the “world’s largest museum, education, and research complex.” In total, we have
hosted 14 exhibitions from the Smithsonian over the past 20 years. That’s a lot of history! Please
help us celebrate this milestone by joining us for special programming in the months ahead.
As always, we appreciate your continued investment in our efforts. Your support provides the
necessary resources to do what we do both “upstairs and downstairs” and we cannot ration
our excitement for all that you do for The Durham Museum. We look forward to welcoming
you soon!
Yours very sincerely,
Christi Janssen
Executive Director
Smithsonian
Aliate
Exhibit Programming
SUPPORTED LOCALLY BY
The Dressing the Abbey exhibition is presented by Exhibits
Development Group, USA, in cooperation with Cosprop Ltd.,
London, England. The exhibition is not endorsed by, sponsored by,
licensed by, associated with, or otherwise afliated with the television series Downton Abbey
™
,
NBC Universal International, Carnival Film and Television Limited or their representatives.
DurhamMuseum.org 5
Dressing the Abbey is a costume exhibition that highlights fashion from one
of the most widely watched television dramas in the world, Downton Abbey
™
.
Experience original costumes worn by the stars of Downton Abbey
™
that depict
fashions of the British aristocracy in the early 20th century. The exhibition
showcases the turbulence and changes in the late Edwardian era through the
1920s using the fashions of the period while evoking fans’ favorite moments.
The exhibition’s award-winning costumes created for the British hit drama were
produced by the London costume house of Cosprop Ltd. The costumes were
created for the show’s aristocratic Crawley family and their servants who inhabit
the ctional English country estate of Downton Abbey
™
. The costumes range
from country tweeds and riding outts; servants’ uniforms and footmen’s livery; to
lavish evening attire crafted from sumptuous fabrics and decorated with intricate
embroidery, lace and beading. Dressing the Abbey weaves popular culture,
fashion and history in an exhibition borrowed from Downton Abbey's
™
wardrobe.
The iconic wardrobe
of Downton Abbey
™
on display
D. F. Dillon
Foundation
Kathi and Louis
Rotella, Jr.
Shirley and
Dan Neary
MEDIA SUPPORT BY
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
PROVIDED BY
Whitmore
Charitable Trust
September 24, 2022 – January 8, 2023
4 Timelines
Howard and
Rhonda Hawks
Members-Only Preview:
Dressing the Abbey
Friday, September 23, 10AM-4PM
Museum members get exclusive access to
view the Dressing the Abbey exhibit the day
before its public opening.
Advance registration is not required but is
certainly appreciated. If you'd like to let us
know you are coming, register online at
DurhamMuseum.org/dressing-the-abbey or
email [email protected].
DurhamMuseum.org 7
V.I.P. Tea Talk
Breakfast & Tour
Saturday, November 5,
8:30–10AM
It’s Teatime! Join us for tea
and a light breakfast followed
by a behind-the-scenes tour of
Dressing the Abbey. This in-depth gallery
tour will include additional objects related to the exhibition from the
museum’s permanent collection. Museum educators and collections staff
will guide this tour in a small group, allowing you to get up close before
the exhibition opens to the public for the day. This VIP experience costs
$30 for museum members and $40 for non-members. Register online at
DurhamMuseum.org or by calling the Education Services department at
402-444-5027.
Thank you to for generously donating tea for
this event!
Exhibit Programming
Dressing the Abbey “What is it Wednesdays”
Wednesdays, September 28 – January 4, 2023,
10AM–Noon
Our popular “What is it Wednesday” series
is getting a new look for Dressing the Abbey!
Each week, our “What is it Wednesday” display
will feature an item from our collection related
to the era of the popular TV series, Downton
Abbey
™
. This drop-in programing is included
with museum admission and no registration is
required.
Special Preview Event!
Thursday, September 22, 6-9PM
Tickets are $40 for members; $50 for non-members
It’s the social event of the season and you’re invited! Be the rst to experience Dressing the Abbey during
our special preview event, “Downton at The Durham.” Must be 21 or older to attend. Tickets include
admission to the museum, one drink ticket and all the evening’s activities. Though optional, guests are
welcome to dress in attire appropriate to the Downton Abbey
™
era.
Purchase tickets online at DurhamMuseum.org/downton-at-the-durham or by calling 402-444-5071.
“Downton at The Durham” event includes:
DOWN 10
6 Timelines
TICKETS
STILL
AVAILABLE
EVENT SPONSORED BY
A rst look at Dressing the Abbey
Downton Abbey
™
inspired hors d’oeuvres,
tea and desserts
Cash bar available for cocktails, beer, wine and soda
Ballroom dancing with live music from the Bel Canto Duo
and performances/lessons from Vintage Ballroom
Indoor croquet on our custom-built courts –
Croquet Omaha will be on hand to give guests pointers
on the game and show off some trick shots
Vintage cars from the era
Photo ops, a scavenger hunt and much more!
A Look AheadCurrent Exhibits
Theater Row: Stage and Screen in Early 20th
Century Omaha
Now – January 29, 2023
During the rst half of the 20th century, along
Douglas Street between 14th and 16th, was a
boom of theater houses whose development tells
a story of the evolution of stage to screen. This exhibit highlights four giants of
early theater houses in Omaha that gave this area a name of ‘Theater Row.’
The focus of this exhibit are the architectural giants including The Empress,
The Moon, The Rialto and The World Theater. Using photographs and objects
from the museum’s collection, each theater tells a story tied to the growth of
Omaha and the development of the theater industry from its earliest connections
to vaudevillian stage acts to the more modern lms of today. Like shows of old,
stories presented will fascinate and enthrall.
DurhamMuseum.org 98 Timelines
Halls of Heroes
®
was created by Stage
Nine Design and is distributed by
Exhibits Development Group.
To nd out more about Hall of Heroes and exhibition hours,
please visit DurhamMuseum.org/hall-of-heroes.
January 28 – April 16, 2023
The Durham Museum is unmasking its rst exhibition of the 2023 calendar year
with Hall of Heroes. This popular traveling exhibition celebrates and explores
both the history and science behind America’s fascination with superheroes and
how they impacted our popular culture throughout the 20th century and beyond.
Visitors of all ages are encouraged to explore, learn and test their heroic abilities
at engaging and challenging interactive stations.
Ever wonder how your favorite super-powered characters were created? Hall of
Heroes provides an immersive experience for visitors to understand the world
of heroes, crime-ghters and gadgets. Their journey takes them through several
themed environments with surprises around every corner. Visitors will explore the
histories of heroes and the circumstances that created them, while discovering the
ideals that make them the heroes that we know and love. Hall of Heroes includes:
• Life-sized statues of the Incredible Hulk, Ironman, Batman, Wonder Woman,
Black Panther and Superman (great for photo ops!).
• A full-scale interactive recreation of the iconic 1960’s Batmobile and Batcave,
and a showcase of the various gadgets used in the television series.
• Movie props, reproductions and rare artifacts from past and present major
motion pictures and television shows.
On the Homefront:
Nebraska and World War II Photo Display
A Gentleman’s Collection:
Highlights from the Byron Reed Vault
Political Practices:
The Uses of Broadsides as Propaganda
Last Chance! These Exhibits Close December 31
DurhamMuseum.org 1110 Timelines
SPONSORED BY
Upcoming Events
Smithsonian’s Museum Day
Saturday, September 17, 10AM–4PM
Museum Day is a one-day event hosted by
Smithsonian Magazine in which participating
museums and cultural institutions across
the country provide free entry to anyone
presenting a Museum Day ticket. The Durham
Museum is proud to participate in Museum
Day Live once again as part of the celebration
of our 20th anniversary as a Smithsonian
Afliate. We encourage museum members
to tell their friends about this free admission
opportunity to experience The Durham!
Visit Smithsonianmag.com/museumday to
download your free ticket. Participants are
allowed to download one ticket per email
address. The ticket provides free general
admission on Saturday, September 17 for
two people.
Veterans Day
Friday, November 11, 10AM–4PM
Veterans and their families enjoy complimentary admission on Friday,
November 11, in observance of Veterans Day. Veterans can also enjoy
a FREE hot dog meal at the Soda Fountain on 11/11. The Durham
Museum proudly supports our Veterans!
The Durham Loves Teachers!
Teachers' Week October 3–7
Calling area educators! Join us for Teachers’
Week 2022, October 3-7! This week of
appreciation for area teachers culminates
in the 19th Annual Teachers’ Night event
on Friday, October 7, from 4-7PM. This free
event will include a resource fair with area
non-prots, rafes and giveaways, food and
beverage and of course, a chance to check
out our fall exhibition, Dressing the Abbey.
New this year: weekly registration prizes and
a chance to win treats for the teachers at
your school!
Visit DurhamMuseum.org/teachers-week for
more information and to register or call us at
402-444-5027.
Celebrate Halloween all week long at The Durham
Museum! We’ve got plenty of spooky good fun
planned for the whole family. All activities are
FREE for museum members. Get ready to
explore some haunted history behind the walls
of historic Union Station this October!
Halloween at The Durham Museum
Hallo-weekend
Saturday and Sunday, October 29–30
Free admission for kids!
All weekend long, children 12 and under
get in free and costumes are encouraged!
Enjoy goodie bags, the Haunted Train,
Cobweb Caboose, our Creepy Curator
station and Halloween games on The
Platform. Plus, be on the lookout for
dancing zombies in the afternoon courtesy
of UNO’s The Moving Company.
Spooky Tales for Tots
Wednesday, October 26, 10:30–11:30 AM
Bring your little ghosts and goblins to
celebrate the season with a reading of a
Halloween story followed by a cute craft.
These drop-in activities are included
with museum admission.
Registration is not required.
MADE
POSSIBLE
BY
SUPPORTED BY
MADE
POSSIBLE
BY
MADE
POSSIBLE
BY
Dancing Zombies!
The Baer
Foundation
Tuesday, October 25, 5–8PM • Advanced Tickets Encouraged
FREE to Members • Non-Members: Adult: $13, Senior: $10, Children (3-12): $7, 2 & under: Free
Join The Durham Museum and other community organizations like The Rose Theater, Fontenelle
Forest and NE SciFest for some trick-or-treating fun! Come in costume and snag sweets from
historical characters and spooktacular displays located throughout the museum. You can try your
hand at ghostly games and creepy crafts in the Swanson Gallery. Don’t forget to check out our
spooky but not scary Haunted Train and “crawl” your way through the Cobweb Caboose. Stop by
our historic Soda Fountain to indulge in some extra sweet Halloween treats. Plus, the crowd favorite
dancing zombies are back courtesy of UNO’s The Moving Company.
We can’t wait to see all you ghosts and ghouls for a night of trick-or-treating fun!
EVENT TICKETS:
• Advanced tickets are encouraged due to the popularity of this event, though walk-up tickets will
be available the day of the event. Members, reserve your spot or non-members purchase your
tickets at DurhamMuseum.org/halloween or by calling the museum at 402-444-5071.
• Please note, the museum will close at 4PM and reopen at 5PM for the Great HALL-oween Haunt.
Educational Programming
Drop-in Activities at The Durham Museum
Join museum educators and volunteers for an
enhanced museum experience. These special
drop-in activities are included with museum
admission—no registration is required.
Great Hall Artifacts: Sundays, Noon–2PM
Omaha’s Union Station recently celebrated 91
years! We have a wide variety of objects related
to the station and railroad travel to help tell the
story of this beautiful building.
What is it Wednesday: Wednesdays, 10AM–Noon
See if you can identify our mystery object, an
item from our collection related to the era of the
popular TV series, Downton Abbey
™
.
Train Tours: Saturdays, 10AM–Noon
Our most loved exhibit is even better on
Saturday mornings when you are greeted by
one of our expert Train Car Hosts!
DurhamMuseum.org 1312 Timelines
Scout Merit Badge Workshops
The Durham Museum provides ve
unique Merit Badge workshops, all
set in our historic building and taught by museum staff who are certied Merit Badge
Counselors. Join us for badges such as American Heritage, Citizenship in the Nation,
Coin Collecting, Railroading and Textiles. Scouts can even complete two badges
in one day! For dates, descriptions, costs and to register, please visit
DurhamMuseum.org/scout-programs or by call the museum at 402-444-5027.
Museum Insider Tour
Smithsonian Channel Film Series
In continued celebration of our 20th anniversary as
a proud Smithsonian Afliate, join us for a series
of screenings from the America in Color lm series.
Highlighting the same decades of the heyday of
Omaha’s Union Station, this series allows viewers to
witness early 20th century American history as it was
experienced by those who lived through it...in vibrant
color.
This series is included with regular museum admission
and free for members. Registration is not required.
Each lm shows at 10:30AM and 1:30PM in the
Stanley and Dorothy Truhlsen Lecture Hall on the
following Saturdays:
• September 17: America in Color: The 1930s
• September 24: America in Color: The 1940s
• October 1: America in Color: The 1950s
• October 8: America in Color: The 1960s
Order Up, Omaha!
Saturday, October 15, 9:30-11AM
Have an appetite for history? We have just the
thing! Omaha’s culinary past is full of iconic local
restaurants, manufacturers and brewers. Dig
into Omaha’s culture through companies such
as King Fong, Mr. C’s, Kitty Clover and Metz
Brewery. Bon appetit!
Museum Insider Tours offer guests the chance
to see our amazing, but rarely seen, museum
collection. Go behind-the-scenes with our
Collections team to see some of the 40,000
historical objects housed within our artifact
storage area and learn a bit more about the
history of Omaha.
Tours are $25 for members and $30 for
non-members. Membership discount applies
to those in the household. Advance registration
and payment are required. Space is limited!
Register online at DurhamMuseum.org or by
calling the museum at 402-444-5027.
Museum Live in the Park
Weekly on Fridays beginning
September 2, 11:30AM–12:30PM
Gene Leahy Mall, 13th & Farnam Streets
We are bringing The Durham Museum’s
award-winning program “Museum
Live!” to the Gene Leahy Mall! Each
week, museum staff and the star of the
show, Professor Durham (a puppet), will
be by the canopies with interactive
and engaging content to connect park
goers to local history, culture and current
events. Hope to see you there!
Beat the boredom of winter break by
spending it at The Durham Museum!
This year we are offering nine full days
of themed camps, December 19-23 and
December 27-30. Campers in Kindergarten-
5th Grade can register beginning October
15. For themes, costs and additional
information, visit:
CampsAtTheDurham.org
Make it a
Educational Programming
to remember!
DECEMBER 19–23 & 27–30
Play Ball! Summertime in Omaha means the College World Series comes
to town, but at The Durham Museum, we honored a baseball team from
Omaha's past. In June we welcomed a donation of memorabilia related to
the Omaha Cardinals. The minor league team was based in Omaha from
1947-1959 and was part of the Western League and later the American
Association, which fed into the St. Louis Cardinals’ professional team.
Gary Cook, a native of Omaha, donated many Omaha
Cardinals items, which help tell the story of the team
and also Rosenblatt Stadium. Included are team
pictures from the 1950s, tickets, schedules, signed
postcards, signed baseballs, a 1950 championship ring
and even two Rosenblatt Stadium seats. The signatures
of star players like Bob Gibson, Curt Flood and Don
Blasingame are preserved on objects now in the
museum’s permanent collection. Mr. Cook also donated
his personal boyhood radio that he used to listen to
baseball games up in bed way past bedtime.
Mr. Cook, now of California, helped bring this collection
of Omaha sports history back to town and we are
grateful to preserve it and share it with you!
Collections Highlight
Seats from Rosenblatt Stadium, donated by
Gary Cook. The rst two rows in the above
photo, circa 1959, show a section these
seats may have come from. Photo is from
The Durham Museum Photo Archives, John
Savage Collection/Omaha World-Herald,
JS35B-015.
Calendar of Events
4 Dinosaur Revolution exhibit closes
4 RCHT: Expos to Jazz (2PM)
5 Museum Closed
12 Museum Closed
13 RCHT: Omaha’s Parks and
Boulevards (6PM)
17 Smithsonian’s Museum Day Live
(10AM-4PM)
17 Smithsonian Channel Film Series
(10:30AM and 1:30PM)
18 SOLD OUT! RCHT: Millionaires
and Mansions South (2PM)
19 Museum Closed
22 Downton at The Durham (6-9PM)
23 Dressing the Abbey members-only
preview (10AM-4PM)
24 Dressing the Abbey exhibit opens
24 Smithsonian Channel Film Series
(10:30AM and 1:30PM)
24 Scout Merit Badge Workshop
(9AM-Noon and 1:30-4:30PM)
25 SOLD OUT! RCHT: Last Call
for Alcohol (2PM)
26 Museum Closed
RCHT = River City History Tour
S M T W T F S
1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30
S M T W T F S
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30 31
S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30
5 VIP Tea Talk (8:30-10AM)
7 Museum Closed
11 Veterans Day
12 Scout Merit Badge Workshop
(9AM-Noon and 1:30-4:30PM)
14 Museum Closed
21 Museum Closed
21 Coming Home for the Holidays
Luncheon & Market
(10:30AM-3PM)
24 Museum Closed for
Thanksgiving
24 Christmas at Union Station,
presented by FNBO, begins
with our Virtual Tree Lighting!
28 Museum Closed
1 Smithsonian Channel Film Series
(10:30AM and 1:30PM)
2 SOLD OUT! RCHT: Millionaires and
Mansions North (2PM)
3 Museum Closed
3-7 Teachers’ Week
7 Teachers’ Night (4-7PM)
8 Smithsonian Channel Film Series
(10:30AM and 1:30PM)
9 RCHT: Remember the Ladies (2PM)
10 Museum Closed
15 Winter Camp Registration Opens
15 Museum Insider Tour: Order Up,
Omaha! (9:30AM)
16 RCHT: Omaha’s Parks and
Boulevards (2PM)
17 Museum Closed
22 Scout Merit Badge Workshop
(9AM-Noon and 1:30-4:30PM)
24 Museum Closed
25
The Great HALL-oween Haunt (5-8PM)
26 Spooky Tales for Tots (10:30AM)
29-30 Hallo-weekend
31 Museum Closed
SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER
DurhamMuseum.org 15
November 24, 2022 –
January 8, 2023
Looking for dates for your
favorite holiday event?
Scan the QR code
for event details,
available early
November and look
for your Christmas
mailer in your mailbox soon.
AT
PRESENTED BY
14 Timelines
Assorted Omaha Cardinals memorabilia, 1947-1959, a gift of Gary E. and Antoinette Cook
Weekly on Fridays!
11:30AM-12:30PM
Museum Live in the Park
at Gene Leahy Mall
September 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30
October 7, 14, 21 & 28
November 4, 11 & 18
@TheDurhamMuseum
Pantone® 7412 Coated
Pantone® 138 Uncoated
Coming Home for the Holidays Luncheon & Market
Monday, November 21, 10:30AM–3PM
Don your best plaid, grab a few friends and join The Durham
Museum’s On Track Guild for a wonderful day of great food
and shopping that is sure to put you in the holiday spirit! Enjoy
shopping local vendors in front of the museum’s signature
tree from 10:30AM–Noon. Then, join us for a luncheon and
hear from renowned chef and author Gale Gand, whose
presentation on her days as a chef at the Stapleford Park Country House Hotel
in Leicestershire, England, will provide plenty of inspiration for your holiday
entertaining. Open shopping and revelry continue from 1-3PM.
Tickets start at $125 and tables and sponsorships are available. To learn more,
please visit DurhamMuseum.org/home-for-the-holidays, call the museum at
402-444-5071 or email Amie Prendes at apr[email protected].
NONPROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
OMAHA, NE
PERMIT NO. 1170
Chef Gale Gand
