Custer Lives!
Fort Robinson Museum
In July 2009 I visited the Fort Robinson Museum in Nebraska. The Museum is directly across the street from the post flagstaff, which makes sense as it was the Post Headquarters after being erected in 1905. The Nebraska Historical Society opened the Fort Robinson Museum in June, 1956 as part of their attempt to preserve the Fort's history. There was a very modest fee, two dollars I believe, to enter. There was an item in the bookstore I really wanted to purchase but unfortunately the bookstore was closed when I entered and still closed when I left. There were museum employees in the building but they were unable to assist me. Hopefully it will be open on a future visit.
After paying the entry fee I started my tour. I immediately went down a long hall lined with large format photographs of Indians. Most I recognized, some I did not. There was a short movie, about the Fort, playing in a room off of the hallway. A beautiful Indian headdress at the end of the hall immediately drew me to it. The room at the end of the hall held quite a few artifacts from civilians, Soldiers, and Indians. One case held a number of beautiful clothing items displaying exquisite Indian beadwork. Included in these items was a pouch that Red Cloud presented to Indian Agent J. J. Saville. A reproduction of the oldest known photograph of Camp Robinson, taken in 1875, is presented. There's lots of Cavalry items presented also, along with a section on the Plains Indian War of 1876. There is even a photograph of Moses E. Milner, better known as California Joe. It was nice to put a face on the widely known scout who was one of General George Armstrong Custer's favorites. A Spencer carbine that was owned by Buffalo Bill Cody is also displayed.
One section that drew a lot of attention from me dealt with the Sioux surrender at Fort Robinson. A copy of the letter informing the Pawnee US Army Indian Scouts they were no longer need was displayed along with their muster roster. A color drawing, by Amos Bad Heart Bull, of the death of the great Crazy Horse is shown along with a bayonet of the type he was stabbed in the back with. A moccasin of one of Crazy Horse's accomplices in a horse stealing raid is displayed. The wearer was killed in the thwarted attempt.
You'll next climb a set of stairs decorated with US and Cavalry flags. Several more rooms are upstairs. There was a display on the Cheyenne Outbreak in 1877. Another was on the railroads impact on both the Indians and the Whites. Long guns and saddles of the Troopers are presented next, before you arrive at the section on the famed Buffalo Soldiers. The second and third Black graduates of West Point, John Alexander and Charles Young, both served in the US 9th Cavalry at Fort Robinson. Quite a few Buffalo Soldier items and artifacts are displayed. In the Indian portion of this room is an Indian saddle used by Kills Them Quick at the Wounded Knee battle. Kills Them Quick was killed in the battle.
The next room was dominated by the turn of the century Army. The 1898 War With Spain is highlighted, particularly with the exploits of the Buffalo Soldier US 9th Cavalry on San Juan Hill. The improvements in Cavalry equipment and uniforms is displayed in a timeline like manner. World War I gets it's due next. A lot of complete uniforms are on display along with the weaponry used. The Fort's use a horse training facility gets it's due also. I was glad to see peacetime uses like the Olympic horse training and the Civilian Conservation Corps get displayed. Next up, a display on Fort Robinson's extensive use as a Military Dog training facility in World War II. WWII uniforms for both men and women are displayed along with weaponry.
Fort Robinson had a Nazi Germany Prisoner Of War camp in World War II. There is quite a bit on the POW camp and it's occupants. Some of the captured Afrika Korps Nazi uniforms are shown along with a mockup of a POW in his bunk. Some letters and other personal items are displayed along with weapons that treacherous Nazi's fashioned while being held.
I couldn't possibly mention all that I saw inside. There is a LOT to see inside since Fort Robinson was active for so long. There were so many wonderful items to see I couldn't possibly include all the photographs I would like to display, so I only posted a few highlights. Fortunately if you do visit and like to take photos, the museum is well lit and isn't as dark as tomb as many museums now are. Photos are allowed through out the museum as long as a flash is not used. I certainly enjoyed my visit and if you do visit Fort Robinson don't miss the museum!
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The Fort Robinson Museum. |
Indian artifacts on display. The pouch in the center along the bottom was owned by Red Cloud. |
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US Army Cavalry display. |
Amos Bad Heart Bull's drawing of Crazy Horse being killed. A bayonet like this was used to stab him in the back. |
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Buffalo Soldier artifacts and photos. |
Kills Them Quick rode atop this saddle during the fighting at Wounded Knee. |
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The Springfield Model 1903 US Army rifle and gas mask. Both were World War I issue. |
One of the displays on Fort Robinson's World War II use as a K-9 training facility. |
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A display with a Nazi POW. |
Some of horse content on the walls. Yes Comanche is everywhere the Cav is! |
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