Your heritage might be among the attractions

Where did I come from? Who are my people? What are my roots?

The need to know your history is strong whether your family came to this continent millennia ago or you arrived last week.

Here we offer a sampling of Nebraska and Iowa ethnic museums that may give you insight.

African-American

African American Museum of Iowa: 55 12th Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; 319-862-2101; www.blackiowa.org. The museum has 4,000-plus square feet of gallery space with permanent exhibits, plus two changing exhibits each year.

Great Plains Black History Museum: 2213 Lake St., Omaha; 402-345-2212. Photos and historical displays of life show the role of African-Americans in the development of the West.

Czech

National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library: 87 16th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; 319-362-8500; www.ncsml.org/. Multiple buildings in the Historic Czech Village.

Sokol South Omaha Czechoslovak Museum: 2021 U St., Omaha. Founded by Ed and Bea Pavoucek to highlight the history of Slovaks and Czechs in South Omaha. Features lead crystal, costumes, photos, memorabilia and a Czech/English reference library.

Wilber Czech Museum: Third and Main Streets, Wilber, Neb.; 402-821-2485. Museum showcases textiles, costumes, a blacksmith shop, harness repair shop.

Danish

Danish Immigrant Museum: 2212 Washington St., Elk Horn, Iowa; 712-764-7001; www.dkmuseum.org. Artwork, kiosk on Victor Borge, language classes and lectures. Other elements include Bedstemor's House, Jens Dixen House, Morning Star Chapel and Jens Jensen Prairie Landscape Park.

Dutch

Scholte House Museum: 728 Washington St., Pella, Iowa; 641-628-3684; www.scholtehouse.com. Dominie Scholte's historic home is surrounded by award-winning flower gardens. He and 800 other Hollanders immigrated from the Netherlands in 1847 for religious freedom.

Pella Historical Village: 507 Franklin St., Pella, Iowa; 641-620-9463; www.pellatuliptime.com/?page_id=194. Set up as a typical Dutch settlers town.

French

French Icarian Colony Foundation Museum and Library: 503 Eighth St., Corning, Iowa; 641-322-4717; www.icaria.net. The French Icarian Village is a work in progress, although the museum and library are open. In 1848 France, the Icarians left for the new state of Iowa. The colony board is developing a living history museum to tell the Icaria story.

German

Amana Colonies: Visitors Center is at 622 46th Ave., Amana, Iowa; 800-579-2294 or 319-622-7622; www.AmanaColonies.com. Seven villages established the original 1,200 members who moved from Germany to New York state to Iowa. Most current area residents are descendants of the original group. Look for traditional crafts, foods and more.

German American Heritage Center: 712 W. Second St., Davenport, Iowa; 563-322-8844; www.gahc.org. Museum, entertainment, trips, language classes and teacher education.

Musbach Museum: Main and Howard Streets, Scribner, Neb.; 402-664-2788. Housed in former Milligan Dry Goods store built in 1884. Offers antique farm machinery, medical equipment, kitchen, china and glass items from early German settlers.

Germans from Russia

American Historical Society of Germans From Russia Cultural Heritage Research Center: 631 D St., Lincoln; 402-474-3363; www.ahsgr.org. Features include genealogical center, library, blacksmith shop, barn, summer kitchen and chapel.

Jewish

Iowa Jewish Heritage Society and Caspe Heritage Gallery: 33158 Ute Ave., Waukee, Iowa; 515-205-0379; www.jewishdesmoines.org. Religious items from now-closed Iowa synagogues, rotating exhibits and more.

Nebraska Jewish Historical Museum: 333 S. 132nd St., inside Jewish Community Center, Omaha; 402-334-6441; www.nebraskajhs.com. Photos, narratives and artwork tell of Jewish life from early days to the present in Omaha, Lincoln and Council Bluffs.

Latino

El Museo Latino: 4701 S. 25th St., Omaha; 402-731-1137; www.elmuseolatino.org. Latino art, history and culture.

Mexican American Museum: Pioneer Park at Broadway and 27th Streets, Scottsbluff, Neb.; 308-635-1044. Exhibits show cultural background and contributions of Mexican-American pioneers who helped settle the North Platte Valley.

Mennonite

Immigrant House: 702 Road B, Henderson, Neb.; 402-723-5694; www.hendersonheritage.org. House is a replica of the original Henderson Immigrant House, built in 1874 by the Burlington Missouri River Railroad for the Mennonites who migrated from the Molotshna Colony in Russia.

Native American

Nuckolls County Museum: 612 E. Sixth St., in Superior, Neb.; 402-879-4144. Has a collection of American Indians artifacts, some of which are said to have belonged to Chief Red Cloud. Museum is spread across five buildings.

Meskwaki Museum: 349 Meskwaki Road, Tama, Iowa; 641-484-4678.

Sarpy County Historical Museum: 2402 Clay St., Bellevue; 402-292-1880. Has exhibits on Native Americans and early settlers.

Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer: U.S. Highways 34 and 281, Grand Island, Neb.; 308-385-5316; www.stuhrmuseum.org. Rotunda is home to the museum's Native American artifacts. Museum has extensive pioneer buildings and displays.

Norwegian

Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, 523 W. Water St., Decorah, Iowa; 563-382-9681; www.vesterheim.org. Main complex of 16 historic buildings downtown and an immigrant farmstead and prairie church outside the city. Vesterheim has more than 24,000 artifacts, plus language, culture and folk art classes.

Polish

Polish Heritage Center: 226 Carlton Ave., Ashton, Neb.; 308-738-2249; www.polishheritagecenter.com. Displays and relics of the past, books, music, local genealogical records, and early photographs and art. The 11th Annual Polish Festival was Sept. 12 in Ashton.

Swedish

Swedish Heritage Center: 301 N. Charde Ave., Oakland, Neb.; 402-685-6161 or 402-685-5458. Features exhibits of Swedish crystal, linens and needlework brought by pioneers. Housed in former Swedish mission Covenant Church building.

Swedish Heritage Cultural Center: 410 Hilltop Ave., Stanton, Iowa; 712-829-2840; www.stantoniowa.com. Swedish artifacts, one-room school and bank exhibit.

Swedish Heritage Society/Swedish American Museum: 107 James Ave., Swedesburg, Iowa; 319-254-2317. Ethnic country store, Swedish heritage events and more.

Welsh

Welsh Heritage Project: McCandless Park on U.S. Highway 77 in Wymore, Neb.; 402-645-3186, 402-645-3282 or 402-645-3231; www.welshheritage.org. Project is inside the Pleasantview schoolhouse, which is furnished as a 1900-era one-room schoolhouse museum.

Contact the writer:

444-1165, sue.truax@owh.com

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