Franklin County Museum

The Museum consists of three separate buildings containing artifacts and memorabilia 
from early pioneer settlers lives, the great American Wars, exhibits the towns in 
Franklin County and special exhibits dedicated to Pierce Lyden (famous movie bad man 
of Hollywood’s old westerns from 1932-1962) and Clarence Mitchell, Franklin’s own 
major league baseball player in the early 1900s.  

Ol’ Towne is a recreated old west township with Indian artifacts, rock specimens, old 
farm items and many other interesting articles.  The Lone Star school is an authentic 
one-room building restored to how a teacher would teach a class in the 1870s.  Overall, 
there are countless interesting artifacts, books, articles and pictures that definitely 
make it worth the visit.  Special tours and meeting facilities with kitchen and wireless 
internet are available.  

Admittance is by free will donation.  
Suggested admittance is $2.00 for adults, $1.00 for children.

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Three separate buildings of artifacts and memorabilia related to early pioneer settlers, 
American Indians, military service, famous or infamous County citizens, farming and 
ranching.  Buildings include the main museum building, an authentic one-room 1880s 
schoolhouse and Ol’ Towne which replicates an old west township.  Special tours and 
a meeting room are available.
Phone: (308) 425-3030, 1309 H Road, Franklin, NE 68939

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Established in 1932, the Franklin County Museum preserves the heritage and genealogy of Franklin County with many displays of historical items.  It consists of three separate buildings.  The largest contains many artifacts and memorabilia from the area such as WW1 and WW2 uniforms, newspaper articles, pictures, letters, ammunition, honor ribbons and medals. Most of the artifacts are from Franklin County residents who fought for their country during many different time periods, and in numerous wars and battles.  It also contains many pictures of the pioneers that founded and first lived in Franklin.  A special exhibit is dedicated to the life and times of Pierce Lyden, famous ‘bad man’ of Hollywood’s old westerns.  The exhibit displays hundreds of items from his movie years including his saddles, clothes, pistols, posters and pictures.  Pierce was born in Franklin County.

The middle building contains what is called “Ol’ Towne.”  It is designed to look like an old western township.  Inside are old fire engines, antique tractors, horse drawn implements, tools, Indian artifacts, rock specimens, photographs, old farm items and many other articles that depict the lives of previous generations of Franklin County settlers.

The third building is the old Lone Star one room schoolhouse that was used in Franklin County from the late 1800s through the early 1900's.  The schoolhouse was eventually moved to its current site on the Museum grounds and is decorated to reflect how it would have looked in its heyday.  Many of Franklin County's residents were educated in this schoolhouse up until the building of the Franklin Academy and the new public school.

Overall, the Franklin County Museum has countless interesting artifacts, books, articles and pictures that definitely make it worth the visit.  Arrangements can be made to open the Museum for special tours and facilities are available for private meetings.  Admittance is by free will donation.  Suggested admittance is $2.00 for adults, $1.00 for children.  For more information, call (308) 425-3030.