Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center — Attraction in Chadron

The Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center at Chadron State College was a surprisingly wonderful museum and a fantastic tribute to the legacy of Nebraska author Mari Sandoz. The exhibits and displays were thoughtfully laid out and provided great insight into the life and works of Ms. Sandoz. I especially liked the unique aspect of seeing clothing, furniture, and items that belonged to Ms. Sandoz.

The museum also had other exhibits, including historic photos and artwork by modern artists. The gift shop/ bookstore had many of Sandoz' books available for purchase as well as many other books of historic and local interest. There is no fee for entering the museum, but there is a donation box to show your support.

Regretfully, we did not get the name of the woman who welcomed us to the exhibit. She was very kind, friendly, and graciously shared some of her insight about Ms. Sandoz. Her passion for history was quite evident.

While there, don't forget to visit the C.F. Coffee Gallery on the...

Such a precious resource for the college, our community, and the public. Mari Sandoz was an amazing author. She never contrived one single thing she ever wrote about, generously sharing her direct first hand experiences with her growing up under her beyond-stern "Old Jules" (her father) out smack in the middle of the mystical Sandhills of Nebraska; Picking up where Eleanor Hamlin Hinman left off in her opus studies regarding the Oglala Lakota mystic Crazy Horse after Eleanor graciously passed the project on to Mari (the two explored the places where the man had been through the course of his relatively brief life and shared it with us from the perspective of the Lakota, a brave and bold work then and even now); Many other books covering Custer and the Little Bighorn Battle, on and on. This Heritage Center does her work and life justice, in my estimation, books and more available for sale there to help support this worthy endeavor. Well worth the visit, highly...

Great interpretation of the history of the Nebraska High Plains as seen through the eyes of Nebraska's most prolific author. Mari Sandoz grew up in the plains and Sandhills of her native Nebraska and wrote about it for others to understand as much as enjoy. By telling the stories of her own family and chronicling the lives of Native Americans, Sandoz earned a special place in history. The center is a must see for all who care about history...