After getting married in New York, professional architect George Frank Jr. and his wife Ella moved to Kearney, Nebraska to build a new home for his parents: George and Phoebe Frank.
The Frank family mansion was completed in 1889. and is now located on UNK’s campus, currently it is part house museum, part history museum and part culture center. The free museum takes a deep look into Kearney’s past.
Being one of the first houses west of the Missouri river with electricity, the Frank’s house included various rooms. This room pays tribute to the work Frank did managing his various business including the hydroelectric power plant, the trolley car system and the cotton mill. This desk was originally located in George Frank’s office which was located in The Midway Hotel in downtown Kearney.
In the dining room, the Franks hosted potential investors. The harp playing, expensive food and polished silver, even the electricity all showed the financial possibilities of the Midwest. Picture this being your view at dinner.
On the upper level is an extensive collection of European & American decorative arts once owned by Philip & Mildred Strain, a Kearney post office clerk and school teacher.
After George Frank Sr. lost all his financial standings in the Panic of 1893, the house was eventually purchased by a husband and wife medical team who converted it into a sanitarium. It eventually was sold to the state of Nebraska where it was used for the living quarters of the Nebraska State Tuberculosis Hospital staff until 1971. There are multiple video screens that allow you to watch silent films and learn more about the disease’s history here.
This surgical gown and garment bag belonged to one of Kearney’s first physicians. The cast-iron fire door from the hospital’s incinerator. Located underground, this was used to dispose of medical waste and other hazardous materials.
In the discovery room are plenty more art pieces and beautiful Tiffany stained-glass windows.
The G.W. Frank Museum is located on UNK’s campus at 2010 University Drive in Kearney Nebraska. Guided tours are available when the museum is open Saturday and Sunday 1pm-5pm.
If you visit outside these hours, you can still check out the amazing red Colorado sandstone architecture from the outside. Visit frank.unk.edu for more information on this integral place of Kearney’s rich history.
