New Horizons The Durham Museum provides PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID OMAHA NE PERMIT NO. 389
A publication of the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging
April 2024 | Vol. 49 | No. 4
history, memories for all ages
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By Ron Petersen everal years ago, an announcement was made that the designation of Omaha’s Union Station, now known as The Durham Museum, was named as one of more than 20 new national designations made in 2017. This is the first National Historic Landmark designated in Nebraska since 1993, bringing the number up to 21 for the state. The National Historic Landmarks Program, which is managed by the National Park Service, recognizes historic properties of exceptional national value and promotes the preservation of those places. All National Historic Landmarks are on the National Register of Historic Places. Few places on the National Register are eligible to be National Historic Landmarks in part because
of requirements to be nationally significant with a high degree of historic integrity.
Dan Sullivan, also known as the consummate educator
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By BevVan Phillips t is hard to miss the friendly man in the cowboy hat sitting with two large stuffed animals on his lap as you walk out of the Dodge Street Costco. People who stop to interact with Dan Sullivan while he is working at the A-1 United display several days a week probably do not know that they are talking to an honored lifelong educator and researcher, but they benefit from his wisdom and his continuing curiosity about the world and people around him. When asked what he wanted people to know about him, Dan said it was his interest in other people. “Everybody has ideas. Everybody has a story. Everybody deserves to
be heard.” and medical fields. He has reached many Dan said that he answers question about more people if you A-1 United, but he also include the children he has shown how talks to people about exciting and useful themselves whenever science can be, and he can. People who ignited curiosity to are sitting near the know more. Up to display waiting on two hundred children their family members a week pass by with instead of shopping their parents at Costco themselves are often treated to a stimulating and many of them look forward to greeting conversation. His the various and unique interests are widestuffed animals he ranging and he can brings to work with speak knowledgeably him. He said that on about topics from occasion, he can have Science to Poetry, but he listens intently more a little more extensive interaction and will than he speaks. Dan engage a child in an said that his favorite impromptu science thought-provoking lesson. question is, “What When he was a Preis the strangest thing Medical advisor at the you’ve ever seen?” University of Nebraska During his lengthy Omaha (UNO), he and academic career Dan his students developed has mentored and taught hundreds, if not a self-supporting mobile science thousands of people in the sciences --Sullivan continued on page 9.
COURTESY PHOTO
“Something that is special about visiting the Durham Museum is that the building itself in an experience.
With it being historic Union Station, you step into the building and immediately you are transported back in time,” The Durham Museum Director of Communications, Dawn Myron said. “It’s interesting to hear the connection people have to this place because the building itself is historic.” In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Pacific Railway Act, creating the Union Pacific Railroad and fixing its eastern terminus at Council Bluffs. The major goal of Union Pacific was to lay railroad tracks west to join up with the Central Pacific Railroad and complete the first railway from the Missouri River to the Pacific Ocean – the Transcontinental Railroad. Because there was no bridge across the Missouri at that time, construction --Durham continued on page 8.
--Lemke continued on page 8.
National Volunteer Month
In April, National Volunteer Month is being celebrated by ENOA and millions of Americans as a way to thank the volunteers, recruit new men, women, and children into these vital programs, and encourage volunteerism throughout the United States. Learn more about volunteer programs sponsored by ENOA on Page 16.