Genoa Indian Industrial School
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Genoa Site
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| Nearest city: | Genoa, Nebraska |
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| Area: | 470 acres (190 ha) |
| Built: | 1859 |
| Governing body: | Private |
| NRHP Reference#: | 70000373[1] |
| Added to NRHP: | October 15, 1970 |
The Indian Industrial School at Genoa, Nebraska was the fourth non-reservation boarding institution established by the Office of Indian Affairs. The facility was completed in 1884 and operated until 1934. Now restored, it is owned and operated by a foundation as the Genoa U.S. Indian School Museum. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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[edit] About
The facility opened on February 20, 1884, and, like other such schools, its mission was to educate and teach Christianity and European-American culture to Native American children for assimilation. The village of Genoa was selected because the Federal Government already owned the former Pawnee Reservation property there; however, existing buildings at the site were unsuitable and in poor repair. The Pawnee had been removed to Indian Territory in 1879.
Like many buildings designed for Indian school campuses, the main building was a simple three-story structure with a hipped roof and a small triangular pediment above the center entrance. The pairs of tall windows and the strong horizontal lines across the front created a balanced composition. The building extended at length from its front facade. This was a popular design during the late 1880s.[2] [3]
The school expanded, eventually serving Native American children from ten states and over 20 tribes. In time the school grew from the original 74 students to an enrollment of 599. It encompassed more than 30 buildings on 640 acres. The US government closed the school in 1934, during the Great Depression.
[edit] Genoa U.S. Indian School Museum
The Genoa US Indian School Foundation purchased the Manual Training building of the school from the town of Genoa, restored it and now operates the facility as the Genoa U.S. Indian School Museum.[4] The museum is open for tours on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Tours at other times can be arranged by appointment.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2009-03-13. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html.
- ^ "Nebraska Trailblazer #1: American Indians Background Information", Nebraska State Historical Society. Retrieved 1/28/08.
- ^ "Indian Industrial Schools", Designs for Democracy: Grand Plans for a Growing Nation exhibit, National Archives and Records Administration.
- ^ http://www.megavision.net/genoamuseum/ Genoa Museums
[edit] External links
- Genoa Museums - includes information about visiting the museum
- Nebraska State Historical Society
- Historical Facts: Genoa, Nebraska
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- Schools in Nebraska
- Educational institutions established in 1884
- Native American history of Nebraska
- National Register of Historic Places in Nebraska
- Defunct schools in Nebraska
- Education museums in the United States
- Native American museums in Nebraska
- Ethnic museums in Nebraska
- Museums in Nance County, Nebraska
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