By Meredith Gardner
meredith.gardner@theindependent.com

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Independent/Scott Kingsley Shelby Janzen (center left) and Madi Kleier (center right) help blow out the candles to celebrate Nebraska's 141st birthday at Stuhr Museum Monday morning. Nebraska became a state March 1, 1867. Independent/Scott Kingsley Nebraska Secretary of State John "Cactus Jack" Gale plays with a limber jack during one of the state's birthday celebrations at Stuhr Museum Monday morning. Click Thumbnails to View

The party at Stuhr Museum was sponsored by the Nebraskaland Foundation and the Nebraska Humanities Council and hosted by Nebraska Secretary of State John Gale.

It was the first of 10 that will be hosted throughout the state to recognize Nebraska Statehood Day on March 1, when the 141st anniversary of Nebraska becoming a state will be commemorated.

Included in the party were live music, singing, trivia, birthday cake and candles, and chocolate-chip cookies for everyone.

Gale got into the historical spirit by donning a cowboy hat, vest and curly mustache to take on the persona "Cactus Jack."

The children listened to "Sodbuster Sam" Chris Sayre and "Deadwood Dave" David Seay play music on old-time instruments, including a saw, banjo, harmonica and penny whistle.

The group, which included students and teachers from Polk, Axtell, Hastings, Grand Island, Doniphan, Trumbull and Giltner, sang along to songs such as "Buffalo Gals" and "Home, Home on the Range," and even took an informal quiz on Nebraska history.

Fourth-grade students are invited to participate in the annual birthday festivities because they are taught about Nebraska history throughout the school year.

"We want to create a sense of school pride and state pride," Gale said.

Students from the state's smaller, more rural schools don't often get the chance to interact with state leaders, Gale said. Holding events like Monday's in outstate communities helps show the students and teachers that government leaders care.

"It lets them know that we think they're special," he said.

"Our job is to bring the celebration to them."

Gale said they look to commemorate the state's birthday at museums and other unique locations to encourage learning and reflect aspects of the state's history.

Everything done at Stuhr is connected with the early settlement and growth of the state, said Joe Black, the museum's executive director, making it the perfect place to recognize the anniversary of Nebraska's statehood.

"(There's) no better place to come celebrate our birthday of 1867 than at Stuhr Museum," Gale said.