Let’s Get Cooperative!

The Co-op in Goodland is place to get gas, food, coffee and of course deposit your grain.  You hear people say Co-op but do you know what it stands for or how it came about?

Speak Softly and Carry a Big Teddy Bear

We all have that favorite childhood toy that saw us through scary nights and playtime.  For some it might have been G.I. Joe or Barbie and for some it might have been a teddy bear.  The teddy bear is 111 years old this year and was first made in 1902 because of a cartoon depicting […]

The Twist … Nature’s Dance

Summertime!  A time for BBQ’s, swimming, camp fires and fun in the sun.  It also means storms, which could turn severe.  We have already witnessed some of these devastating storms pass through Oklahoma.  Here in Goodland we have had our share of tornadoes and the High Plains Museum has several photographs of tornadoes and the […]

Don’t You Look Dapper!

Gentlemen, when dressing up for a formal event or a day at the office, what articles of clothing do you use?  Chances are you use a shirt with a collar and on your sleeves you have cuffs.  Do you use anything to close the cuffs?  Around the 17th Century men wanted a way to hold […]

Fans … no fanning matter

Imagine it: you are in a crowded auditorium or outside listening to a summer concert when you suddenly become hot.  There is no air moving and all you have is bulletin.  What do you do?  If you’re like most people your bulletin becomes a fan to help beat the heat!  Hand held fans work by […]

Where’s Orion? Consult the Galaxy Gizmo!

Remember back to elementary school days and the fascinating objects the teacher used to help you learn.  It might have been the roll down maps on the blackboard, the globe or a galaxy planetary system.  The object featured today is a galaxy planetary system from 1881 built by the Thomas Kane & Company.

The Case of the Exploding Wallet

Have you ever had so many things in your wallet that it just won’t close right anymore?  Your wallet has become so full it’s ready to explode?  The good news is that there’s a solution to your problem!  All you need is a money clip!  A money clip holds your money with a clasp that […]

A Two-Story Toy Story: The Lives of Dollhouses

You’re six years old and you have that one toy you love to play with.  It might be a tractor, G.I. Joe, or a dollhouse.  Toys not only provide entertainment they can also help teach children about domestic life and offer a glimpse into history.  Here at the High Plains Museum we have a dollhouse that […]

Mirror Mirror in My Hand…

Did you ever think a mirror could save your life?  Men who served in World War I and were in the trenches depended on the Militalic Mirror.  The Militalic Mirror not only aided in trench warfare but also helped control to some extent disease. 

You did the mash…the potato mash!

Ever look at your potato masher and wonder about the story behind it? In our collections we have a wooden potato masher that while our object does not contain much history, the history behind the object itself is very interesting.

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