(coming May 2027)
This exhibit honors the American writer and poet John Neihardt. In 1900, Neihardt moved to Bancroft, Nebraska, near the Omaha Reservation, which sparked his lifelong fascination with Native American cultures. He co-owned and edited the local newspaper and worked closely with the indigenous Omaha community, earning their respect and sharing their stories.
He married Mona Martinsen Neihardt in 1908 following a six-month correspondence she initiated after reading his poetry book, Bundle of Myrrh. He later published five epic poems collectively known as A Cycle of the West and was named Nebraska's first poet laureate in 1921.
Neihardt is best known for Black Elk Speaks, published in 1932, which recounts the visions of Lakota medicine man Black Elk and his role in the Ghost Dance movement. Neihardt’s writing has left an indelible mark on American literature, bridging cultures and voices in a powerful narrative tapestry.
