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Chautauqua Brings the Past to Life

Humanities Nebraska is partnering with several community organizations to bring Chautauqua to Papillion this week.

Kristi Hayek, Chautauqua Coordinator for Humanities Nebraska, says Chautauqua has its roots in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. 

At that time, people would travel to festivals and experience educational speakers through Chautauquas. 

The speakers shared information about the country and current events of the time, news we get from the TV, radio or Internet today. 

Hayek says the theme of the Nebraska Chatauqua is "Free Land: 1862 and Shaping of Modern America."

"And so we are looking at a number of different stories and examples of how The Homestead Act, The Morrill Act and The Railway Act, all passed in 1862, have these lasting impacts on the Great Plains and certainly Nebraska as well.”

Hayek says this is the first opportunity Nebraska Humanities has had to bring Chautauqua to the Omaha metro. 

The festival starts Wednesday and runs through Sunday in downtown Papillion.