News Release

Homestead National Monument of America to Host Executive Director of American Historical Society of Germans from Russia

Date: December 10, 2018
Contact: Charlotte McDaniel, 402-223-3514

Sherry Loos Pawelko, the Executive Director of American Historical Society of Germans from Russia  will present on the unique history and culture that the Germans from Russia brought to the Great Plains region of the United States at the Homestead Education Center on Sunday, December 30 at 2:00p.m.
 
Sherry heads a national society that seeks to preserve and remember the history of German immigrants to Russia who maintained separate communities there prior to immigrating to the United States. The influence of the Germans from Russia remains extremely visible on the Great Plains, from the popularity of Runza (a sandwich and restaurant with German-Russian origins) to the prevalence of winter wheat (a crop introduced to the Great Plains by the Germans from Russia). Sherry will bring a short film and artifacts to tell the story of the Germans from Russia.
 
“The Germans from Russia represent a unique cultural group that retained much of their German culture and language when they immigrated to Russia prior to immigrating to the United States. Their history provides important context to understanding the development of the Great Plains region,” says Superintendent Mark Engler.
 
 The Winter Festival of Prairie Cultures features decorated trees and tabletop displays featuring ornaments and hand-made crafts that reflect the spirit of hope, humor, traditions, and generosity which characterized settlers of the West. Cultures represented include Czech, French, German, Hispanic, Irish, Polish, Scottish, Swedish, and Welsh.
 
Remember, Homestead National Monument of America has an exciting schedule of events planned for 2019. Keep up with the latest information by following us on Twitter (HomesteadNM), Facebook (HomesteadNM), and Instagram (HomesteadNPS).
 Homestead National Monument of America is a unit of the National Park Service located four miles west of Beatrice, Nebraska. Hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Friday, and 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on weekends. The park buildings will be closed on December 25, and January 1. Trails remain open from dawn to dusk. Admission is free of charge. For additional information, please call 402-223-3514 or visit http://www.nps.gov/home