1. Home
  2. Visit
  3. Senator George Norris State Historic Site

Senator George Norris State Historic Site

Senator George Norris Historic House

Seasonal Hours May 1 - October 31

Wednesday - Friday: 1 pm - 4 pm

Saturday: 1 pm - 3:30 pm

Off-Season Hours November 1 - April 30

Closed

Admission

Free Admission

Contact

308-345-8484
Dawna.Bates@nebraska.gov

Address

706 Norris Avenue
McCook, NE 69001-3142

George Norris changed rural life by working in a big city—Washington, D.C. As a U.S. Senator he fathered the Rural Electrification Act that brought electric power to farms across the nation. He changed Nebraska’s government by convincing citizens a one-house Unicameral legislature would serve them best. Norris spent over forty years in the U.S. Congress, fighting to make life better for common people. This humble house in McCook served as his home base from 1902 to 1944. The house and all its furnishings were donated to History Nebraska by Norris's wife, Ellie, in 1968.

Senator George Norris

 

George Norris

George Norris represented Nebraska is Congress for over forty years. And he changed not just Nebraska, but the entire U.S. Norris believed that everyone should have access to electricity and sponsored the Rural Electrification Act. Some thought his controversial support for public power was socialistic or un-American. The REA ran into some resistance, but passed and brought new light and new life to farms across the country

A Republican, Norris ignored party lines to align his votes with his beliefs. Norris felt the two-party system was outdated and unnecessary. He set off around Nebraska campaigning for a non-partisan, one party state legislature. In 1934 Nebraskans voted to create the nation’s only unicameral legislature. It first convened in 1937.  

Norris’s big ideas originated in a little house in McCook. After his very long career in government he returned to his home base until his death in 1944.  

Become a History Nebraska Member Today

Learn More

Location Info

History Nebraska Headquarters

Hours
8am - 5pm Monday - Friday

Phone Number
(402) 471-3270

Address
1500 "R" Street
Lincoln, Nebraska 68508-1651
view map

Reference Room

Hours

Friday 9 am – 4 pm

Phone Number
(402) 471-4751

Address
1500 "R" Street
Lincoln, Nebraska 68508-1651
view map

Chimney Rock

Hours
Wednesday - Sunday: 10 am - 4pm

Closed Monday and Tuesday.

Phone Number
(308) 586-2581

Address
PO Box F
Bayard, NE 69334
view map

Fort Robinson

Hours

Tuesday - Saturday: 10 am - 12:30 pm; 1 pm - 3:30 pm

Closed Sunday and Monday

Phone Number
(308) 665-2919

Address
3200 West Highway 20
Crawford, NE 69339
view map

Nebraska History Museum

Tuesday - Friday: 10 am - 4 pm

Phone Number
(402) 471-4782

Address
131 Centennial Mall North
Lincoln, Nebraska 68508
view map

John G. Neihardt

Hours

10:00am - 4:00pm Wednesday- Friday
10:00am - 5:00pm Saturday
12:00pm - 5:00pm Sunday

Phone Number
(402) 648-3388

Address
306 E Elm St
Bancroft, NE 68004
view map

Neligh Mill

Hours
Wednesday - Saturday: 10 am - 4:30 pm

Closed Sunday, Monday, Tuesday

Phone Number
(402) 887-4303

Address
N Street at Wylie Dr
Neligh, NE 68756
view map

Senator George Norris

Hours
Wednesday - Friday: 1 pm - 4 pm

Saturday: 1 pm - 3:30 pm

Closed Sunday, Monday, Tuesday

Phone Number
(308) 345-8484

Address
706 Norris Ave
McCook, NE 69001
view map

Thomas P. Kennard

Hours
By Appointment Only Monday - Friday

Phone Number
(402) 471-4764

Address
1627 H Street
Lincoln, NE
view map

Helpful Links

Research
Blog
Events
Sites

Support
Be a Member
Volunteer
Give/Donate
Foundation

Connect with Us

Sign up for our Newsletter