Senator George Norris Historic House
Seasonal Hours May 1 - September 30
By Appointment Only
Off-Season Hours October 1 - April 30
Closed
Admission
Free Admission
Contact
Amanda Pinkelman, Historic Sites Coordinator
402-432-0525
amanda.pinkelman@nebraska.gov
Address
706 Norris Avenue
McCook, NE 69001-3142
What did George Norris accomplish as a U.S. Senator?
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 the 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.
Life as a Public Servant
Who influenced him to become so future-minded? Did Norris influence a future generation of public servants? We interviewed three community leaders in McCook, Nebraska, to investigate these questions. Watch here to find out more.
Bring this story of a life-long public servant to your school. History Nebraska is now offering a Distance Learning Program that will take students into George Norris’s home* to see even more artifacts and photos and investigate these public servant questions. Contact Jessica Stoner at jessica.stoner@nebraska.gov for more information.
*Depending on availability, the program may also take place at the Nebraska History Museum.
