From tall tales, legends, and lore to the true history and current issues of the region, the 49th annual Great Plains conference examines the storylines of the Great Plains. Stories matter, and the stories told about the region in its past and present continue to impact and shape it today and into the future. How are the Plains and the people who live here portrayed, characterized, and commemorated? Who is included in these stories and who is left out? How do we challenge the myths of pioneers, cowboys, and Indigenous peoples of the Plains? What are the forgotten and hidden stories of the plants, animals, and landscapes of our region? Who is included in our monuments? This conference will explore and confront these questions and more through the lenses of history, education, media (including film, tv, literature, comics), landscapes, museums, art, and historic memorials.

Financial assistance is available, please contact the event organizers for more details at acloet3@unl.edu.

Supported by the Mellon Foundation, UNL’s Willa Cather Archive, the College of Architecture, and UNL Libraries.