Russell and Waddell

In 1859 the Old Freighters Museum building was sold to the freighting company of Russell, Majors, and Waddell.

The company had been awarded a government contract to convey five thousand tons of government supplies overland to military outposts in the western reaches of the land. Along with this building, they purchased 138 lots in the Prairie City Addition of Nebraska City for the freighting company.

Russel, Majors, and Waddell operated this freighting company in Nebraska City until 1865, at which time the house was sold to Dr. Spencer Gant and family. The Gant family resided in the home for the next 50 years.

In 1985, the Nebraska City Historical Society purchased the house to restore and preserve it as a historical museum under the direction of Eric Asboe.