April 2021 • Nebraskaland 123
A Slice
of 1860
By Renae Blum
When it comes to living history, details matter, says
Megan Sothan of Steele City, Nebraska.
"That's what really allows people to immerse in the
situation," she said.
For Sothan, a living history volunteer at Rock Creek
Station State Historical Park, that means keeping all
modern intrusions out of sight. It also means lots of
research, trying to nail down what a historically accurate
outfi t or meal looks like.
Research often goes in many directions. When making
her clothing, for example, Sothan needed to fi gure out
what kinds of fabric were available in the area, what
techniques she could use, what was fashionable at the
time and more.
"When people come to see us, they come to see 1860, so
we try to be as authentic as we can with the information
that we have," she said.
It's all in service of helping people understand the past.
"I think it's important to understand where we come from
in order to move forward," Sothan said.
On a personal level, participating in living history allows
Sothan to learn about history in a way that works for her.
"I'm a very visual learner; I like to touch things, I like to
see things," she said. "I struggle to really get engaged by
just reading, so I wanted to fi nd a way to learn in my style."
Now she's able to pass on her knowledge to visitors. "It
evolved from a tool of personal growth into helping others
also learn about this history in a tangible way," she said.
N
"It was a stopping point on the trails west
for people migrating to Oregon and California.
We often call it the 'Oregon Trail' today,
but it didn't just go to Oregon. And so Rock
Creek was a resting point for all those people
traveling," Sothan said.
What we want you to know
about Rock Creek Station
A Volunteer Profi le
