Bellevue Officials Inspect Sarpy County Museum After Damage Report

No major safety concerns found, but water damage discovered in storage areas

Mar. 12, 2026 at 10:39pm

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City officials in Bellevue, Nebraska inspected the Sarpy County Museum after a report of mold and water damage throughout the building. While they found evidence of water damage, particularly in storage areas holding books and newspapers, officials said they did not see any major safety concerns that would prevent the museum from remaining open. The city has offered to extend the Historical Society's lease until 2027 to give volunteers more time to remove artifacts, and plans to work with the Historical Society to retain Bellevue-related items for the city's own historical society and museum.

Why it matters

The Sarpy County Museum houses a significant collection of historical artifacts and records, and its continued operation is important for preserving the region's history. The water damage and potential mold issues raised concerns about the building's condition and the safety of volunteers working there, prompting the city's inspection.

The details

During their inspection, Bellevue officials found water damage in some storage areas of the museum, but said they did not see any major safety issues that would require the museum to close. The city plans to follow up with the company that produced the initial damage report to understand their specific concerns. Officials said more issues could be revealed once artifacts are removed from the building. To give the Historical Society more time, the city has offered to extend their lease until January 2027. The city also wants to work with the Historical Society to retain Bellevue-related items for the city's own historical efforts.

  • The original deadline to move artifacts out of the museum was June 1, 2026.
  • The city has offered to extend the Historical Society's lease until January 2027.

The players

Bellevue

The city of Bellevue, Nebraska, which owns the building housing the Sarpy County Museum and is working with the Historical Society on the museum's future.

Sarpy County Museum

A museum in Bellevue, Nebraska that houses a collection of historical artifacts and records for the region.

Bellevue Historical Society

The organization that currently operates the Sarpy County Museum under a lease agreement with the city of Bellevue.

Rusty Hike

The mayor of Bellevue, Nebraska.

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What they’re saying

“Once they get all the items out of the museum, I think we can tear some of the drywall out and see what's behind the walls because inspections and reports can't see what's behind the walls, so once we get an eye on that then we will know.”

— Rusty Hike, Mayor of Bellevue

“We just don't want that history to get lost for Bellevue.”

— Rusty Hike, Mayor of Bellevue

What’s next

The city plans to follow up with the company that produced the initial damage report to better understand their specific concerns about the museum's condition. Once artifacts are removed, the city will be able to inspect the building's walls and structure more thoroughly.

The takeaway

This inspection highlights the challenges of maintaining aging historical buildings and the importance of preserving a community's history. While the Sarpy County Museum faces some structural issues, the city of Bellevue is working to find a solution that allows the museum to continue operating and ensures the historical artifacts are properly cared for.