Ned Dunlap and His Ships: An Unraveling Mystery

Fabulous Friday Speaker Series presented by Dr. Lina Cordia. Nelson C. Dunlap, one-time foreman of Watson’s 1733 Ranch, inspired many tall tales over the past century. A so-called cowboy candidate for the state Legislature, a college graduate, a soldier, a sailor and an artist, his real-life accomplishments and his legacy – in the form of three hand carved ships – tell a more interesting story. Generations of Kearney residents recall these ships on display at Kearney Public Library, before arriving at the Buffalo County Historical Society and Fort Kearny. Like the man, these ships have confounded the best efforts of BCHS staff to locate and correctly identify each of them. Join us for a deep dive into the unraveling mystery of these ships and the man who made them.