The Old Freighters Museum in Nebraska City sustained water damage on three levels after a water pipe burst on New Year’s Day.

A neighbor notified police around 3:30 p.m. after noticing a large amount of ice forming on the west side of the building and hearing what sounded like running water.

Sgt. Chris Angus and Brian Volkmer of the Nebraska City Museum Association discovered the water spraying from a pipe at an upstairs sink. Volkmer waded through knee-high water in the basement to shut the water off.

The upstairs floor showed signs of buckling and the plaster ceiling on the ground level bowed and collapsed in several areas. There was no standing water in the display areas, however, and Volkmer says he believes the laminated story boards and artifacts will be fine.
He said everything needs to dry out. “The humidity level was astronomical. It must’ve been 100 percent,” he said.

The museum’s insurance policy covers damage to the building, built in 1858 by the U.S. government and used by the Russell, Majors and Wadell freighting company, but does not cover exhibits.

Volkmer says he expects the museum to be open by Arbor Day.