“If you build it, he will come …”

A famous quote from the movie, “Field of Dreams,” in reference to the legends of baseball. Although often misquoted, as they will come, the phrase has become a popular idiom for, if you create something, people will come.

That’s the goal of the Great Plains Black History Museum as they unveil their newest exhibit – to coincide with the College World Series, to be held June 12 to June 21-22, at Charles Schwab Field, which is sure to be a hit among baseball fans.

“A League Of Our Own, The Negro League Baseball Exhibit” will be held through July 25, according to Eric L. Ewing, executive director of the museum, located in the Jewell Building in the historic district of North Omaha, at the corner of 24th and Grant streets.

“It is said that in 1839, Abner Doubleday invented the game of baseball, but today’s game should be credited to Alexander Joy Cartwright. In 1845, Cartwright added the ‘diamond-shaped infield, foul lines, and the three-strike rule.’ In 1920, Major League Baseball was founded, but its league did not allow African Americans to participate. So, that very same year, we established a League of Our Own, the Negro Baseball League,” according to an excerpt from the museum.

It is among a number of exhibits, free to experience, that the museum has planned throughout the year, highlighting the struggles and achievements of African Americans, with a focus on the Great Plains, per Ewing.

As a double hit, “The Negro Leagues & Black Baseball Storytelling Series” will be held June 13 from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Gene Leahy Mall Performance Pavilion, 1001 Douglas St., during the Omaha Freedom Festival and College World Series, to celebrate the legacy of Black baseball.

The series highlights the history, culture, and social impact of the Negro Leagues, featuring personal stories, expert insights, and rare memorabilia, along with displays from the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and the Great Plains Black History Museum, Ewing said.

Guest speakers include Bob Kendrick, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum President, former Nebraska State Senator Brenda Council, Wilbert Ellis, inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame for his accomplishments to the game – on and off the diamond – and former Major League Baseballer, coach, and scout, Ralph Garr, nicknamed the “Road Runner.”

Tickets are free, yet required, through Eventbrite and the Omaha Freedom Festival, which celebrates the national holiday, Juneteenth (June 19). The event, sponsored locally by Freedomtainment, is a federal holiday marking the 1865 liberation of the last remaining enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

It serves as a day of celebration for Black independence, heritage, and resilience, celebrated with community festivals, barbecues, and educational events, they said. To learn more, call (531) 772-0842 or visit Freedomtainment@gmail.com.

GPBHM Permanent Displays Include:

• Hate & Hope – Focuses on the ugly part of history in the Great Plains and positive events in Omaha, as well as other parts of America. The Hate exhibit displays the history of lynching throughout the Great Plains. The Hope exhibit features Bertha Calloway, the museum founder, information on the first African-American film company, and other accomplishments of African Americans.

• 24th & Glory – Through photos and artifacts that feature Johnny “The Jett” Rodgers’ Heisman Trophy, this exhibit looks at the intersection of Civil Rights and Omaha’s greatest generation of athletes to come out of one community.

• African American History Through Street Signs – Focuses on all the streets in Omaha, which have been named after African Americans, and features QR codes placed on the signs throughout the city to learn more about each individual online.

• Black and White in Black and White – This online exhibition reveals the dignity and hope of African Americans in the early 20th century. In 1965, 16-year-old Doug Keister acquired 280 glass plate negatives, originally found at a local garage sale. He immediately made prints from some of the plates, revealing powerful portraits of African Americans in Lincoln, Neb., curated by Keister himself.

Current Rotating Exhibits Include:

• The March on Washington for Jobs & Freedom – July 30 to Sept 26. In remembrance of the “Dream,” Martin Luther King Jr.’s famed speech calling for the end to racism. On Aug. 28, 1963, the “Big Six” leaders of the Civil Rights Movement were responsible for conducting the largest demonstration ever seen in our nation’s capital.

• The History of the Buffalo Soldiers – Oct 1 to Jan. 2, 2027. The Buffalo Soldiers were African-American soldiers who served in the U.S. Army, primarily on the Western Frontier after the Civil War. Established in 1866, six all-Black regiments were created, which later consolidated into four: the 9th and 10th Cavalry and the 24th and 25th Infantry. The nickname “Buffalo Soldiers” is believed to have been given by Native Americans, reflecting their bravery and resilience during conflicts. These soldiers played a significant role in the westward expansion of the United States, engaging in battles with the Native Americans and were contributing to military efforts during that era. Their legacy is celebrated for its impact on American history and the fight for civil rights.

• Tuskegee Airmen & Those Who Served AA in Military – Oct. 1 to Jan. 1, 2027. This exhibit looks at the Tuskegee Airmen who lived in Nebraska and local African Americans who served in the military.

• The History of Kwanzaa – Dec. 3 to Jan. 1, 2027. Celebrates the history of its founder, Dr. Maulana Karenga, and its seven principles and symbols.

To learn more about the GPBHM and other sponsored events, visit gpblackhistorymuseum.org or contact the museum, currently located at 2221 N. 24th St., at (402) 932-7077 or info@GPBlackHistoryMuseum.org