Gordon and Robin Marks are calling it their "Fortunate 42."
The Michigan couple that has been driving the Truckin' Through Nebraska mobile children's museum around the state said they have enjoyed every stop on their 42-town tour.
"Each town offers something new and different," Gordon said on Thursday. "Some are larger, some are smaller — some really small. But the people themselves are what really makes the cities what they are."
The mobile museum is part of the statewide Nebraska 150 celebration spearheaded by first lady Susanne Shore. Inside the trailer of a semi is a museum made up of interactive exhibits that depict Nebraska's history and culture. The idea behind the mobile museum is to let children "explore their heritage and envision their futures and career possibilities in the state," the Nebraska 150 site says.
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The Marks work for MRA Mobile Experience Tours, a company that was contracted to operate the mobile museum. The Marks' semitrailer is outfitted specifically for exhibits like this one. They have been driving for MRA for years and were on another tour when they heard about Truckin' Through Nebraska. Excited about the opportunity to explore a new state, they "put their names in the hat" to be chosen for this tour and were picked shortly after.
Gordon and Robin Marks only had one day off after their last tour before they were back on the road and on their way to Nebraska. Their first stop was in Omaha on April 7. Since then, they have hit all but four of the cities they were scheduled to present in.
This weekend, they will be in Lincoln as part of Nebraska 150's "Salute to the Good Life" event in front of the State Capitol. The museum will also be available for viewing on Canopy Street between P and Q streets on Saturday and Sunday.
The months-long journey has changed the couple's perspective on the state, Gordon said. Since he's been driving trucks for 34 years, he's been through Nebraska many times. This tour, however, gave him the opportunity to truly learn about the state and its residents.
"People believe it's a pass-through state with just farms, corn and soybeans," Gordon said. "But we've had the pleasure of seeing your monuments and meeting your people. Everyone in Nebraska has been genuinely wholesome and inviting to us — they love to teach us about their city or town."
At each stop, the Marks might have a few hours to explore, but they're mostly working the museum. Their behind-the-scenes work includes set up and tear down of the museum, as well as maintenance for the exhibits, which includes games and crafts. But the constant work is worth it for Gordon and Robin.
"Our main priority is to make sure the museum operates without a hitch and that everyone else gets to enjoy it," he said. "We do it because we love seeing people walk away with smiles on their faces."