About Us
Douglas County Historical Society’s (DCHS) mission is to collect, preserve, exhibit, and care for the institution’s collections pertaining to the history of Douglas County including the General Crook House Museum.
Interim Executive Director
Liz Boutin
Originally from Idaho, Liz Boutin’s journey as a military spouse has taken her to several places across the globe since 1996 until her husband’s retirement from the Air Force in 2014 at Offutt Air Force Base. The family has since settled in the small community of Bellevue, Nebraska. She graduated from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 2015 with a BA in Art History and a BFA in painting. Liz graduated in 2021 from George Washington University with a graduate certificate in Museum Collections Management and Care. She received her MA in Museum Studies at the University of Oklahoma in 2023. Liz has previously worked as a Framing Manager, Preparator at an art museum, Research Specialist, and an Interim Executive Director for a local historical society.
Liz loves being outdoors, connecting with nature, and going camping often. She believes the natural environment and any medium of art can coexist as a form of therapy. Her three kids entertain her by fulfilling their goals in their own lives.
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director@douglascohistory.org
Visitor Experience Coordinator
Margaret McCrina
Born and raised in Georgia, Margaret grew up in a history-loving family and frequently went on fieldtrips to battlefields and museums all over the South. She attended Jacksonville State University in Alabama for her undergraduate degree where she crafted her own interdisciplinary program that fused together her passions for history, fashion, English, and theatre. She is currently working on her Master’s degree in Museum Studies through the University of Oklahoma. Much of her research focuses on accessibility issues in the museum field and ongoing efforts to improve everyone’s access to history.
Outside of work, Margaret enjoys sewing, researching historic garments, volunteering with the community theatre, reading, and going on walks with her dog, Pepper.
admin@douglascohistory.org
Membership Coordinator
Andria Thompson
Andria is a native Omahan, having graduated from South High in 2014. She received her BA in History from University of Nebraska – Omaha in 2018 with emphasis on the modern Middle East. Previously, Andria has volunteered at local museums and worked for the Omaha Public Library before finally landing in the world of non-profits, first with the GOALS Center and now at DCHS.
At home, Andria loves hanging out with her cat Gary, having late night board game parties, crafting, and going thrifting.
members@douglascohistory.org
Research Specialist
Katie Dykstra
Though originally born in Omaha Nebraska, Katie was raised in West Virginia and Arizona. She decided to return to Omaha to study nursing, only to fall in love with history instead. She graduated with a BS in History and minors in Art History and Ancient Mediterranean Studies from the University of Nebraska, Omaha in 2023. She is currently working on her master’s degree in History at the University of Nebraska, Omaha.
When she is not working, Katie enjoys reading, researching the Etruscans, crocheting, and hanging out with her two cats Bastet and Sekhmet.
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research@douglascohistory.org
Collections Assistants
Hailey Stessman
Born and raised in Papillion, Hailey has always had a love for history and preserving stories from the past, especially her family’s. From sitting for hours flipping through photo albums to listening to childhood memories from her aunts and uncles, she knew that her life’s mission was to help preserve history in a meaningful and accessible manner. She received her BA in English from the University of Nebraska Omaha with an emphasis on British/Irish/Anglophone Literature and minors in Art History and Medieval/Renaissance Studies. She also completed a thesis for UNO’s Honors Program that followed her journey of creating an online archive of her grandmother’s life.
Today, Hailey enjoys browsing antiques with her partner, cuddling with her three cats Bubbles, Butters, and Buttons, and celebrating Halloween year-round.
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collection1@douglascohistory.org
Teacher: History and Appreciation of Antiques
Pat Pixley
Curator@DouglasCoHistory.org
Board of Directors
Board of Directors
President
George Martin
Secretary
Kathy Gross
Treasurer
Whitney West
Past President
Members at Large
Cindy Hadsell
Sheri Kanger
Kate Thomas
Whitney West
Ex-Officio
Susie Phillips, Crook House Guild President
Liz Boutin, DCHS Interim Executive Director