Workers at the Homestead National Monument in Beatrice have been trying to salvage artifacts from its flooded visitors center.

A broken water main at the Heritage Center was discovered Friday evening. More than an inch of standing water filled the building that houses more than 50,000 artifacts.

Park superintendent Mark Engler and other staff were working Saturday to assess the damage and dry artifacts. So far, they've determined that more than 255 books and 101 wood items had been exposed to water.

Engler says it's too early to say whether any of the items are beyond repair.

The Heritage Center will be closed to the public for the next several days as cleanup continues. The rest of the monument will be open.