Museums introduce new exhibits

grace johnson

 

Civil War Veterans Museum

In February, with the help of the Steinhart Foundation and Bill Carroll, officials at the Civil War Veterans Museum Memorial Hall in Nebraska City unveiled a stained glass window honoring Civil War veterans. GAR committee member Dave Wells said the windows are among the few permanent monuments to the Civil War.

The Nebraska Department of the Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War presented its community service award to the volunteer board of the museum in June.

In August, exterior work on the front side of the GAR Hall was completed. The work included painting and replacing mortar and broken bricks, which made the building more closely resemble its 1894 appearance.

 

Wildwood Center

The Wildwood Center’s major project for the year was its Victorian Garden. In March, the Garden Club provided a $2,000 boost for the garden’s lattice room. The garden features multiple paths, scenic spots to sit and rest, fountains and many plants and flowers. The front porch of the period house was also replaced in September.

 

Arbor Lodge

At Arbor Lodge State Historical Park, major work on the mansion was completed. The work was funded by a Save America’s Treasures grant and included replacing the mansion’s roof. Friends of Arbor Lodge hosted the Halloween Enchanted Garden event for kids and “Christmas at the Mansion” for the first time since 2001.

 

Mayhew Cabin

Mayhew Cabin held a living history event Oct. 1, which featured blacksmithing, leather-making and tomahawk throwing demonstrations. The museum also installed a new walkway leading visitors from the cabin to the entrance of “John Brown’s Cave.”

 

Old Freighter’s Museum

In April, a Bible given to teamsters in the heyday of overland freighting at Nebraska City took its place at the Old Freighter’s Museum when it was donated by Judy Rowe. The museum hosted an open house and Historical Society ice cream social in July, with musical renditions of the Oregon Trail performed by Peru State English professor Dan Holtz.

 

National Arbor Day Foundation and Arbor Day Farm

Arbor Day had added significance for the National Arbor Day Foundation in 2006, with the dedication of its new nature explorer classroom. “It’s not only a great experience for guests here at the Tree Adventure, but serves as a national model of what schools can do for their children,” said the foundation’s Susie Wirth.

The Foundation also started a Nature Explore Club, with a Nature Explore Center in the works. Arbor Day Farm Director Doug Farrar said the building will be a $5 million project and will allow for teacher workshops and other educational functions.

Arbor Day Farm is also looking forward to the completion of a conservation pathway, which will take visitors through areas normally unseen by the public. Farrar said there will be eight learning stations which will fulfill a curriculum. “It will be a major attraction to bring people to Nebraska City,” he said.

 

Lewis and Clark Center

The Missouri River Basin Lewis and Clark Center welcomed re-enactors retracing the journey of Lewis and Clark and hosted a kids activity day which featured various demonstrations relating to the mission. A new birding exhibit at the Center was dedicated Dec. 8 and a birding trail was also added.

 

River Country Nature Center

The River Country Nature Center exhibit entitled “Adaptation and Change in Nature” was completed in October. The exhibit explores genetics and ways various animals adapt to their environment. The Winton Bickel Foundation sponsored the temporary exhibit in addition to the children’s area “The Robin’s Nest Reading Area” installed the previous April.

A new classroom is also now available for public use in the Nature Center. Its most eye-catching feature is the Nature Center logo appearing on a large wall-hanging.

The Nature Center recently received a $25,000 anonymous grant which they must match.

 

Otoe County Museum

The Otoe County Museum in Syracuse has two new displays, an antique Swiss music box built in the late 1800’s and a collection of china from the period of the late 1800’s to the early 1900’s. “We are so fortunate to receive these donations,” said Otoe County Museum Society President Phyllis Witte.

The museum also now has 70 personal interviews on compact disc files. The project was completed with a $200 grant from the Syracuse Community Improvement Program (CIP). The interviews tell about early Syracuse, Charles Lindbergh’s flights to Syracuse, butchering and other topics. They are available to the public to check out or copy.

A pictorial history of Syracuse entitled “Droughts, Floods, Fires and Other Events” is also available on DVD and VHS. The museum will have regular Sunday afternoon hours beginning May 1, 2007.

 

Tourism

 

Nebraska City Tourism and Commerce Executive Director Jim Johnston said Nebraska City Tourism and Commerce has made great strides recently in bringing new visitors to town. “NCTC has developed a $100,000 advertising campaign including the official visitors’ guide, renovated Nebraskacity.com, new TV commercials, print media ads, internet advertising and travel writer PR,” he said. The new advertising slogan is “From family fun, to romantic getaways, to girls’ weekends. . . Take your pick.”

Johnston said the website features new photography and new sections including theater, nature, shopping and podcasts.

Nebraska City commissioners approved a formalized agreement with Nebraska City Tourism and Commerce that promised about $63,000 in city support per year.

 

Nature Center, Leadership Nebraska City honored

grace johnson

 

In 2006, the River Country Nature Center received the Economic Development Arts and Humanities award at the 43rd Annual Nebraska Community Improvement Program banquet in Kearney. Nebraska City was one of several communities praised for good work in promoting and encouraging community, leadership and economic development. Governor Dave Heineman presented the awards.

Joe Voges, whose taxidermy specimens make up much of the Nature Center, was pleased that the efforts of everyone involved with the Center have been recognized. Over 75 volunteers spent thousands of hours working toward the Center’s AppleJack opening in 2005 at its new location of 114 South Sixth Street. Voges said the opening would not have been possible without those volunteers. “If it wasn’t for those people, this place wouldn’t be,” he said. “There’s been a lot of hard work and dedication.”

Leadership Nebraska City

Leadership Nebraska City also received an award. The program was honored in the category of Volunteer and Leadership Development. LNC began in 2005. Its goal is “to increase the quality and quantity of men and women capable and willing to accept leadership roles.”

Shawnna Sylvius, marketing coordinator for River Country Economic Development, designed the program with the help of an advisory council. The program was modeled after Leadership Kearney.

“It (the Nebraska City program) met a need and made an impact in the community,” Sylvius said. “It’s exciting to see this award after only one year of programming.”

The first class heard over 100 speakers. They also completed a community service project, providing a grant and volunteer hours to the Cider House Theatre.

The second Leadership class is now underway.

 

New museum honors firefighting tradition

grace johnson

 

In June 2006, officials broke ground for the Nebraska City Museum of Firefighting and began a challenge grant fundraising campaign for the museum’s first phase.

Today, work is being completed on the building’s construction and on the exhibits in preparation for opening this spring.

Assistant Fire Chief Dennis Marshall said the community has been supportive, participating in fundraisers such as Thanksgiving pie sales, calendar sales, museum t-shirt sales, brat sales and many other functions.

Fire Chief Alan Viox said locals have been happy to provide support because they believe the museum will be valuable to the community. “They just really appreciate that we’re taking the time to do this,” he said.

Marshall said museum organizers are thankful to the service clubs, fraternal organizations, and various other groups and individuals who contributed to the match.

He said Nebraska City’s foundations continue to be very involved, including one which contributed to the cause without being asked. “Every foundation in this community contributed to this museum,” he said.

Marshall said that aside from monetary contributions, community members have also been giving their time and effort to the construction of the museum.

Property and two houses were purchased along Central Avenue across the street from the fire department to house the museum, which will be constructed in phases. The first phase includes the East Gallery, which will house the 1938 pumper, steam pumper, Model A, ladder wagon and 1884 hose cart .

An annex to the gallery will house restrooms, entryway and gift shop area. The third phase will feature another gallery for equipment, photos and memorabilia.

Each phase will chronicle the history of firefighters with interactive exhibits. Visitors will be able to see how firefighting methods improved over the years with the innovation of new equipment.

The Nebraska City Fire Department was first organized in the late 1850s. During its early history as a “bucket brigade,” the volunteer firefighters could do little more than haul buckets of water to the fires. As Otoe Hook and Ladder Company No. 1, the department upgraded its equipment and took the first major step toward modernizing its firefighting techniques. The addition of its first steam fire engine in 1868 brought further advancements to the department.

The early 1900’s brought many important changes to the department, which received its first motorized fire apparatus in 1916 — a combination chemical, hose and ladder truck. In March 1923, the department became fully automated, retiring the remaining horses being used.