An Art Ensemble
Home to the University of Nebraska and a growing city scene, Lincoln has emerged as one of the most hip and creative cities in the state. A case in point is the Sheldon Museum of Art.
The Sheldon Museum is a hybrid institution. It houses the collections of both the Sheldon Art Association, which was founded in 1888, and the University of Nebraska, which began collecting art in 1929. All together, the museum has more than 12,000 works in a variety of media, including a collection of American art that focuses on 19th-century landscape and still life, as well as American impressionism, modernism and pop art.
Groups visiting the museum can tour the permanent exhibits, as well as one of the 20 special exhibitions presented each year. Outside, a sculpture garden has more than 30 large-scale pieces of art by sculptors such as Gaston Lachaise, Jacques Lipchitz, Michael Heizer and Richard Serra.
Historic Dinner
In the late 1800s, Fort Omaha was a military outpost protecting settlers against Indian raids and other dangers. Today, the grounds and original buildings of the fort in Omaha are preserved by the Douglas County Historical Society, and visitors can get a taste of life at the fort with a variety of interactive experiences offered by the museum staff.
The newest option for groups is Dinner With General George and Mary Crook. The dinner takes place in the Crook House, a home built at the fort in 1879 for George Crook, a Civil War and Indian wars hero who later became an advocate for Native Americans. Guests are welcomed to the home by historic interpreters playing the roles of General Crook and his wife, and have a meal typical of the food prepared by the Army mess hall of the time.
After the meal, guides take groups through the restored home to see special antique decor and furniture items. They also get a tour of the on-site heirloom garden.
Tanking on the River
In north-central Nebraska, the Calamus River runs through ranchland, and locals have found a way to integrate agricultural traditions into outdoor exploration of the Calamus River Basin.
Calamus Outfitters in Burwell offers a variety of ways to explore the river, including canoeing adventures and river tubing. Perhaps the most inventive, however, is river “tanking.” This activity uses plastic water or animal feed tanks that have been cut in half and modified with seating for float trips down the river. Unlike canoes and kayaks, which move only in one direction, the tanks spin and bob as they make their way downstream, giving travelers a fun and relaxing experience with a 360-degree perspective.
Calamus Outfitters also offers guided Sandhill Safari jeep tours, which highlight the desert-like landscape of the Sandhill region. Passengers see sand dunes, cacti, wildflowers and plenty of wild animals as they drive off-road around an area ranch.
