Page 449 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - USA

NEBR ASK A  447

treasure trove of Western
American art, with paintings,
sculpture, and photographs by
George Catlin, Frederic Reming-
ton, George Caleb Bingham,
and Edward S. Curtis. The center-
piece of its Western collection
are the watercolors and prints
by Swiss artist Karl Bodmer
(see p434), who documented
life on the upper Plains when he
traveled across North America
with German naturalist Prince
Morton’s mansion at Arbor Lodge State Historical Park, Nebraska City Maximilian of Wied in 1833.
North of downtown, the Great
u Nebraska City with a stagecoach once driven Plains Black History Museum
by Wild West impresario Buffalo relates the rarely told story of
* 7,200. n 806 1st Ave, (800) 514- Bill (see p574). African-American migration
9113. ∑ nebraskacity.com
and settlement on the Great
P Arbor Day Farm Plains, beginning with the
Sedate, tree-lined Nebraska 2611 Arbor Ave. Tel (402) 873-8717. Exoduster group of freed slaves
City’s origins were as a rowdy Open 9am–5pm Mon–Sat, 10am– that left Reconstruction-ravaged
Missouri River way station, 5pm Sun (10am–5pm in winter; from Tennessee in the 1870s to
where families and adventurers 11am Sun). Closed Jan 1, Dec 25. 7 homestead in Kansas. The
bound for the Oregon Trail ∑ arbordayfarm.org Mormon Trail Center, about
mingled with trappers, traders, 5 miles (8 km) to the north,
and riverboat employees. i Omaha commemorates the 1846-48
Today, the city is best known migration of Mormons from
as the birthplace of Arbor Day, * 421,600. ~ £ @ n 1001 the Midwest to Utah (see p511).
established by Nebraska Farnam St, Ste 200, (402) 444-4660. Located on the pioneers’ late
politician and newspaper editor ∑ visitomaha.com 19th-century Winter Quarters
Julius Sterling Morton (1832– campsite, a visitor center explains
1902). When he was Secretary Omaha evolved from a rough- the religious persecution that led
of Agriculture under President and-tumble Missouri River town to the migration. It also displays
Grover Cleveland, Morton and outfitting post into a major a reconstructed Mormon Trail
introduced a resolution to make railroad terminus with the handcart and wagon.
April 10 a state holiday to construction of the trans-
encourage farmers in Nebraska continental railroad in 1868 E Durham Western Heritage
to plant trees as protection from (see p562). The restored Old Museum
high plains winds and soil Market warehouse district just 801 S 10th St. Tel (402) 444-5071.
erosion. Later, the date was south of downtown preserves Open 10am–8pm Tue, 10am–5pm
changed to April 22, Morton’s the city’s historical roots. Its Wed–Sat, 1–5pm Sun. & 7
birthday. Arbor Day is still old commercial buildings and ∑ durhammuseum.org
commem orated throughout cobblestone streets are now P Joslyn Art Museum
the United States, although the home to some of the region’s 2200 Dodge St. Tel (402) 342-3300.
date varies from state to state. best restaurants, bookstores, Open 10am–4pm Tue–Sat (to 8pm
The city is also well known as and antique shops. A few Thu), noon–4pm Sun. & 7
the home of Arbor Day Farm, blocks south, the city’s landmark ∑ joslyn.org
a 260-acre (105-ha) experimental 1931 Art Deco Union Station
farm, conference center, and has been refurbished and
forestry research center. Scenic converted into the Durham
hiking trails and guided tours Western Heritage Museum.
offer casual explorations of the This splendid local history
farm’s apple orchards, wind- museum features displays
break arboretum, and a on Omaha’s railroad and
renewable energy plant. transportation heritage.
The Arbor Lodge State Just west of downtown is
Historical Park contains Morton’s the pink marble Joslyn Art
Georgian Revival mansion, Museum, a Smithsonian
greenhouse, and grounds. affiliate and the crown jewel of
The park includes tours of the Omaha’s cultural attractions.
formal Italian garden and The museum features 19th-
52-room mansion, completed and 20th-century European Art Deco façade of Omaha’s Durham Western
in 1902, and a carriage house and American art. It also is a Heritage Museum

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