The Thomas P. Kennard House

January 8th, 2008

Thomas Perkins Kennard was an enigmatic man who was born just outside Flushing, Belmont County Ohio in 1828. It wasn’t until 1857 when he moved with his oldest brother Levi Kennard to Nebraska that he began his contribution to the then only booming state. Later in his life he became very much involved in civic concerns in Nebraska and was elected as Secretary of State in 1867, later serving as a state senator and carrying a few other federal appointments. He also founded the Western Paint and Glass Company in 1879, a company where he remained associated with for the rest of his years.

The Thomas P. Kennard House was their former domicile, and was sold in 1887 upon the death of his wife Livia Emily Kennard. The years after 1887 saw the Kennard House used as a boarding house, a fraternity house, and as a regular home for a few single families.

1968 saw the Thomas P. Kennard House dedicated as the Nebraska Statehood Memorial. IT is the oldest standing structure in Lincoln’s original area. Located at 1627 H Street in Lincoln Nebraska, The Thomas P. Kennard now serves as a museum and a place for special, private events.

The American Historical Society Of Germans From Russia

January 4th, 2008

Established in Lincoln Nebraska, The American Historical Society Of Germans From Russia is a group that is dedicated to the discovery, collection, preservation, and dissemination of information that involves the history, cultural heritage and genealogy of German Settlers that have descended from the time of the Russian Empire.

The American Historical Society Of Germans From Russia, or AHSGR for short works as a corporation under the facilitation of an elected Board of Directors. This non-profit organization also works with another group known as the International Foundation of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia. And although these two organization are in fact separate entities, they function well together and have created a very positive and symbiotic relationship.

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Frank H. Woods Telephone Pioneer Museum

January 4th, 2008

The Frank H. Woods Telephone Pioneer Museum is a memorial dedicated to Frank H. Woods and is one of the most unique attractions amongst all Lincoln Nebraska museums. It covers a wide scope of interests that will surely generate smiles from its guests. The galleries of exhibits found in the Frank H. Woods Telephone Pioneer Museum

Frank H. Woods Sr. was the founder of the Lincoln Telephone and Telegraph company back in 1903. He also served as the President and Chairman of the Board until 1946, the year that he resigned as President. He kept his post as Chairman though until the time of his death in April of 1952.

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The Ager Play Center

December 28th, 2007

If you’re looking for the perfect place for your kids to immerse in recreational activities while learning to socialize at an early age, then the Ager Play Center might just be the perfect place for you. With their complete amenities and equipment, the Ager Play Center makes sure that you and your children’s stay in Lincoln Nebraska will be a fun and memorable one.

Located at 1300 South 27th Street, the Ager Play Center allows young kids at least 3 years of age and under four feet tall to roam around their entire facility and enjoy their afternoons playing interactive games, exercise, and learn a thing or two. The Ager Play Center has a reading area available for all kids. This is a great area for them to practice reading and spelling, all the while interacting with other kids and enhancing their social skills at an early age. There are also 3 ball pits, some slides, and a maze made out of tunnels. Excellent for exercise, these colorful playground structures entice children to play around and stretch their muscles as you either watch from nearby or visit other Lincoln Nebraska attractions. The Ager Play Center also offers riding toys and wagons that add on to the overall entertainment package. Kids can drive their chosen vehicles and ride them on a kiddie indoor track all the way to a snack area. A toddler area is also available for children who are younger than 3 years of age.

The Ager Play Center is also located near a children’s zoo. This really makes it an excellent place to visit when roaming around Lincoln Nebraska with your entire family.

Laser Quest in Lincoln Nebraska

December 27th, 2007

Laser Quest is a fast-paced game for kids of all ages and those who are kids at heart. Combining the elements of hide and seek with tag, its a simple and fun game that can really get you hooked easily. With players wearing highly sophisticated laser tag equipment, they form teams and take on one another and score points by tagging opposing players by using their lasers. The playing field is a multi-platformed area with specialty lighting, fog machines, and accompanying music that adds to the excitement of the game. Score cards and code names may also be used and further add on to the fun.

Laser Quest is a private company that started in Ontario Canada that has made its way to American shores and is now one of the biggest Lincoln Nebraska attractions. The first Laser Quest Center actually opened in 1989 in Manchester, England. At present there are Laser Quest Centers all over the globe, summing up to over a hundred centers worldwide. The company is an outstanding organization that is dedicated to bringing a totally different entertainment experience for friends and family.

The facilities of the Laser Quest Center in Lincoln Nebraska offer a few packages that are geared towards different target consumer markets. Available for birthdays, corporate team buildings, and an educational program and field trips.

The Laser Quest Center in Lincoln Nebraska is located at 6802 P St, East Park Plaza. Open from Tuesdays to Thursdays at 6:00 to 9:00 in the evening, Saturdays from noontime to 11:00 in the evening, and Sundays 1:00 in the afternoon to 9:00 in the evening, the Laser Quest Center prides itself for being able to provide for people from ages 7 to 77. Make sure to experience this alternative kind of competitive fun found in Lincoln Nebraska with friends or family.

The Deer Spring Winery

December 26th, 2007

A business that has flourished for generations and has maintained its traditions as a family owned and operated business, the Deer Spring Winery is one of the few wine makers that come out with quality wines in the Lincoln Nebraska area. The Deer Springs Winery operates on a large land area where both the lot and the buildings are part of the family estate, and has been producing some of the finest wines in that area of the United States.

The Deer Spring Winery began when their homestead certification was signed and therefore given to early ancestor Patrick O’Halloran during the 15th of August in 1874. Visitors can now find the original deed, which was signed by President Ulysses S. Grant, displayed on the winery as an added attraction and a means of preserving the Deer Spring Winery’s history. Owned by Jim and Barbara Partington, daughter Jennifer Reeder and her husband Jon, and their daughter Kathleen Hennagir, the Deer Spring Winery still stands today to produce a variety of white and red wines enjoyed in many dinner tables all over Lincoln Nebraska and other parts of America.

Red wine varieties are aplenty and are regularly produced at the Deer Spring Valley, and Lincoln Nebraska is very fortunate to have such a broad range of choices to pick from. Some of the better known types produced at the Deer Spring Valley are the Gypsy Red, which is light bodied with flavorful hints of blackberry, red currant, and sweet red pepper, and the DeChaunac, which has a more fruity approach with a medium body. Other reds produced are the Frontenac, Autumn Woods, and Prairie Sunset, which is a mix of St. Croix and St. Vincent grapes.

White wines are also fermented and distilled at the Deer Spring Valley Winery. Much like their red counterparts, whites produced in this part of Nebraska also vary in flavor and quality. The white version of Prairie Sunset is one of their signature wines, with tinges of rose and violet floral infusion in presented in a medium body. Edelweiss is another famous white produced by the Deer Spring family, and is a juicy, tropical fruit wine perfect for salads and chicken. The Lacrosse, Bianca, and Firefly White are also perennial white wine favorites.

The Shelden Memorial Art Gallery

December 26th, 2007

The Shelden Memorial Art Gallery and Sculpture Garden is the perfect place to visit if you want to immerse yourself in fine arts and culture. This majestic destination in Lincoln Nebraska is home to many precious collections and one of a kind art pieces. The Shelden Memorial Art Gallery and Sculpture Garden is a place where you can marvel at collections that reflect American history throughout the ages.

Managing both the Nebraska Art Association collection from as early as 1888 and the University of Nebraska collection that began in 1929, The Shelden Memorial Art Gallery and Sculpture Garden also holds more than 12,000 pieces of art in different forms of media displayed within its proximity. Their broad and unique collection of American art pieces include American Impressionism pieces, abstractsm Abstract Expressionism, plus landscape and still life themed pieces from the 19th century paired with collections that are more pop, minimalism, and contemporary.

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The Lincoln Highway

December 20th, 2007

Widely known as the very first transcontinental highway of America, the Lincoln Highway is a historic path that leads to an esteemed past. A small area on the eastern end of the road still actually has its old and original brick pavement. The original Lincoln Highway road markers also still exist and are spread all throughout the 400 mile stretch of the statewide road that is parallel to the Interstate 80.

Drive across the Lincoln Highway and experience the outdoors as the wind brushes your face. Follow the trail that leads to the Pony Express Stations, old wagon ruts from overland trails, and the ranch of Buffalo Bill Cody. Breathe in the fresh air and enjoy the view of lush farmland areas. You can even stop over and shop for a while, getting a taste of the goods found in the many farmers’ markets in the area.

The Lincoln Highway offers a lot in terms of opportunities for outdoor activities. Lake McConaughy is an often visited place where people enjoy beach activities and picnics. The water is also perfect for a midday dip. There are also recreational sites found in nearby state areas. These areas are ideal for nature lovers who enjoy hiking and biking. Birdwatchers are also in for a treat as the annual Sandhill Crane migration takes place. Visitors and locals can marvel at this spectacle in two areas, the Rowe Sanctuary and the Nebraska Bird Observatory at the Crane Meadows Visitors Center.

If you are the type of family that enjoys long road trips and just being one with the outdoors, then taking a drive down the Lincoln Highway might just be the perfect activity for you. Offering various destinations and points of interests, the years of heritage that the Lincoln Highway holds makes it one of the reasons why Lincoln, Nebraska is on the map today.

The Lentz Center For Asian Culture

December 20th, 2007

Explore and learn more about the cultural heritage of our eastern neighbors at the Lentz Center for Asian Culture. Recognizing the rich and flavorful culture from the various regions of Asia, the Lentz Center for Asian Culture is a truly original tourist destination in Lincoln, Nebraska. The Center, which is a part of the University of Nebraska – Lincoln contains a unique collection that improves the cultural environment of and for the locals of the state of Nebraska.

The Lentz Center for Asian Culture gained approval from the University of Nebraska Board of Regents back in 1983 and was dedicated at Morrill Hall in 1986. The center was later moved to Hewit Place in 2000. The Lentz Center for Asian Culture is an institution that is committed to increasing the understanding and the knowledge that we have about Asia, and is unique in that way from other Lincoln, Nebraska museums.

The initial collections housed within the walls of the Lentz Center for Asian Culture were established by Professor and Mrs. Donald Lentz. The couple was a big inspiration to the center, and stimulated the center’s development with regards to the study of Asian history and culture. Mr. and Mrs. Lentz started with collecting musical instruments from all over Asia before venturing into other Asian objects. It can be considered that the Lentz Center for Asian Culture is the realization of the people of Nebraska’s commitment and oneness with the culture of Asia.

There are hundreds of interesting objects and other paraphernalia at the Lentz Center for Asian Culture, and these objects on display cover a very wide geographical area and a variety of media. A lot of factors fall in to place with regards to how one item is acquired. The items are usually chosen for their historical value or importance, how significant they are as a contribution to their local culture, and of course their condition and aesthetic appeal. One can find intricate carvings in both jade and ivory, various musical instruments, Tibetan objects used during rituals, and a lot of other unique items that open up one’s knowledge about traditional Asian civilizations. Other items exhibited are paintings and prints, sculptures, ceramic objects, textiles, plus a few others that were once used at homes on a daily basis.

The center has a calm and welcoming atmosphere, and allows visitors to interact with the Asian objects that are on display. This gives the opportunity for one to actually feel and experience each object, internalizing and analyzing that leads to furthering their knowledge. By exhibiting artifacts that reveal one’s interest in Asian history and lore, the Lentz Center for Asian Culture hopes to create a bigger conversation in the area of Lincoln Nebraska about the significance of Asian culture and how we can utilize the knowledge to our own culture.

The Lincoln Children’s Museum

December 20th, 2007

If you are planning on heading out to Lincoln Nebraska with your family, make sure to come and visit the Lincoln Children’s Museum. This Lincoln museum caters to children of all age brackets and is both fun and educational. The interactive programs available at the Lincoln Children’s Museum allows for your kids to have an unforgettable experience as well as an educational and enriching trip.

The Lincoln Children’s Museum was incorporated in 1987 and was created by a group of caring and committed educators and parents. This dynamic group of people envisioned a project that would lead to Lincoln Nebraska children exploring and discovering new and fun ways of learning. This Lincoln museum’s incorporation also led to their introduction of the concept of a hands-on learning museum. This was created in August of 1988, where they had the “Sights and Sounds” exhibit at the state fairgrounds. This exhibit lasted for ten days and was able to attract approximately 10,000 children and their parents.

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