NEBRASKA CITY – The Taylor-Wessel-Bickel-Nelson House in Nebraska City is doing its part to help Nebraska’s tourism season thrive through the winter season.

Kathy McKillip of the Nebraska City Historical Society was among volunteers decorating a Nebraska-territory boarding house to inspire travel and stimulate the economy for the holidays.

McKillip: “We traditionally know that tourism’s peak season is from May to October. This is an opportunity for those who are passionate about the passport program, and there are thousands, that they can also keep that passion and energy going supporting Nebraska’s communities and businesses throughout the holiday season.”

Among the first occupants of the Nebraska Territory in 1857 were immigrants of various nationalities and McKillip said it’s fitting that the stop’s contribution to the passport is a theme of different cultures.

“Mostly the theme for the decorations as part of our passport contribution is different cultures, so we will be providing four different wassails from different cultures – German, English, Italian and Polish – through the passport program on the weekends. So you can sample that.”

 

McKillip: “We’re going to have right outside the cedar pioneer tree, very popular for the pioneers of the plains to have cut a cedar tree down. We cut this one right in Otoe County, with permission. And then we also have the polish wooden tree and the German twig tree. Those are our attractions for the exhibits for the program focusing on different cultures.”

The house, which is one of the oldest structures in the state, is owned and operated by the Nebraska City Historical Society.

McKillip: “It is the oldest society in the state of Nebraska for any county or any city – 1937”

“We like to think of ourselves as the original tiny house and who wouldn’t want to come see that?”

Nebraska’s winter passport is in its third season.

https://rivercountry.newschannelnebraska.com/story/51617511/nebraska-city-historical-society-attraction-selected-a-nebraska-holiday-passport-stop

 

2024 passport stops

 
  1. The Gift Niche – Ashland
  2. The Plainsman Museum – Aurora
  3. Beatrice Bakery - Grandma's Bake Shoppe
  4. Clean Slate Soap – Beatrice
  5. Festival of Trees – Chadron
  6. Wise Olde Owl & Purple Dragon Paper Co. - Fremont
  7. Gering Merchant's Santa Village – Gering
  8. Floral Designs - Hartington
  9. The Indigo Bungalow – Kearney
  10. The Chocolate Season – Lincoln
  11. The Taylor-Wessel-Bickel-Nelson House, Nebraska City
  12. Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park – North Platte
  13. Brite Ideas Decorating – Omaha
  14. The RiverFront – Omaha
  15. Omaha Community Playhouse – Omaha
  16. Scratchtown Brewing Company – Ord
  17. Elkhorn River Coffee Company - Scribner
  18. Sidney Floral and Gift Shop - Sidney
  19. Shops at the Victor Anderson Building - Stromsburg
  20. Village of Verdigre's Vesele Vanoce – Verdigre