Historical Society plans medicinal garden

NEBRASKA CITY- The Nebraska City Historical Society has preserved the history of Nebraska City’s early settlement for 88 years and is now also protecting its green spaces.

A $2,000 Nebraska Statewide Arboretum grant is aimed at improving the green infrastructure. The historical society plans a native American medicinal garden focused on a plant and native food source orchard.

The educational project will highlight native plants that assisted early settlers and wagon trains departing from Nebraska City.

Society President Kathy McKillip said the society looks forward to hosting educational sessions and podcasts to promote the role of Nebraska City in the Westward movement.

Here is the historical society's press release

Nebraska City, NE – The Nebraska City Historical Society, the states preeminent historic preservation organization, which originated in 1937 to preserve and protect the history and stories of Nebraska City’s founding members and early settlement, was recently awarded more than $2,000 from a Greener Towns grant from the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum (NSA). The grant was part of $49, 750 in grant funds awarded to NSA in 2025 by the Nebraska Environmental Trust.

The goal of the grant program is to help Nebraska communities improve and protect their green spaces. Green spaces (also called green infrastructure) are the living complement to the built environment (roads, buildings and utilities) in our cities and towns. Through green infrastructure, we utilize plants to keep a community healthy and vibrant. Green infrastructure improves property values, increases tourism spending, creates recreation opportunities, reduces irrigation demand, relieves burden on stormwater infrastructure, and improves air quality.

The Nebraska City Historical Society will use the grant funds to development a Native American medicinal garden focused on promoting the different uses of plants and native food source orchard. This educational project will enhance visitor experience by connecting the native sources of the great plains, specifically the Nebraska region, that assisted in early settlers as wagon trains departed from Nebraska City.

“We are so pleased to be able to partner with the Nebraska City Historical Society on this impactful green infrastructure project,” said Nebraska Statewide Arboretum Executive Director Hanna Pinneo. “Public landscapes benefit everyone—including people, pollinators, plants and wildlife—so the more we can do to make them more resilient, the better. We are grateful that the Society has taken the initiative to support a healthier, greener, more vibrant future.”

Society President, Kathy McKillip stated, “This project will provide a different perspective to enhance and educate the visitor’s experience. We look forward to hosting educational sessions and podcasts to promote a more comprehensive approach to Nebraska’s history and the important role Nebraska City and the Society has played in it – especially as we approach our country’s 250th Anniversary. We love promoting and recognizing all areas of history of Nebraska City, Otoe County and the Westward Movement.

McKillip continued with, “it is important that the Society collaborates and diversifies with many organizations and projects to stay relevant. This is one of those opportunities. The Society works hard to be fiscally responsible by applying for a variety of grants to assist in carrying out the mission of the organization, and we are always looking to increase our membership!”

For more information about NSA’s grant opportunities, including eligibility requirements and information about the grant application process, visit plantnebraska.org/funding.

The Society’s website is nebraskacityhistoricalsociety.com and you can find them on Facebook just search and follow NebraskaCityHistoricalSociety

Visit a museum and remember, residents with a 68410-zip code are FREE! Our docents would love to see you!