Valden Tours, Inc.

VISIONS OF NEBRASKA

Autumn in Northeastern Nebraska

An OLLI tour in celebration of Nebraska’s Sesquicentennial

October 18-20, 2017

The Autumn colors of Northeastern Nebraska are among the best. Join your OLLI friends in this third

and final in-depth tour celebrating our 150th birthday party. Our destinations are diverse, focusing on

some of the colorful history, cultural diversity, and rolling landscapes that uniquely describe Northeast

Nebraska: the Neihardt Center…. Ponca State Park…. the Hochunk Village…. Bluebird Nursery…. Sil-

ver Hills Winery…. Ashfall…. Steamship Bertrand…. Dakota Bend Wildlife Refuge….Genoa Indian

The rolling landscape of Northeast Nebraska, contrasted with the fertile river bottom crop lands, add up to a spectacular

Autumn experience. Join your OLLI friends as we explore the region in this third and final travel salute to Nebraska’s

150th birthday party.

THE ITINERARY

Wednesday, October 18: After boarding our motorcoach in Lincoln we

will travel about an hour to DeSoto Bend National Wildlife Refuge. The

refuge is located in the migratory bird corridor of the Missouri River flood-

plain and provides essential habitat for resident, migratory, and endangered

species. We will briefly tour the refuge, and if we are fortunate, we may be

able to observe some of the migrating birds heading south through this im-

portant flyway. Close to the refuge is the Steamship Bertrand Museum,

which commemorates the sinking of the ship in April, 1865. Half of its car-

go was recovered in 1965. We will visit the museum and observe some of its

cargo, which includes the largest collection of intact Civil War artifacts in

the United States.

Our early lunch today is at the Silver Hills Winery, located north of Tekamah. This family-owned winery is gaining a

reputation as one of the best in Nebraska. Lunch is included in the price of this tour, but any wine tasting will be on your

own. This afternoon we will travel to Bancroft to visit the John G. Neihardt State Historical Site. The Neihardt Founda-

tion operates the museum as a tribute to Nebraska’s Poet Laureate. There will be time

to explore the museum, the Sacred Hoop Garden, and his study.

Later this afternoon we will travel to Winnebago and tour the developing Ho-Chunk

Village. Ho-Chunk, Inc. is working hard to generate revenue and jobs to support the

Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska. Their success in economic development has provided

Tribal members the opportunity to improve their entire way of life. Ho-Chunk, Inc. is

building a brand new community on the Winnebago Reservation, Ho-Chunk Vil-

lage. The Village is a 40-acre mixed use development featuring commercial and resi-

dential development. For the first time in the history of the Tribe, Tribal members are now able to realize home owner-

ship. Work is continuing each year to expand the Village and continue building new homes and multi-family housing.

This evening we will be staying at the Hampton Inn in Sioux City. Our included evening dinner will be at Kahill’s Res-

taurant which is located in South Sioux City’s Marina Inn and over looks the Missouri River .

Thursday, October 19: Following the included breakfast at our motel we

will head to Ponca State Park for a narrated driving tour of the park. Located in

the picturesque Missouri River bluffs near Ponca, the park is the eastern gate-

way to the 59-mile section of the Missouri National Recreational River, one of

two unchannelized stretches of the river bordering Nebraska. It is one of the

state’s most visited state parks.

We will then travel west and north to Lewis

and Clark Lake and Gavin’s Point Dam. Construction of the dam began in

1957 and is the most southern dam in the Missouri River dam system. We will tour

the visitor’s center and focus on water conservation issues facing Nebraska. Our

included luncheon today is at C J’s

at the Lake near Crofton.

This afternoon we will travel further west to the Ashfall Fossil Beds

State Historical Park. Near ly 12 million years ago volcanic ash en-

gulfed this ancient watering hole entombing innumerable animals. Na-

tional Geographic has called it the Pompeii of prehistoric animals. Be-

cause of its scientific importance, the 360-acre historical park between

Orchard and Royal was acquired in 1987 and is a joint project of the

Game and Parks Commission and the University of Nebraska State Mu-

seum. The site’s director will lead us on a tour of the facility.

Our overnight lodging will be at the Hampton Inn in Norfolk. Our included dinner will be at Michael’s Cantina in Nor-

folk.

Friday, October 20: Following the included breakfast at our motel we will visit

the Elkhorn Valley Museum in Norfolk. This is an excellent local museum which

focuses on the history of the community and the surrounding northeast Nebraska

area. One of the exhibits you will want to see is their tribute to Norfolk native John-

ny Carson.

Later this morning we will travel south to Clarkson and a tour of the Bluebird

Nursery. This local business was formed in the ear ly 1970’s and has grown into a major

wholesale and retail nursery that serves customers throughout the world. Although it is at the

end of the season, we will tour their facility and learn more about their substantial growth.

Our included luncheon this noon will be at Dusters’ Restaurant in Columbus.

This afternoon we will visit the Columbus Power Plant operated by the Nebraska Public Pow-

er District. We will tour the plant which is an excellent example of the art deco style of archi-

tecture. Water resources will again be our subject for discussion. We will then travel to Genoa for a tour of the Genoa

Indian School Museum. The Genoa Indian School opened in 1884 and continued operation until 1934. It was the

fourth non-reservation school established by the Office of Indian Affairs. The school grew from an original enrollment

of 74 students to 599 and encompassed over 30 buildings and 640 acres. The school’s mission stressed “assimilation

into white society through a combination of manual training and education.”

Later that afternoon we will return to Columbus and a short visit to the national Higgins Memorial which honors the

development of the Higgins World War II landing craft. Our final tour stop will be dinner and fun at Abie’s Place Res-

$548 per person for shared accommodations

$670 per person for single accommodations

Reservation deadline: September 15, 2017

Although the reservation deadline is September 15, this tour may reach maximum capacity much earlier. Therefore,

early registration is encouraged to guarantee space on the tour. September 15 is also the deadline for cancellation and a

full refund. Once the tour registrations reach capacity, interested individuals will be placed on a reserve list.

Individuals requesting assistance under the American Disabilities Act (ADA) should contact Valden Tours at the time

the reservation is made.

Please contact Lee Rockwell, Valden Tours, at 402-486-0900 or email lrockwell@windstream.net with any questions.

All

reservations should be made by completing the separate reservation form for this tour and mailed, along with a check

payable for the full amount, to Valden Tours 2101 South 66th Street, Lincoln, NE 68506.

VISIONS OF NEBRASKA

Autumn in Northeastern Nebraska

October 18-20, 2017

RESERVATION DEADLINE: September 15, 2017

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Home Phone Cell Phone email address (please print)

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Sharing accommodations with

_____Shared accommodations at $548 per person

_____Single accommodations at $670

Please make check payable for the full amount to Valden Tours and mail to Valden Tours, 2101 South 66th

Street, Lincoln, NE 68506

Individuals requesting assistance under the American Disabilities Act (ADA) should contact Valden Tours at the

time this reservation is made.

Contact Lee Rockwell at 402-486-0900 or email lrockwell@windstream.net with any questions