METRO
1200 Douglas St. (402) 345-0202. The Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts houses gallery space for local, regional, national and international artists. Exhibits are free and open to the public. 724 S. 12th St. (402) 341-7130. The Omaha Community Playhouse is the largest community theater in the nation. It presents 10 or more productions annually. 6915 Cass St. (402) 553-0800. El Museo Latino is a celebration of Latino culture featuring art, dance and music. 4701 S. 25th St. (402) 731-1137. Hot Shops Art Center houses space for glass blowing, pottery, bronze casting and blacksmithing. 1301 Nicholas St. (402) 342-6452. Lauritzen Gardens boasts 100 acres of plants, sculptures and fountains. 100 Bancroft St. (402) 346-4002. The Rose Theater is the premier place to experience performing arts in Omaha. 2001 Farnam St. (402) 345-4849. The Omaha Children’s Museum features two floors of imaginative and interactive exhibits. 500 S. 20th St. (402) 342-6164.
ASHLAND
The Ashland History Museum is housed in the 1911 former Carnegie Library. The history preserved here includes that of Saline Ford. The natural limestone feature allowed the Oxbow branch of the Oregon Trail, Settlers’ Road and Military Road to all cross the Salt Creek here. The museum includes a large archive of residents’ biographies, written accounts of homes and businesses and historic photos. 207 N. 15th St. (402) 944-7227. Two historic Ashland buildings make up the Glacial Till Cider House & Tasting Room in the heart of downtown. Exposed brick walls and beams give the attraction a rustic feel. Visitors choose from 15 wines made from fruit grown near Palmyra. Three yearround cider selections join a menu of rotating and small batch ciders. Soups, charcuterie and salads dishes can be enjoyed along with drinks from Glacial Till’s new rooftop bar over-
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NEBRASKA TRAVELER
The SR-71 “Blackbird” is one of more than 60 military aircraft at Ashland’s Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum. looking downtown Ashland. 1419 Silver St. (402) 944-2546. Additional fermented flavors flow from across U.S. Highway 6 at Cellar 426 Winery. The wine menu includes 21 varietals. Linoma Lighthouse is a white wine named for the inland lighthouse along the banks of the Platte River east of Ashland. Apollo’s Blend is a dry red named for the winery’s chocolate Labrador retriever. Breads, cheese and cracker plates and cheesecake are enjoyed along with the wines from the spacious tasting room with a view of the wine-making facility, or from the outdoor deck overlooking rows of grape vines. 1402 Dennis Dean Rd. (402) 944-8109. Willow Point Gallery shows and sells the artwork of longtime Ashland artist Gene Roncka. Known for painted visions of landscapes and rural scenes that seem to glow from the canvas, the gallery with an artificial creek flowing through the inside is one of a kind. On the other side of that manmade stream is the Archie Hightshow Animal Collection. Hight-
Alan J. Bartels
show was a local leader who enjoyed hunting. His harvests from around the world, preserved by taxidermists, live again to thrill Ashland visitors. 1431 Silver St. (402) 944-3613. There is no stream flowing through the building, but Turtle Creek Gallery did gush onto the Ashland art scene early in 2021. Ashland’s newest art venue features pottery, paintings, photographs, carvings and other items crafted by local and regional artists on its shelves and walls. Art fans are invited to come out of their shells and check it out at 1412 Silver St. (402) 944-6027. Iron Horse is an 18-hole golf course artistically built around a former rock quarry. The 40-acre lake is the final resting place of many gold balls sliced from errant swings. This challenging course is not for beginners. 900 Club House Dr. (402) 944-9800. The par-71 championship course at Quarry Oaks Golf Club is an 18-hole adventure. Course architect John LaFoy also designed the famed Augusta National, home course of the PGA’s
