Seniors Learn All About Big Red

Seniors, if you have ever been to Lincoln, Nebraska, then you know all about Big Red.  It seemed to me that the whole city was dipped in Red… the color of the University of Nebraska Football team. Take in a game at Memorial Stadium and senior visitors will see throngs of rabid fans all dressed in red.

Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the State of Nebraska, after Omaha. Lincoln, founded in 1856, is also the county seat of Lancaster County. Lincoln’s population is estimated at 265,000+.

 Seniors Visit A State Capital

Omaha was the original state capital, but it was moved to Lancaster, shortly after the Civil War. The town was then renamed Lincoln in honor of the recently-assassinated president. Because this is home to the state capital, senior citizens will find many attractions in Lincoln having to do with the history of the city and state, its arts, and culture.

Today tourism is an important industry, and Lincoln attractions include several important museums like the Nebraska State Historical Society’s Museum of Nebraska History and the University of Nebraska State Museum, which contains a planetarium.

Other attractions include the Governor’s Mansion which is open for tours, and the beautiful State Capitol Building itself, constructed between 1922 and 1932. Soak in the panoramic view of the city from the 14th floor observation tower of the 400-foot high capitol building, whose white stone Art Deco spire can be seen from miles around.

For some outdoor fun, head to one of the city’s parks, the largest of which is Wilderness Park, whose hiking, biking and equestrian trails will keep your blood circulating.

Unusual Museums Interest Senior Visitors

You won’t be wanting for Things to Do in Lincoln as I’ve found 101 of them for senior visitors to consider. After your visit to the state capital, consider the #2 attraction in town founded in 1992 by “Speedy” Bill and Joyce Smith. The Smith Collection Museum of American Speed is dedicated to preserving, interpreting and displaying physical items significant in racing and automotive history.

Sunken Gardens features an annual floral display of over 30,000 individual annual plants which are redesigned to a different theme each year. The theme for 2014 is “Thunder Birds.”

My wife and I would hit The Historic Haymarket District of Lincoln, a restored turn-of-the-century warehouse district that includes restaurants, antique shops, specialty shops, and art galleries. The highlight of nearby Iron Horse Park is the “Iron Horse” Legacy, a brick mural showing the first locomotive to cross the prairie.

I’m about of room for this blog but I just had to toss in this attraction. The National Museum of Roller Skating in Lincoln features a collection of roller skates. The museum has a display showing the evolution of the roller skate wheel from 1860 to 1998.

On your way through Nebraska, stop by Lincoln and enjoy all the amenities this great city has to offer. jeb