Published Sunday July 3, 2011

Fort Calhoun activities open to visitors

By Rhonda Stansberry
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

With floods continuing around the Omaha area and beyond, you might be wondering if many tourist attractions are open. Don't worry. There still are plenty of things to see and events to enjoy despite the high water near many of your favorite haunts. We'll periodically feature some of them on Living pages this summer.

It would take more than the Missouri River to dampen the spirits of re-enactors at Fort Atkinson State Historical Park in Fort Calhoun.

Park Superintendent John Slader said he has received lots of calls asking if roads to the fort are open. Indeed they are — they're high and dry— and there's a lot to see there.

The reconstructed 1820s military fort is fascinating to visit anytime, but it also has Living History Days several times a year, including this weekend. The event continues today with a grand parade at 1 p.m., salutes of cannons, rifles and muskets and demonstrations of trades and crafts. Re-enactors in period garb will show blacksmithing, tinsmithing, coopering, carpentry, spinning, weaving and sewing. Living History Days also will be held on Aug. 6 and 7 and Sept. 3 and 4.

The park grounds are open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, and the fort's Harold W. Andersen Visitor Center is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission is $4 per vehicle per day or $20 per year.

Directions to the park are well marked, Slader said. From Highway 75, take Madison Street east seven blocks to the T intersection.

The history report doesn't end at the fort. The Washington County Historical Museum, on the corner of Highway 75 and Monroe Street in Fort Calhoun, is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

And a Civil War Encampment continues today at the Fort Calhoun city park, one block west of the museum.

While you're in Fort Calhoun, you can stop at the Too Far North wine shop, also open despite the flood. You can sample Nebraska wines on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Friday from 2 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

http://www.omaha.com/article/20110703/L ... 39959/1113