24 2017 Annual Report
C E L E B R A T I N G 1 5 0 Y E A R S O F S T A T E H O O D I N
N E B R A S K A S T A T E P A R K S
Nebraska state parks, state recreation areas, and state historical parks off ered
a variety of educational, recreational and cultural opportunities in support of the
yearlong sesquicentennial celebration. Working with the Nebraska 150 Commission
and the Nebraska Sports Council, parks staff led 150 miles of guided hiking, biking,
and paddling throughout the year. In a partnership with the Nebraska Recreation
and Parks Association, all nine state historical parks were featured in the Great Park
Pursuit. Special educational programs were off ered throughout the year to highlight
changes in Nebraska's wildlife and habitat and Game and Parks' role in preserving
and restoring them. Two signature events highlighted the year. Ash Hollow State
Historical Park hosted Convergence on Sacred Ground in July, featuring never-before
displayed artifacts from the Smithsonian Institution that had been collected from
the site of the Battle of Blue Water Creek in 1855. Ponca State Park held the event
150 Years of Storytelling: Celebrating Nebraska History through Literature. This
unique program off ered presentations to educate and enrich the lives of Nebraskans
through storytelling.
