There's No House In The World Like This One In Nebraska
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Delana Lefevers
Author
Nebraska City is home to Arbor Lodge, a grand 52-room mansion modeled after the White House. It was built by J. Sterling Morton, former Secretary of Agriculture and founder of Arbor Day. Although it’s magnificent enough on its own, Arbor Lodge is even more interesting when you know its history.
In 1855, Morton and his wife moved to Nebraska City from Bellevue and built a modest, four-room frame house.
Over the years, the property underwent many additions and renovations.
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Eventually, the home grew into the grand 52-room mansion we know today. Morton wanted the finished home to look like a much smaller version of the White House.
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The mansion features ornate touches like this Tiffany skylight in the parlor. There is so much Nebraska history in this house, which is part of what makes it so very unique.
The home's interior has been remarkably well preserved and restored. Authentic and period-appropriate furnishings grace the rooms. Some are the actual, authentic items owned by the Mortons. Above is the Cleveland Bedroom, where President Cleveland stayed when he visited the family.
Tours of the home are a fascinating look back in time at this wealthy family's lifestyle. I've toured the home and grounds myself several times, and it never fails to impress. The house is a marvel of its time, and it looks perfectly seamless considering the many additions that have been incorporated since the original structure was built.
Many visitors come just to walk the grounds (which is free). The lush gardens and absolutely stunning arboretum are rarely crowded and make for a lovely weekend getaway. The carriage house and Monument Square are must-sees; try out the whispering bench for a fun experience.
This video gives a brief overview of the home and grounds.
If you’d like to tour the mansion, admission is $8 for adults, $6 for youth (ages 3-12), and free for ages 2 and under. Find Arbor Lodge at 2600 Arbor Avenue, Nebraska City, NE 68410.
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