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Blair City Parks
Over 200 varieties of trees and 150
varieties of shrubs are found in: Ralph Park and Arboretum
Black Elk-Neihardt Park
Lions Club Park Stemmerman Park Rhoades Park
Ralph Steyer Park and Arboretum at
Dana College are both units of
the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum.
De Soto
National Wildlife Refuge
Five minutes east of Blair is Desoto Bend, a 7,823 acre
national wildlife refuge. Available is fishing, wildlife observation,
mushroom gathering, boating, hiking on four nature trails, and education
through various environment programs. each year, approximately 400,000
people visit the refuge and its Visitor's Center which contains artifacts
from the sunken steamship, the Bertrand. Viewing galleries overlook Desoto
Lake
and promise spectacular views of the millions of geese that stop each
year. http://www.fws.gov/midwest/desoto
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Fort Atkinson Historical Park
Built in 1819 and abandoned in 1827, Fort Atkinson
was part of several momentous events during the western expansion of the United States.
This 154 acre park in Fort Calhoun includes the partially reconstructed Fort Atkinson,
the Harold W. Anderson Visitor
Center, a one mile hiking trail and picnic area.
The park is open year-round and visitors may tour the barracks, the
Armorer's Shop and the Council House. The
Visitor
Center houses several
original artifacts and exhibits, as well as a theater for viewing a film
that chronicles the fort's history. Be sure to see the Lewis and
Clark
"First Council" monument while visiting the park.
Tower of the Four Winds
Located in the Black Elk-Neihardt Park, the 44-foot tower
stands as a living memorial to John G. Neihardt, Poet Laureate of Nebraska,
and Black Elk, a Lakota Sioux Indian Chief and the inspiration of Neihardt's
book "Black Elk Speaks". The Tower's most powerful feature is a mosaic which
depicts Black Elk's message of peace and unity for all people. Four smaller
mosaics located on the park's paved walking trail further interpret Black
Elk's vision.
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