Nelson House

The Taylor-Wessel-Bickel-Nelson House is a museum inside an 1857 brick home which sits on one of the historic brick streets just a couple blocks off Central Avenue in Nebraska City. The Nelson House is one of the oldest structures in the state and an exceptional example of Greek revival architecture.

Exhibits

The exhibits within this house from Nebraska’s territorial era show how the town of Nebraska City has changed and evolved over the years, seen through the eyes of the different families that lived there. Visitors will watch the town’s buildings and streets grow from dirt to pavement, from oxen to the first automobiles. See opera houses, race tracks, churches, and mansions rise up from the Nebraska prairie. The community’s history is surprising, captivating, and endearing.

Sweet Summer Afternoon

The Nelson House hosts various events and tours throughout the year. Our largest and most popular event, held every year in early August, is Sweet Summer Afternoon. This outdoor family event hearkens back to the early 1900's and the days of church picnics and ice cream socials. Sweet Summer Afternoon features live music, children's activities, guided house tours, and above all - homemade ice cream, desserts, and refreshments. 

Sweet Summer Afternoon is fun and entertainment for all ages and, as always, is FREE to the public. Click the button below for more information about this year's Sweet Summer Afternoon!

Nebraska City Historical Society holds presentations, lectures, and other history-based programs periodically throughout the season. Keep an eye on the museum events page for the latest updates.