City: Omaha, NE

Category: Tours & Attractions

Telephone: (402) 455-9990

Description: General George Crook wasn’t just a run-of-the-mill military man. Crook, a Civil War and National Indian Wars hero, is described as the “greatest Indian fighter in the history of the United States.” Over his lifetime, Crook became a defender of Native American rights and was the defendant in the 1879 trial for Ponca Chief Standing Bear. His home, built in 1879, sits in Omaha on what is now Metro Community College’s Fort Omaha Campus. The Italianate style house, with its rust colored exterior and grand front porch, is full of Victorian furnishings from the 1880s. A living history museum inside the house includes costumes, art and craft, and period furnishings. Outside the house, a Victorian Heirloom garden features more than 100 varieties of flowers, trees, and shrubs native to Nebraska. Perennial plants create a mosaic design reminiscent of an Oriental rug, and walking paths invite visitors to stroll the grounds outside the home.From early November through the end of December, the house is decorated for the holidays. Local designers and design students transform every room in the style of Christmas past. Groups of 12 or larger can take afternoon tea at the Crook House and enjoy homemade treats as part of a proper afternoon tea, a dessert tea, or a cream tea. Reservations for afternoon teas are required and must be made a minimum of two weeks in advance; call the Crook House for details.The Crook House also has a bookstore and gift shop, and the selection includes one of the largest selections by and about Nebraskans anywhere in the city. Guided tours of the Crook House are available by appointment, and admission prices vary during the holiday season or during special exhibitions.