SmallTownsBigDreams.com Launches for 2010 Heritage Tourism Season

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Updated: 11:28 AM Mar 11, 2010 SmallTownsBigDreams.com Launches for 2010 Heritage Tourism Season Hastings, Nebraska A new website designed to attract heritage tourists throughout the year. Posted: 11:28 AM Mar 11, 2010 Reporter: 10/11 News Email Address: desk@1011now.com

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A new website designed to attract heritage tourists to south central Nebraska has been launched as of March 1, 2010. The site at www.SmallTownsBigDreams.com was developed through the cooperation of Adams County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Hastings Museum, Webster County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Willa Cather Foundation and Starke Round Barn, with grant assistance from the Nebraska Division of Travel & Tourism. Idea Bank Marketing of Hastings designed the site.

During the late 1800s, the region of south central Nebraska was filled with excitement as families from the eastern United States and Europe traveled to pioneer the area. Two of the most famous people to emerge from this region were pioneers--Edwin Perkins, the inventor of Kool-Aid, and Willa Cather, Pulitzer Prize-winning author. Each of these famed Nebraskans began from humble beginnings before achieving worldwide acclaim. Both families lived on farms before moving to town where their father’s opened businesses. Additionally, in 1902 the Conrad Starke family built what is now the largest round barn in existence just outside of Red Cloud.

“With the increasing popularity of heritage tourism, we saw an opportunity to tie the towns of Hastings and Red Cloud together,” said Kaleena Fong, director of the Adams County Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Heritage tourists want to discover and understand the places and people they visit and the Hastings Museum, Willa Cather Foundation and Starke Round Barn do that.”

The centerpiece of the new website is a 30-second video highlighting these pioneers in their respective fields; author Willa Cather, entrepreneur Edwin Perkins and ranchers Starke Family. Visitors to the site will learn more about these three attractions in the communities of Hastings and Red Cloud as well as other historical attractions in the area. Links to these attractions are made available so visitors can find the information they are looking for. They can also request visitor information be mailed to them.

Courtesy: Hastings Museum of Natural and Cultural History

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