Peter Kiewit Foundation Announces $17,500 Challenge Grant For Repair of Historic Morton Barns at Arbor Day Farms

Nebraska City, Neb. – The Peter Kiewit Foundation has awarded The National Arbor Day Foundation a $17,500 challenge grant to help repair the roof of the Historic Morton Barns at Arbor Day Farm. The Robert Herman Storz Foundation has also given a $12,000 grant, leaving $7,000 to be raised for the project. Work is expected to be finished by the summer of 2001.

Originally built to house livestock operations, the barns are a prime example of innovative rural architecture of the early 1900’s. The National Arbor Day Foundation purchased the barns in 1975 and completed their restoration in 1989. Since their dedication as a National Historic Landmark in 1990, the Morton Barns have become an important part of the educational programs the Foundation offers at Arbor Day Farm.

The barns are home to students attending the annual Discovery Camp, which offers young people an introduction to environmental stewardship and active nature investigation. The Historic Morton Barns also provide meeting space for school children and other groups who tour Arbor Day Farm each year to learn about the benefits trees have on the environment.

The National Arbor Day Foundation is a non-profit education organization dedicated to tree planting and environmental stewardship. Additional information on the Foundation is available by contacting The National Arbor Day Foundation, 100 Arbor Avenue, Nebraska City, NE 68410, telephone (402) 474-5655, or by visiting the Foundation’s web site at arborday.org.

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