That the North Platte Visitors Bureau was so familiar with the North Platte Canteen is not a surprise. While this summer brought the first reenactment of the WWII canteen experience, group tours often get a taste of what’s often been called America’s most heartwarming hometown story as they follow the North Platte Canteen Experience ($30 a person for 35 people or more). The suggested itinerary goes as follows:
5 p.m.: Head to the Lincoln County Historical Museum, home to a canteen exhibit that features—among other things—historic photos, hundreds of thank you letters from soldiers who experienced the canteen generosity and an index with the names of 6,000 of the 6 million soldiers who stopped.
5:45 p.m.: Listen as historian Jim Griffin movingly shares the story of the some 12,000 volunteers who served 6 million soldiers over the course of the war. The canteen is thought to have been the single biggest volunteerism movement in the country to date.
Interested in other destination ideas? Consider a seafood festival!
6:45 p.m.: Enjoy a customized canteen-inspired dinner that features common items served in the day: fried chicken, homemade pies and even popcorn balls. As the story goes, young women would often sign the popcorn balls with their addresses while sending the soldiers off. At least one marriage (showcased in the museum) resulted from that tradition.
Contact: Amanda Connick; aconnick@VisitNorthPlatte.com; 308-221-6864.
