Located 17 mi/27 km southeast of Kearney, the small town of Minden, Nebraska, was settled by German, Swedish and Danish immigrants.
Since 1915, citizens have lavishly decorated the Court House Square with colored lights each December, resulting in Minden's local reputation as Christmas City.
The rest of the year, Minden is known mainly for Harold Warp's Pioneer Village, which depicts U.S. progress since 1830: Pioneer memorabilia is displayed in more than 28 buildings, and there are antique autos, aircraft and tractors on the grounds, as well as a steam-powered carousel and locomotive.
The town's opera house, built in 1891, has been lovingly restored and now houses an art gallery and theater.
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