State Attractions

Nebraska Attractions Guide

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Nebraska Attractions

There's more to do in Nebraska than you can imagine. Follow in the footsteps of the great explorers, pioneers, and Plains Indians. Discover wildlife from the prairie and from around the world. Get in touch with the area's rich cultural heritage at one of the many summer festivals. Tap into the state's natural wonders and sleep out under the stars. Take a look at Nebraska's to-do list. You're guaranteed to find a few must-dos for yourself. Plenty of unique attractions, outdoor adventures, and breathtaking views are waiting to be experienced in the nooks and crannies of scenic Nebraska.


Frontier Trails | Lewis Clark | Metro Corridor | Panhandle | Pioneer Country | Prairie Lakes | Sandhills
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Frontier Trails


Edgerton Explorit Center - Named after Dr. Harold "Doc" Edgerton who is listed by National Geographic Magazine as one of the fifteen most influential inventors of the Industrial Revolution (Strobe Light & Side-Scan Sonar), the Edgerton Explorit Center offers a 5,000 square foot gallery of more than 40 hands-on exhibits. 

Stuhr Museum Of The Prairie Pioneer - Stuhr Museum is a 200-acre multi-faceted complex designed in the manner of Scandinavian outdoor museums. Exhibits in the Stuhr Building introduce visitors to the history and development of the. Exhibits and collections tell the story of Native Americans, the Old West and pioneer life.

Nebraska Prairie Museum - The Nebraska Prairie Museum contains an exceptionally fine collection of over one acre of indoor exhibits. Once inside, you get a feeling of spaciousness as you view collections of period clothing, antique toys, farm equipment, tools and household items, a unique W.W.II German POW exhibit room, and much more!

Museum Of Nebraska Art - There is much to see and enjoy at the Museum of Nebraska Art. Experience 175 years of great art from the 19th century to the contemporary scene. In addition to the wide variety of art in its eleven galleries, visitors can relax and stroll through the outdoor sculpture garden, browse through the gift shop for one-of-a-kind gifts, or visit our children's gallery.

Hastings Museum - Hastings Museum is home to the Lied IMAX Theatre and the J.M. McDonald Planetarium. The museum features three floors of natural history, Native American and pioneer artifacts, antique transportation exhibit, firearms collection, Kool-Aid exhibit and lots more.

arrowGreat Platte River Road Archway Monument - The Great Platte River Road Archway Monument is the gateway to the west for the 12,000 vehicles that pass under it daily. The Archway has 79,000 square feet of historical exhibits that tell the story of the Platte River Road. This road linked the nation from east to west through the evolution of transportation and communication.

arrowCrane Meadows Nature Center - Crane Meadows Nature Center encompasses 250 acres of prime river habitat. The center offers a close-up viewing of wetland wildlife. Visitors can see turtles, ducks, turkey, deer, coyote and many other species.

arrowPlainsman Museum - The Plainsman Museum features an extensive collection depicting Plains history with exhibits, murals and mosaics. Agricultural museum features a homestead house, farm scene, barn and blacksmith shop.

arrowPioneer Village - Here within 20 acres, are over 50,000 pieces of Americana in 26 buildings. Many of the buildings were plucked from their country settings and restored here. Modern display halls hold selected treasures.

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Lewis Clark


John G. Neihardt Center - The Neihardt Center has been constructed for the study and preservation of the works of John G. Neihardt. The memorial room repeats the symbolism of the ?hoop of the world and chronicles Niehardt?s life, works and the times in which he lived. Videotapes allow the visitor to see and listen to the poet, a research library is also available for scholars.

arrowWashington County Historical Museum - This organization's purpose is the preservation of the history of Washington County, Nebraska and vicinity for future generations and to acquire, preserve, and exhibit, relics, mementos, historic records and other artifacts of historical interest of said area and of Nebraska.

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Metro Corridor


Henry Doorly Zoo - Thundering waterfalls and exotic plants and animals abound in the world's largest indoor rainforest -- the Lied Jungle. Watch sharks and stingrays swim over your head as you walk through a 70 foot long underwater tunnel in the Scott Aquarium. Also visit North America's largest Cat Complex, a four acre open-air aviary, penguins, gorillas and more!

Funplex - FunPlex offers Nebraska's largest waterpark and rides. Attractions and rides include: motion ocean, water slides, lazy river, kiddie pool, go karts, slick track, bumper cars & bumper boats and lots more.

Fontenelle Forest Nature Center - Fontenelle Forest Nature Center features 1,400 acres of woods, wetlands and waterways, featuring deep ravines, loess ridges, more than 40 varieties of trees and over 200 species of birds.

El Museo Latino - El Museo Latino was established in 1993 as the first Latino art and history museum in the Midwest.

Old Market - Old Market is a 'turn-of-the-century' marketplace of brick streets and buildings features a variety of quaint restaurants and shops.

Omaha Botanical Gardens - The garden consists of 115 acres which are being beautifully designed to provide visitors with a variety of foliage, flowers and fruits of plants from around the world.

Omaha Children's Museum - Founded in 1976 as a traveling workshop, the Omaha Children's Museum has grown into a special place where children can challenge themselves, discover how the world works, and learn through play. It is Omaha's only participatory museum, a place where children and adults can learn and play together.

arrowOmaha Community Playhouse - Founded in 1924, the Omaha Community Playhouse has grown into the largest community theatre in the nation. Two theatres with state of the art sound and lighting equipment feature eleven productions annually.

arrowVala's Pumpkin Patch - Vala's Pumpkin Patch offers hay rack rides, haunted house, lost pumpkin mine and tumbling rock cavern, scarecrow maze, pig races, petting corral, pumpkin eating dragon, story book barn and lots more.

arrowDurham Western Heritage Museum - The Durham Western Heritage Museum is a beautiful art deco railroad station which offers unique, hands-on learning for people of all ages. Examine photographs, view exhibits on the history of Omaha, a restored soda fountain, decorative arts, a theater, train cars with period furnishings and model trains.

arrowAksarben Coliseum/event Center - Aksarben Coliseum/Event Center features events such as USHL league championship hockey team, a championship rodeo, the largest 4-H livestock show in the country, many tradeshows and a gala of entertainers.

arrowJoslyn Art Museum - Joslyn Art Museum has served as a premier center for the visual arts since it opened in 1931. Nebraska's largest and most distinguished art museum, Joslyn features an encyclopedic collection of artworks from antiquity to the present, with a special emphasis on 19th- and 20th-century art from Europe and America, and offers a wide range of exhibitions, music and educational programs.

arrowOmaha Theater Company For Young People - The mission of the Omaha Theater Company is to provide professional theater, dance and education programs that enrich the lives of young people and their families.

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Panhandle


Wyobraska Wildlife Museum - A Natural History museum, packed with what you would have seen on the trek West, before time began and modern day wonders from around the World! Collections from 7 continents displayed in their natural habitat settings, a ""World Class"" museum with over 300 exhibits!

Riverside Zoo And Campground - Guests will enjoy viewing waterfowl on the zoo's lake, children will take pleasure in the petting area and a playground and everyone will enjoy meeting all of our animal residents. Riverside Zoo also offers an enriching botanical experience with over 30 garden spots bursting with the blooms of the season.

North Platte Valley Museum - Step back in time as you visit the North Platte Valley Museum in Gering, Nebraska. The Museum complex consists of the main building with 10,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space. Exhibits include tools, clothing and home furnishings of the early settlers, a print shop, general store, school room, parlor, kitchen, blacksmith, horse drawn equipment and much more.

Museum Of The Fur Trade - The museum's exhibits trace the everyday lives of the British, French, and Spanish traders, voyageurs, mountain men, professional buffalo hunters, and typical Plains and Woodland Indians. Exhibits include the entire range of trade goods, including munitions, cutlery, axes, firearms, textiles, costumes, paints, and beads.

arrowFarm & Ranch Museum - Explore the history of farm and ranch equipment with vintage horse-drawn and steam powered machines.

arrowCarhenge - Just north of Alliance Nebraska, along Highway 87, stands a replication of Stonehenge, England's ancient mystical alignment of stones that chart the sun and moon phases. Stonehenge stands alone on a plain in England. Carhenge, created from vintage American made automobiles, towers over the plains of Nebraska.

arrowCabela's - Outdoor equipment of every sort from fishing and hunting to backpacking at this huge 62,000-sq.-ft. store. See over 500 trophy mounts.

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Pioneer Country


National Museum Of Roller Skating - The museum exists as an autonomous entity to acquire, preserve, research, and interpret the history of roller skating through its collection of artifacts, photographs, archival materials, and other skating memorabilia.

Museum Of Nebraska History - Many people and cultures have made Nebraska their home. Come see fascinating artifacts and hear amazing stories from its rich past. The museum's exhibits interpret over 12,000 years of human experience on the Plains. Indian gallery, 'The First Nebraskans,' period setting and special collections.

Strategic Air & Space Museum - Regarded as the nation's foremost facility of its kind, the museum preserves aircraft and missiles for future generations. The Museum is a 300,000 square foot building that features a glass atrium, two aircraft display hangars, a traveling exhibit area, a children's interactive gallery, a 200-seat theater, a Museum store, an aircraft restoration gallery, and a snack bar.

Folsom Children's Zoo & Botanical Gardens - Folsom Children's Zoo & Botanical Gardens is home to 300 animals representing 95 species. A train and pony rides are also available within the facility.

arrowRock Island Depot Railroad Museum - Located in one of the state?s two intact Rock Island depots, the Rock Island Depot Railroad Museum at 910 Second Street gives visitors a look at life when trains were the fastest and classiest way to go anywhere, from the billowing steam engine to the 1950?s stream-lined Rock Island Rocket.

arrowState Museum Of Natural History And Mueller Planet - Nebraska's largest natural history museum includes the world's premier collection of fossil elephants, interactive paleontoly exhibits, American Indian exhibits, walk-in wildlife dioramas, hand-on discovery room, planetarium, laser shows and much more.

arrowLied Center For Performing Arts - Located on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus, this magnificent performing arts center serves students and residents of this entire region by bringing the world's finest arts and entertainment to its stage.

arrowLincoln Children's Museum - The Lincoln Children's Museum is a 40,000 square foot world of color, light, sound and texture dedicated to allowing children and adults to discover the adventure of learning together.

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Prairie Lakes


Ole's Big Game Steakhouse - This unique family eatery showcases more than 200 big game trophies and countless mementos of Ole's worldwide safaris.

arrowFront Street/cowboy Museum - Read about the Great Train Robbery (Sam Bass) to the Dirty Thirty's (when Nebraska was a dust bowl). See pictures during the building of Kingsley Dam along with other historical items and artifacts (both Cowboy and Indian). See how the west was won...

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Sandhills


Howard County Historical Village - The Howard County Historical Village features an actual pioneer church, schoolhouse, blacksmith shop, store and post office, with appropriate exhibits.

Nebraska Major League Baseball Museum - This museum is devoted to illustrating the careers of 114 Major League Baseball players with Nebraska roots. All 114 players have made it to the Major Leagues of American Baseball. Five have been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

arrowSandhills Spirit Of The West - Experience the Sandhills of Nebraska with genuine Cowboy surrounding. Come off the highway at Nenzel, Nebraska and relax for a spell with a rustic wagon ride and learn about area history, settlement and the ranching way of life from area cowboys and ranchers. Enjoy cowboy cooking over an open campfire, chuckwagon steak supper, family fun and entertainment.

arrowCuster County Historical Museum - The Custer County Historical Museum features objects and photographs depicting pioneer life from the 1800s to the present.

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