7 Museums that will take you back in time
Take a break from the stress of today with a visit to one of the many museums across the state! These historical collections vary from recent local history to back when dinosaurs roamed the earth, but each provides an opportunity to learn and explore the past. There are too many to choose from, so we just picked one from each of Nebraska’s 7 regions. To find more of Nebraska’s fantastic museums, click here.
SOUTHEAST
University of Nebraska State Museum of Natural History and Mueller Planetarium – Lincoln
Explore one of the region’s premier natural history museums that features the world’s finest collection of fossil elephants along with exhibits of bizarre beasts, ancient weapons, dinosaurs and more. Take time to get hands-on at the Marx Science Discovery Center or take in an awe-inspiring show at the Mueller Planetarium.
METRO
Great Plains Black History Museum – Omaha
If you’re in Omaha, Nebraska’s largest city, you’ll want to pay a visit to this museum telling the story of the area’s African American heritage. Home to important figures from Malcolm X to Johnny Rodgers, it’s packed with both permanent and rotating exhibits.
NORTHEAST
Elkhorn Valley Museum – Norfolk
Discover the history of this area of northeast Nebraska, including a celebration of late-night comedy icon Johnny Carson, who grew up in Norfolk. The Johnny Carson Gallery includes items from Johnny himself, as well as interactive exhibits to take you back in time!
SANDHILLS
Nebraska Museum of Major League Baseball – St. Paul
Nebraska has a proud sports history, and that includes baseball. More than 140 Nebraskans have made it to the Major Leagues, and this museum honors them all, including Bob Gibson, Grover Cleveland Alexander, Wade Boggs, Alex Gordon and many more.
SOUTH CENTRAL
Harold Warp Pioneer Village – Minden
Named after Harold Warp, whose goal was to collect and preserve artifacts of progress and the human spirit, Pioneer Village has a mind-blowing 50,000-plus items, 28 buildings and 20 acres of history. There’s a little bit of everything, including recreated historical buildings, vehicles, art, a carousel and so much more. Let's just say you could spend a lot of time here…
SOUTHWEST
Lincoln County Historical Museum – North Platte
With collections spanning a history of 200 years, this museum casts a wide net. One story it focuses on is that of the North Platte Canteen, a volunteer effort that served 6 million troops during World War II. And don’t forget to come back during the holiday season, when the museum hosts a drive-through Christmas Village!
NORTHWEST
Museum of the Fur Trade – Chadron
The largest collection of its kind in the world, this museum has more than 6,000 artifacts related to the North American Fur Trade. It also sits on the site of James Bordeaux’s trading post, which is in the National Register of Historic Places. It’s well worth the trip to Nebraska’s northwest corner for a visit.
Header image: Nebraska Prairie Museum