Things to do in Nebraska, United States: The Best History Museums

Sitting on six acres, the museum’s treasures all reside indoors so they can be enjoyed rain or shine. From the main building with its old-time boardwalk and military memorabilia to the agricultural building’s antiques cars to the working blacksmith shop, prairie schoolhouse, and home of Civil War General Delevan Bates, The Plainsman Museum offers a relaxing and educational journey through yesterday.

The Clayton Museum of Ancient History featuring the Stanback collection includes a wide array of artifacts, with the core of the collection focused around the Roman soldier. This facility offers enhancements for classroom instruction in history and Biblical studies and provides an excellent collection that the college shares with the public. CMAH's interactive area, the Little Kingdom, gives visitors a hands-on experience on an archaeology dig, living in an ancient Israelite house, or shopping a Roman market. The museum is housed in the lower level of the newly remodeled Phyllis Mackey Center (8th and Delaware).

Native Americans, Indian agents, African-American Buffalo Soldiers, the K-9 Corps, German Prisoners of War—these are just some of the people whose lives intersected with Fort Robinson. Explore this complex past in exhibits in the 1905 post headquarters building that trace the history from the post's role guarding the Red Cloud Agency (1874-77) through the housing of World War II German PWs (1943-46).

Spanning I-80 at Exit 275 in Kearney, NE, the Archway's unique, family-friendly experience tells the story of the adventurers who followed the Great Platte River Road across Nebraska and helped to build America. Spend about an hour or more in our historical exhibit. Our personal audio guide lets you set the pace. Walk with the pioneers on the Oregon Trail. Watch a rider make a stop at a Pony Express Station. Hear Mark Twain's account of a cross-country stagecoach trip. Relive the creation the nation's first Transcontinental Railroad. Hear stories of early auto travel on the Lincoln Highway. Watch traffic pass below you on I-80. Then, see the replica sod house. Stretch your legs on our hike/bike trail. Picnic on the Archway grounds. Discover unique souvenirs at the Archway Mining Company. Make the Archway part of your family's travel adventure.

One of Nebraska's leading attractions, the Harold Warp Pioneer Village is a short 10-minute drive south of I-80 exit 279. The Pioneer Village is often described as the "Smithsonian of the Plains". Visitors from around the world use "Fantastic" "A wonderful American Treasure" "Amazing" and "Remarkable" to describe the 50,000 items in 26 buildings within the 20 acre museum. Exhibits are arranged in chronological order of development to vividly portray how America grew from the open hearth and grease lamps to supersonic speed and cell phones. You will find wagons, buggies, guns, trains, 350 antique automobiles, 100 tractors, 20 historic aircraft, Rogers' Statuary, clothing, glass and china, Historic Buildings and more. It is a great family destination and includes a motel and campground. If you stay with us in our motel or campground, we will give you one complementary adult admission to the museum with each room or campsite rented. The museum is open year round.