Nebraska Official State Travel Guide - The Official 2025 Not-At-All What You Thought State Travel Guide
HERITAGE
2024-11-05 01:29:25
IT’S A LAND OF NOMADS
FEEL FREE TO MOVE ABOUT THE STATE
Nebraska history is an adventurer’s history. Past explorers journeyed through these lands in search of fortune and prosperity, taking the rugged frontier head-on and pushing the nation’s westward expansion. Our heritage is steeped in the nomadic legacy of the Native Americans, pioneers, cowpokes and adventurers who blazed these trails before us.
OUR NATIVE AMERICAN LEGACY
Browse headdresses, instruments, beadwork and other artifacts when you tour the Ponca Tribal Museum and Library in Niobrara. Then, take the Ponca Educational Trail to hear traditional tribal stories before visiting the recreated Ponca Earth Lodge. In Genoa, tour the Genoa U.S. Indian School Foundation Museum to learn about the nation’s fourth-largest federal Native American boarding school. Each year, the Santee (June), Winnebago (July), Omaha (August) and Ponca (August) tribes celebrate their cultures and traditions with annual powwows. Visitors are welcome to join in these cultural celebrations full of dancing, music, traditional recipes and vendors. You can also attend the North Platte Pow Wow in July or the 34th annual Fort Omaha Intertribal Powwow in September.
INTO THE OLD WEST
Head to the “Cowboy Capital,” Ogallala, to experience the Old West. Front Street, a replica Old West town, features daily shoot-out reenactments, a general store, the free Cowboy Museum and lively entertainment at the Crystal Palace Revue. Visit Nebraska’s Boot Hill Cemeteries, the final resting places of many cowboys and pioneers who were buried with their boots on during the rough-and-tumble days of Ogallala and Sidney. Browse more than 6,000 artifacts, from textiles to weapons, at the Museum of the Fur Trade near Chadron. How about a rustic ranch-cation? Chart your own cowboy adventure when you stay at Flying Heart Ranch in Hay Springs or Double R Guest Ranch in Mullen. In North Platte, take a guided horseback ride through Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park, home of the famous old west showman, with Dusty Trails.
ALL ABOARD!
See Bailey Yard, the world’s largest classification rail yard, from the observation decks of the Golden Spike Tower in North Platte.
At North Platte’s Cody Park Railroad Museum, take in the engineer’s view of a Challenger 3900 series steam locomotive, the only one on public display worldwide. Then, browse railroad artifacts inside a preserved rail depot and pass through a collection of historic rail cars.
Stop in Fairbury to tour the Rock Island Railroad Depot. The museum includes a historically restored ticket office, baggage areas and lounges, as well as a large model train display and other railroad memorabilia.
In Grand Island, explore the general store, blacksmith shop, post office and more living history treasures at the 1890s Railroad Town on the grounds of the Stuhr Museum. Here, you’ll also find the Union Pacific Engine 437 railroad display.
ON THE BOOTHEELS OF PIONEERS
Follow the pioneers’ journey along the Great Platte River Road at The Archway in Kearney. Stretching to the heavens, Chimney Rock juts out of the plains — one of the most notable natural landmarks on the pioneer trails west. Today, hike the trails and explore the museum to learn more about the natural attraction.
Lewis and Clark’s legendary trek west led them along the Missouri River on the eastern border of Nebraska. Stop into the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Headquarters Visitor Center in Omaha to learn more about their historic journey and to plan your own adventure on the trail.
OREGON TRAIL DAYS 104TH ANNUAL
July 10-13, 2025
Each July, folks flock to Gering for Oregon Trail Days. Join in for parades, a food fair, a chili cook-off, live music, a carnival, art and quilt shows and all sorts of family fun at Nebraska’s longest-running celebration.
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HERITAGE
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