Nebraska History Museums

Hastings Museum

Featuring many varied exhibits and a planetarium, this museum also offers many history exhibits and artifacts.  People on the Plains is an exhibit of how early inhabitants of the area survived and lived.  This exhibit includes many artifacts used by the American Indians on the Great Plains.  Other history exhibits feature an authentic 1857 log cabin built by John Adams which was moved here from Gage County.  Located at 1330 N. Burlington Avenue in Hastings, NE.

Ashfall State Historical Park

Neligh Mill State Historic Site   [History & Photos]

Originally erected in 1873, the 1880s mill equipment is still intact and the history of flour milling in Nebraska is recounted on the tour.  Located on N Street at Wylie Drive in Neligh, NE.

Old Jail Museum   [Antelope County History]

Organized by the Antelope County Historical Society, there are 3 buildings maintained by the society.  The main museum is housed in the old county jail.  Other buildings include the Pioneer Church and a reproduction log cabin.  Artifacts include extensive collections of early documents and photos.  The Old Jail Museum is located at at the intersection of Hwy 275 and 6th Street in Neligh, NE.  The Antelope County Historical Society is located at 509 L Street.

Boone County Historical Museum

Housed in the old White Star filling station and rural school, the museum is dedicated to the preservation and display of Boone County history.  Located at 1025 W. Fairview Street in Albion, NE

Fort Kearney State Historical Park & Museum   

[Kearney History]

Built in 1848, Fort Kearney was built to protect the Oregon Trail emigrants.  An interpretive center gives visitors insight into the history of the fort.  Archeological exploration is being performed at the site.

Great Platte River Road Archway Monument

[History & Information]

Created to look like a covered bridge, the monument pays tribute to the Americans who travelled the Great Platte River Road, a long and difficult route across the prairies and South Pass.  Located across Interstate 80 at Exit 272 in Kearney, NE.

Located in Tekamah, Nebraska, this local history museum operates the Houston House plus the School House & Annex and a Family Research Center.

Swedish Heritage Center

Located in Oakland, Nebraska, learn about Swedish culture and enjoy the many Swedish activities offered such as a real old fashioned Swedish Festival.

Bess Streeter Aldrich House

Bess Streeter Aldrich is known as one of the finest writers to hail from Nebraska.  The home is beautifully furnished with period pieces and furnishings, while the museum tells the story of this author of early Nebraska life.  While the house is at 204 E. F Street and offers guided tours by appointment, the Aldrich Museum (included in house admission) is located at 124 West D Street in Elmwood, NE.

Cass County Historical Society Museum

The museum is dedicated to the preservation of history since settlement in 1854.  Visitors will learn about the early pioneers, view exhibits and artifacts related to the history of Cass County  Operated by the Cass County Historical Society.  Located at 646 Main in Plattsmouth, NE.

Heritage House Museum

The four building complex features an 1866 house, a homeopathic doctor's office, a business museum and pioneer and archaeological displays related to the history of  Weeping Water and the surrounding area of Nebraska.  Located at 215 W. Eldora in Weeping Water, NE.

Joseph Cook Log Cabin

Operated by the Cass County Historical Society, the 1868 log cabin which belonged to Joseph and Mary Cook, is located at the corner of Second and Main in Plattsmouth, NE.  Open by appointment only.

Champion Mill State Historical Park

Located near Merriman, the ranch is a living history museum where visitors can learn about ranching, homesteading and other information related to the Sandhills and Bowrings.

John G. Neihardt State Historic Center

Fort Robinson Museum   [History & Photos]

The museum is housed inside the 1905 post headquarters.  Exhibits tell the story of Fort Robinson from the times of the Red Cloud Agency of the 1870s to the use as a POW camp during WWII.  The other historic buildings on the post are available for tour also and include a blacksmith shop, officers quarters, a guardhouse, a marker designating the spot where Crazy Horse was killed and others.  Located on US Hwy 20 just 3 miles west of Crawford, NE.

Dawson County Historical Museum   [Photos]

Louis E. May Museum

Housed in an 1874 mansion, the museum includes a general store display, research library, and a one room school house with exhibits to take you back to a simpler time.  They also have an 1860s log house.

The Durham Western Heritage Museum

Built in 1929, the elegant building which houses the Durham Museum was a new station for the Union Pacific Railroad.  For 40 years, the station was one of the busiest railway stations in the United States.  Closed in 1971, the building became home to the Western Heritage Museum.  In 1995 the building was closed and restoration was begun.  It was reopened to the public in 1996 and the name was soon changed to the Durham Western Heritage Museum.  The museum attracts many visitors.  Located at 801 . 10th Street in Omaha, NE.

Florence Historic District

Fort Omaha Historic Site

Freedom Park Navy Museum

General Crook House Museum  

[Crook House Historical Marker]

Built 1878-1879, the Douglas County Historical Society is housed here along with the Archives of the Indian Wars.  Located on the grounds of the Fort Omaha Barracks at 5730 North 30th Street.

Joslyn Castle   [History]   [Tours]

Home to George and Sarah Joslyn, the four story mansion was built in 1903.  From 1944-1989 the mansion served as the Omaha Public School system headquarters.  Today, the historic site can be toured by visitors

Keirle Historic Home

Located at 3017 Mormon Street, rarely open to the public.

Mormon Trail Visitors Center at Historic Winter Quarters

Omaha Historic Old Market

Gage County Historical Society and Museum   [History]

Great Plains Welsh Heritage and Culture Center

Focused on the history of early Welsh settlers of the Great Plains through displays, artifacts and oral histories.  Located at 307 S. 7th Street in Wymore, NE.

Homestead National Monument   [Homestead Act]

Welsh Schoolhouse Museum

Located in Wymore, Nebraska, it is a fully furnished one room schoolhouse from ca 1900.

Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer   [Virtual Tour]

Hooker County Historical Museum  

[History]  [Photos]

Housed in the 1916 Ham's Hotel building, the museum offers 3 floors of historical artifacts, memorabilia and pioneer items reflecting the history of Hooker County, Nebraska.  Located at the corner of NW 1st & Lincoln Streets in Mullen, NE.

District 10 School

Historic Steele City

Rock Creek Station State Historic Site on The Pony Express Historical Trail   [History, Photo and Information]

Rock Island Depot Railroad Museum

W C Smith House and Lime Kiln

International Quilt Study Museum

Museum of Nebraska History

This remarkable history museum features over 10,000 years of the history of the peoples and cultures of Nebraska  From the first Nebraskans (the American Plains Indians), to the settlement of the state by a hardy pioneer people, the museum offers exhibits of many fine collections of Native American artifacts, early pioneer heirlooms, memorabilia, and historical images & documents related to the history of the state of Nebraska.  Located at 15th and P Streets in Lincoln, NE.

Nebraska State Capitol   [This site provides a guided tour]

Thomas P. Kinnard Historic House   [History & Photos]

University of Nebraska State Museum

[Photos & History]

Cody Park Railroad Museum

Lincoln County Historical Museum

Elkhorn Valley Museum and Research Center

Madison County Historical Society Museum

Chimney Rock National Historic Site   [History & Photos]

Oregon Trail Wagon Train - take a wagon train tour!

Pawnee City Historical Museum

The living history museum is a collection of 16 historical buildings containing artifacts, photos and historic documents related to the history of Pawnee County, Nebraska.  Historic buildings include the Curtis House, David Butler's House, a log cabin, the Cracker Box School, the Lower West Branch Schoolhouse and more.  Located on East Highway 8 in Pawnee City, NE.

Table Rock Pioneer History Museum

Visitors will find a complex of seven historic buildings in Table Rock, NE.  Some of the historical buildings are a church, rural schoolhouse and a print shop.  An Old Opera House is included where stage plays are performed in the summertime.  Located in old downtown Table Rock, NE.

Pierce Historical Society Museum Complex  [Photos]

Platte County History Museum   [Displays]

St. Michael's Catholic Church Historic Complex   [Photos]

Polk County Historical Museum

This history museum is focused on the history of Polk County, Nebraska.  Featured at the site, are a museum, a sod house, log cabin, a country church, a country school, and an old Union Pacific caboose.  Located on Hawkeye Street in Osceola, NE.

Saline County Historical Museum   [History & Photos]

Saunders County Historical Museum   [Historical Photos]

Sarpy County Museums

Historic sites include the 1860s Sautter House, 1890 Portal School, an 1830s log cabin and more.  Learn about the history of Sarpy County, NE through these historic sites of old.

Sarpy County Historical Museum

Devoted to the history of Sarpy County from the American Indians to the early settlers.  2402 Clay Street, Bellevue, NE.

Farm and Ranch Museum  [Photos]

Focus is on the history of farming and ranching on the high plains of Nebraska.  Located 1 mile west of Gering on the route to Scotts Bluff National Monument.

North Platte Valley Museum

Take a step back in time and learn about early settlement in the North Platte River Valley of western Nebraska.  Through exhibits and artifacts, you will discover the history of the Sioux and Cheyenne Indians, the European farmers, ranchers and early town settlers.  Tour a sod house and a log cabin.  Located at the corner of 11th and J in Gering, NE.

Scotts Bluff National Monument  [Historic Photo Collection]

The museum consists of a main exhibit hall along with the Eberspacher home, an 1869 log cabin, a school house, and a genealogy research library.  Located one mile north of Goehner, NE on 364th Road.

Fort Hartsuff State Historical Park   [Quicktime Video Tour]

Fort Hartsuff was active and provided protection during the Indian warfare on the Nebraska plains between 1874 and 1881.  In later years it served as a farm headquarters and was donated to the State of Nebraska in 1961.  Today it is operated as a living history museum at special times of the year.  A visitors center housed in an 1874 building at the Fort welcomes visitors year round.

Fontanelle Township Hall

Fort Atkinson State Park & National Historic Site

[Friends of Fort Atkinson]   [History]  [Photos]

Frahm House

Washington County Historical Museum

Historic Sites in Webster County

Webster County Historical Museum  [History]

Housed inside a 1909 classic revival style mansion, the museum is devoted to the history of the early settlers of Webster County.  Along with exhibits of historical artifacts, antiques, and memorabilia, the museum features a genealogy department which includes an extensive archives.  Located at 721 W. 4th Avenue in Red Cloud, NE.

Willa Cather Pioneer Memorial

[History of Red Cloud]   [Virtual Tours and Photos]

Enter the 1880s in Red Cloud, Nebraska.

413 North Webster, Red Cloud, NE.

Wessel's Living History Farm   [Tour the farm]

Museum Index for Other States

Nebraska Census Records