When our family drove through Nebraska last summer, one of our stops was at the Union Station in Omaha, Nebraska. This art deco building saw its last train pull out in 1971 and is now home to the Durham Museum which is full of well designed historical displays set against the backdrop of this absolutely gorgeous old train station.
For visitors passing through Omaha, Nebraska, the Durham Museum is definitely worth seeing. Here are some helpful visitor tips to make the most of your visit.
Check out family friendly activities on the website
The Durham Museum is a family friendly museum with plenty of things for children to see and enjoy. Children will particularly enjoy climbing aboard the old rail cars, walking through the replica buildings, and hunting for the answers to a scavenger hunt which they can pick up at the ticket counter. Before your visit, be sure to check out their website (at DurhamMuseum.org) for scheduled events and pre-visit activities that can be downloaded.
Be prepared for lots of walking
While the Durham isn't huge compared to other museums we have seen, there is lots of walking and standing on hard marble and concrete floors. We recommend leaving the flip flops at home and dressing in sensible walking shoes when making your visit.
Allot plenty of time
Because seeing the Union Station and Durham Museum was an afterthought for us, we only had time for two hours in visiting this museum and could have easily spent three to four hours here since there is so much to see. If your time is short like ours was, our family recommends first spending a bit of time exploring the art deco features of the great hall, then descending to the lower level with a quick peek at the full sized trains and the galleries which bring Omaha's history to life with replica storefronts.
Stop at the soda fountain
Genuine soda fountains are few and far between which makes stopping at the old fashioned Durham Museum soda fountain a Must Do. Along with the cool old signs and counters (all original of course) visitors can order a phosphate mixed with your favorite flavoring. Phosphates are $2 each which makes for a very reasonably priced afternoon pick-me-up. They also sell snacks here and some sandwiches for families spending the day at the museum.
Check out the gift shop
The museum store is inside the old ticket station which is a cool experience just in itself. Along with the usual museum merch, you'll be delighted at the wide selection of railroad themed souvenirs.
Prices & Other Information.
The Durham Museum is open Wednesday through Saturday 10AM - 5P, Sunday 1PM - 5PM, and Tuesday 10AM - 8PM. It is closed Mondays and major holidays. We happened to visit on a Tuesday evening which ended up being a great time for our family since the museum was relatively uncrowded. As far as admission, the Durham Museum is one of the more reasonable museums that we encountered on our family's vacation. Adult admission is $9 while children (ages 3-12) are $6. Parking is available onsite and it's free.
Omaha's old Union Station and the Durham Museum is a must-see attraction for anyone who loves trains and is curious about the region's history. We certainly enjoyed our visit here and know you will too.
No comments:
Post a Comment