One of the best things about Nebraska is the abundance of small towns. But just because a town is small, that doesn’t mean it’s boring. In fact, many of these towns are filled with history, mystery and more than a little excitement. These 10 small towns in Nebraska with big attractions are the perfect example.
1. Hebron - The World's Largest Porch Swing
There are a couple of other porch swings that want to claim this title, but Hebron holds strong that its big swing is the longest. It's said to be able to seat 16 adults or 24 children.
2. Gothenburg - The World's Largest Plow
Located in front of the Sod House Museum is a gigantic replica of a sod-cutting plow. It's the same type of tool used by settlers to build their soddies, and the sculpture is dedicated to those resourceful plains settlers.
3. Milford - The World's Largest Covered Wagon
Milford's giant covered wagon has definitely seen better days. The former gas station used to include wheels and a giant cowboy, but today is missing those finishing touches.
4. Boys Town - The World's Largest Ball of Stamps
It might be hard to remember, but there was once a time when people sent things to one another in paper envelopes with stamps affixed. The ball was started in 1953 by the Boys Town Stamp Collecting Club and today contains more than 4,655,000 stamps. The ball weighs 600 pounds and is 32 inches in diameter.
5. Seward - The World's Largest Time Capsule
This big, big project was the dream of Seward resident Harold Keith Davisson. Included in the time capsule (which actually includes two different chambers) are two full-size cars.
6. Arthur - World's Smallest Courthouse
Wikimedia Commons
The tiny 26-foot by 28-foot building was built in 1914. It lacked (and still lacks) any indoor plumbing and functioned as a courthouse until 1961, when it was turned into the Arthur County Museum.
7. Arthur - Oldest Known Straw Bale Church
The Pilgrim Holiness Church in Arthur was built in 1928 when building materials were scarce. Baled rye straw was the only suitable material, so townspeople constructed the church and then sealed it with sticky mud. When it was renovated in the 1970s, the building was stuccoed on the outside and plastered on the inside to preserve it.
8. Chadron - The Museum of Fur Trade
This fascinating museum is the only one in the entire world dedicated to the history of the fur trade.
9. Alliance - Carhenge
This replica of England's Stonehenge is made entirely of cars.
10. Ashland - Strategic Air and Space Museum
The Strategic Air and Space Museum in Ashland is a big-city museum in small-town Nebraska. The museum offers a planetarium, space shuttle slide, and several motion rides.
Have any more small towns with big attractions you would add to the list? Share them with us in the comments section below!
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