It’s Impossible Not To Love Alliance, The Most Eccentric Town In Nebraska
By Delana Lefevers|Published July 24, 2017
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Delana Lefevers
Author
As a lifelong Nebraskan, Delana loves discovering the many hidden treasures of her state. She has worked as a writer and editor since 2007. Delana's work has been featured on more than a dozen websites and in Nebraska Life Magazine.
By any standards, the city of Alliance is a pleasant little place in the panhandle of Nebraska. There’s a lot to love here – the neighborhoods are peaceful, local businesses are thriving, and the city has a genuine commitment to making it one of the best places in Nebraska to put down roots. But there’s also a delightfully eccentric side of Alliance that makes it really stand out against other cities and towns in the area.
Carhenge is the most recognizable feature of Alliance. It was unveiled in 1987 by local artist Jim Reinders. It's an approximate replica of the original Stonehenge in England made of 39 cars; some are grounded in pits in the dirt and others are welded in place.
At first, the unique art project was deemed an eyesore and many locals wanted to see it torn down. But this eccentric display grew on everyone who saw it, and it soon became a beloved part of Alliance.
Soon, other sculptures began to join the cars. The garden of metal sculptures is known as the Car Art Reserve, and it contains pieces by Reinders as well as other artists.
The smaller sculptures don't have quite the visual impact as the circle of cars, but they're definitely fun to see. You can walk right up to all of the sculptures here and examine them from way up close.
Reinders' "Fourd Seasons" piece is such a great part of the display; it features Fords that represent the changing landscape in Nebraska over each of the seasons.
Carhenge has become a beloved part of the Alliance area and now pulls in tens of thousands of visitors each year. Photographers and film crews visit often to use this unique place as a backdrop for their projects. The sculptures and the land were donated to the people of Alliance, making this a true community treasure.
Alliance has a few other lovably eccentric features, too. The hay bale rest area just down the road from Carhenge is such a uniquely Nebraskan creation that brings smiles to the faces of everyone who passes by.
Dobby's Frontier Town is another fantastic place to visit when you're in the area. This volunteer-run attraction takes you back in time in the funnest way possible.
Green spaces, a beautiful public fountain, and one of the two remaining drive-in theaters in Nebraska increase the appeal of this beautiful, vibrant panhandle city.
The sculptures are far from all there is to Alliance, but they really represent the spirit of creativity and community that the city embraces. Learn more about Alliance and all it has to offer at the city’s official website.
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