Learning about wildlife and our role in preserving it is an important part of life. This unique museum in Neligh offers learning opportunities that are hard to find elsewhere. Step into this converted church to see a wildlife collection that’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen.

The Pierson Wildlife Museum Learning Center is located in a converted church in Neligh, Nebraska. The building itself is quite lovely, and it even features a stained glass window depicting a rhinoceros.
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Inside, you'll see a huge collection of 150 stuffed big-game animals. Some are mounted heads and some are full-body mounts. Many of these species are now protected and can no longer be hunted. The animals were harvested responsibly and legally, with the hunting fees and most of the meat going to the native people in the area where they were killed.
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This unique assembly of trophies was created by Dr. Kenneth Pierson in the mid-20th century. If you're from the Neligh area, you'll recognize the name; it was Dr. and Mrs. Pierson who were instrumental in restoring the Neligh Mill to make it a historical attraction.
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While it may be a bit shocking at first to see animals like a black rhino, walrus, or elephant stuffed and mounted, Dr. Pierson was dedicated to responsible stewardship and species conservation. That message is expressed here, and it's made clear that the goal of the collection is to educate and spark an interest in global wildlife.
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Not all of the animals here were killed by Dr. Pierson. Many of the display animals were collected from various other sources, including a large auction and the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha. The museum also features some of Dr. Pierson's large collection of rare and valuable books. Find out more in this promotional video.

The Pierson Wildlife Museum Learning Center is open Tuesday-Saturday, 1 pm-5 pm May through October; Thursday-Sunday 1 pm-4 pm in November and December, and by appointment only the remainder of the year. Educational groups are encouraged to come experience the one-of-a-kind displays. The museum also operates a mobile sensory trailer that provides a memorable enrichment experience for visitors of all ages.
Facebook/Pierson Wildlife Museum Learning Center

Find out more about this incredible museum, its origins, and the man behind it all on its website or Facebook page.

This isn’t the only unbelievable collection of big-game trophies in Nebraska. There’s another in western Nebraska – and it’s inside a steakhouse!

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205 E 5th St, Neligh, NE 68756, USA