Here Are 20 Things You Can Only Find In Nebraska
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Delana Lefevers
Author
Nebraska is a one-of-a-kind place, and it’s full of one-of-a-kind sights and experiences. Barring our plentiful and spectacular natural features (which deserve an entire list of their own), here are 20 wonderfully unique things you can only find in Nebraska. Consider this your Nebraska bucket list!
Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge., 705 Riverfront Dr, Omaha, NE 68102, USA
The Omaha bridge is the longest in the country connecting two states.
Carhenge, 2151 Co Rd 59, Alliance, NE 69301, USA
This replica of England's Stonehenge is made entirely of cars.
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Colby Ridge Popcorn & Ice Cream, 4240 S 48th St #1, Lincoln, NE 68506, USA
This delicious stuff was a staple at Fourth of July celebrations when my kids were little. Now we pick up a bag once in a while just because it's really, really good.
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Great Platte River Road Archway Monument, 3060 E 1st St, Kearney, NE 68847, USA
This impressive museum spans I80 and commemorates the 19th-century migrations through Nebraska as well as the area's early settlers.
Pony Express Chevrolet Buick, 420 Lake Ave, Gothenburg, NE 69138, USA
Gothenburg is home to two historic Pony Express stations. The one located in Ehman Park has operated as a museum since the 1950s and offers free admission.
International Quilt Museum, 1523 N 33rd St, entrance off 33rd, not, Holdrege St, Lincoln, NE 68503, USA
This enormous facility houses the largest privately-held collection of quilts and is dedicated to the study and preservation of the quiltmaking craft.
Hastings Museum, 1330 N Burlington Ave, Hastings, NE 68901, USA
The lower level of the Hastings Museum houses a huge exhibit on the history of Kool-Aid, which was invented right here in Hastings.
Lee's Legendary Marbles & Collectibles, 3120 S Lincoln Ave, York, NE 68467, USA
Lee's is the only museum in the area focused on the collection and celebration of everyone's favorite colorful vintage toys: marbles.
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Monowi, NE 68746, USA
The entire town of Monowi is a treasure. With a population of just one, Monowi is the smallest incorporated town in the country. The town's highlight (besides its delightful sole resident) is Rudy's Library, a little warehouse filled to the brim with books. You just have to find Elsie to give you the key in order to visit it.
Museum of the Fur Trade, 6321 US-20, Chadron, NE 69337, USA
This fascinating museum is the only one in the entire world dedicated to the history of the fur trade.
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National Museum of Roller Skating, 4730 South St, Lincoln, NE 68506, USA
Rabid about roller skating? This museum will fill you in on the long and interesting history of your favorite hobby.
Nebraska shaped pool, 655 Halligan Dr, North Platte, NE 69101, USA
If you're looking for somewhere to stay in North Platte, the Holiday RV Park and Campground has been praised as clean, safe, and friendly. And where else will you find an outdoor swimming pool shaped like Nebraska?
Church in the Country, 555 FM256 N, Woodville, TX 75979, USA
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.
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Taylor, NE, USA
All around Taylor, black-and-white painted plywood people can be found marking places of interest. More than 80 Villagers dot the town, making for a kind of scavenger hunt for visitors.
Boys Town, NE, USA
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.
Milford, NE 68405, USA
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.
Hebron, NE 68370, USA
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.
World's Largest Time Capsule, 318 Hillcrest Dr, Seward, NE 68434, USA
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.
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Union Pacific Bailey Yard, North Platte, NE 69101, USA
Bailey Yard in North Platte features 315 miles of track and sees more than 14,000 railroad cars pass through in a typical day.
Arthur, NE 69121, USA
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.
As always, it’s impossible to fit EVERY great thing in Nebraska onto just one list. So what are your opinions on the very best things can you find only in Nebraska? Share them with us in the comments below so we can explore more of our wonderful state!
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More to Explore
Things You Can Only Find In Nebraska
What are some of the best attractions in Nebraska?
Looking for more fun things you can only find in Nebraska? Here are some of our favorite NE attractions for your bucket list:
- Chimney Rock. There are some pretty amazing natural wonders in Nebraska, but none quite compare to Chimney Rock. In the endless expanse of the Nebraska prairie, Chimney Rock appears suddenly and seemingly out of thin air. This natural monolith is not a mirage; it's a perfectly positioned sculpture created by Mother Nature herself. During the days of Westward expansion, Chimney Rock, as it came to be known, was used by pioneers as a marker along the Oregon Trail. Capped with a long, thin spire, the volcanic ash and brule clay formation soars 480 feet above the gentle Nother Platte River Valley, a place intrepid adventurers can -- and should -- explore today.
- Arbor Day Farm. Did you know Nebraska is where Arbor Day began? It's true! And you can experience that legacy at Arbor Day Farm in Nebraska City. This 260-acre farm includes the 140-room Lied Lodge, Apple House Market, Arbor Lodge State Historical Park, and the one-of-a-kind canopy walk that might be the most marvelously unexpected attraction in Nebraska. The Tree House Trail is where the Tree Adventure begins; you'll pass by numerous immersive play areas on the way to the Treetop Village, and we highly recommend taking the time to explore them all. The canopy walk, meanwhile, is the only one of its kind in the entire country. It spans more than three acres and passes 11 unique treehouses along the way, each offering a different arboreal aspect. And since Arbor Day Farm is full of gorgeous trees, there's no shortage of sights at which to marvel.
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Niobrara River. Nebraska might not be known for its beautiful bodies of water, but the Niobrara River will challenge your preconceived notions of this bread basket state. This 568-mile river is a tributary of the Missouri River that runs through Wyoming and Nebraska. Far from the wild and fast Missouri River that's most commonly associated with Nebraska, the Niobrara is a slow, sweet passage that's a favorite for water recreation -- especially river floats. With lush scenery and even small waterfalls, the Niobrara is a real-life oasis in the heart of the Midwest.
What are the best roadside attractions in Nebraska?
Nebraska is one of those criminally overlooked states that has so much to offer, especially in the way of epic roadside attractions, like:
- The World's Largest Porch Swing - Hebron
- The World's Largest Plow - Gothenburg
- Strategic Air and Space Museum - Ashland
- Carhenge - Alliance
- The World's Largest Time Capsule - Seward
- The World's Largest Covered Wagon - Milford
- The Nebraska Rest Stop - Alliance
- Sentinels Of The Prairie - Jackson