Mormon Trail Center at Winter Quarters — Attraction in Omaha

The Museum is very well done and it is easy to learn a lot about early pioneer life as the Mormons travelled west toward Salt Lake City. I've been to the museum many times and had very positive experiences. A docent (usually Mormon Sisters) walk around, showing you the exhibits and telling you the story of their pilgrimage. On my last visit, with my class of kiddos, they were over the top about sharing the religious aspects of the museum. On most other visits, they address it, but focus a bit more on the pioneer life - the hand cart, how harsh the winter weather was, etc. For many, many years the basement of the museum was used for gingerbread house displays. It was a free event that was a wondeful family event. Some houses were made by second graders and some were made by people that likely made gingerbread houses for a living - they were so clever, thoughtful and interesting. I was so sad when they decided not to continue the Gingerbread displays in 2019. It was a great way for people outside the Mormon community to get to know more about the faith and the people who belong to the faith. Perhaps they will decide to bring it back...

The people working here were so kind and knowledgeable. It was very humbling to go through the museum and thinking about what all those pioneers went through as they made their way to Utah. It wasn't an easy trek, but they continued moving to make a better life. I think that is something most people can relate to, and the museum is keeping their stories alive.

The life-sized hand carts, wagon, and wheels in different exhibits were my favorites because it really showed the scale of the migration that you don't get with smaller dioramas. You can understand how a child could get caught in a wagon wheel and break a bone when you realize the wheels were as tall as a child. You can see how much easier it was to move west with a conistoga wagon & oxen vs. a human powered hand cart. It really puts a lot of our troubles in perspective when you see a family fitting their life into a cart or wagon and heading west.

Overall, we enjoyed the museum and the overlooked to the historic graveyard. It was a very powerful experience. They also had a lot of lovely artwork...

The Mormon Trail Center is a humble, but well put together, toured exhibit with some great local history with a predictable Mormon spin. One tip, be careful that your navigation software doesn't direct you to the Winter Headquarters attraction that is located in Council Bluffs. The attraction is staffed by missionaries for the Mormon Church, either young adults aged 19-25 or retired couples. The tour starts with a 15 minute video that feels slightly longer. You then are lead on a tour that has actual items and stories based upon journals of Pioneer Mormons that fled to Salt Lake City predominantly from Nauvoou IL, but also from other States and Countries. Mormons would stop in Winter Headquarters along the way for days, or even months waiting to travel after winter. If you are a history buff, or a Latter-Day Saint looking to make a connection, I recommend the Center for a short visit. Just make sure you GPS is directing you to a location in the Florence neighborhood in Omaha instead of somewhere in downtown...