The Durham Museum — Attraction in Omaha

A Diamond to Behold I love trains and great train stations that can tell a story! My earliest memory of a train ride took place in elementary school at the Union Station in Kansas City, MO. Today, those memories returned as I made new ones at the Durham Museum, Omaha’s Union Station. Taking some time out from working on my current manuscript, I was not expecting to be there for four hours. It was not wasted time as I time traveled through this magnificent building. A volunteer greets you when you pay the 11.00 adult admission fee. You’ll receive a museum guide that will give a brief outline of what to expect throughout the building. The main waiting area is breathtaking. No wonder it was named a National Historic Landmark in 2016 by the U.S. Department of the Interior. It’s art deco architecture places you in a time of the 1920’s and 30’s with high ceilings, cathedral windows, metallic materials like aluminum and stainless steel. I was taken with the Terrazzo flooring and brass lighting fixtures that hang 45 feet in the air. They’re thirteen feet tall and weigh two tons or more than 2,000 pounds. It was fun to visit the sculptures that spoke of each passengers’ journey. For example, Old Salesman and the Sign, Ticket Counter, Anticipation and the touching, Young and Old Traveler that touched my heart. After endless photos, reading and listening to stories told, I took a brake at the soda fountain for a quick bite. Afterwards, I made my way downstairs to visit the various galleries and walk through the steam engine, Pullman car, lounge car and caboose. (All were decorated for Halloween) You may not spend four hours inside the museum as I did while taking part of so many things it had to offer, but you must not miss the beauty and history that this station has to offer. At it’s peak it’s reported that 10,000 people every day passed through Omaha Union Station with seven railroad lines that stopped here. Overall: Bob, one of the volunteers, was a delight and so informative regarding the history of not only the museum but the rail system and...

The Durham History Museum is an amazing place to visit in Omaha! In addition to the ongoing exhibits, the museum hosts a variety of visiting exhibits, so check their website to see what upcoming events and/or displays may be of interest to you. The static displays cover a wide range of interests. I personally enjoy climbing in the cockpit of the steam engine and then starting at the other end of the train and going through the caboose and the various cars as they looked in the 1940s and 1950s (and perhaps longer) during the heyday of train travel. The talking statues give interesting lessons about the types of people that came and went through this former Union Station, especially the thousands of military personnel off to fight during WW2. Other exhibits cover various aspects of U.S. history, as well as some fascinating looks into Native American life. The architecture of the building itself is incredible and during the Christmas season, a gigantic Christmas tree adorns the main hall. There is a souvenir shop and a working diner/malt shoppe with a counter and stools along with tables and chairs. Please check their website for current admission pricing....

We had a fantastic experience hosting our wedding reception at the Durham Museum! The staff was so friendly and helpful, from the very first time I reached out about wanting to tour the space. The space is absolutely BEAUTIFUL, and the different spaces were perfect for all the different portions of the evening. We started with cocktail hour on the Track Level, and guests were able to explore the museum exhibits, which is very cool and unique. We had dinner in the Grand Hall, which was very comfortable for our 300 guests. I was originally worried about the acoustics in this room, but we rented a speaker system that worked extremely well for prayers and toasts. Guests moved to the Swanson Gallery for dancing and desserts. We also set up some cocktail tables so guests could enjoy the band without having to be on the dance floor. Guests that wanted a more quite area for conversation were able to stay in the Grand Hall and chat. I cannot say enough about the accommodating staff and unique charm of the Durham. We would highly recommend this space to any couple planning...