Omaha Travel: Quick Guide to The Durham Museum 🚂

Before World War II, this grand Art Deco Union Station served as a massive passenger terminal. Today, thanks to the vision of the Durham family, it has been transformed into a fascinating museum—while the still-active Amtrak Station across the street continues to operate the legendary California Zephyr (Chicago–Denver–San Francisco), quietly witnessing the changes of time. 🚆✨ 🕙 Opening Hours: Tuesday: 10 AM – 8 PM Sunday: 12 PM – 4 PM Other Days: 10 AM – 4 PM ⚠️ Recommended Visit: 1.5 hours 🚂 Lower Level: Union Pacific #1243 Steam Locomotive and a historic Pullman passenger car 🚄 (Perfect for a one-shot video tour—wait till you see the quirky layout where the toilet is right next to the bunk bed! 😅) 100-foot model train display of Durham Junction and scenic stations 🚉 (Pro tip: shoot from the end of the display frame for the full panoramic effect—centered shots just don’t capture the same magic! 📸) Featured temporary exhibition 🎨: Currently showcasing the history of animation! 🎪 Upper Level: Explore the contrast between cramped “worker cottages” and spacious “suburban American dream homes” 🏠➡️🏡. And you can’t miss the enduring presence of Native American history— Umáha (meaning “against the current” or “upstream”) reflects how Omaha grew thanks to its river advantages and its role during the gold rush era. Nearby Council Bluffs (named after historic meetings between settlers and Indigenous peoples on the bluffs) served as a key jumping-off point during Westward Expansion 🏞️🗺️. The Omaha-Council Bluffs metro even once hosted the Trans-Mississippi and International Exposition—a world’s fair rivaling Chicago’s Columbian Exposition! 🌍🎪 #Omaha #MuseumGems #HiddenTreasures #TravelDIY