If you are interested in historic places, add the Durham Museum Omaha to your bucket list. This museum is one of the premier historic museums of the region, located in Union Station in Omaha, Nebraska. Offering a fascinating look at the history of Omaha and hosts a broad range of top exhibits covering history, science, and industry. It is a beautiful building that offers unique, hands-on learning for people of all ages. There are also impressive travelling exhibits through Durham’s affiliation with the Smithsonian and close ties with the Library of Congress, National Archives and Chicago’s Field Museum. The city has a lot of things to do, with the top attractions and top exhibits. In this guide, we cover everything you need to know about the Durham Museum and what Omaha has to offer.
Why is the Durham Museum So Popular?
The Durham Museum in Omaha is popular because of the various attractions it has to offer that are rarely found anywhere else in any other museum. The museum’s architecture is impressive enough for the people who visit to admire even before they come across any other exhibit at the museum. Exhibits inside the museum bring alive the entire history of the state of Nebraska through various exhibits that include a vintage station, antique storefronts, and actual trains.
There are interactive exhibits too that keep the younger kids entertained. This museum is famous for holding special exhibits from time to time which makes it a hot spot among families who love to visit such places and attend cultural events.
History of The Durham Museum
It’s a 21st-century museum that is filled with multiple stories from its opening to the present day. It was established in 1975 to preserve the regional history. In 1975, the Union Station opened as the ‘Western Heritage Museum’, displaying small regional history exhibits and private collections. Then in 1985, the city of Omaha transferred the collection of Byron Reed from Omaha Public Library to the Western Heritage Museum. Now a portion of it is always available for public viewing. Also by that time, the original soda fountain was restored and opened to the public.
From 1995 to 2007, the Union Station closed the museum for 6 months and started the construction work. Then they renamed the museum as the ‘Durham Western Heritage Museum’ in honour of Charles and Margre Durham. Again, the construction began on the Velde Gallery of American History and was designed to respond to the requirements associated with temporary exhibits from any national or international lender.
And then, in 2008, the museum was renamed the ‘Durham Museum’ to better reflect its broader mission of preserving Omaha’s history and serving as an educational and cultural resource. Now, The Durham Museum’s architecture has become a treasure for those who love exploring historical sites.
Top Exhibits of The Durham Museum
The Durham Museum exhibits provide an experience and there are multiple exhibits inside the museum. Some of those are.
Heroes and Villains – The Art of the Disney Costume
This exhibition showcases the costumes worn by the likes of Bette Davis, Glenn Close, Angelina Jolie & Disney Legend Julie Andrews. This Durham Museum exhibit features 70 costumes of some beloved characters such as Cinderella, Maleficent and Captain Jack Sparrow. The guests will also be able to get insights into how costumes evolve from concept to reality, with quotes and written accounts from some of Hollywood’s most acclaimed designers featured throughout the exhibition.
The Nergo Motorist Green Book
This is the current exhibit which offers an immersive look at the reality of travel for African Americans in mid-century America. Shows the vibrant architecture of the African American business world. The book was published and distributed nationwide from 1936 until 1967. Providing information about gas stations, restaurants, and other businesses that welcomed Black travellers. This book is best known for the African American travel guides.
Durham Beginnings
This is also an ongoing exhibition that presents five dramatic yet little-known personal stories evoking the spirit of Durham’s formative years. From here you can learn the ‘coming to Durham’ stories of Eliza Battle Duke, Richard Fitzgerald, Abner Jordan, John Green, and Margaret Faucette. This is one of the popular Durham Museum exhibits.
The Sopranos – Nineteenth Century A-Listers
This is also the latest showcase from the Byron Reed Collection, highlighting rare items, when a theatre boom brought live performance, especially opera singers into the spotlight. The collection of Byron Reed’s manuscripts includes multiple portraits and programs from Jenny ‘The Swedish Nightingale’ Lind and the vocalists Henriette Sontag, who fascinated audiences across Europe and won the hearts of American listeners. In this exhibit visitors can also learn about notable performer Mary Munchhoff, who called Omaha home.
Top Things to Do in the Durham Museum
There are multiple things to do in Durham and the Durham Museum some of them are:
Photography
While visiting the Durham Museum Omaha, you are welcome to photograph and film for personal use. Record the historic museum exhibits and programs but only for personal use, as for commercial photography, you are required to obtain written permission from the Museum’s marketing department.
Soda Fountain
Inside the Durham Museum Omaha, you can visit the soda fountain. Here you can enjoy your favourite flavoured soda water which comes straight from the fountain dispenser. Not only this, the soda fountain also serves lunch including everything like hotdog, sandwich or a yummy mac-n-cheese. Also there are multiple shops available from where you can purchase gifts, newspapers or magazines. These old-fashioned soda fountains offer you wonderful experiences.
Train Exhibits
Apart from this you can visit all the top exhibits of the Museum, from which children can have a great learning experience with fun. Also, the children can explore the trains as trains are a huge part of the museum. The Durham Museum has a huge model train exhibit, as well as real train cars in which the kids and families can also walk through.
Shopping
While exploring Durham city, don’t miss the shops. As there are multiple different shops available in Durham. This including the Farm shop and market, Independent shops and boutiques, and gift shops. All the shops have something unique which can make you want to buy something. Also the gift shops provide a wide range of products, many of which take inspiration from the museum’s collections.
Places to stay near the Durham Museum
Holiday Inn Express and Suites Omaha Airport by IHG
The hotel offers every single facility, including modern rooms, an indoor pool, parking and airport transportation. But a single limitation is that pets are not allowed in the hotel. It is located within a range of 1.8 miles away from the Durham Museum with a total cost of $127 approx. The check-in time starts at 3 PM and check-out before 11 AM.
Courtyard by Marriott Omaha Downtown
With top-rated staff and services, this hotel ensures you feel welcome and comfortable. It offers a delicious breakfast for free, onsite parking facilities and airport transportation service. The hotel is totally dog friendly and wheelchair accessible (which may have some limitations). The cost of the hotel is around $110 with a distance of 0.5 miles from the museum.
Omaha Marriott Downtown at the Capitol District
The hotel’s speciality is its American cuisine and also its famous dish “Burdock and Bitters”. It offers a great facility of a free shuttle which will be available at the scheduled time. Also, you will get all other facilities including luxury rooms, an indoor seasonal pool with bars and coffee shops. For more fun, a casino is available inside the hotel, and the Henry Doorly Zoo is just a short drive away. As it provides all the luxurious facilities so its price range is also high which is approximately $218.
Hilton Omaha
Inside the hotel you have a great experience as it offers everything. Whether it’s about shopping, indoor pool and hot tub, or onsite restaurants. In the hotel you can take your pets with you as there is no restriction on them. Also, it has 2 onsite restaurants that offer delicious cuisines. The hotel is located 0.8 miles from the museum and the cost to stay in the hotel is approx $330 which is expensive but worth it.
Nearby Attractions in Omaha
Whether your trip is for a day, a weekend, or longer, you can still have all the fun to do, as there are tons of Omaha’s attractions. Where you can have great fun, food, and entertainment. Some of those attractions are.
The Old Market District
This market is one of the best attractions in Omaha and a neighbourhood of Omaha city located in the downtown. The classic historic area is now transformed into a lively shopping, dining and nightlife destination, with brick-laid roads and easy walking distance to numerous hotels and attractions. After exploring the market, you can go to the outdoor patios for a drink.
Omaha Children’s Museum
While visiting Durham city, you can go to the Omaha Children’s Museum with your kids to have some fun. As it is also one of the best attractions in Omaha, Nebraska. It offers many different activities for the kids to learn and explore, and also different exhibits and programs that continuously change throughout the year. It is designed to engage the imagination and spark excitement for learning. The museum is located in downtown Omaha. Its hours from Tuesday to Sunday are 9 am to 4 pm and closed on Monday. The ticket price per person is $15 and if you’d like to purchase a one-year membership, it costs $139. After all, the museum offers endless opportunities for discovery and fun.
Family-friendly Activities
Whether you are visiting Omaha alone or with your family. There are some places that offer so much fun and those are.
Omaha’s Zoo: Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is one of the world’s best zoos. It gives an ultimate interactive experience. There are several different animals imported from all over the world. The visiting time of the zoo can vary by season and you can visit anytime as it opens all year round. To check the current opening time, you can go through the official website of the zoo. This place is a must visit for family activities in Omaha.
The Riverfront: The Riverfront Park contains 3 parks in it, named as the Heartland of America Park, Lewis and Clark Landing, and the Gene Leahy Mall. All these parks offer so much fun and adventurous activity for the kids, as they include a skate park, a children’s playground, and a sculpture garden. The parks are the perfect location for a family tour.
Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge: On this bridge, you can experience walking across the Iowa side to the Omaha side. It’s a great place for photography and family fun. The bridge crosses the Missouri River and connects Nebraska with Iowa, where you can ride a bike all across the bridge. So if you are looking for free things to do, then you can go to this bridge.
The Amazing Pizza Machine: This is one of the most voted family entertainment activities and best for birthday parties or family gatherings. Not just because of its pizzas but for different fun games including go karts, bumper cars, thrill rides and more. Before leaving you can also shop at Pizza Central and redeem your tickets for amazing fun prizes and souvenirs.
Ideal time to visit The Durham Museum
The ideal time to visit Durham Museum is during January & February as both of these months offer a quiet experience with fewer crowds. Also, try to go during the weekday afternoons to avoid school time & weekend crowds. The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday at 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM and is closed on Mondays. For the visit you need to purchase tickets which range differently for every age group between $19 to $24. Also, you can visit the official site for the current price rates. The tickets are free for museum members and children aged 2 and under. One thing to note is that you are not allowed to bring outside food or other beverages unless they are required for special dietary needs. A typical visit takes around 2 hours, though you are welcome to stay until closing time.
Conclusion
Hope you get all the information about the Durham Museum Omaha which is a premier resource for education, entertainment and historical preservation in the Omaha region. The museum provides a welcoming and friendly experience and puts the customer first. You can visit its top exhibits, best attractions and numerous things to do in the Durham Museum Omaha. You should explore here to experience the culture and beauty of Durham. Other than this, if you want to explore more about the Durham Museum then renting a charter bus is the most comfortable and convenient way to get there.