Museums & Attractions
Boy’s Town. Founded
in 1917 by Farther Edward Flanagan, Boys Town is an unincorporated village headed
by a teenage mayor, with its own schools, police and fire departments, and 76 family
homes for more than 500 neglected and troubled young people. Each year, 100,000
visitors tour the village's 900 acres, including the Hall of History and Garden
of the Bible, with a stop first at the Visitors' Center.137th Street and West Dodge
Road, Call (402) 498-1140
Council Bluffs CVB
Durham Western Heritage Museum.
Omaha's museum of history is housed in Union Station, a restored Art Deco railroad
station that once served as the Union Pacific Railroad corporate headquarters station.
The museum also houses Union Pacific's historical collection. 801 South 10th Street,
Call (402) 444-5071
Fontenelle Forest.
Come experience the forest's 17 miles of trails, on over 1,300 acres in north Bellevue.
The forest is amid the scenic bluffs overlooking the Missouri River Valley. Well-marked
trails take you deep into the forest, across marshes and prairie and open on to
fantastic vistas. The forest's nature center includes a Forest Discovery Room and
Gift Shop. Fontenelle Forest is open daily except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and
New Year's Day. Located at 1111 North Bellevue Blvd. (402) 731-3140
Greater Omaha Convention & Visitors
Bureau
Henry Doorly Zoo. The Henry
Doorly Zoo is Nebraska's #1 attraction. It has received national acclaim from publications
such as: Time and National Geographic. New to the zoo the IMAX 3-D theater which
houses a six story, 84 foot wide screen and seating for over 320 people. Other attractions
include the Zoo's Scott Kingdom of the Seas Aquarium, the Lied Jungle, the Garden
of Senses, and the largest Big Cat complex in North America. From Bellevue, it is
only 10 minutes by taking the freeway! The Zoo is located at 3701 South 10th Street
in Omaha. For more information call (402) 733-8401. Separate admission charged.
Open daily - 9:30am to 5pm except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission
is charged. Save money with a combo ticket purchase! Group discounts available
Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo
3701 South 10th Street
Omaha, NE 68107
General Information: (402) 733-8401
IMAX Information: (402) 330-IMAX
Joslyn Art Museum. Joslyn is
more than a museum. The arts center sponsors lectures and art classes and hosts
informal music gatherings. The museum works with schools throughout Nebraska in
outreach programs. 2200 Dodge Street, Call (402) 342-3300
Lauritzen Gardens.
Overlooking the Missouri River, 100 acres include a rose garden with more than 2,000
plants, herb garden, children’s garden, formal Victorian garden, Sun Pu Gate exhibit,
bird sanctuary and arboretum. Visitor’s Center includes gift shop and café. Lauritzen
Gardens, 100 Bancroft Street, Omaha, NE 68108, 402.346.4002
The Old Fashioned Soda Fountain. Experience the charm of Sarpy
County's only true "Soda Fountain" at historic Springfield Drug. Enjoy the nostalgia
and the delicious ice cream. Treat the family! Located at 2nd and Main Street in
Springfield, NE. I-80 (Exit 440) go five miles south on Highway 50 to Springfield.
(402) 253-2000.
The Old Market In Omaha.
The historic Old Market is located in Omaha's Downtown area. Many of the buildings
were built in the early 1900's and were in use as a bustling market place for produce
suppliers, buyers and transporters. By the 1950's changes in the grocery business
abruptly brought produce activities to a halt. The area has since been transformed
into a variety of shops, restaurants, and art galleries amid the architectural splendors
that have been preserved in pristine condition. The Old Market is only 15 minutes
from Bellevue.
The Omaha Children's Museum provides
hands-on experiences in the arts, humanities and sciences. A child size replica
of downtown Omaha offers children opportunities to become better acquainted with
the area. The Charlie Campbell Science and Technology Center helps children discover
and interact with physical sciences -- exploring sound, light and color, magnetism
and electricity, optics and images. The museum also conducts classes, workshops
and outreach programs. Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday 1 p.m.
- 5 p.m. Admission Fees: Age 2-Adult $4.00, Senior Citizens $3.00, Members Free,
Children under 2 Free. 500 South 20th Street, Call (402) 342-6164 for more information
Papio Bay Aquatic Center. The Center contains five acres of swimming
and recreation. The area includes a zero-depth pool, two water slides, three-meter
and one-meter diving boards, sand volleyball, concessions, bathhouse, sand play
area and patio or grass sunning areas. For young children there is a wading pool
with a frog slide. The aquatic center is open seven days a week, Memorial Day to
Labor Day. Located at 815 East Halleck Street in Papillion. (402)597-2055
Sarpy County Historical
Museum. Historical exhibits and artifacts cover the history of Sarpy County.
The museum is home to many things but most recently a scale model of historic Fort
Crook. The museum is located at 2404 Clay Street, Bellevue, NE 68005, 402.292.1880
Sarpy County Tourism
Schramm Park & Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium. This 330 acre State Recreation
area is the home of the Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium and Nature Center. The Aquarium features
over 50 species of native Nebraska fish. Indoors, visit the aquarium building with
its intriguing exhibits of marine life. Outdoors, stroll the beautiful nature trails
past the ponds of the state's original fish hatchery. Located in the rolling hills
of the Platte River Valley in southwest Sarpy County. Access via I-80 (Exit 432)
then Highway 31 South. (402) 332-3901
Strategic Air & Space
Museum. Regarded as the nation's foremost facility of its kind, the Museum
brings history and technology to life for visitors of all ages. As guests walk through
this 300,000 square-foot contemporary structure, they experience a world-class collection
of aircraft, missiles and other aerospace artifacts. Open Daily: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00
p.m. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Years Day. If you have any questions
feel free to call 1-800-358-5029. Location: The SAC Museum is conveniently located
along Interstate 80 and the Mahoney State Park exit.