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Museums
Strategic Air and Space Museum: Houses a world-class collection of aircraft, missiles and spacecraft from World War II and the Cold War. Located near I-80 exit 426, just past Mahoney State Park. Open daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. 800-358-5029.
Nemaha Valley Museum: 1423 19th St., displays the hsitory of the Nemaha valley in three buildings. Open April through December, Tuesday-Sunday, 1-4:30 p.m. or by appointment. Free. 402-274-3203.
Homestead National Monument of America: Dedicated to telling the story of the Homestead Act of 1862 and its impact on pioneerism. Enjoy historical exhibits, films, picnicking, school programs, special events and observing of tall grass, wildflowers and wildlife on the restored prairie. Open every day except Thanksgiving Day, Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, the Heritage center and Educational center are open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and weekends from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. 402-223-3514.
Gage County Historical Society and Museum: Located in the former Burlington Railroad passenger depot, the museum focuses on information and artifacts about Beatrice and Gage County. Open Tuesday-Saturday 9 a.m.-noon and 1-5 p.m. and Sunday from 1:30 to 5 p.m., in the summer. 402-228-1679.
Sarpy County Historical Museum: Includes the history of fur traders and missionaries and Fort Crook, now Offutt Air Force Base. Located at 2402 Clay St. 402-292-1880.
Belvidere
Thayer County Museum: Three-building complex with artifacts from pioneer times and a barn exhibit. Open Sundays and Wednesdays 2-4 p.m. or by appointment. Free. 402-768-6845 or 402-768-7313.
Meriwether Lewis Dredge and Missouri River History Museum: Open on weekends Memorial Day through Labor Day, weekends in April and October. 402-825-3341. Off-season, call 402-274-5695.
Village Museums: 1860 Carson House, The Brownville Historical Soceity Museum, the Governor Furnas House, the Captain Bailey House and the Railroad History Center. Hours and seasons for these sites vary. 877-559-6005, 402-825-6001.
Burchard
Harold Lloyd Home: The 1920's silent-movie star's childhood home, now a museum that screens Lloyd's many movies. Open by appointment. Call 402-865-4665 or 402-865-6155.
Maples Heritage Complex and Benne Memorial Museum: Historic farmstead with modern 5,000-square-foot museum. Visit the Bickle Homestead with its 1864 log home, and the 1909 Saline County District No. 1 Star School. Open by appointment 402-826-4656 or 402-826-5270.
Diller Bank Museum: Holds a collection of artifacts and photos relating to the history of Diller and its residents. Open by appointment and during the Diller Picnic (402)729-5131.
Dorchester
Saline County Historical Society Museum: Ten-building complex with a unique exhibit that shows how Americans deal with death, mourning and funeral customs. Open April through December, Sundays 2-5 p.m. or by appointment. 402-947-2911.
Bess Streeter Aldrich House and Museum: Contains original furnishing and a video history of Aldrich. Located at 204 East F St. 402-994-3855.
Fairbury City Museum: Features exhibits that focus on pioneer life and the Campbell Brothers Circus, which wintered at Fairbury in the late 19th century. Open year-round, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, 1-4 p.m. 1128 Elm St. 402-729-3707.
Rock Island Depot Railroad Museum: Features the heritage of the rail industry in Jefferson County. Also home to the Burlington Depot from the small town of Kesterson and Rock Island Motor Car 9047, one of the few rail motor cars still in existence in the nation. A miniature train ride is featured and the museum features an extensive model railroad display. Located at 910 Bacon Rd. Hours are 1-5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday or by appointment. 402-729-5131.
W.C. Smith House and Lime Kiln: Located four miles northwest of Fairbury on the River Road. The 1872 stone house features exhibits explaining the history of the lime-burning industry and the kiln itself, one of only a few in existence. Open Sundays from Memorial Day to Labor Day 2-4 p.m. 402-729-5131.
Fairmont
Fillmore County Museum: Two historic buildings house more than 15,000 artifacts, one building is the 1886 Fairmont Creamery Co. Building. Located two blocks south of Hwy. 6 on Sixth Ave. Open 2-4 p.m. on Sundays from Memorial Day to Labor Day. 402-268-6081 or 402-268-3831.
Richardson County Museum: Located in an 1865 buiding two blocks west of the junction of Highways 73 and 159, includes an 1855 letter from Abraham Lincoln, a collection of operating antique clocks, and pioneer displays. Open Tuesday-Thursday 2-4 p.m., weekends 1-4 p.m., and by appointment 402-245-3481.
Richardson Military History Museum: Located inside the National Historic Registered courthouse at 1700 Stone Street, it contains a collection that includes war memorabilia from World War I to present. Open Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. for self-guided tours. 402-245-4228.
Greenwood
WWII Library and Museum: Features American, German and Japanese memorabilia and a library. Located just off I-80 at Exit 420. Open daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m. with extended hours during summer. 402-944-4238 or 402-944-8118.
Murdock Historical Museum: Displays the proud history of Murdock. Locatedo n the corner of Third and Nebraska. Hours are Sunday 1:30-5 p.m. 402-867-3331.
Wildwood Historic Home and Barn Art Gallery: 420 Steinhart Park Rd., is a restored 1869 Victorian house open to the public. Also on site, The Barn Art Gallery features Nebraska-made gifts and works by Nebraska artists. 402-873-6340.
Missouri River Basin Lewis and Clark Interpretive Trail and Visitor Center: Focuses on the explorers' many discoveries of plants and animals unfamiliar to the explorers. Exhibits include full-size replicas of the explorers' keelboat and priogue, a birding exhibit and a Plains Indian earth lodge. The site has an interpretive trail and a broad view of the river. Open daily. 402-874-9900.
Civil War Veterans Museum: Home to the largest collection of Civil War artifacts in the region. It is open noon to 4 p.m. the last Sunday of each month, November through May, and weekends June through October. 402-873-4018.
Nebraska City Museum of Firefighting: Feataures one of the oldest and largest collections of publicly-owned fire equipment in the state, belonging to the Nebraska City Volunteer Fire Department. 1320 Central Ave. 402-873-3579.
Abor Lodge: Home of J. Sterling Morton, founder of Arbor Day, now a state historical park. Tour the 52-room neo-colonial mansion and grounds which feature a carriage house, Italian terraced garden and 200 varieties of lilacs. Living history activities are held during weekends in September and October. State park permit is required. 402-873-7222.
Pawnee City Historical Society Museum: Includes experimental tailwind airplane, collection of 1,600 salt and pepper shakers, and the home of Nebraska's first governor, David Butler, as well as Dan Whitney's --- aka Larry the Cable Guy --- barn. Open April through October, Tuesday-Friday 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. and Sunday 1-4 p.m. or by appointment. Admission charged. Located on the east edge of town on Hwy. 8 and Hwy. 50. 402-852-3131.
Pedal Clinic: Features more than 450 pedal cars, tractors, airplanes and other toys. Located at Hwy. 8 and I streets. Tours are by appointment only. 402-852-2655.
Peru Museum/Brownell House: Offers local history. Open Sunday afternoons or by appointment. 402-872-5865.
Cass County Historical Museum: Takes you on a historical journey dating back to when the town was settled. The museum includes permanent displays of pioneer artifacts, railroad history and agricultural memorabilia. Walking tours are offered daily that tell the history of 45 buildings in the downtown district. Located on historic Main Street. 402-296-4770.
Steele City
Historic Steele City: Consists of a working blacksmith shop, 1882 church, livery barn and bank, as well as the Steele City School. All have displays and are featured during living history days three times a year. 402-729-5131.
Strang
Belle Prairie Township Hall, Strang Jail and Strang School: Houses artifacts from the area and is open by appointment. 402-759-0120.
Otoe County Museum of Memories: Housed in the former First Faith Church, dedicated in 1881. The complex also houses the Kramer Building, a nature exhibit and is open Sunday afternoons from May through September or by appointment.
Table Rock
Table Rock Historical Society Museum: Nine-building complex featuring an 1877 Catholic church with interior murals. A new building honors veterans of all wars. Open april through October, Sunday afternoons. 402-839-4135 or 402-432-6469.
Tecumseh
Johnson County Museum Complex: Includes the 1888 Christian church, Hedgerow Country School.
Heritage House Museum Complex: Includes four buildings with pioneer and archaeological displays, including an 1866 house and a century-old building with a soda fountain. It is open June through Novemeber, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. or by appointment. 402-267-4925.
Wilber Czech Museum: Includes full-size rooms with authentic furnishings and costumes, along with blacksmith and harness shops and a dentist's office. Located at Third and Main. Open daily 1-4 p.m. or by appointment. Free. 888-494-5237.
Great Plains Welsh Heritage and Culture Center Museum: Tells the story of Welsh settlers of Nebraska and the Great Plains through interactive displays, artifacts and oral histories. Located at 307 S. 7th St.
Wymore Train Station: Houses artifacts relating to railroads. Outside the museum is the freight wagon and baggage cart. 116 S. 7th St. 402-645-8252.
Art Galleries
Brock
Stoneshop Studio: Workshop, gallery and classroom of artist Katy Haberman. Located two miles west of Brock and .25 mile south on 631st Ave., open by appointment. 402-856-3355 or by chance from May to September.
Schoolhouse Art Gallery and Nature Center: Features artwork by regional artists and nature and educational programs. Open on weekends and by appointment. 402-825-6637.
Falls City Library and Art Center: Home to the Stalder Gallery which hosts traveling art shows and permanent collection of artwork by area artists, including Miss Alice Cleaver and John Philip Falter.
Louisville Art Gallery: Features works of local artists. Located at 230 Main St.
Barn Art Gallery: On the site of Wildwood Historic Home at 420 Steinhart Park Rd. Features Nebraska-made gifts and works by Nebraska artists. 402-873-6340.
Kimmel Hardin Nelson Center for the Arts: Up to four artists-in-residence at any time. Houses a main gallery with additional exhibition space and is open Monday through Thursday, noon-4 p.m., or by appointment. 402-874-9600.
Weiss Studios and Gardens: Two acres of gardens with sculptures, statues and fountains showcasing the work of Carl Weiss. 13603 Pflug Road. 402-680-0642.
Amy Sadle Gallery: Features works by local artist Amy Sadle. 307 Fifth St. 402-580-8425.
Theaters
Community Players: Plays throughout the year. 412 Ella. 402-228-1801.
Bellevue Little Theatre: Five productions per season, September to June. Each production is shown Friday through Sunday for three weekends. Located at 203 W. Mission Ave. 402-291-1554.
Village Theatre and Concert Hall: For schedules and tickets call 402-825-4121 (theater) and 402-825-3331 (concert hall).
Manley
Lofte Community Theatre: Performances are held June through October, Thursday-Saturday, 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, 2 p.m. 402-234-2553.
Cider House Theatre: Hosts six community theater productions a year. Shows change every two months. 402-873-3229.
