The Durham Museum

I've never been at Christmas time and it is so worth seeing the beautiful Christmas tree. The museum is full of so much to learn and walking through the train makes you feel like a passenger. Carol at the ticket counter is fabulous. Very informative and Nebraska nice. She even took our picture by the tree before we left. She had us stand in the perfect spot to capture the trip beautifully. We enjoyed a chocolate malt before we left and the young ladies that took our order were very nice as well.

Wow! There is a lot more here than initially meets the eye. When you park on the top level of the parking deck, you see the upper of level of the former train station. The crown jewel exhibit is the waiting room with its art deco design... It's truly beautiful. Then on the lower level, you'll learn a lot about Omaha ... It's architecture, it's companies, and it's people. The fun of walking through multiple railroad cars with luxury accommodations. Furthmore, there are so many interesting facts about the city and it's emergence as a critical city.

I’m from Georgia and I was taking my first solo trip to Nebraska. I stopped at the Lauritzen Garden and asked a random couple what they would recommend me visit. They quickly replied the Durham museum. I stepped inside the old train station now museum and I was just blown away by it. I was then warmly greeted at the front entrance. I asked where I should start my experience and the gentleman said I think you should start downstairs where the museum is located. The museum is so well put together!I spent a couple of hours there.

Incredible museum. Must go to if in Omaha. Very informative of the history of the region, history of Native Americans, history and knowledge of modern day Omaha as well. Very family friendly. Clean bathrooms. Christmas time decorations are beautiful.

I don’t consider myself as a museum lover, but the Durham museum has changed my thoughts about visiting museums in the future. We visited during Christmas Eve, and the place is so lovely, full of activities and fascinating information. Tons of activities for kids and adults. We ended up visiting the soda fountain, they have several options to choose from and staff were friendly. The lady at the entrance was so helpful and knowledgeable about the Christmas tree inside the building. I ordered the birthday malt and it was a great experience! Will consider to visit in the future for different exhibits.

A beautiful old train station with plenty of history and exhibits to enjoy. You can easily spend 1-2 hours in here. Staff is friendly and everything is clean. This is one of the best museums in the midwest!

I was there for the 50th year of the Christmas trees lightening! The former Union Station is beautiful and history. Great museum in the basement.

So so fun! Always hosting events and presenting new exhibits! Means you can come again and again and not get tired ❤️

I've lived in the Omaha area since 1994 (and 1979 to 1981 before that) but have never visited the Durham museum. It was a cold day, so we wanted to go somewhere indoors this week, and I decided to try the Durham. We both had a great time. I am a huge fan of the Art Deco style, and the Durham is a beautiful example. The staff were extremely friendly throughout. My wife loved the train cars downstairs, especially the steam engine and the caboose. She also had a good time looking at the Aksarben gowns. We're not hockey fans, but the hockey exhibit was very popular. My wife already had plans for our lunch and we didn't eat at the soda fountain, but the menu looked good and the prices were reasonable. We both enjoyed the gift shop and I made a few purchases. While checking out, we were told that their cash register system was getting an upgrade this week and would accept contactless payments like Apple Pay after the upgrade. Overall a great visit. I'll have to keep an eye out for the rotating exhibits and visit again when I see something interesting.

Love this place, love the exhibits and I love the fact my granddaughter asks to go back time and time again! We bought a membership so we don't miss a thing! Keep up the great work!

Beautiful art deco museum with a fun old time soda fountain..gorgeous train lobby, soda fountain and restaurant serving foods and some jerk pulled drinks...trains, cars, and plenty of history from the plains..recommended

I love the Durham!!!! I always have a great time here. I absolutely the different exhibits and there is so much to see. I always bring my family and friends when they visit and they love it too. It's such a great price and the membership is even better since I love coming to all the exhibits. Thank you to The Durham!

I got a Durham Museum membership as a gift for my husband for Christmas, and we've visited many times since becoming members! The Durham has several permanent exhibits like the Harriman Train exhibit, where you can walk through actual train cars from the 1940s, the Byron Reed gallery that houses historical coins and documents, and the Baright Gallery that transports you back to the frontier times of Omaha - and many more exhibits in the permanent collection! We definitely took our time going through all these permanent exhibits and only made it through a tiny bit. You can spend the whole day just at these permanent exhibits, so we will certainly be back to explore those more. The rotating collections are fabulous also. So far we have visited for the Julia Child exhibit, Toytopia, and the Sherri Geeredes costume collection for the Rose Theater. I think my favorite of these was Julia Child: A Recipe for Life. It was so cool to see Julia's life through this exhibit and participate in the interactive bits. (Being filmed on a replica of her set, sit in a tub to recreate her iconic photo with her husband Paul, and creating your own recipe for a meal almost like a video game.) The Toytopia exhibit was also very cool, seeing the popular toys from each decade. There were lots of fun things to interact with here, too, like a giant Etch a Sketch, a Zoltar machine like from the movie Big, and a huge silver Monopoly car. The only thing I'd say about this one is that it definitely was geared more towards kids (there were literally a thousand kids playing with all the items) which is totally fine, but just be aware if you are childless and wanting to check out an exhibit like this. We've also visited the Hitchcock Museum Gift Shop and the Soda Fountain cafe in the Great Hall. The museum shop is great and always has some items based around the current exhibits (we bought some fun vintage-inspired toys during the Toytopia exhibit). And the Soda Fountain has actual food but it's the treats that are heavenly, like root beer floats, black cows, and phosphates! We are super lucky to have a museum of this high quality right here in Omaha, and I definitely recommend getting a membership or checking it out once to see if you think its worth it to sign up (it is!)

Extensive museum with displays and activities to engage all ages! My wife and I especially liked the chance to walk through train cars and imagine what it would have been like to travel years ago. We also enjoyed the short film about Omaha's history -- between that and the many exhibits, we learned a lot about the early years of this fine city. And oh, what a lot of interesting history! In addition, we had a delicious lunch at the throwback cafe--most especially the old-fashioned soda and the Art Deco Delight Sundae.

This is a marvelously curated collection of historical artifacts, largely focused on Omaha and the developmentvif the West. They also had a terrific exhibit on Animation while we were there; fin forma "kids" of all ages. All displayed in the beautifully maintained Union Station, which iscalmostvwort the visit alone. Free parking, modestvadmission fees with a "$5 after 5:00" promotion. Easy to spend a couple of hours here.

Durham truly is a hidden gem of downtown Omaha. If you have a big family, you should consider a family membership for only $70. The switch out exhibits every few months and their annual christmas tree is amazing. The have a soda fountain where you can get a pretty decent and economical meal. Highly recommend the dessert. Simply delicious.

Such a cool museum with something for everyone, truly! If you're an architecture fan, make a beeline to see the beautiful art deco train station lobby. If you're a locomotive buff, you can walk amongst and through trains to your heart's content, learning about Union Pacific as you wander. If you want to learn about the history of Omaha, this is a great place to get your bearings. And if you have a little one, there is plenty to keep them entertained. I highly recommend spending a few hours here and returning whenever one of their temporary exhibits catches your fancy.

Always a new experience with each exhibit. Christmas, enjoy a tree that rivals Rockefeller Center and trees from around the world with their individualized decorations. Julia Child earlier this year along with white Christmas costumes to add to the holiday spirit. Now, enjoy the very special display of costumes from the Rose theater collection - Such creativity! Add to it in the special exhibit area the Toytopia which will bring back childhood memories from all the games and toys you enjoyed! The building's retro style, gift shop with special items for any occasion, and the standing exhibits that include model trains, history of Omaha, and many other delights. Highly recommend the membership so that you can go back and enjoy the different exhibits throughout the year.

A very thoughtfully preserved nostalgic trip into all things Nebraska and early 20th century midwestern train culture. Staff are friendly and helpful, and the museum is kept very clean.

We were just here for a wedding, and I love how this works! The entry area is great for mingling with folks before the ceremony. Then at wedding time everyone moves into the wedding area, the nuptials happen and then you head to the lower level as the upstairs transforms into a beautiful seated dinner reception. After dinner you head back into the dancing area, it's very slick! and quickly transformed. We loved the wedding and all the seamless details.

We had a fabulous family visit to the Durham Museum to extend our seasonal celebration of Christmas. From the parking lot to the end, we had a great experience from start to finish. The Durham Museum used to be the main train station during the 1898 exhibition in Omaha. It is now a beautifully renovated and maintained museum. The facade is pristine washed and stunning. The moment you walk in, the sites fill you with wonder. Shining gold and silver window treatments and wall/ceiling designs. Gorgeous marble and stone walls and pillars. And of course, a 40 foot tall Christmas tree. Absolutely stunning! Prices were fairly reasonable: $8 for kids, $12 for seniors, and $15 for adults. We did wish it was less for kids, but well worth the cost! They had a great activity for the kids. They had a sheet with 9 pictures of cartoon elves. The 9 elves had life-size displays throughout the lower level. If the kids found all nine, and took "s-Elfys", they could get a jolly rancher on the way out. The kids loved the challenge and we found all 9! We enjoyed the Christmas tree displays on the first floor, but the lower level is where the magic happens. Full of interactive and life size displays/exhibits about Nebraska history, we learned a lot and had a hoot doing it! Some highlights included a massive train maintained to look like a luxury old-time train liner, an ancient Wells Fargo Wagon, and a history film. We also visited the dual-special exhibit: 1. Costumes from the movie "White Christmas" and 2. Julia Childs wardrobe, props, and history. We absolutely loved this interactive exhibit and learned so much. There was also so much we didn't see at the museum...we'll have to go back! For example, they have diner modeled after the 30's and 40's. It looked yummy and fun. So you could definitely visit during a meal time. We look forward to future visits, but for sure during the holiday season!

Loved this museum. Attended a private dinner event, which included the museum. The museum provides the context behind the founding of Omaha and continued westward expansion of our country. Wonderful luxury train cars to explore and a whole lot more. Was the highlight of my week-long visit to the area.

The old train has always been my favorite! They always have a fun exhibit featured as well!

The museum was super fun and age appropriate for my 7 and 5 year old. They enjoyed the trains, bus and the historical play areas. They also enjoyed the special exhibit about animation. We ended the trip with a yummy stop at the soda fountain, where shared a milk shake and a phosphate cherry drink. We had a great time!

Deleted my photos too quickly, but we got lucky the last Sunday of the month. They have a historian speak on different topics... Kyle was well-versed.... We love history and we very much enjoyed it.

May 2025, the museum interior is beautifully restored . Kyle was very knowledgeable about the history of the while giving the walking tour around the museum. Love the old fashion soda fountain shop inside where you can get a bite to eat or drink. It could take a good 3-4 hours to go through the museum. This is a MUST visit if you are coming to Omaha, NE.

They had me at lunch box exhibit. My special needs brother and I have been collecting for decades. He would have loved this exhibit but now has Alzheimer's so it was bittersweet. We drove from MN just to see this. Excellent exhibit that also includes some history. Plus the Holy Grail of lunch boxes - Toppie. Never thought I would see one in person. Missing Gunsmoke (including LL error) and Brazil Batman to name a few. Excellent collection though. The Super Hero exhibit was fun and interactive. Also enjoyed the other exhibits; especially the coins. Nice train exhibit and model train too. Don't miss this museum. I was also pleasantly surprised by the soda fountain as it was inexpensive and good. Have some ice cream, a perfect end to your visit.

This museum is FANTASTIC. I had originally not planned on going in as I didn't think I'd be too interested in the history of the area or the trains but it was fascinating. The art deco lobby alone is worth seeing in all its grandeur. You will learn a lot wandering around the exhibits and learning what life was like in Omaha and the region throughout the years. The train section is also fantastic, I even enjoyed playing with the model trains. They also have a classic 50s-style soda shop with pretty good food and great milkshakes. It's a bit overpriced but it is a museum so it's to be expected. Admission was a bit more than I would have liked to pay but I think it was worth it to see everything. It's also in a great location and very walkable. If you have a few hours to spend in Omaha I highly recommend it!

We decided to visit this museum on a whim right before school started for the year. We didn't realize there was only an hour and a half left before they closed, but we went ahead and purchased tickets. After buying tickets, the guy that assisted us let us know that we had 10 days to upgrade to the family pass. Luckily for us it was only $9 more to do the upgrade so we went ahead with the family pass. The inside is absolutely gorgeous! The craftsmanship of the flooring, the ceiling, everything about it is gorgeous. They decorated beautifully for Christmas too. We were kind of rushed, but we went ahead and watched the quick movie on Omaha. We checked out the trains, the home, The White Christmas exhibit, and the Julia Child exhibit. Both were great exhibits, but I really enjoyed The White Christmas most of all. They have a couple more exhibits lined up throughout the year that I'm really excited to see as well. I can see where small kids would love all the Lincoln logs and other toys they have throughout the museum for kids to play with. Our boys are a little older, so they didn't take advantage of all the toys, but they did enjoy looking at the trains and walking around and seeing how cheap things were all those years back lol. I definitely recommend this museum for newcomers, visitors, and residence.

I have been to the Durham multiple times as it is pretty much a staple for Omaha! I have never had a bad experience here. The staff are always friendly and the museum is always well kept. I throughly enjoyed taking my nephew to the event they had regarding toys. He loved playing with all the different toys and it was fun to see some of the "vintage" ones they had! I totally recommend this place. A tip is that you can get a free pass through the Omaha Public Library if you have a library card. This community is great!!

Great spot to go if you want to get out of the house for a few hours with the family, lots of interesting local history for the whole family to enjoy. There is a full train you can walk through to feel what it was like to travel the country in the 30s 40s. When we went they had the Superhero exhibit on display which was very cool. There's even an old diner that serves food, milkshakes, malts, classic sodas and candies.

Go check out the Hall of Heros. It is a cool exhibit for all ages. It is really interactive for kids but has some cool facts for adults. It brought back some childhood memories. Highly recommend taking the family and spending an afternoon at the Durham.

Recommend this place for all ages, this was a hands on experience. my kid had a good time and we plan on going back.

The entrance to the museum is the old train station and it's breath-taking!! Incredible architecture and history. There are a couple trains you can explore and neat exhibits. There's a diner in the lobby area that's darling. I took off a star for some things being closed and parts of the museum didn't have much to offer children. Tons to read and look at though!

Super cute museum inside the old train station. It covers the railroad history of Omaha, and you get to learn a lot about Omaha history in general. There are also temporary exhibits. There was a great Julia Child one while we were there.

Good museum overall. It's a truly great museum if the traveling exhibit is something that interests you

We had such a wonderful experience here! To think, all this beauty and history was almost lost. Christmas is probably the best time to visit when it is decorated. The exhibits are fun and getting to walk through, sit down, and enjoy the train cars are just as exciting for the adults as well as the kids. They have traveling exhibits that are sure to keep the experience different each time you return. There was plenty to see and enjoy, we were a group of 4 adults in our 40's and exhausted by the end so keep that in mind when taking the little ones. Be sure to check out the gift shop on the way out, lots of local artists and makers have products there!

I've been to the museum before but today special. My mom was donating two Japanese weapons my Das brought home from WWII. She didn't want to sell them or give them to one of her kids (completely understandable). Emma helped me set up the transfer and made it feel very special for my mom. She explained everything without us having to ask any questions. Thank you so much. The museum is a must see. They have so much history about Omaha and the surrounding area with interactive stuff for little kids, trains they can even walk through or ring a bell etc. very fun.

This museum is fantastic for kids mostly in the lower level. Walking through the multiple train cars and seeing the enormous model train were the biggest highlights.

Beautiful building...great history...loved the center room such character. Liked the ticket counter, and old soda fountain. History talked to me at ever turn. BUT much interuptions...by loud set up noises, and careless respect for displays... There was a function at almost closing, and was disappointed that the caterers leaned their wooden and metal tables on some of the displays...so we could not see... their set up was hectic, and were in they way, of all who payed their admission to view! I felt it was rude, and ruined the focus of the musems spirit...why not do after closing...looks as if it cost a pretty penny. Without the noise...and arrogance of the folks setting up...who, I felt disrespected the customers...I'd of given more stars...

Great atmosphere and history of omaha. Staff is friendly and courteous. New painted ceilings look amazing.

I went with my best friend Mary to the Durham Museum today, the over visit was fun and I had a blast. We went to see the exhibits and got ice cream. But the only thing I had a problem with was when I was paying for the pocket watch I was getting, my total was 16.36 and I had handed the cashier a 20 dollar bill, but I didn't get any change back. I wouldn't recommend buying from the gift shop. Unless you want to get robbed of your money like I did.

Came here with the SMS group to look around the museum, drink a little, and eat. I saw more than half of the museum and the Nelson Mandela exhibit and thought it was great. Even saw one of the first electric cars which was made in 1920. The decor of the room we ate at above was beautiful and would love to come back during Christmas as I hear they do it nice during that time.

Don't expect anything mind-blowing. The train walk-through is interesting and kids love it. I'm still trying to figure out the gigantic James Cameron exhibit. He had to have paid for it himself - it's so full of NK style praise and so boring. I really don't care about his Rolex (product placement) or scribbles from his childhood. If you want a painless way to learn about Omaha's history this place seems to double as the local history museum with a lot of wall mounted plaques. Not bad but overpriced for what you get IMO.

Haven't been to The Durham Museum for several years. I decided to visit with a friend and was surprised by how many exhibits and artifacts were present. All of the train/tram "cars" were accessible to the public to enter, view, sit, etc. Not only does the building provide astonishing craftsmanship and history itself, but there are also plenty of things for individuals and families to enjoy!

We had a wonderful couple hours exploring the Museum. We especially enjoyed walking through the train cars and seeing all the history exhibits. Plan on 2-3 hours to get the most out of your visit.

Top notch museum. I hope I can make it to Omaha again someday and visit a second time. It's in the former Omaha Union Train Station. The interior of the building is magnificent. They keep it in great shape. A vivid reminder of the Golden Age of passenger train travel. The museum is down stairs and is packed full of history about passenger train travel, about general rail history, and about Omaha n Council Bluffs, Iowa (which is just on the other side of the Missouri River and is closely tied with Omaha in history). There's a vintage steam locomotive, caboose, and several passenger cars there also. If you're interested in this sort of history you can easily spend several hours here.

Arrived in town early for a meeting and visited this museum. Definitely recommend. The parking and museum itself are wheelchair accessible. Getting around was easy. We enjoyed many of the exhibits - lunch boxes, coins, trains, beautiful and moving photography by Charles Guildner. There are exhibits that appeal to all ages. We would have enjoyed seeing the model trains running. The cafe food is very good - we enjoyed the pulled pork and ice cream - creamsicle float was yummy. Their selection of vintage candy is fun! A very nice place to visit - historic building and excellent displays. Even if you aren't a history lover there are many interesting and fun things to see.

The environment was so good,great decoration and beautiful building, organized, coffee shop, interesting train history, documented, clean, and also had the dinosaur exhibition. Parking lot. This museum looks like the old Sacramento in California.

Visited the Durham again this past week, specifically to see the 2 current exhibits. WW1 and also Mangelson photos. Thursday afternoon so there were people there but not a crowd. It is large, but the exhibit spaces especially for rotating exhibits is spacious but gets crowded easily. My opinion only is the WW1 display was sparse. A few photos, a woman's uniform and a couple of infantry uniforms with also flyers. I believe there were 3 rifles and a machine gun. Photos of blimps and planes..... It frankly felt crammed into a space. The Mangelson photos were at times incredible and hard to imagine how he managed them. Everyone will have a favorite probably more. Mine was the close-ups of grizzly bears and the bison. The list a other favorites would be long.

What a beautiful building! My wife and I were visiting our daughter and her family and we decided to go and see the Christmas tree. Then we wondered downstairs and learned about the history of Nebraska. Great for all ages.

Pleasantly surprised. We would have never visited this museum had it not been raining all day. Perfect place to take shelter! The most impressive aspect of this museum is the building. It feels a bit like union station in chicago, from the same time period. I mostly remember the train exhibit and Native American exhibits. The focus seems to be mid century Great Plains history. To be honest, I think the reason we had a nice time was that hardly anyone was there. It's a slow place. Which is so much better than lines and waiting to get a glimpse of something. This would be a great place to bring kids.

An architectural marvel. An artistic haven. Any history buff's sanctuary. Consider all the supply and labor that went into building this. Consider it's significance around 19th and 20th century wars. Consider how it stands today. Wow. Look up at the immense chandeliers dangling from the high ceilings. Trace geometry around the walls and the floors all around you. Take goofy pictures with the statues. Oh my gosh. This place is so grand. If you don't find something solemnly cool in here then we can't be friends. Downstairs you will have a lot of fun. It is so cool! And they do a daaaayyuuum good job! I love all the displays of Omaha history. (I finally understand the livestock beef thing 'round here. It's crazy. And it's been a journey. But I finally 'get it' about the beef). The staging is so professional. The artifacts are unbeatable. The little kids and older kids will love jumping in and out of the trains. And the coin exhibit towards the far end is worth some patience if you have older kiddos with you. The flow around the exhibits is very natural. You'll lose track of time it's so good. I could spend all day here. You should too.

Very cool old train station. Love all the trains inside and the local history. They do a great job with the Christmas tree and the decor. Great fun all year round here.

My husband was skeptical by the pictures of this place and thought there would be little to see or do but most of the excitement is in the bottom level. Boy was he wrong, this is a great place for kids and adults. You can go inside the trains and they have little fun train interactive items which kids love. You'll see many different exhibits like coins, athletics, news, Omaha history. My favorite part was the interactive maze, it was about Jamestown and trying to survive till the end. I also loved the giant diorama! This is definitely a great place to take your kids but also adults can have fun. It's best to go right when they open to avoid any crowds.

Passenger Railway Station, Closed May 02, 1971. In 1973 it became the Heritage Museum, then finally the Durham Museum. Xmas Tress after Thanks'g! Thankfully, The Staff Survived the offal Pandemic! Xmas Tree has return, Many Thanks to the Union Pacific RWY, as they have for decades!

Very nice museum for the price. Great if you're into old trains. Some exhibits tend to be on the woke side, so if you're not into feeling guilty for stuff you didn't do, it may not be the place for you.