Some train stations make you check the departure board. This one makes you stop and stare. Soaring ceilings, gold-leaf details, and vintage rail cars give this Nebraska landmark serious old-school glamour.
I’d happily spend an afternoon just looking up at that ceiling. It’s that good.
Out back, you can step aboard a 1956 Pullman sleeper and peek inside its tiny roomettes. There’s also a steam locomotive from around 1890 sitting on the old Track 1.
If you’ve ever wondered what train travel looked like before cramped airplane seats, here’s your chance.
I’m always up for a good train story, and this place has plenty. You can explore how passengers once traveled and get a closer look at Omaha’s past.
And even if you’re not catching a train, this station is well worth the stop.
The Great Hall Will Make You Stop And Look Straight Up
Sixty feet of ceiling hangs over your head the moment you enter The Durham Museum. The space was once the waiting room of Omaha’s Union Station, and it still feels grand.
Gilbert Stanley Underwood and Company designed the station, which opened in 1931. It’s now a National Historic Landmark and one of the country’s standout Art Deco buildings.
Look down, too. The original terrazzo tile floors are still there, and gold-leaf decorations shine overhead.
A major renovation in the mid-1990s restored the building’s details. The ornate ceilings have also been brought back to their original glory.
Fifteen bronze sculptures by artist John Lajba fill the hall. They show travelers and scenes from the golden age of rail travel, so the room still feels busy.
Back in its heyday, the station handled up to 64 passenger trains a day. It closed to passengers in 1971, and Union Pacific donated it to the city in 1973.
The station originally served several railroad companies, not just Union Pacific. Its thirteen tracks connected Omaha with routes across the country, helping make the city an important passenger rail hub.
Give yourself a few minutes just to stand here before touring the exhibits. Your neck may complain a little. Your camera roll will be thrilled, though, and the sculptures make fun photo buddies.
Climb Aboard Real Rail Cars On The Old Track 1
Track 1 never really retired. At The Durham Museum, the old platform became the Trish and Dick Davidson Trackside Gallery, and real rail cars still line it up.
The oldest star is the Union Pacific 1243 steam locomotive, dating to around 1890. It’s big, black, and seriously impressive up close.
Nearby sits a 1962 Union Pacific caboose painted in classic style. Kids love peeking inside to see where the crew rode at the back of long freight trains.
There’s also a 1949 Southern Pacific lounge car. It shows how passengers relaxed while the prairie rolled past their windows.
The 1924 Pullman observation car called the Cornhusker Club adds even more history. Its name is about as Nebraska as a name can get.
Don’t skip the restored streetcar, either. It once carried riders through Omaha neighborhoods back in the 1940s.
The gallery also features an O-scale model railroad, alongside historic vehicles that illustrate how transportation developed in and around Omaha.
Here’s a smart tip. Walk the gallery slowly and step inside every car you’re allowed to enter, because each one tells a different travel story. Comfortable shoes help, since you’ll probably make a second loop.
A Pullman Sleeper Shows How Fancy Train Travel Once Was
Hotel rooms on wheels? That’s basically what the 1956 Union Pacific Pullman sleeper called National Command offered its riders.
The car went through a full restoration in 2019. Now it looks ready for an overnight trip, minus the moving part.
Inside, you’ll find six roomettes and four double bedrooms. There are also six open sections with bench seats that turned into beds at night.
Walking the narrow hallway helps you understand how clever these cars were. Every inch had a job, and nothing was wasted.
Families often find this car the easiest way to explain old-time travel to kids. Compare the tiny rooms to a modern minivan and watch the questions start.
It also makes a neat contrast with today’s flights. Folks once slept, ate, and chatted their way across the West instead of rushing through airports.
Take your time peeking into each compartment. Small details like fold-down beds and compact storage are the real fun here, so don’t zoom past them. Honestly, the roomettes might be cozier than some budget motels.
Coins, Groceries, And Old Omaha Wait Beyond The Trains
Trains get the headlines, but The Durham Museum holds over 50,000 objects. Plenty of them have nothing to do with tracks.
The Byron Reed Collection includes nearly 10,000 items.
Among them are some of the world’s rarest coins and documents, including an 1804 Dollar specimen.
Byron Reed collected rare coins, documents, books, and maps. Upon his passing, his collection was given to the city of Omaha.
Shoppers will love the recreated 1940s storefronts. There’s also a detailed replica of Dundee’s Buffett Grocery Store, which opened in 1915.
The grocery display shows old prices and how stores once worked. It’s a fun way to talk about how much things have changed.
The Baright Home and Family Gallery traces Omaha’s story from its Indigenous inhabitants onward. Replica rawhide teepees and an earth lodge sit alongside early homes like a worker’s cottage.
History buffs can also explore The Lewis and Clark Story and the Omaha Business Hall of Fame.
Plan at least a couple of hours to see it all comfortably. Rushing these galleries means missing the small surprises tucked into every corner, and some of them are delightfully odd.
Your 2027 Calendar Already Has Some Great Reasons To Go
Being a Smithsonian Affiliate gives this museum serious borrowing power. It hosts traveling exhibitions with partners like the Library of Congress, the National Archives, and the Field Museum.
For 2027 planners, timing matters. White Christmas: The Exhibition runs from November 27, 2026, to January 10, 2027.
That show features costumes, props, and archival materials from the beloved holiday musical. Fans of snowy song-and-dance numbers should mark their calendars now.
Coin lovers have Struck in Independence: Coins of the American Revolution. It’s on display through January 3, 2027, and pulls rare pieces from the Byron Reed Collection.
The Eirinn go Brach Photo Exhibition runs through January 17, 2027. It explores how Irish immigrants shaped Omaha.
Past exhibits have ranged from Antarctic dinosaurs to hockey. That variety means each visit can feel brand new.
Check the museum’s schedule before you go, since traveling shows rotate often. An early January trip could let you catch several of these exhibits in one visit. That’s efficient sightseeing, and your future self will thank you for the planning.
A Giant Christmas Tree And Seasonal Celebrations Keep The Calendar Busy
Omaha’s official Christmas tree stands 35 feet tall, and it lives right in the Great Hall. Christmas at Union Station kicks off with a tree-lighting ceremony every year.
The season runs from the day after Thanksgiving into January. A Holiday Cultural Festival in December adds even more festive fun.
Summer brings its own treats. The museum has previously hosted Wild Wild West Days in July, celebrating Western heritage with family-friendly activities.
The museum also hosts special activities throughout the year. Seasonal events bring families together inside the historic station, offering fresh reasons to return.
The museum has hosted family-friendly Halloween celebrations in October, although event names and schedules may change.
These celebrations have mixed trick-or-treating with history, so kids can learn something between candy stops.
Each event gives the old station a different personality. Returning a few times a year never feels repetitive.
If you’re planning a 2027 trip, line it up with one of these events. The building is beautiful any day, but a party makes it extra memorable.
Just remember that holiday events may have special admission requirements, so check the details before visiting.
Free Parking And Easy Planning Make The Trip A Breeze
Free parking downtown? Yes, really. The Durham Museum offers a two-level parking deck with direct access for visitors.
You’ll find the museum at 801 S 10th St, Omaha, NE 68108. It sits just south of downtown, an easy drive for road trippers crossing Nebraska.
Hours run 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Sundays open at noon and close at 4 p.m., and the museum stays closed on Mondays and major holidays.
That afternoon closing time sneaks up quickly. Arrive earlier in the day so you don’t have to rush past the rail cars.
The building is ADA-compliant and welcoming to families of all sizes. Strollers and wheelchairs can explore comfortably.
Before leaving, stop by the Hitchcock Museum Shop for souvenirs and gifts. Train fans will have a hard time walking out empty-handed.
Frequent visitors should consider a membership. It includes unlimited admission for 12 months, museum shop discounts, and invitations to member events and exhibit previews.
For locals, that’s a pretty sweet ticket to ride all year.