The Durham Museum

The Durham Museum Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from The Durham Museum, 801 S 10th Street, Omaha, NE.

The Durham Museum, located in Omaha’s beautiful art deco Union Station, is home to permanent exhibits preserving Omaha’s history, educational traveling exhibits, and year-round entertaining family-oriented activities.

Looking for a unique way to celebrate the Labor Day weekend? Join us tomorrow for a special screening of “America in Col...
09/05/2026

Looking for a unique way to celebrate the Labor Day weekend? Join us tomorrow for a special screening of “America in Color: Made in the USA”. Brought to us by the Smithsonian Channel, this is the story of the men and women who built the American Dream and our country’s shift into a major industrial powerhouse. Presented entirely in color through digitally remastered archival footage and home movies, this film explores how technological innovations, two world wars and consumerism helped build the richest economy in the world.
“Made in the USA” will be shown at 1PM on the big screen of the Stanley and Dorothy Truhlsen Lecture Hall. The film is included with regular museum admission and snacks will be available for purchase at our old-fashioned soda fountain.
TVPG-V / 48 min
The Durham Museum is a proud Smithsonian Affiliate for over 20 years!

🚲 Extra! Extra! Did you know Omaha was ahead of New York City when it came to delivering the news by bicycle?That was ju...
09/05/2026

🚲 Extra! Extra! Did you know Omaha was ahead of New York City when it came to delivering the news by bicycle?

That was just one of the fascinating details shared at last night’s lecture, as our own Libby Rea used Disney’s film "Newsies" as a jumping-off point to explore fashion, work and daily life during the Gilded Age.

From the 1899 newsboy strike to events that eventually made their role obsolete, Libby explored real history related to the film. Movie stills helped us spot what Hollywood got right about the era, what was creative license and how something as simple as a character’s dress can reveal clues about her story and social status.

Guests also got an up-close look at garments from The Durham’s collection, including one spectacular silk-lined gown, which may be the last time the fragile dress is displayed on a mannequin. Why? In the late 1800s manufacturers often treated silk with metallic salts in order to increase its value (silk was sold by weight) and to improve processes such as dyeing. More than a century later, those treatments are causing the silk to "shatter."

Thanks to everyone who joined us for a night where history, fashion and pop culture all shared the spotlight!

We're thrilled to announce that "Ak-Sar-Ben: Looking Back & Leading Onward" has been recognized for its design, cover an...
09/04/2026

We're thrilled to announce that "Ak-Sar-Ben: Looking Back & Leading Onward" has been recognized for its design, cover and nonfiction history in the 2026 Nebraska Book Awards!

The book, written by Angie Hempel, edited by Kristine Ge**er and designed by Jared Cloudt, received top honors for both Book Design and Cover Design and also received the Nonfiction History Honor Award. Published by The Durham Museum in 2025, the book was produced in partnership with the Aksarben Foundation and the museum’s On Track Guild.

The book tells the full story of one of Nebraska’s most enduring institutions. in a gorgeous coffee-table book that chronicles more than a century of Ak-Sar-Ben history through parades, pageantry, philanthropy and progress. Hundreds of rarely seen photographs and newly uncovered stories illustrate Ak-Sar-Ben’s lasting influence on Omaha and communities throughout Nebraska.

See what the buzz is about or purchase your copy at DurhamMuseum.org/book-aksarben.

What happens when an animated princess gets dropped into the very un-animated streets of New York City?✨ Singing happens...
09/03/2026

What happens when an animated princess gets dropped into the very un-animated streets of New York City?

✨ Singing happens.
🐿️ A chipmunk gets involved.
👑 Prince Edward comes to the rescue. Sort of.

Check out the puffy sleeves and elegant gowns then relive Enchanted on the big screen at The Durham Museum. Sunday Sept 13th at 1PM

𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙚𝙨 & 𝙑𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨: 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙧𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘿𝙞𝙨𝙣𝙚𝙮 𝘾𝙤𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙢𝙚 is curated by the . Movie poster image: © Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved.

It's officially September and even though there are a few weeks of summer left, we are dreaming about those beautiful Ne...
09/03/2026

It's officially September and even though there are a few weeks of summer left, we are dreaming about those beautiful Nebraska fall days.🍁 Grab your cardigan and a warm PSL and enjoy just a few of the stunning fall photos featured in our current exhibit, "Nebraskaland: Celebrating 100 Years Outdoors".

Want to hear more about these iconic images? Join us for "Nebraskaland at 100 - Preserving the Legacy"
October 8, 6:30PM
Join Jeff Kurrus, editor of Nebraskaland Magazine, and staff for a fascinating look at one of Nebraska's longest-running publications as it celebrates 100 years in print. This presentation will explore the magazine's evolution from its beginnings as Outdoor Nebraska in 1926 to the award-winning publication it is today. Presentation begins at 6:30PM but guests are encouraged to arrive early for social hour and an exhibit viewing. Registration link in the comments.

Photos: Copyright Nebraskaland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

Sometimes the perfect photograph requires patience. Sometimes it requires chasing a train for two hours and nearly 100 m...
09/01/2026

Sometimes the perfect photograph requires patience. Sometimes it requires chasing a train for two hours and nearly 100 miles.

Some shots required years of waiting, or hiking through slashing rain and driving snow. One planned location had to be abandoned after discovering it was mountain lion territory. Other photos carry quieter, personal meaning, honoring a father, a beloved dog who loved lying in the fall leaves or a curious lizard, the photographer’s only companion early in the pandemic.

Each photograph has a story behind it, shaped by perseverance, passion and a willingness to go wherever the rails lead. Discover those stories in One-Track Mind: Photographs by Blair Bunting, on view now at The Durham Museum.

Photo copyright © Blair Bunting

Join us on our last Monday open for the summer! Fall is just around the corner, and we’re ready to rake it all in. 🍂 Thi...
08/31/2026

Join us on our last Monday open for the summer!
Fall is just around the corner, and we’re ready to rake it all in. 🍂

This charming photo from The Durham Museum’s Photo Archive has us looking forward to crisp mornings, changing leaves and all the signs of a new season.

𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗺 𝗙𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀: Starting Tuesday, September 1:
🕗 Sunday, Noon-4PM
🕗 Monday, Closed
🕗 Tuesday-Saturday, 10AM-4PM

PLEASE NOTE, The Durham Museum is CLOSED on Labor Day.

📸 The Durham Museum Photo Archive, BF8-4451, Bostwick-Frohardt Collection

“It's mind-boggling seeing the sheer amount and volume of artifacts that was owned by Byron Reed! Good thing he gifted t...
08/30/2026

“It's mind-boggling seeing the sheer amount and volume of artifacts that was owned by Byron Reed! Good thing he gifted them to the city!”

“This is an excellent exhibit to honor our nation's 250th anniversary!”

“I love it and I want to come back!”

The reviews are in and visitors are loving “In Search of the Signers”. Omaha’s first real estate agent, Byron Reed, assembled one of the nation’s most important collections of coinage and manuscripts. Collectors of early United States history, like Reed, long pursued a complete set of signatures of the 56 men who boldly signed The Declaration of Independence. Today, the Byron Reed Collection includes documents related to 49 of the 56 signers. These amazing pieces of American history won't be on display long. To avoid fading, paper documents are only on view for a maximum of six months and then rest for several years. With the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence this year, it felt like the perfect time to bring these documents (temporarily) into the light. Don’t miss it!

Perhaps one of the most villainous villains of all is Cruella De Vil. It’s right there in her name! And who doesn't like...
08/29/2026

Perhaps one of the most villainous villains of all is Cruella De Vil. It’s right there in her name! And who doesn't like puppies? Although she may be mean and ruthless, we have to admit that her style is unmatched. You can see 3 different Cruella costumes (and even a dalmatian puppy model) in our current exhibition “Heroes & Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume”. This incredible exhibit showcases of nearly 70 mesmerizing ensembles spanning close to five decades of Disney film and television. Plan your visit today!

“Heroes & Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume” is curated by the Walt Disney Archives.

Thursday evening, we welcomed a packed house to hear our very own Dr. Kyle Chattleton weave together three remarkable st...
08/28/2026

Thursday evening, we welcomed a packed house to hear our very own Dr. Kyle Chattleton weave together three remarkable stories, all connected to one place: Thomas Jefferson’s home, Monticello.

American history is filled with soaring ideals and painful contradictions, courageous patriotism and heroic resilience, bitter prejudices and the healing power of forgiveness.

From Thomas Jefferson and the ideas that helped shape a nation, to the Levy family who preserved his home, to Peter Fossett, who returned decades after being born enslaved there, each story revealed another layer of America’s complicated past.

History asks us to hold all of these stories together, to learn from them and to keep striving toward “a more perfect Union.”

Address

801 S 10th Street
Omaha, NE
68108

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 4pm
Tuesday 10am - 8pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm
Sunday 12pm - 4pm

Telephone

+14024445071

Website

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