Day 8 – Thunder, Trains & Tasty Traditions
Today we woke up to a true Nebraska storm! I kept thinking someone was moving furniture around upstairs—but nope, it was just good ol’ Midwestern thunder. Michael said it got so dark and windy he was half-expecting to see Dorothy, Toto, and the Wicked Witch fly by.
Thankfully, Mark had pulled the van into the garage the night before, so no hair or clothing was ruined in the making of this day.
First stop of the day… can you guess?
Yep, you guessed it—Dunkin! Two hot coffees and a hot chocolate to go, please. Priorities.
Then we were off to the Durham Museum.
This museum is housed in Omaha’s beautifully restored Union Station, a stunning Art Deco building from 1931. It celebrates the history of the region, with exhibits on everything from Native American life to the boom of the railroad era and modern-day industry.
One of the highlights for me! A real passenger train you can walk through—complete with vintage dining cars and sleeper cabins. Let’s just say the menu prices posted in the train car made us all wish we could time travel.
Throughout the museum are incredibly life-like bronze statues—from passengers to porters—that give you the feeling you’ve stepped right into history. I took a lot of pictures. But don't worry—I won't make you look at them all at once. Just know that describing it doesn’t do it justice. Feel free to ask questions if I leave something out.
- The design evolved over time, with modern trains often featuring more streamlined layouts that may not include such a dual sink setup.
This design reflects the practical needs of passengers traveling in older train cars.
So much to see I can't begin to do it justice or share everything we saw. If you are ever in Omaha make sure to visit this museum you won't be disappointed. They have great kids exhibits so bring them too.
Next stop: lunch at Runza!
If you’ve never had a Runza, you're missing out on a Nebraska staple. It's a warm bread pocket filled with seasoned ground beef, cabbage, and onions—sort of like a Midwestern cousin to a pasty or bierock. The company started in Lincoln in 1949 and has been keeping Nebraskans full and happy ever since. Verdict? Delicious and definitely worth the stop.
With full bellies, we made our way to the First National Sculpture Parks, a remarkable blend of art and storytelling spread across downtown Omaha.
The two main parks are:
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Pioneer Courage Park – Dedicated Fall 2003
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Spirit of Nebraska’s Wilderness – Dedicated Fall 2002
These parks are linked together near Capitol & 15th Street. You’ll see bronze and stainless steel sculptures of bison charging through the city, geese flying overhead in formation, and a full-scale wagon train making its way west. The attention to detail is incredible—you can almost hear the clatter of hooves and the flap of canvas in the wind. It’s imaginative, immersive, and absolutely unforgettable.
Next up was a stop for yep you guessed it - ice cream at Coneflower Creamery!
Back to Linda and Rogers for a bit to start working on the blog and cooling off. We may have started the day with rain and clouds but we ended with sunny and warm. It was soon time to head over to Nelda's to see her new place and see Deb and say our goodbyes to her since we won't see her again.
And for our final stop of the day—Culver’s!
A classic go-to for a casual meal and frozen custard. We don't have them near us so another new experience. I’ve discovered that a kid’s meal is just the right size for me—and at Culver’s, it comes with a free scoop of ice cream! That’s what I call a perfect ending and it didn't disappoint.
🧡 Stay tuned for Day 9—we’re winding down but not done yet!
P.S. I’m finishing up a little late tonight, and my usual proofreader is off duty—so just know this blog isn’t always a one-woman show! Forgive any typos or grammar slip-ups… just focus on the fun. 😊
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