For years, I saw the signs all along Interstate 80 encouraging travelers to exit the highway to visit Pioneer Village in Minden, Nebraska. At one time, it was a major tourist attraction.
I always figured it was a tourist trap and therefore never took the 20 mile round trip detour to see it. However, during this road trip I wanted to make an effort to see mostly things that I haven't seen before.
Pioneer Village is not a tourist trap. Instead, it is a massive museum consisting of 28 buildings and more than 50,000 collectibles. Many of these items are incredibly valuable. I was absolutely stunned at the size of the place. There are more than 350 vintage cars, 17 planes, 150 tractors, locomotives, etc. There is also a tremendous amount of random stuff...collections of barbed wire, knives, old appliances of every kind...you name it. There are tens of full sized kitchens, living rooms, bedrooms, dens, etc. (so that you can see what things looked like in the various decades.
But, the most incredible part to me is that the place is in complete disrepair. I was there for three hours...and was one of three visitors for most of that time. I think there were two employees. I was told that all of the buildings were dark...but that I could enter any of them and turn on the lights. Just be sure to turn the lights off when I left. There was no heating in the buildings.
After a while, I was just laughing out loud--literally. I kept walking and walking (for miles according to my Apple watch)...entering yet another building with rows and rows of cars or tractors or whatever. And these buildings are massive...and have more than one level. And, I was the only one in the buildings. It was kind of eerie...but fun.
One time I left a building and turned off the lights...and someone from upstairs yelled out because they couldn't see a thing. I didn't realize that there was another visitor in there.
I didn't do the place justice by any means with my photography. But, here are some random images from my visit:
1- It's clear right from the start that the place has seen better days. I parked to just to the right of this frame...the pickup truck and my car were the only ones in the lot.
2- The first building I entered had a lot of stuff on the shelves.
3
4
5- The paint on a locomotive was peeling in what I thought was an interesting pattern
6- This is a closeup of the back of a farm truck
7- And so is this
8- The church was in good shape. Like most of the buildings and items here...it is authentic. This church was moved from Minden to Pioneer Village.
9- License plates
10- This is an example of how most of the cars are displayed...rows upon rows of these...more than 350 cars.
11- The horse stable
12- I was told that the carousel would not be available for rides for quite some time.
The employees were friendly and accommodating. Photography was permitted. Looking at my shutter speeds makes it clear that tripods were allowed.
Next stop, Buffalo Bill's prairie mansion in North Platte, Nebraska!
Thanks for looking...
Glenn
I always figured it was a tourist trap and therefore never took the 20 mile round trip detour to see it. However, during this road trip I wanted to make an effort to see mostly things that I haven't seen before.
Pioneer Village is not a tourist trap. Instead, it is a massive museum consisting of 28 buildings and more than 50,000 collectibles. Many of these items are incredibly valuable. I was absolutely stunned at the size of the place. There are more than 350 vintage cars, 17 planes, 150 tractors, locomotives, etc. There is also a tremendous amount of random stuff...collections of barbed wire, knives, old appliances of every kind...you name it. There are tens of full sized kitchens, living rooms, bedrooms, dens, etc. (so that you can see what things looked like in the various decades.
But, the most incredible part to me is that the place is in complete disrepair. I was there for three hours...and was one of three visitors for most of that time. I think there were two employees. I was told that all of the buildings were dark...but that I could enter any of them and turn on the lights. Just be sure to turn the lights off when I left. There was no heating in the buildings.
After a while, I was just laughing out loud--literally. I kept walking and walking (for miles according to my Apple watch)...entering yet another building with rows and rows of cars or tractors or whatever. And these buildings are massive...and have more than one level. And, I was the only one in the buildings. It was kind of eerie...but fun.
One time I left a building and turned off the lights...and someone from upstairs yelled out because they couldn't see a thing. I didn't realize that there was another visitor in there.
I didn't do the place justice by any means with my photography. But, here are some random images from my visit:
1- It's clear right from the start that the place has seen better days. I parked to just to the right of this frame...the pickup truck and my car were the only ones in the lot.
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2- The first building I entered had a lot of stuff on the shelves.
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3
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4
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5- The paint on a locomotive was peeling in what I thought was an interesting pattern
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6- This is a closeup of the back of a farm truck
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7- And so is this
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8- The church was in good shape. Like most of the buildings and items here...it is authentic. This church was moved from Minden to Pioneer Village.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
9- License plates
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10- This is an example of how most of the cars are displayed...rows upon rows of these...more than 350 cars.
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11- The horse stable
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12- I was told that the carousel would not be available for rides for quite some time.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
The employees were friendly and accommodating. Photography was permitted. Looking at my shutter speeds makes it clear that tripods were allowed.
Next stop, Buffalo Bill's prairie mansion in North Platte, Nebraska!
Thanks for looking...
Glenn