Hotels in South Central Nebraska


Discover Nebraska's history when you visit the South Central section of the state. This is a great region for exploring museums and learning about the experiences of pioneer settlers and Native Americans.

History is interactive at the Stuhr Museum of the Pioneer Prairie in Grand Island. The museum's Railroad Town is populated with re-enactors living in the 1890s; ask them questions and they'll gladly let you into their lives. At the Great Platte River Road Archway near Kearney, walking through the arch lets visitors travel through history, starting with the Oregon Trail and ending with the modern interstate.

In Hastings, the Hastings Museum's exhibits introduce visitors to ancient animals, Native Americans, and the origins of Kool-Aid. Watch a sky show in the planetarium to appreciate the skies above you.

Sandhill Cranes in Nebraska

Sandhill Cranes in Nebraska

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Great River Road Archway in Nebraska

Interact With Nebraska's History At Attractions in South Central Nebraska

Go back in time at the Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer in Grand Island, where you can meet the locals who inhabit the 1890s Railroad Town. Other exhibits let you get close up to railroads and antique farm equipment. Walk through the Great Platte River Road Archway near Kearney and step through Nebraska's history from the Oregon Trail settlement to the era of the interstate.

Maps for a road trip in Nebraska

Take a Drive Through History on a South Central Nebraska Road Trip

Road-trips in South Central Nebraska take you through pioneer territory. Grand Island is home to the Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer, with its Railroad Town living history exhibit where you can interact with the townspeople of 1897. In Hastings, stop at the Hastings Museum for a look at both natural history and Kool-Aid, which was invented in town. Continue on towards Kearney, and explore the Great Platte River Road Archway that spans the interstate.