Historic Union Station opened its doors to the public on January 15, 1931 – one of the finest examples of Art Deco architecture in the United States. This magnificent facility served millions of rail travelers and was world-renowned for its “modern” amenities and lavish style. Today, grand as ever, Union Station houses the wonderful Durham Museum, an institution dedicated to the preservation and display of important history of the American West, with permanent exhibits highlighting the history of Omaha and its surrounding regions, and impressive temporary exhibitions hosting collections of relevant and compelling subjects from partners such as the Smithsonian Institution, the National Archives, the Library of Congress and the Field Museum. See everything from numismatist Byron Reed’s massive coin collection, a replica storefront of a popular 1915 grocery, a fully-restored 1922 flatbed Mack moving truck, an 1890s Union Pacific 1243 Steam Locomotive and an authentic Omaha and Council Bluffs Railway and Bridge Company streetcar that actually taxied riders through the streets of Omaha more than 70 years ago to an array of fine antiques and a fantastic assemblage of souvenirs, photographs and other artifacts recalling the 1989 Trans-Mississippi and International Exposition. Be sure to stop by The Soda Fountain and Candy Shop for an old-fashioned taste treat, Omaha style!
