Think “Nebraska” and you might picture endless cornfields or college football, but Lincoln is also a hidden playground for museum lovers, history buffs, science geeks, and anyone with a nose for quirky fun. From turbocharged car galleries to wild art spaces and even a tractor museum or two, there’s so much more here than meets the eye. Ready to turn your next outing into an adventure? Here are the best museums in Lincoln you absolutely shouldn’t miss.
Museum of American Speed | Gearhead Wonderland
Imagine stepping into a world devoted to speed and style. Over 150,000 square feet, gleaming vehicles line the hall—from land speed racers to a pedal car wall that feels more like an art installation. Whether you’re a casual Mario Kart fan or someone who can recite every Indy 500 winner, something here will spark your curiosity.
The displays cover decades of automotive lore. You’ll discover original Harry Miller masterpieces, slot car tracks that stir childhood memories, and a LEGO racetrack larger than most apartments. Simulator stations let would-be drivers test their skills, and the Unser and Herzog galleries share tales no racing enthusiast wants to miss.
Easy parking and a welcome camera policy mean you can explore at your own pace. Every corner delights with a new surprise—vintage neon signs, gas pumps from a bygone era, and quirky oddities. Before you know it, hours will have zipped by far faster than any engine on display. Rev up your curiosity and see what’s under the (very, very large) hood.
Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum | For Aviation Nerds & Aspiring Astronauts
Travel back in time without leaving Nebraska at this open-air history park. Eight acres of restored buildings—a saloon, one-room schoolhouse, blacksmith shop—recreate frontier life down to the last detail. You’ll wander wooden sidewalks, peer into dusty storefronts, and imagine life before air conditioning and running water.
Inside, the North Platte Canteen exhibit tells a heartfelt chapter of World War II history. Volunteers handed out homemade pie and coffee to passing soldiers, forging connections that still resonate today. Personal stories and genuine artifacts bring that era to life in a way no textbook ever could.
Families will find hands-on fun around every corner. Rope-making stations, wool-spinning demos, and craft activities give kids a taste of pioneer skills. Seasonal events—pancake breakfasts, corn feeds, holiday celebrations—add flavor to each visit. Expect friendly faces, a dash of nostalgia, and a chance to appreciate how our ancestors lived.
Plan extra time for the gift shop, where locally made jams and historic postcards make perfect mementos. Whether you’re a history buff or simply curious, this museum offers an immersive journey through Nebraska’s rich heritage. Blast off to their latest exhibits here.
Lincoln County Historical Museum | Best Dose of Living History
Wave goodbye to the idea that art museums are staid places. At Joslyn, every gallery sparkles with surprises. Ancient Egyptian artifacts sit alongside modern paintings, and intricate Native American beadwork shares space with bold contemporary pieces. With 12,000 works on display, you’re bound to discover something that stops you in your tracks.
The architecture itself is a masterpiece. The original building shines in classic Art Deco style, its elegant details recalling a bygone era. Next door, a light-filled pavilion of glass and steel seems to float, inviting visitors into bright, airy galleries. Together, they frame an artistic journey spanning nearly a century.
Families receive a warm welcome. Drop-in workshops, interactive tours, and hands-on stations turn art appreciation into play. And since general admission is always free, you can return again and again. When your feet demand a rest, the café offers coffee and pastries in a serene setting. Invite friends or sneak away solo—either way, you’ll leave feeling more inspired than when you arrived. Prepare your time-traveling skills and get all the details here.
Joslyn Art Museum | Free Art for All
You probably know someone who claims “art museums are boring.” Dare them to stroll through Joslyn and keep a straight face. Between the Egyptian bits that look like someone’s cursed amulet, splashy Rothko-esque modern moments, and enough Native American beadwork to make your aunt’s craft room jealous, Joslyn’s 12,000-piece collection delivers a full curriculum in “stuff you didn’t realize was interesting.” The buildings alone are worth a look—one is full-blown Art Deco (1931, when they clearly didn’t believe in subtlety), and the brand-new pavilion looks like a friendly alien ship landed to take you away from your errands.
Kids get workshops, families snag activities, and your friends will be slightly impressed with your taste when you suggest a free admission day (which is, let’s be honest, every day, unless you’re here for a special show). There’s even a legit café if you’re the sort who can only digest Renoirs alongside a latte. Want to flex your culture muscles for the low, low price of nothing? Plot your visit and browse what’s hanging now.
Lincoln Children’s Museum | The Three-Story Playground for All Ages
Kids leap at the chance to conquer the Luckey Climber, a three-story metal marvel disguised as a play structure. In 23,000 square feet of chaos the space brims with engaging setups like a pretend grocery market and a clock tower so towering you feel microscopic. Nebraska pride comes alive in “Here We Grow,” an interactive corn patch where even the littlest hands can rub stalks and kernels.
This museum clearly prioritizes tactile exploration so prepare to wrestle a toddler off a climbing wall or two. For families seeking a gentler pace, sensory-friendly hours provide quieter crowds and the Grow Zone caters to tiny explorers just mastering their first steps.
Parents carry lighter wallets than kids since adult tickets cost less. A cafe stocked with decent snacks keeps hunger at bay and half-price admission awaits those who arrive after 4 pm. By the time you head home, you may be surprised at your own willingness to chase tiny adventurers through makeshift farms and sky-high nets. See what your kids will talk about for months.
University of Nebraska State Museum – Morrill Hall | Fossils, Mammoths & Dry Wit
If you’ve ever dozed off in an “old rocks” gallery, Morrill Hall throws boredom out the window. Four floors of immersive displays range from Ice Age beasts to dazzling geology videos that feel more like blockbuster trailers. Elephant Hall’s crown jewel is Archie, the world’s largest articulated Columbian mammoth, whose towering tusks stand guard over the hall.
The Science Discovery Center turns every curious mind into a hands-on scientist regardless of age. Local First Peoples’ artifacts weave regional narratives into the museum’s storyline. Rotating geology displays feel more like exploring uncharted terrain than memorizing rock types.
Admission is easy on wallets, but you’ll need to stash your own granola bar since there’s no cafe on sight. Wheelchair ramps and sensory considerations make this a welcoming spot for all, while field trips here become legendary school day memories. Before you leave, the gift shop stocks jaw-dropping mammoth merch to commemorate your journey through Nebraska’s prehistoric adventures. Plan your prehistoric pilgrimage here.
International Quilt Museum | The Textile Marvel
Appearances might trick you into thinking quilts are sleepy heirlooms, but the International Quilt Museum busts that myth wide open. With over 9,000 pieces in its collection, quilts span centuries and continents, each one delivering drama more gripping than a family reunion. Robert A.M. Stern’s design floods the galleries with natural light and eco-friendly touches that banish the usual musty attic vibe.
Young artists can dive into hands-on activities and youth camps that spark creativity at every stitch. If you plan your visit for the first Friday evening of the month, admission is free and crowds stay manageable. A well-stocked gift shop and nearby parking mean you can score a souvenir without circling the block.
Traditional craftsmanship meets modern innovation in displays that captivate seasoned art lovers and newbies alike. Nervous about textile vibes? Come witness storytelling woven into every fiber.
Remember to grab a snack before you arrive, since food and drink stay outside the galleries. start planning your prestigious fiber pilgrimage here.
Lux Center for the Arts | Where Lincoln Gets Creative
Art lovers and makers find a welcoming home in University Place at the Lux Center for the Arts. Admission is free, an unbeatable deal for a space that showcases over 450 historical fine art prints alongside rotating exhibits by local and national talents. Even the building’s vintage charm lifts the mood before you step into galleries filled with everything from photography to mixed media.
If inspiration hits, classes let you throw pottery on a wheel or paint a custom mug, no expert level required. Summer camps and evening parties each month keep both kids and adults creatively engaged. First Friday celebrations add a festive twist with live demos and artist meet-and-greets.
The gift shop is a treasure trove of original artwork rather than mass-produced knickknacks. Free parking and full wheelchair access mean nobody has to skip the fun. Consider a membership to join a community where creativity is always on the guest list. Plan your next art-fueled adventure here.
Clements Noyes Art Gallery | Local Artists, Zero Pretension
Discover Lincoln’s creative pulse at Clements Noyes Art Gallery, where original paintings, pottery, photography, and handcrafted jewelry spill across multiple galleries. Admission is free, so you can wander through local talent until your heart’s content. These pieces pack generosity and flair, far from those run-of-the-mill tourist stops.
Plan your visit for a First or Third Friday reception and you might find the artists themselves chatting beside their work. There are no starchy guides hovering and no priceless barriers keeping you at arm’s length. Instead, genuine conversations replace the typical plaque-reading routine.
The gallery feels expansive yet personal, sidestepping that gallery fatigue you get in cavernous museums. It’s perfect for anyone who believes art should be experienced, discussed, and even taken home when the price is right. Before you leave, consider investing in a unique piece that fits your style and supports local creators. Wander over to their site for the next opening night.
Sheldon Museum of Art | Best Free Art Fix
Let’s start with a confession: the phrase campus art museum usually conjures dusty landscapes and half-forgotten student snapshots. That is not the Sheldon experience. Admission is free, and you can spend hours exploring 12,000 works of American art. From tranquil 19th-century vistas to vibrant rooms that might look like the artist had a crush on geometry, every gallery holds surprises.
You’ll also find that the building is as much a treasure as the collection. Philip Johnson’s architectural magic shows up in those splayed columns, soaring ceilings trimmed in gold leaf, and unexpected nooks perfect for snapping photos. The whole space feels like stepping into a living sculpture.
Rotating exhibitions keep the adventure alive. One month features Indigenous creators reinventing time-honored styles. The next highlights generative software remixing Edward Hopper’s moody empty streets. While most pieces follow the classic look-don’t-touch rule, the museum offers children’s workshops and guided tours to spark curiosity. Free parking in the nearby garage makes a guilt-free stop easy, just don’t forget to punch in your license plate. give Sheldon a go.
Larsen Tractor Museum | Mechanical Marvels & Farm Nostalgia
Step inside a genuine piece of agricultural history housed in Nebraska’s original 1920 Tractor Test Lab, now a designated historic landmark. Nearly forty tractors stand in proud formation, from the pioneering Waterloo Boy to the nimble Allis-Chalmers Model G. Each machine brims with a quirky backstory you won’t find in any vintage denim catalog.
Surrounding those iron giants is an array of antique testing gear. Massive dynamometers and analog gauges once measured every twist of a torque shaft. Mechanical nerds and casual tinkerers alike will appreciate how these instruments laid the groundwork for modern farming.
Families adore the hands-on vibe. Little ones clamber into cabs, pretending to churn fields while adults capture perfectly rustic Instagram shots. Interpretive panels demystify engine parts, so every visitor walks away a little smarter.
Admission runs on a suggested donation, making it easy to linger without stressing your wallet. Whether you’re keen on farm technology, crave a hit of nostalgia, or simply want to admire some jaw-dropping machinery, this museum delivers. see the pedal-powered history for yourself.
american historical society of germans from russia | Niche Ancestry Deep-Dive
Prepare to dive into one of the Midwest’s best genealogical treasure hunts. The American Historical Society of Germans from Russia is part library, part cultural time capsule.
Inside, shelves sag under family Bibles, yellowed quilts, and wedding dresses that whisper stories from centuries past. You’ll stumble upon original Russian-military tunics displayed beside black-and-white photographs of steely pioneers. The research library holds microfilm newspapers and handwritten letters that genealogists devour. Every corner presents a clue for the sleuth in you.
Step outside to wander a cluster of replica buildings recreating a turn-of-the-century German-Russian settlement. Weathered wooden walls, a blacksmith’s forge, and a cozy log house invite you to imagine daily routines. A shaded bench beside a well offers a quiet spot to sketch or journal about your own ancestors’ journeys.
There are no touch-screens or puppet theaters here. Admission is a suggested five dollars, an affordable key into your own family saga. Ready to dig up the past?
Honorable mentions:
• Center for Great Plains Studies
