Twenty best museums in america,

[clonelark]

Twenty best museums in america, not the ones i'd have chose but probably important.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/destinations/2014/02/13/-best-family-museums-nominees/5417225/

[DEEPNHOCK]

Interesting list...
I'd agree with the Smithsonian and the Chicago MOSI...
But I can't speak for the others...

(For our types, I'd add... SNM, Natmus, ACD, Air Force Museum @ Wright Patterson, Naval Museum at Pensacola, ..... You'ze guys pick it up from there)

[Studedude]

Pioneer Village, Minden, Nebraska:

You have to see it to believe it!

The largest private collection of Americana anywhere. The Pioneer Village complex comprises 28 buildings on 20 acres housing over 50,000 irreplaceable items of historical value, restored to operating order, arranged in groups and also in the chronological order of their development. There are 12 historic buildings around the circular "green". There's a Frontier Fort, a real honest-to-goodness Pony Express Station, an Iron Horse, and a home made of sod. There's a general store and a toy store, chock full of all the goods from yesteryear. An original art collection including 25 Currier and Ives prints, 23 Jackson paintings, and the largest single collection of Rogers statues. You can see a priceless steam carousel, 17 historic flying machines and marvel at 100 antique tractors. See the world's oldest Buick, a 1902 Cadillac and a 1903 Ford, both designed by Henry Ford, plus 350 other antique cars, all displayed in their order of development. For a relaxing trip into yesteryear, come to Pioneer Village and experience: Pony Express Relay Station Original Elm Creek Stockade Historic Country Church Historic General Store Historic Sod House One Room School House Antique Toy Collection Blacksmith Shop

A short drive off Interstate 80

Easy to find

Pioneer Village is at:
138 E US Highway 6
Minden, NE 68959

Just 12 Miles South of I-80 from Exit 279
From I-80 Exit 279, take Harold Warp Memorial Drive (Nebr. Hwy 10) South to Minden.

Museum entrance is at the North East corner of the intersection of US 6 & 34 and Nebr. Hwy 10.


Click here for a Google map.

Stay with Us!

Stay at our motel or campground for your most convenient access to the Pioneer Village.

Hours of Operation
We are open year round, including all major Holidays, except Christmas Day.
Winter hours: 9am - 4:30pm (7 days/week) Summer hours: 9am - 6pm (Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend).
Call for Spring and Fall Hours

Adult Admission is just $14.25 (tax included), $7.25 (tax included) for children 6 to 12 years old. Children 5 and under are free. A 2 day Adult museum pass is available for $20.50 (tax included). Contact us for special group and school rates.

Pets are not allowed inside the museum.

[Skip Lackie]

Note these are the best FOR FAMILIES (ie, adults and kids). Fully half of them are focused on things that kids would enjoy and/or learn from. For adults unaccompanied by kids, I suspect a couple of the other Smithsonian museums and an art museum or two might make the list.

[raprice]

Picking any group of "best" museums is incredibly subjective. If you asked 50 people for their favorite lists, all would be different. So, take that list with a grain of salt.
Rog

[Lothar]

Thanks for giving our neighborhood attraction, Pioneer Village, a boost, Dave. It really is something to see. Its like America's attic and America's old barn. If the "American Pickers" were to build a museum, it would look like Pioneer Village. Its gotten a bit run-down over the past few years, but they just concluded a major fund drive, so it will hopefully improve. While you're there check out the "used car lot/junkyard across the highway. You could buy a 1954 Champion 4 door sedan, a 1954 Commander 4 door sedan, or a 1960 two-door Lark for a few hundred dollars each (seriously)!

[53k]

Pioneer Village, Minden, Nebraska:

And, there are 15 or more Studebaker cars, trucks and wagons in those buildings. You could spend two days there easily.

[Milaca]

I agree with USA Today's choice of the Henry Ford Museum. When I was a kid, I didn't care about Disneyland or amusement parks but I sure did want to visit the Henry Ford Museum. When I was 16, I finally got to visit the museum and I wasn't disappointed. I hope to go back there again someday.

[Studedude]

Thanks for giving our neighborhood attraction, Pioneer Village, a boost, Dave. It really is something to see. Its like America's attic and America's old barn. If the "American Pickers" were to build a museum, it would look like Pioneer Village.

My pleasure, John! It's been years since we visited there, but it was a great experience. We spent the biggest part of two days there. We stayed in the on-site motel, which gave us free entry to the museum. Several members of our local car club are discussing a road trip to visit Pioneer Village.

[Sam Ensley]

Of all the above-mentioned museums, I have only been to two: The Henry Ford Museum and the Smithsonian. I have been to the Henry Ford Museum four times, and I am ready to go again. I had thought about volunteering there some when I retired, but grandchildren put an end to that.

[BShaw]

I had the pleasure of visiting the Musical Instruments Museum in Phoenix, AZ the other day. Blew me away!

[52 Ragtop]

Living in the Indianapolis area, and having a (now grown) daughter, we visited the Indianapolis Children's Museum "several" times. And it IS by far the best Children's Museum I've been to!

The Henry Ford Museum was also great.

Jim