Great Platte River Road Archway Monument

Overview

Spanning I-80 at Exit 275 in Kearney, NE, from the Oregon Trail era through today, the Archway tells the story of the building of America.

Our personal audio guides allow you to begin your tour whenever you arrive. No need to arrive at a specific time of day. And, you set the pace. Most visitors spend about an hour in our historic exhibit. You are welcome to take your time and enjoy everything the Archway has to offer.

Experience our family-friendly historical exhibit, visit our replica sod house, picnic on the Archway campus, stroll on our hike/bike trail, and feed the fish in our pond from our vintage bridge. Then, plan the rest of your trip in our Nebraska Visitors Center.

The Archway is a one-of-a-kind experience that’s entertaining and inspiring for the whole family.

City: Nebraska

Wed 25 Dec

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $15.00

Make a reservation

Wed 25 Dec

Starting at $15.00

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Access to all exhibits

All taxes, fees, and handling charges

Use of headset

Route and map

Meeting point

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Kearney
3060 E 1st St,

Redeem your ticket upon arrival at the Archway Gift Shop. You can begin your self-guided tour at any time during our business hours and complete it at your leisure.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
The Archway is wheelchair accessible and a limited number of loaner wheelchairs are available.
The Archway has plenty of pull-through parking spaces for RVs, trailers, and semis.
Just minutes east Kearney, NE, the Archway offers easy access to an abundance of hotel and restaurant options.
Hand sanitiser available to travellers and staff
Regularly sanitised high-traffic areas
Gear/equipment sanitised between use
Guides required to regularly wash hands

What To Expect

Great Platte River Road Archway Monument

Walk with the pioneers over the Oregon Trail. Watch a rider make a quick stop to switch horses at a Pony Express Station. Hear Mark Twain’s account of a cross-country stagecoach trip. Relive the competition that created the first Transcontinental Railroad, and visit a travelers’ campground to hear stories of life on the Lincoln Highway. All this happened right here on the Great Platte River Road in Nebraska. Using life-size figures in elaborate scenic displays the Archway tells an inspiring American story of discovery, innovation, and adventure. Travelers on today’s I-80 are following in the footsteps of the pioneers who headed down the Oregon Trail in the 1840s. The means of transportation have changed, but the route has stayed pretty much the same. We are still following the Great Platte River Road across Nebraska on the road to adventure in America. The admission price applies to the historic exhibit only. Other amenities on the Archway campus are accessible at no charge.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (121)

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tumbleweedchris

Sep 2021

A long time ago, I saw About Schmidt, and, as a lover of unique museums, I told myself if I was ever passing through Nebraska that I would be sure to stop at the Archway. It does not disappoint. You get an audio guide and are sent up this magnificent escalator into the story of connecting America's coasts. The museum details the Oregon trail days, pony express, transcontinental rail, and interstate system. The dioramas are well done and engaging to look at. The audio guide is informative, but not too dense, which I appreciate from museums. The presentation is an absolute A+. It was not busy at all when I visited and it doesn't seem to get the patronage it deserves. If you are passing through and can spare an hour or two, you should absolutely stop at this middle America marvel.

Response from Host

Sep 2021

Thanks so much for your insightful and enthusiastic review. We hope you have the opportunity to stop in for another visit, soon!

Darlene_H

Sep 2021

A great museum that tells the stories of the people who went west. An interesting museum for the entire family.

Response from Host

Sep 2021

Thanks for the great review. We aim to be family-friendly and, when we succeed, we're very happy to hear about it. We hope you have the opportunity to visit us again, soon!

MMM_and_MPM

Sep 2021

It was an easy and convenient place to stretch the legs and learn about the convergence and history of the Oregon, Mormon, and California pioneer trails near Fort Kearney. The 20 exhibits have lifelike characters and scenes with narratives listened to with audio devices to interact with each stop. It’s an impressive structure built over Interstate 80 and you can view the Interstate from the windows of the nostalgic cafe setting at the last exhibit before exiting.

Response from Host

Sep 2021

Thanks so much for the great review. We hope you come back and visit us again, soon!