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

Sun 22 Sep

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $15.00

Make a reservation

Sun 22 Sep

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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Linda_N

Mar 2021

I have visited the Archway many times. I will visit again many times. A fantastic look at our history. Everyone was very pleasant. Can’t wait to come back.

Response from Host

Mar 2021

Thanks so much for your enthusiastic review! We look forward to your next visit.

rosg680

Mar 2021

We had driven through this area many times and did not know what the Archway was all about. We decided to stop an see. It is very well done! The "people" are very life like. I kept waiting for them to talk to me. We were talking on our way to AZ about what the settlers must have gone through and what they thought. The narration with the personal transmitter was so interesting. You heard the remarks from "real" people reciting things that had been written in actual settlers journals. We were lucky when we went as there were not many visiting at the time. We were able to take our time wandering around the exabits. I would recommend. A great way to stretch your legs and learn some history at the same time.

Response from Host

Mar 2021

Thanks so much for your thoughtful review. The story of the pioneers is quite a tale of daring, sacrifice, and persistence. And, as you observed, it's made all the more real when you consider the obstacles they faced as we drive across the country, today. We hope you are having a great trip. Thanks.

CarolynandCurt

Jan 2021

Stopped on a cross country trip. Glad we did. Excellent stop to walk through exhibit and learn about history of the west. Really nice displays and realistic life size people with period costumes. The self guided audio tour was fantastic. We would def stop again as we didn’t walk through anybody the outside areas due to cold and wind. Highly recommend.

Response from Host

Jan 2021

Thanks so much for the great review. We hope you are having a great trip and that you have the opportunity to stop by again, soon!