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

New York City Tours

Unique Activities (21) Transfers & Transportation (103) Tours, Sightseeing & Cruises (113) Entry Tickets (47) Sporting Events (1) Good for Small Groups (6) Seasonal & Holiday Tours (41) Walking Tours (697) Outdoor Activities (20) Limitied Availability Tours (6) LGBT Friendly Tours (4) Family-friendly Activities (7) Solo Travelers' Tours (147) Food & Drinks (27) Travelers recommend (73) Good for Groups (8) Top Activities (18) Guided Audio Tours (3) Art, Culture & History (135) Attractions to explore (38)

What's Included

Access to all exhibits

All taxes, fees, and handling charges

Use of headset

Route and map

Meeting point

Open in Google Maps

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)

Open in Google Maps

Mike_S

Aug 2020

Really enjoyed the Great Platte road experience. We had Sri en by at least 40 times but finally made it our destination Very interesting.

Response from Host

Aug 2020

Thanks for the great review. We hope you stop by again, soon!

426JudyS

Jul 2020

This was a great museum. It had lots of information and was such a unique building. The experience of going there was as good as the actual museum. All of the employees were extremely friendly and helpful. The grounds were beautiful, too.

Response from Host

Jul 2020

Thanks so much for your thoughtful review. We hope you have the opportunity to come back and visit us again, soon!

Renee_B

Jul 2020

It was very interesting and the displays were quite detailed. I was disappointed and a little mad that there were not more cultural groups represented throughout. There was a “section” of 1 or 2 Native Americans that were important. But yet there were countless First Peoples and their tribes that played significant roles in the westward movement. The ones that were mentioned were given about as much information as an old history book.

Response from Host

Jul 2020

Thank you for your thoughtful assessment. The folks who designed the Archway were trying to fit over 170 years of history into about 20 exhibits and the result is that the most we can do on almost any subject is scratch the surface. While we don't have the resources to revamp the exhibits we have, we can do more to use technology to help visitors find more information about the subjects that interest them, like the First Peoples who called this land home for centuries before white people showed up. We appreciate your comments and we're thinking and talking about ways to supplement the information we provide for those visitors who want more.