Omaha museum offers railroad history, look at Nebraska's past
By Terry Turner, Journal correspondent | Posted: Monday, August 18, 2003
One of the many displays in the museum is shown. (Photo courtesy of the Durham Western Heritage Museum)
OMAHA -- Although located in Omaha's historic Union Pacific train station, the Durham Western Heritage Museum offers much more than railroad history. Visitors can get a realistic glimpse into all of Nebraska's history through photographs, displays and artifacts.
The first Union Station in Omaha was constructed in 1898. That building was torn down and replaced with the current and larger structure in 1931. It took 20 months to build and cost $3.5 million to complete. The new station was even bigger than the original and included a main waiting room that is about 150 square feet with a 60-foot-high ceiling.
During its peak years, the Union Station served seven railroads and saw an average of 10,000 passengers and 64 trains each day. When rail travel slowed in the 1960s and '70s, the huge station, like others across the country, became obsolete. The station closed in 1971 and was donated to the city of Omaha. The Western Heritage Museum opened the structure as a museum in 1975. Then in 1997 the museum underwent a name change in honor of Chuck and Marge Durham who were instrumental in the restoration of the building.
Visitors can get a feel of what the station looked like during its heyday through the restored art deco architecture, photographs, artifacts and life-like sculptures. Deborah O'Donnell, director of marketing for the museum, said the sculptures include audio recordings that give a feel of what the station was like during different eras of its history.
"The sculptures and recordings help recreate different periods during the station's history," O'Donnell said. "There is a businessman who represents the '30s and there are several groups of sculptures that represent the war era and there are others that represent the use of the building during the 1950s."
The main level also has a gift shop, a gallery featuring displays and photographs depicting the history of Union Station, and an authentic and operating 1931 soda fountain.
The lower level has a transportation collection of unique cars, trucks, trains and a trolley car. Visitors can look inside an 1890s steam engine and walk through a Pullman car, lounge car, business car and caboose. A 100-foot-long, detailed O-scale model train layout represents Union Pacific's double track main line from Omaha to Ogden, Utah, during the 1950s. The Mutual of Omaha Theater features "Voices," a 16-minute film showing the development of Omaha from the mid-1800s right up to today.
Three galleries on the lower level offer visitors a look into Omaha's past. One gallery called "Community" shows Omaha's architecture, education, religion, immigration, parks and the arts in the city's development. "Home and the Family" illustrates family life in Omaha from the 1800s to today. The "Omaha at Work" gallery features displays of Omaha's economic and political development from the time of Missouri River steamboats and the Oregon Trail to a sophisticated cosmopolitan society.
The Byron Reed Gallery is home to an impressive coin and document collection amassed by Omaha real estate magnate Byron Reed.
The Trans-Mississippi Exposition is depicted in the "Fraser Stryker Trans-Mississippi Centennial Gallery." The Trans Mississippi International Exposition of 1898 and the Indian Congress were held in Omaha from June 1, 1898, through Nov. 1, 1898. The Exposition showcased the developed west from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Coast. Business and community leaders from the 24 states and territories lying west of the Mississippi River organized the Trans Mississippi Exposition in an effort to help revitalize the area's economy and to show that the West had recovered from the financial panic of 1893.
O'Donnell said they have about 200 volunteers who work in all areas of the museum.
"Our volunteers man the front desk, the gift shop and soda fountain," she said. "They make our special events possible and we really couldn't run the facility without them."
The Durham Western Heritage Museum is located at 801 S. 10th Street in Omaha. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; 1-5 p.m. on Sunday. The museum is closed Mondays and most major holidays. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, $3 for children 5-12, and is free to museum members and children under 5.
For more information about the Durham Western Heritage Museum, visit its Web site at www.dwhm.org or call (402) 444-5071.
The first Union Station in Omaha was constructed in 1898. That building was torn down and replaced with the current and larger structure in 1931. It took 20 months to build and cost $3.5 million to complete. The new station was even bigger than the original and included a main waiting room that is about 150 square feet with a 60-foot-high ceiling.
During its peak years, the Union Station served seven railroads and saw an average of 10,000 passengers and 64 trains each day. When rail travel slowed in the 1960s and '70s, the huge station, like others across the country, became obsolete. The station closed in 1971 and was donated to the city of Omaha. The Western Heritage Museum opened the structure as a museum in 1975. Then in 1997 the museum underwent a name change in honor of Chuck and Marge Durham who were instrumental in the restoration of the building.
Visitors can get a feel of what the station looked like during its heyday through the restored art deco architecture, photographs, artifacts and life-like sculptures. Deborah O'Donnell, director of marketing for the museum, said the sculptures include audio recordings that give a feel of what the station was like during different eras of its history.
"The sculptures and recordings help recreate different periods during the station's history," O'Donnell said. "There is a businessman who represents the '30s and there are several groups of sculptures that represent the war era and there are others that represent the use of the building during the 1950s."
The main level also has a gift shop, a gallery featuring displays and photographs depicting the history of Union Station, and an authentic and operating 1931 soda fountain.
The lower level has a transportation collection of unique cars, trucks, trains and a trolley car. Visitors can look inside an 1890s steam engine and walk through a Pullman car, lounge car, business car and caboose. A 100-foot-long, detailed O-scale model train layout represents Union Pacific's double track main line from Omaha to Ogden, Utah, during the 1950s. The Mutual of Omaha Theater features "Voices," a 16-minute film showing the development of Omaha from the mid-1800s right up to today.
Three galleries on the lower level offer visitors a look into Omaha's past. One gallery called "Community" shows Omaha's architecture, education, religion, immigration, parks and the arts in the city's development. "Home and the Family" illustrates family life in Omaha from the 1800s to today. The "Omaha at Work" gallery features displays of Omaha's economic and political development from the time of Missouri River steamboats and the Oregon Trail to a sophisticated cosmopolitan society.
The Byron Reed Gallery is home to an impressive coin and document collection amassed by Omaha real estate magnate Byron Reed.
The Trans-Mississippi Exposition is depicted in the "Fraser Stryker Trans-Mississippi Centennial Gallery." The Trans Mississippi International Exposition of 1898 and the Indian Congress were held in Omaha from June 1, 1898, through Nov. 1, 1898. The Exposition showcased the developed west from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Coast. Business and community leaders from the 24 states and territories lying west of the Mississippi River organized the Trans Mississippi Exposition in an effort to help revitalize the area's economy and to show that the West had recovered from the financial panic of 1893.
O'Donnell said they have about 200 volunteers who work in all areas of the museum.
"Our volunteers man the front desk, the gift shop and soda fountain," she said. "They make our special events possible and we really couldn't run the facility without them."
The Durham Western Heritage Museum is located at 801 S. 10th Street in Omaha. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; 1-5 p.m. on Sunday. The museum is closed Mondays and most major holidays. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, $3 for children 5-12, and is free to museum members and children under 5.
For more information about the Durham Western Heritage Museum, visit its Web site at www.dwhm.org or call (402) 444-5071.
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