Omaha offers several distinct ways to explore its history and attractions: The Durham Museum highlights the generations that shaped the city, The RiverFront brings together three parks, and the zoo combines plants, animals and immersive habitats from around the world. When planning your trip, it’s worth considering these attractions according to their different focuses—from city history and park activities to exhibits and animal habitats.
City History at the Museum and in the Old Market
The permanent exhibits at The Durham Museum explore the many generations that made Omaha what it is today. The Benson Streetcar exhibit offers a snapshot of a particular era: you can step aboard an authentic streetcar and imagine a ride through Benson in the 1940s. Its appeal lies in the combination of a historic mode of transportation with a specific district and decade. Significant parts of the Byron Reed Collection are also on display at the museum, offering another way to explore the collections shown there.
Omaha’s Old Market Entertainment District showcases history in its streetscape. This lively historic district is defined by cobblestone streets and brick buildings. It also hosts seasonal events throughout the year, including the Omaha Farmers Market, festive light displays and parades. The two historical experiences therefore offer different perspectives: at the museum, the focus is on exhibits, generations and collection pieces; in the Old Market, the district’s historic streets and buildings shape its character. If a particular seasonal event is important to your trip, check the relevant dates in advance.
Three Parks with Distinctive Features
The RiverFront brings together three parks in the heart of downtown Omaha under a shared identity. Each location has its own features. Gene Leahy Mall includes a state-of-the-art playground. Heartland of America Park offers panoramic views of the Missouri River and extensive walking paths. The Skate Ribbon is also located there, offering ice skating and roller skating year-round. Lewis & Clark Landing, meanwhile, features a sandy urban beach with fire pits. So if you’re interested in a particular park, it helps to keep its name and the activities it offers in mind.
Kiewit Luminarium is also located at Lewis & Clark Landing at The RiverFront in Omaha. More than 125 open-ended exhibits invite visitors to explore on their own. Topics include light, shadows, colors and bubbles—subjects that younger children often find especially engaging. The Luminarium offers a different focus from the river views, walking paths and other park features: here, the emphasis is on open-ended exhibits and independent exploration. The reference to age is a general tendency, not a claim about what every individual child will find especially interesting.
Animal Habitats and Indoor Exhibits
At Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium, you can explore 160 acres of plants, animals and immersive habitats from around the world. There are also seven acres of indoor exhibit space for year-round experiences. These figures highlight two different aspects of the zoo: an extensive area with diverse habitats and dedicated indoor exhibit spaces. Visitors can also walk through the world’s largest indoor desert. Alongside the broad range of plants, animals and habitats, visitors can choose a specific experience and enjoy year-round attractions in the indoor exhibits.
To choose between these destinations, you can start by thinking about the kind of discovery you want to define your stay in Omaha: historical exhibits and a district with old streets and buildings, a variety of park activities, or the zoo’s habitats and exhibits. Their distinct features make it easier to compare the options, without requiring one itinerary to suit every trip.
Discover more destinations: Ralston, Boys Town.
For the broader travel overview: Douglas.
