We’re easy to find, and we’re open year-round.
At Legacy of the Plains, interesting activities stretch all the way to the prairie horizon—and beyond.
Legacy of the Plains Museum is Nebraska’s newest museum that celebrates the lives and tells the stories of High Plains agriculture, communities and people.
Start off your visit in our first exhibit, “Voices on the Prairie Wind”, which provides a unique introduction to the stories our museum tells. From there, head out of the room into the Main Exhibit Hall where you can visit seven different zones filled with state-of-the-art interactive displays and explore the stories of the people of the High Plains. You are also welcome to browse the large artifacts in our Annex building, discover the machinery that made a blacksmith shop, take a guided tour to the Wiedeman Farmstead Home, and stroll the museum grounds to get an up-close look at our vintage farm equipment.
If you’re here during one of our special events you can see a blacksmith demonstration, horses pulling harvest equipment, or a living history actor speaking from the past.
The Legacy of the Plains Museum campus is undergoing rapid development.
Soon you will be able to:
- Two more buildings housing farm equipment
- Family fun area including playground
- Railroad display
- Walking paths
- Rural school/church
- Ranch hand bunk house
- More live animals
- and more!
What People are Saying
Indoor Exhibits
Our Museum features an impressive 23,000-square-foot exhibit hall that tells the story of the High Plains Region. It highlights several significant areas including Transportation/Trails, Ranching/Livestock, Dryland Farming, Irrigated Farming/Crops, Industry, Homelife, and Arts/Culture. The exhibits feature interactive technologies and multimedia elements. They also tell overlooked chapters in western Nebraska’s history, offering a broader perspective than you can find anywhere else.
Outdoor Exhibits
As of 2016, Legacy of the Plains completed the interactive, permanent Exhibit Hall. We’re raising money so we can maintain these exhibits and continue to grow on the grounds, which will continue to bring the stories of western Nebraska to life like you’ve never seen before.
Supporters and partners from throughout the community have made contributions to fund our new permanent exhibits.
To find out how you can become a sponsor, contact Legacy of the Plains at (308) 436-1989.
School Field Trips and Group Tours
School Field Trips
Legacy of the Plains Museum welcomes many K-12 school groups each year. In addition to students from the Nebraska panhandle, we serve schools as far away as Cheyenne, North Platte, and Fort Collins.
Special events for students include:
- Farm-hands on History, held each autumn, teaches fourth-graders about scientific principles and agricultural history.
- Trip Through Time, a springtime event for kindergartners, features volunteer storytellers demonstrating the lifeways of 19th-century homesteaders.
Both events are coordinated through the schools and Educational Service Unit 13.
For more information about arranging school field trips, call the museum at (308) 436-1989.
Adult tours
Legacy of the Plains has plenty of space to accommodate large adult tour groups, including bus tours, RV and motorcycle clubs, corporate groups, retiree associations, and other types of organizations. We offer a special motorcoach flat rate of $100.
For more information about arranging a group tour, call the museum at (308) 436-1989.
Conveniences:
Legacy of the Plains Museum offers a full range of conveniences for travelers and families, including:
- Free parking
- Full-service restrooms
- Drinking fountains
- Free Wifi
- Snacks
- Picnic tables
- County tourism office in the museum with a full assortment of tourism literature
Getting Here:
Legacy of the Plains Museum is an easy three-hour drive from Denver and a short detour from Interstate 80. We’re located next to Scotts Bluff National Monument in Gering, Nebraska, just south of the City of Scottsbluff.
From Denver (208 miles): Take I-25 north to Cheyenne, I-80 east to Kimball, and NE 71 north to Gering.
From I-80 westbound (120 miles): Take exit 126 at Ogallala, then follow U.S. 26 west to Nebraska 92 along the Western Trails Scenic & Historic Byway.
From Rapid City / I-90 (197 miles): Take U.S. 385 south to Chadron, U.S. 20 west to NE 71 south to Gering.
Where to Stay:
There are dozens of hotels, motels, campgrounds, and RV parks in the Gering / Scottsbluff region. Get info from the Gering Convention and Visitors Bureau or Scotts Bluff Area Visitors Bureau.
