Pioneer Village, Nebraska, United States

5Laura T 5:00 PM Feb 27, 2020

This is worth the drive, no matter how far away you live!
Amazing. Simply amazing. This place went way beyond all expectations...wonderful museum! The cost is very low, and I would strongly recommend donating extra. This place is worth preserving, it is truly unique. One area is all about transportation. There is a progression of many types of vehicles, in chronological order. My husband and I talked about how from this spot (a genuine covered wagon) to that spot (an airplane)...Laura Ingalls Wilder had experienced that entire time era. It was incredible to see the sheer number of vehicles, and to read about the many ways history was changed with each of them. In another part of the museum, they had displays of what American kitchens looked like through the ages. I think the earliest was in the 1700's? When I got to the one depicting the 1980's, I had to sit down suddenly on the bench..it was almost exactly like my Mom's kitchen. Went back in time for a moment, lol. There are way too many categories to list here. And they are all fascinating in their own ways. The main building is quiet looking and unassuming. It didn't look promising from the outside. Then you walk in and your jaw drops. The history of American life is told in a million ways, and you could easily spend a full week there and still not see it all. We stayed at the Pioneer Village hotel. Our room was clean and comfortably sized. The customer service was very good. There are very few amenities in the hotel rooms, but we didn't mind. It wasn't a problem to bring in a small cooler since there was not a fridge....it felt good knowing we were spending money at a place that is worth keeping around. If we ever go back, we'll be happy to stay there again, rather than spend the money at a fancy chain. Pioneer Village deserves the business, and I hope many more visitors will go there and help keep this fantastic place around. You gotta see it, its unbelievable.

4Jenny S 5:00 PM Aug 28, 2021

Impressive collection in a small town
Minden is an incredibly small town in Nebraska and I was very impressed with the collection they have at Pioneer Village. It was kind of shocking that all of these American antiques and collectibles were in the middle of a small town I had never heard of about 10 mins off the highway. The museum has been open since 1953 and I hope they continue to operate. Visitors are what keep these places alive, I thought the admission price was well worth it.