We tried to eat at Gerda's Bakery the night before (not open even though the hotel brochure said they should be), then this morning (found out they don't serve anything but sweet rolls & coffee in the morning).  Disappointed to say the least, as we love German food

We can't resist trying on hats, and we are serious customers too.  Glenn did buy the Dorfman Pacific Co. (Scala) off-white Panama hat.  They sold whole cow hides, jackets and many other great leather products.

Now the Durham Museum

Union Station operated the railroad from 1931-1971.  It served countless American servicemen during WWII, with a 24 hour restaurant, news & magazine stand, barbershop, taxi stand, telegraph office, hospital and traveler's aid office.  The Durham Museum undertook the renovation of the building to its former glory, re-opening in 1997.  The building is considered the Museum's largest artifact.  

Historic building, great to view inside & out.  "Dedicated by the railways of Omaha to the service, comfort and convenience of the people".  We are glad they have renovated this beautiful building.

Phenomenal, words do not describe the art deco motif and grandeur of this place.  Photos of ceilings, walls and grand spaces in the Suzanne and Walter Scott Great Hall.  Each lighting fixture weighs more than a ton.

Cast figures (local sculptor John Labja, made of clay then hard resin) make the building come alive...with a little help from Glenn

For show only, with sculpted figures

Hilarious, HALF A MAN! - guess they saved on this statue, since most people viewed it from the other side

 At the old-fashioned counter right in the main hall of Union Station, Heidi had a Chocolate Egg Cream soda (seltzer with milk & chocolate syrup), yum!

Glenn had always wanted to see the exhibit, and we happened to miss it in numerous cities in the past.  Now, we've done it!  Sue is 42 feet long and 12 feet tall at the hips.  From the Cretaceous strata in South Dakota to the U.S. Courts, and finally to the world.  This cast was created by the Field Museum in Chicago.

MODEL TRAINS, HISTORIC COLLECTION

O Scale Model train has layout with a depot and diorama that represents Union Pacific's double track main line from Omaha to Ogden during the 1950's.

The Outdoor theater section was my favorite.

FULL SIZE RAILROAD CARS, ALL INDOORS.  

We walked through the restored train cars, it was like we could sit down and just ride off.  Beautiful dining car.  1st class and coach cars, sleeping berths.  Amazing.

These are the train cars & locomotives on display:

Union Pacific 1243 Steam Locomotive (c1890)

Union Pacific 25559 Caboose (1962)

Pullman Cornhuster Club Observation Car (1924)

Union Pacific 1202 Pullman National Command Sleeper (1956)

Southern Pacific 2986 Lounge Car (1949)

Omaha & Council Bluffs Railway & Bridge Co. Streetcar (1940's)

A gift to the people of Omaha from the Mid-America Council - Boy Scouts of America, Heritage Patrons, 1984.  "Tomorrow's heritage of leadership is planted today in the minds of our young people, through the ideals of scouting".

Steaks, Prime Rib & Seafood 

(BEEF is KING - all parts of the cow including oxtail and tongue)

OMAHA'S ORIGINAL STEAKHOUSE SINCE 1922

Leather map of U.S. showing location of Johnny's Cafe

Using a $100 bill we won at the casino.  Sweet.

Burgers, Steaks, Phillies, Gyros

Across from the zoo was his wonderful signage & gorilla  family

We were curious what this huge dome was.  It is part of a Zoo Park in Omaha on 10th Street.  We admit we were tired and did not go in, though after reading about it, we wish we had.

DISCOVER NEBRASKA

 Lewis & Clark and the Corps of Discovery

Map Mural on side of the Veteran's building (13th & L Streets) in Tekamah NE

The Kellogg's Farm, North of Tekamah NE

Roadside Americana at its best

against a boat, in the front yard of a home on Highway 20 East, near Jackson NE

in a yard near Willis NE

"PROUD TO BE AMERICAN" Mural on side of building

KELLER PHARMACY & SODA FOUNTAIN (circa 1870's)

"Flavor Burst" soft serve ice cream, new to us!  The flavor edges the outside of the ice cream.  We enjoyed the historic building & old fashioned atmosphere.  More on the business here, including "goop" sundaes, also known as "scum sundaes" invented here though no longer made (too bad, I would be their first customer):

http://siouxcityjournal.com/lifestyles/food-and-cooking/soda-fountain-still-serves/article_ff525fdb-ea72-55c3-b b1b-3960cd7e0b19.html

Home of the smallest City Hall in the U.S.

Yup, sure is small.  67 Residents.

Bridge to Yankton SD.  The Missouri River is the reason Yankton is in existence, as the town thrived due to the steamboat industry, then waned due to the railroads and then a flood in 1881.  Yankton history includes ties to Lewis & Clark, General Custer, "the Culligan Man" was born here, and NBC Anchorman Tom Brokaw went to high school here.  Now a huge dam controls the waters and has generated plenty of tourism dollars.

The main road is named "Tom Brokaw Blvd" 

Great historic buildings.

http://www.cityofyankton.org/yankton/history/

This is hay & corn country.  We were amazed that the farmers are allowed to bale the grass growing right next to the highways and in the medians as well.  Good use of space!

Historic church St. Wenceslaus Parish,  in the town of Tabor SD.  "Vitame vas" is Czech for "We Welcome You".  This is known as a predominantly Czech populated town. 

 We would have loved to have been there in time for their festival in June.

http://www.taborczechdays.com/

"Our Lady Fatima Shrine" 

Great information on the meaning of this and the other shrines and windows on the church & property:

http://www.stwenceslaus-tabor.com/Statues_Symbols.php

in Mitchell SD, huge steer statue

CORN PALACE

Mitchell, SD

A real tourist attraction we couldn't resist (and to keep a promise to friend Kathy).  Besides the spectacular onion dome style and being folk art, it is an amazing building because the walls of all parts of it are made with real CORN and GRAINS. 

CORN-BY-NUMBER DECORATING

They strip & rebuild the murals every year with new corn and a different theme.  Over the summer, 3,000 bushels of rye, oat heads and sour dock are tied in bundles & attached.  When the new crop is ready, about 275,000 ears of corn are sawed in half lengthwise & nailed to the building following patterns created by local artists.  So, it is always a work in progress.  You can watch this redecorating process being completed.  You can see a side view where the sheaves make the walls 3D.  It is a folk art wonder on the prairie of South Dakota.

Even the interior amphitheater is decorated with murals using corn.  Today there was a craft show on the main floor, which can also be used for basketball games, etc.  The smell of popcorn is all through the building as they sell it right at the diner.  Irresistable.

The building above is actually the 3rd Corn Palace.  Here's a vintage photo of the Corn Palace which is  inside the lobby

The first building was built in 1892.  It was meant to display the settlers' agricultural bounty to prove the fertility of the soil and attract immigrant farmers to settle here.

For more info, visit their website

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corn_Palace

Bridge over the Missouri River, a welcome sight after not seeing water or many hills across the plains states

MURDO, SD