Pioneer Museum in Minden Neb

Germania wrote:
The Museum is a must for anybody over 50.

I concur as I spent 5 days there in 2010 as part of an FMC coach rally. I stayed an extra day just to spend more time in the museum.

Here is a link to the segment that the local TV station did about our rally. My coach has the sqeaking door. Can't lube now as it is famous!
Minden FMC Coach rally
I will be back again to see what I missed the first time. The sod house was also very interesting.

Just an update,we did visit Pioneer Village and stayed 2 nights at CG, yes it needs TLC, bathrooms I wouldn't use, but most of us have ours, Right? Electric sewer and water(city water with a purple hue to it deemed safe to drink by the city of Minden) were adequate. We felt secure and CG was Quiet except for the occasional train which all Western CGs seem to have. Price was reasonable 29$ a nite including 1 2 day ticket into Museum.
The Museum is a must for anybody over 50.

I have been there twice. First in 1972 or 1973. The next time was in July, 2010. Both times, the museum was fabulous. It's just amazing how much is there. The campground was adequate (stayed there both times). I had to be pried away from the museum both times. As a teenager, my folks had to threaten to leave my brothers and I behind with our cousins, but Grandpa was just a taken with the place and he pled our case. The last time, my dear wife simply took a seat and read until I was done. Spent two full days and thoroughly enjoyed it!

Almost forgot about Windmill SRA...it's just north of I-80 at the Gibbon exit. It's a pretty clean state facility and you are still only 20-25 minutes from Minden.

soren wrote:
We spent a day there last summer. The attractions are well worth a stop. We took the time to look at the CG, and were a bit shocked. It is an unmaintained gravel lot in very poor condition. It is surrounded by two motel buildings that look like something out of a "COPS" show prostitution sting, and a huge, abandoned restaurant. It was mid-summer, and not a single RV was parked in any site. Although a lot of signage indicated otherwise, there really wasn't much visual evidence to indicate that the whole mess (motel, diner & CG) wasn't abandoned long ago.

If the kitchen display from over the decades is still being shown, it is very interesting, even for us guys. Also, the display of cars & farm equip.

Overall, a fantastic display of America in the 1800's.

We spent a day there last summer. The attractions are well worth a stop. We took the time to look at the CG, and were a bit shocked. It is an unmaintained gravel lot in very poor condition. It is surrounded by two motel buildings that look like something out of a "COPS" show prostitution sting, and a huge, abandoned restaurant. It was mid-summer, and not a single RV was parked in any site. Although a lot of signage indicated otherwise, there really wasn't much visual evidence to indicate that the whole mess (motel, diner & CG) wasn't abandoned long ago.

As stated, the campground is a bit outdated, but the museum is well worth visiting. It's a bit off the beaten path, but you will be missing something if you don't stop by..JMHO......Dennis

We were there four years ago. Harold Warp is no longer underwriting it, and (well its not his fault -- he's dead). it is a bit worn. But you aren't there to be dazzled by buildings but by the collections - and to paraphrase the Seinfeld episode -- they're marvelous. Been to a lot of museums and this is one to remember. Campground is fine.

Visited the Pioneer Museum in Minden just last fall. The campground and the museum really needs some TLC. That said we spent three days there and enjoyed the museum very much. The campground is adequate. Fellow in the office was a little sirley, but then that's not the first one, probably won't be the last.

I lived in Kearney for several years and visited Pioneer museum a few times but it's been 10 years. It's an older museum and some of the buildings house more of a personal interest collection that true museum collections...it was interesting place and I liked it but I'm sure my kids would be bored with it. Not sure about the camp grounds in Minden but you could try Ft Kearney SRA as it is only about 15 minutes from Minden.