2026 Exhibits Announcement
(Omaha, Neb.) – The Durham Museum is excited to unveil its 2026 featured exhibition lineup. The year has been thoughtfully curated to blend national history and family-friendly fun while highlighting the community’s place within those stories.
Opening in February, The Negro Motorist Green Book shares the story of the annual guide that provided African American travelers with information on restaurants, gas stations and other businesses that welcomed Black travelers during the Jim Crow era. This exhibition explores a powerful story of resilience and resourcefulness.
This spring, Get Building! Bricks at The Durham invites visitors of all ages to enjoy hands-on creativity with the help of longtime partners, the Lincoln/Omaha LEGO® Users Group (LOLUG). The display offers a perfect way to spark imagination and brighten the last chilly days of the season.
When summer arrives, guests will delight in Heroes & Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume presented by the Walt Disney Archives, which features 70 iconic pieces that showcase how some of these beloved characters were brought to life.
Visitors will also find inspiration closer to home as the museum partners with Nebraskaland Magazine for its 100th anniversary to showcase the publication’s stunning conservation work. In honor of the 250th anniversary of the United States, the museum will also present The Signers, an exhibition featuring the extraordinary collection of Omaha businessman Byron Reed, who remarkably collected most of the signatures of the men who signed the Declaration of Independence.
As the holiday season approaches, the museum is thrilled to welcome back a fan favorite, White Christmas: The Exhibition. This beloved display offers a classic way to celebrate the season and elevate the 2026 Christmas at Union Station experience.
Please read on for full descriptions of each exhibition.
The Negro Motorist Green Book
Spring Exhibition — Opening February 7, 2026
The Durham Museum is honored to host The Negro Motorist Green Book traveling exhibition in what will be its final public display. Developed by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service in collaboration with award-winning author, photographer and cultural documentarian Candacy Taylor, the exhibition offers an immersive look at the reality of travel for African Americans in mid-century America, and how the annual guide served as an indispensable resource for the nation’s rising African American middle class and a vibrant business community. The exhibition will include programming in partnership with local arts and culture organizations.
The Negro Motorist Green Book was created by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service in collaboration with Candacy Taylor and made possible through the generous support of Exxon Mobil Corp.
Get Building! Bricks at The Durham
Spring Exhibition — Opening February 7, 2026
The Durham Museum is partnering with the Lincoln/Omaha LEGO® Users Group (LOLUG) to create a fun, new interactive experience for builders of all ages. Featuring extraordinary models of Union Station and other creations developed by the LOLUG team, plus hands-on construction areas where visitors can free-build on their own, Get Building! emphasizes creativity and collaboration.
Heroes & Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume Presented by the Walt Disney Archives
Summer Exhibition — Opening May 30, 2026
Featuring 70 costumes of some beloved characters such as Cinderella, Maleficent and Captain Jack Sparrow, this blockbuster showcase highlights the innovative ways some of Disney’s iconic characters are brought to life through the artistry and imagination of their costumes. The exhibition includes pieces worn by Bette Davis, Glenn Close and Angelina Jolie, as well as designs from Academy Award®- and Emmy-Award winning and -nominated productions. Heroes & Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume is created by the Walt Disney Archives.
The Signers
Summer Exhibition — Opening August 1, 2026
The Durham Museum is proud to present The Signers, a special exhibition from the renowned Byron Reed Collection in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States. This inspiring display explores the stories of the 56 men who boldly signed the Declaration of Independence—farmers, lawyers, merchants and musicians—united in their pursuit of liberty. Featuring original signatures from the museum’s Byron Reed Collection, the exhibition is enhanced by historic documents and a striking reproduction of John Trumbull’s iconic painting The Declaration of Independence.
White Christmas: The Exhibition
Fall Exhibition — Opening November 28, 2026
One of the most popular exhibitions to visit The Durham Museum is returning with even more objects from the beloved holiday musical. Developed by The Durham Museum in partnership with the Rosemary Clooney House Museum and private collectors Stephen and Heather French Henry, White Christmas: The Exhibition features authentic costumes and memorabilia from the classic 1954 film starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen, based on Irving Berlin’s iconic Christmas song. Among the items on display are the blue dresses worn during the “Sisters” musical number, military uniforms worn by the stars, original promotional items from the film’s release and a letter written by Bing Crosby advocating for the casting of Rosemary Clooney.
About The Durham Museum
The Durham Museum in Omaha’s beautiful art deco Union Station is home to permanent exhibits that preserve Omaha’s vibrant history, traveling exhibits covering subjects ranging from history and culture to science and industry and many entertaining, educational, family-oriented activities. The Durham Museum was established in 1975. It is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and has strong ties with national and international museums and lending institutions. For information about The Durham Museum please visit the museum’s website at DurhamMuseum.org.
