Omaha’S Home for the holidays
November 27, 2026 – January 10, 2027
Soon, it will be time to dust off those ornaments and deck the halls! Christmas at Union Station presented by FNBO returns on November 27 and we can’t wait to see you at the museum! From the 40-foot-tall twinkling tree to holidays around the globe to Santa himself, you won’t want to miss all that we have planned.
SAVE THE DATES
for these signature events
Tree Lighting Ceremony
Friday, November 27, 4-8PM
Kick off the Christmas season with us!
Family Nights with Santa
Tuesdays, December 1, 8, 15 & 22
Visit Santa’s Cabin and share your wish list.
Holiday Cultural Festival
Friday, December 4, 4-9PM
Sounds, traditions and flavors from around the globe.
Holiday Concert Series
Tuesday evenings & Saturday days
November 28 – December 22
Noon Year’s Eve
Thursday, December 31, 10AM-2PM
Live Music, fun activities, crafts and
the BIG Balloon Drop at Noon!
Sock Skating Pond
Returns Friday, November 27
THE HISTORY OF CHRISTMAS AT UNION STATION
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Back in the 1930s, Union Pacific employees would select and cut a tree from along the railroad right-of-way in the Pacific Northwest, and then transport it to Omaha’s Union Station. In 1971, Union Station closed after Congress established the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, now Amtrak, to handle all railroad passenger travel. The building was donated to the City of Omaha. Union Station reopened as the Western Heritage Museum in 1975, and within the first two weeks the decision was made to re-install a giant tree in the main waiting room of the museum for Christmas. The Christmas at Union Station tradition was alive again!
While Union Pacific employees still harvest today’s tree, they haven’t had to travel nearly as far, as the museum’s tree is donated by a local family. Each summer we send out a call to Omaha area residents for tree nominations. Trees must meet a number of criteria to be considered. Durham staff then scout out each nomination, narrowing it down until the official tree is chosen!
Archive photos shown are from The Durham Museum Photo Archive, or shown courtesy of Union Pacific Museum
