November 24, 2022 – January 8, 2023

Time to trim the tree, bake some cookies, wrap those presents and, of course, visit The Durham Museum! Christmas at Union Station, presented by FNBO, is back for another year of festive fun. The magic of Christmas continues at The Durham Museum and we hope you will join us! This long-standing tradition features Omaha’s official Christmas tree, holiday concerts and Santa himself.

On Thanksgiving night, gather the family on the couch and kick off the holiday season with us! Christmas at Union Station starts November 24 with our Virtual Tree Lighting Ceremony at 7PM. (Please note that the museum is closed on Thanksgiving.)

🎄 This year’s tree was graciously donated by Janice Teegarden and Wayne Ogle of Omaha.

Here comes santa claus …

Santa visits six days a week, Tuesday through Sunday, November 25-December 23!

Calendar of Upcoming Events

Click “LOAD MORE” button below to see dates further out.

give the gift of membership! A Durham Museum membership is the gift that can truly be enjoyed all year long! From unlimited free admission to discounts on purchases in the Soda Fountain and Hitchcock Museum Shop, a membership is the best way to experience all that the museum has to offer. LEARN MORE » View Membership Options »

Shine the Light on Hunger Throughout the holiday season, you can drop off non-perishable food items at The Durham to help support the Food Bank for the Heartland as part of Conagra Brands Foundation’s Shine the Light on Hunger campaign. Please help us fight hunger in our community and assist those in greatest need!

HOLIDAY DISPLAYS Holiday Memories at Brandeis Department Store It’s the most wonderful time of the year…if you like shopping, that is! For many years, downtown Omaha was bustling with shoppers looking for the perfect gift. Step back in time with this photograph display showcasing holiday shopping scenes at Brandeis Department Store. Also on display are ornate chairs used by Santa and Mrs. Claus at the department store and toys of yesteryear from the museum’s permanent collection. Holiday Cultural Tree Display A holiday favorite returns to The Durham’s galleries during Christmas at Union Station. The display is one of the enduring fixtures of the season and showcases how cultures from around the world celebrate the holiday season. Each tree is decorated by a local Omaha cultural group and is accompanied by interpretative text explaining the meaning behind the various decorations and unique traditions of each culture.

Holiday concert series

HOLIDAY CULTURAL FESTIVAL RETURNS!

Christmas at Union Station is Presented By

Major Sponsor

Supporting Sponsors

Special thanks to DH Pace & Norm’s Door Service, Terry Hughes Tree Service, Omaha Police Department and Duke Aerial.

Media support provided by

Admission

Adults: $13
Seniors (62+): $10
Children (ages 3 – 12): $7
Children 2 years and under FREE

Members: FREE!

BOOK YOUR TICKET »

Advanced tickets are encouraged but not required. Walk-ins welcome.

Christmas at Union Station

FAQS

VISITOR INFORMATION: This year our Noon Year’s Eve event will be the only event during Christmas at Union Station to have limited capacity and required advanced registration. Advanced admission is highly recommended throughout the popular Christmas at Union Station season to help expedite entry. Reserve your admission ticket online or by phone.

HOLIDAY HOURS: November 24 – January 8
Tuesday-Saturday, 10AM-4PM
Sunday, Noon-4PM

• SPECIAL HOURS!
  The museum reopens from 5-8PM for Family Nights with Santa:
  Tuesday, November 29
  Tuesday, December 6, 13 & 20
• CLOSED:
  Mondays • Thanksgiving Day • Christmas Day • New Year’s Day
• EARLY CLOSE at 2PM on Christmas Eve

ADDITIONAL EVENT PARKING: The Conagra Brands parking lot at 7th & Leavenworth, with shuttle drop-off at the museum, is available during the following events:

• Holiday Cultural Festival, December 2 • Noon Year’s Eve, December 31

.

How can children talk with Santa?
You can visit Santa’s “cabin” located inside the Truhlsen Lecture Hall and talk with him from a distance on one of our “old-fashioned telephones or sit on his lap…you choose! If using the phone, Santa’s elves will be at the switchboard to make sure you get connected to the big guy himself. Then children have time to talk to Santa and tell him their wish list on their private phone call with the jolly old elf himself.

This activity is included with museum admission. During the popular Christmas season, we highly encourage guests to reserve or buy a ticket in advance online or over the phone, including museum members. You are welcome to see Santa during his scheduled hours at any time during your visit. Santa takes a break from Noon-1PM each day, except Sunday. Please plan accordingly.

General FAQs may be found on the VISIT page of our website:

GENERAL FAQS

THE HISTORY OF CHRISTMAS AT UNION STATION

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