TODAY’S HOURS 
Omaha’s Home for the Holidays
November 27 – January 10
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.
Thank you to Bill White of Omaha for donating this year’s tree!
Watch the tree come home – Monday, November 16
Tune in on Facebook and Instagram and watch live as our 40-foot tree makes the trip to Union Station, begins about 8am.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Signature Events
Santa’s Cabin Experience
“Dear Santa, I wish you could bring me…”
Are your kids ready to share their carefully curated list with Santa? During Christmas at Union Station presented by FNBO, they’ll be able to have a magical visit with our jolly pal from the North Pole in his cozy cabin retreat. Plan a visit and see the big guy before it’s too late to get on the nice list! Children can choose to sit with Santa or give him a call on our old-fashioned telephone (apt for a history museum, don’t you think?). If using the phone, Santa’s elves will be at the switchboard to make sure you get connected to the big guy himself. Kids can drop off their letters to Santa, too. Included with museum admission.
When is Santa visiting the museum?
Select Days, November 27 – December 23
- Sundays, 11AM-3PM
Nov. 29 • Dec. 6, 13 & 20 - Saturdays, 10am-12pm & 1pm-3pm
Nov. 28 • Dec. 5, 12, 19 - Weekdays, 10am-12pm & 1pm-3pm
Nov. 27 • Dec. 4, 11, 14-18, 21-23 - Signature Events (evenings)
Family Nights with Santa • Tree Lighting • Holiday Cultural Festival
Calendar View
 |
 |
 |
| Christmas at Union Station Presented By  |
|||||
| Major Sponsors | |||||
 |
 |
||||
| Supporting Sponsors | |||||
 |
 |
 |
|||
| Media Support Provided By | |||||
 |
|||||
|
Special Thanks To |
|||||
-
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!
Learn More
-
-
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
-
-
Museum Store Sunday
Sunday, November 29
Support the Museum and Save! As a thank you for shopping during Museum Store Sunday, the museum is offering a 25% discount on your purchases. Stop by the museum store to find unique gifts, books, and more while supporting the museum.
Special Guests & Free Samples
-
THE HISTORY
Back in the 1930s, Union Pacific would cut a tree in the Pacific Northwest, and transport it on a railcar to Omaha’s Union Station to cheer holiday travelers. After closing in 1971 Union Station was 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. 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