Free Admission to The Durham Museum on Martin Luther King Jr. Day

01/09/26

(Omaha, Neb.) – The Durham Museum is proud to offer free admission from 10AM – 4PM on Monday, January 19 to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day (MLK Community Day). The museum will feature family-friendly activities and special guests, including Omaha Mayor John Ewing.

Visitors can take part in a scavenger hunt highlighting connections between the museum’s collection and Dr. King’s message, contribute to a community art project, view screenings of the award-winning PBS docuseries Eyes on the Prize and Dr. King’s speeches, enjoy book readings by local authors and connect with community organizations focused on Dr. King’s impact.

The MLK Community Day is made possible with generous support provided by U.S. Bank.

Featured Activities and Community Partners:

Opening Comments by Omaha Mayor John Ewing at 10:45AM
Live performance by Nelson Mandela Elementary Orchestra
Readings of the children’s book “Your Bridge to History” by co-author Preston Love, Jr.
Readings of the children’s book “Newspapers & Butter Pecan Ice Cream: Mrs. Mildred Brown and the Omaha Star” by author Dr. Amy Forss
Poetry reading Nebraska Writers Collective poet Zariah Champlain
The Great Plains Black History Museum
The Union for Contemporary Art
North Omaha Music and Arts
The Malcolm X Memorial Foundation

During The MLK Community Day, museum entry will be available on both the main and lower levels.

January 19 falls less than three weeks before the opening of our spring exhibition, The Negro Motorist Green Book, on view from February 7 to May 3. This exhibition explores the historic travel guide that helped Black travelers find safe lodging, dining and services during the Jim Crow era. Many of the partners participating in the MLK Community Day will also return to help the museum tell the Green Book story more fully through lectures, performances, and additional opportunities within the North Omaha community, where several Green Book sites remain. Guests visiting on MLK Community Day will have the opportunity to learn more about this upcoming exhibition.

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.