New Season of River City History Tours features three new walking tours
Join The Durham Museum for another exciting season of River City History Tours, featuring three new walking tours. From May through October, explore the city’s vibrant past aboard a comfortable shuttle bus Sundays at 1 p.m. or on a walking tour of downtown Omaha on Saturdays at 9 a.m. These popular group tours depart from The Durham Museum and delve into Omaha’s historic figures and locations.
“Look around, we’re surrounded by history in plain sight,” says Dr. Kyle Chattleton, public historian at The Durham Museum. “These incredibly fun tours, led by guides with great knowledge of the area, provide a fascinating look at Omaha’s past. Some of our attendees have lived here for 50 years and still found out something they didn’t know about this city. We aim for all our guests to learn something new at every turn.”
Tickets are on sale now at www.DurhamMuseum.org/Tours or by calling 402-444-5027.
Downtown Walking Tours – Saturdays, 9 a.m.
All tours depart at 9 a.m. from The Durham Museum and last from 90 minutes to two hours. Comfortable walking shoes and a water bottle are highly recommended.
If These Bricks Could Talk: A Downtown History
An update of our previous Downtown Walking Tour, journey through the city’s history and hear the stories of important early Omahans as well as 20th -century figures who made an impact. This tour is a great introduction to the city’s history and strolls through the Old Market and around important downtown landmarks.
Tour offered: Saturdays at 9 a.m. May 16 & 30 | June 13 & 27 | July 18 | August 1, 15 & 29 | October 10
Urban Hike, River City: Trekking Through Omaha’s Changing Landscape
Omaha’s landscape has changed over the centuries; hear how it has shaped local history. This tour is for lovers of the outdoors, who are eager to cover lots of ground, and lots of history. This tour focuses on historic preservation, nature and the ever-changing environment. It includes a visit to the new Polina Gardens and stops near the Missouri River, at urban parks and gardens, and the former sites of the Lone Tree Ferry. Note: this tour will conclude at Lewis & Clark Landing. Please plan ahead for your return journey to the museum.
Tour offered: Saturdays at 9 a.m. May 23 | June 20 | July 25 | August 22 | September 19 | October 17
The Average Jobber on the Urban Harbor
It is impossible to talk about local history without including the many workers who have shaped it. From jobbers to meatpackers and from brewers to railroad workers, see Omaha from the perspective of the everyday laborer. This tour focuses on industrial history, people who sought a new life in a new place, and how economic forces shaped the area. Enjoy stops at the former site of Jobber’s Canyon, Omaha’s “Red Light District,” and places touched by the Great Migration.
Tour offered: Saturdays at 9 a.m. June 6 | July 11 | August 8 | September 5 | October 3
Bus Tours – Sundays, 1 p.m.
All tours depart at 1 p.m. from The Durham Museum and last from 90 minutes to two hours. The tour vehicle is climate controlled, and we encourage guests to dress in comfortable layers and bring a water bottle. (only water is allowed onboard).
The Gritty City
Inspired by Omaha’s rough and tumble past, “The Gritty City” explores the growth and challenges the city faced as the country expanded west. Omaha was at times a sophisticated urban setting and at other times a throwback to the days of the Wild West. Learn why the city earned poems about its muddy streets and why some writers begged their readers to “take heed” and avoid Omaha at all costs!
Tour offered: Sundays at 1 p.m. May 24 | June 21 | August 16 & 30 | September 6 | October 11
Omaha, Center of the Nation
Throughout its history, Omaha has had a lasting impact on American politics. At the same time, the city has been shaped by and has mirrored the country’s triumphs and contradictions. Join us and journey across nearly 200 years of stories of Omaha at the center of the nation.
Tour offered: Sundays at 1 p.m. May 31 | July 5 | September 20
Omaha’s Parks and Boulevards
Did you know that Omaha developed a beautiful parks and boulevard system beginning in the late 1800s? In fact, much of this system remains today, linking popular parks like Elmwood and Hanscom with gorgeous tree-lined streets such as Happy Hollow and Lincoln Boulevard. The “Parks and Boulevards” tour will take you along the beautiful path these developers laid out so many years ago.
Tour offered: Sundays at 1 p.m. June 7 | July 19 | September 27
From Expositions to Jazz Musicians
In 1898, Omaha hosted the Trans-Mississippi & International Exposition, an event that brought millions to Omaha to learn about life west of the Mississippi River. Visit the former site of the expo and see the stately homes, parks and jazz halls that followed in its path. Plus, enjoy a stop at the historic Florence Mill!
Tour offered: Sundays at 1 p.m. June 28 | August 2
Last Call for Alcohol: Omaha’s Bootlegging History
By the time prohibition was the law of the land in the U.S., Nebraska had been “dry” for two years, and organized crime syndicates had established a well-oiled machine to turn profits. Local and federal authorities spent years putting together a case that ultimately brought down the “kingpin” of Omaha’s crime scene, Tom Dennison. This tour, based on Dennison’s 1931 federal indictment, takes a look at hotels, speakeasies and other key locations in Prohibition-era Omaha.
Tour offered: Sundays at 1 p.m. May 17 | June 14 | July 26 | August 9 | September 13 | October 4
Remember the Ladies! The Women of Early Omaha
Hop on a tour with us in honor of the founding ladies of Omaha. This tour will introduce you to a few of Omaha’s first women, from factory workers and business owners to religious leaders and activists, who contributed to the growth and success of Omaha today. Destinations on this tour will include driving through Omaha’s previous “Red Light District,” the Paxton Hotel, St. Cecilia Cathedral and much more.
Tour offered: Sundays at 1 p.m. May 10 | July 12 | August 23 | October 18
Private River City History Tours
Private shuttle bus tours and walking tours are available year-round for groups of various sizes, please inquire for pricing based on group size.
Grab your friends, colleagues or family members and hit the streets for a private River City History Tour. Pick your date, time and tour theme (subject to availability) and have the whole bus to yourself!
Pricing Information
Walking tours cost $20 for museum members and $26 for non-members. All tours last between 90 minutes and two hours. Comfortable walking shoes and a water bottle are highly recommended. If canceled due to weather, guests will be notified and granted a full refund.
Bus tours cost $32 for museum members and $38 for non-members. All tours last between 90 minutes and two hours. Tours take place on a shuttle or charter bus, which is climate controlled. We recommend dressing in comfortable layers and encourage guests to bring a water bottle (only water is allowed on the bus). Tour vehicle subject to change.
All tours include admission to the museum (you can visit the museum before and/or after your tour depending on museum operating hours). Payment is due at the time of reservation. Membership discount applies only to those in the household. Full refunds will be granted for cancellations requested two weeks in advance.
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, established in 1975, 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.
