University of Nebraska State Museum

Nebraska turns out to be one of the richest places on Earth for fossil elephants, and generations of university scientists have collected mammoth and mastodon remains from across the state. Those finds fill Elephant Hall, where the mounted skeletons of these Ice Age giants stand in a row, giving visitors a sense of scale that no picture can match.

The undisputed star is Archie, a Columbian mammoth unearthed in Nebraska, so large that he counts among the biggest mammoth skeletons ever mounted for display. Standing beneath his tusks and towering shoulders is a humbling reminder that herds of these animals once roamed the very grasslands outside the museum's doors, only a geological blink ago.

The museum tells the story of Nebraska across staggering spans of time. Long before the prairie, the state lay beneath a warm inland sea, home to swimming reptiles and strange fish, and its fossils record that vanished ocean world. Later the land rose and dried into plains roamed by ancient rhinoceroses, camels, three-toed horses, and other creatures now known only from their bones.

Those discoveries connect to fossil sites across the state, from the ashfall beds where a herd of rhinos was buried by a distant volcano to the badlands of the panhandle. Morrill Hall gathers that scattered story under one roof, showing how the ground beneath Nebraska holds one of the finest fossil records in the country.

Beyond the fossils, the museum's galleries turn to the living natural world, with displays of Nebraska's birds, mammals, rocks, and minerals, and exhibits on the state's peoples and cultures, including the Native nations whose homelands the state comprises. Hands-on discovery areas invite children to touch, build, and explore, turning learning into play.

A planetarium carries visitors from the deep past of the fossil halls to the deep space overhead, with programs on the night sky and the universe. Together the exhibits make Morrill Hall a place that spans everything from ancient oceans to the stars, all rooted in the science and collections of the state university.

Because the museum is indoors and climate controlled, it is a reliable destination in any weather, a cool escape on a hot Lincoln afternoon or a warm one on a cold winter day. Its downtown campus setting makes it easy to combine with other city attractions.

Special exhibits, planetarium shows, and family programs keep the museum fresh through the year, so return visits reward. Whatever the season, the elephants stand waiting, as they have for the many generations of Nebraskans who grew up walking through their hall.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

The University of Nebraska State Museum, in Lincoln, is a natural history museum famous for its outstanding collection of fossil elephants and other prehistoric mammals, often called Elephant Hall. Housed on the university campus, the museum showcases one of the finest collections of fossil elephants and mammoths anywhere, along with dinosaurs, prehistoric life, wildlife, rocks and minerals, cultural exhibits, and a planetarium. Its towering mammoth skeletons are a highlight that delights visitors of all ages. A fascinating window into the deep past of Nebraska and beyond, it educates and inspires. With its remarkable fossils, the University of Nebraska State Museum offers a compelling destination in Nebraska.

You can see the celebrated collection of fossil elephants and mammoths in Elephant Hall, along with dinosaurs, prehistoric mammals, wildlife dioramas, rocks and minerals, cultural exhibits, and shows in the planetarium. The towering mammoth and elephant fossils, the dinosaurs, the natural-history dioramas, and the planetarium are the draws, offering a rich journey through natural history. The giant fossil elephants are the signature attraction. With its fossils and exhibits, the University of Nebraska State Museum offers a rewarding visit in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Yes, the museum is wonderful for children, with towering fossil skeletons to marvel at, dinosaurs, hands-on discovery areas, and a planetarium that make natural history exciting and fun for young visitors. The giant mammoths and interactive exhibits engage kids and adults alike, making it a great family destination. Its indoor setting is comfortable in any weather. Its family appeal makes the University of Nebraska State Museum a delightful destination in Nebraska.

As an indoor museum, the University of Nebraska State Museum is enjoyable year-round in any weather, making it a great stop in any season, with planetarium shows adding interest at scheduled times. Because hours and show times can vary, checking the current schedule before you go is wise. Because it is indoors, the museum makes a rewarding stop any time of year in Lincoln, Nebraska.

The University of Nebraska State Museum is on the university campus in Lincoln, Nebraska, within reach of the Nebraska State Capitol, downtown Lincoln, and Pioneers Park Nature Center. That makes the museum a compelling stop to combine with the Nebraska State Capitol and the other attractions of Lincoln on a visit to Nebraska.