Attractions in Minden, Nebraska

Visit a museum, enjoy a picnic in the park, take in some shopping, swim some laps in the community pool, try your hand at acting in a community play, sign up for dance lessons, earn your black belt in karate or go crane watching on the nearby Platte River. Or maybe you would like to take in a sporting event, show your pet at the county fair, or even locate a geo cache around the downtown Minden square. Benefits of living in a small town are often taken for granted such as getting across town in just a few minutes, always seeing a friendly face in the grocery store and having the time to enjoy the activities that you choose to be a part of. So take a look at Minden and see why it is such a great place to live.

The Christmas City - "The Light of the World" Pageant

Minden is known as Nebraska’s Christmas City for good reason. Beginning in 1915 when City Light Commissioner J.C. Haws aspired to impress the state convention of the G.A.R., lights were strung from the railroad depot to the town square. Weather problems prevented the lights’ use until Christmas time, when Haws found a new home for the lights: the courthouse dome! Now the spectacular Christmas Lights on the Kearney County Courthouse in Minden, NE can be seen for miles and have been a source of pride for the community and state. “The Light of the World” is a Christmas Pageant that is another source of pride and is performed by local residents on the sides of the courthouse square every year. Every performance is free of charge and culminates in the illumination of over 12,000 bulbs that adorn the courthouse and the square itself. What a site to see and experience!

Minden Opera House

The Minden Opera House has been part of the downtown Minden scene since 1891. Initially a big part of the cultural and social life of the community, the brick structure eventually became less and less useful. Talk of razing the structure because of its unattractiveness and safety concerns abounded. However, the community decided otherwise. After a whirlwind fundraising campaign and countless hours of viewing plans, the project was begun. The new Opera House officially opened its doors on Memorial Day, 2000. This remarkable structure is now home to many receptions and conventions, art showings, theatrical productions, and high school and public events. The Opera House is open all year long and regularly schedules entertainment for its state-of-the-art theater. Tours are available. For more information on the Opera House visit their website or call 308-832-0588.

Pioneer Village

Pioneer Village is one of the nation’s best planned and most comprehensive collections of Americana, covering the period from 1830 to the present. The museum houses more than 50,000 objects in twenty-six buildings. It also includes a restaurant, a lovely gift shop with oodles of unique items, a comfortable motel complex, and a convenient campground big enough for most sophisticated RV’s and small enough for pup tents. Open since 1953, Pioneer Village is a one of a kind. If you can think of some type of collection, it is here. The display items are so well arranged in chronological order of development that they can all be seen by walking less than a mile. You may stroll as you wish around the facilities, or plan to take a couple of days to really absorb all the collections and displays. For more information on Pioneer Village visit their website or call 1-800-445-4447 or 308-832-1181. Open daily, the museum is located at the intersections of Highway 6/34 and Highway 10 in Minden.

Kearney County Historical Museum

The Kearney County Historical Museum houses memories of Kearney County since the Civil War. The museum is open from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. during the months of June through August. Admission is free, with donations accepted. The Kearney County Historical Museum has more than 7000 items in four buildings. The four buildings include the first school in Minden; the first store and post office in Kearney County and one of the first train depots in Kearney County. Several artifacts from the neighboring towns of Axtell, Heartwell, Norman and Wilcox, as well as, many historical articles of all kinds such as old photographs, books, magazines, and newspapers are on display. Handicap accessible. Call 308.832.1789 for more information.

Rowe Sanctuary

The National Audubon Society’s Rowe Sanctuary is located two miles south of the Gibbon Interstate 80 Interchange and two miles west at 44450 Elm Island Road. The Audubon Center is the second largest straw bale constructed building in the United States. You will be just yards away from the river in the Audubon Center where you can sit comfortably and view the wild life or you can experience the outdoors fully when you gain access to the flat waters of the Platte River and experience the outdoors for yourself. Along the river wetlands and woodlands, you can meander on the trails that wind along the river bank into secluded arbors where only the low rustle of the leaves can be heard. This is also where tens of thousands of Sand Hill Cranes and other migratory birds visit each year on their way north. Come experience the beauty of the Platte River. Call or visit Rowe Sanctuary’s website for a complete list of educational programs or seminars.

Fort Kearny State Historical Park and Recreation Area

Fort Kearney is located three miles south of Interstate 80’s Minden Interchange on Highway 10 and two miles west on Link 50A. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily from the third week in May to Labor Day. The re-created military post, built in 1848 to protect Oregon Trail travelers and to outfit soldiers for Indian campaigns, includes a stockade, blacksmith shop, parade grounds and interpretive center. The post is a popular place in the summer for historical re-enactments. Campers can enjoy the recreation area about one mile east and one mile north of the historical park. Also at the recreation area is a hike/bike trail that crosses two channels of the Platte River and covers 1.8 miles to just north of Interstate 80. A state park permit is required. It can be purchased at the campsite for $4 daily or $20 annually. Camping is $11 per night and $4 for electric hookup. Contact the Park Superintendent at 308.865.5305 for more information.

Harlan County Lake

Do you like boating and fishing? If so, you are in luck. Located only minutes away from Minden, is Harlan County Lake between Republican City, NE and Alma, NE. The lake boasts several outdoor activities such as water sports, fishing, hunting, camping and picnicking, horseback riding, four-wheeling and tubing below the dam. There are six boat ramps. Fishing tournaments are held through-out the summer. No state park entry permit required. Golden Age Passports honored. There are seven established campgrounds and 542 designated camping pads. Public access is permitted on federal property, including hunting and some primitive camping areas. The Corps Facilities, except the restrooms, are open year round. Camping fees vary. Contact the Project Manager at 308.799.2105 for more information.

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