When in Douglas don't miss the museum! Artifacts ranging from pioneer relics to Native American…read moreart. Also a surprising collection of period fashion and vintage dolls.

We were staying at the little hotel right next door (which is amazing, by the way), but it was an…read moreeasy walk from that parking lot to this one, and so we decided to go here, even though it was not on my itinerary originally. If you don't know me, which I'm almost positive you don't, swaying from my itinerary is not something that I usually do or something that I take lightly...so it kind of has to be awesome for me to do that. I came because a few of the reviews said that this place was even better than they had expected, and I am very happy to report that this is true. This entire place looks and feels like a labor of love. We didn't get to watch the entire movie in the theater, but whatever we did see, shows how much of an effort it was to go through and make this building and exhibition. This is the kind of place that makes you feel like you are a homeschooler, which I love. I loved how educational it was, and how much we learned during the trip here. The QR codes are awesome to go at your own pace and learn at each different station. There were people there that were willing to answer any questions and others that were digging up at the site and it felt like a very interactive experience. Because I had not already planned for this in advance, we were only able to give the site around an hour and a half, but I think to fully enjoy it, you would need to have around 3 hours worth of time available to come here. I'm grateful that we were even able to go for as long as we did. It was well worth the trip. The gift shop was also great. And we got binoculars and cute little magnets to take with us.

Well done! Very informative displays and easy to navigate. QR codes at each site play a narrative…read moreof what you are looking at during the self guided tour. Takes about 1-2 hours to see everything. Gift shop is okay and there is a snack shack out front selling hotdogs/hamburgers/ chicken strips and nachos. I would highly recommend stopping by The Mammoth Site if you are in the area.

I was hot, and the staff let me rest in the dining car for well over an hour…read more The historical train does lack basic and federally required ADA approved handy-capable access, but it didn't concern me. 9.2/10

We had a great time here going into all the trains. Don't miss the dining car. That was super cool…read more It is a gorgeous park. We are camped at the fairgrounds so it is an easy walk. Think we'll bring the dogs here later in the afternoon to enjoy the grass.

What a hidden gem! This museum is so worth a stop! The variety and quantity of items in their…read morewell done exhibits was amazing! Cynthia (volunteer) greeted us and did a wonderful job giving us an overview of this museum. This was Hot Springs K-12 school and each "classroom" has been transformed into collections of different areas of life here. There's something for everyone and even a place for children to dress up in period clothing. They love to answer any questions you may have. You will not regret taking time to explore this fabulous museum.

This is a fabulous museum filled with history and artifacts. The old school is gorgeous. It is four…read morefloors and huge! We spent a couple of hours walking around, reading, and reminiscing. Everyone there was having a good time from young to old.

I got the chance to visit this museum after a business trip and was impressed by the collection of…read moreassorted artifacts they had. Was fun to learn, even for a lifetime resident of the state.

Knowledgeable and welcoming staff! The two-level museum gives a great overview of the history Fort…read moreRobinson. The gift shop is stocked with many different books on Nebraskans history as well as gifts for little ones.

Better call to make sure it is open....... We drove way out of our way to go and they CLOSED LAST…read moreWEEK! Lady at counter was so cold almost made me shiver as we walked out! She could have at least gave us a brochure instead of the stink eye!

Fur trading post turned military outpost [Laramie WY]…read more We arrived at 4:32p and, luckily, the Visitors Center was still open and I was able to get my National Park passport stamped. The museum showcased items from eras past. When we visited Fort Laramie we learned that this was another iconic landmark and a major outpost stop because it served the needs to thousands of emigrants on the historic Oregon, Mormon, and California trails. Other historic routes that passed through Fort Laramie were the Transcontinental telegraph route, the Deadwood and Cheyenne stage routes and even the Pony Express Route between St Joseph Missouri and Sacramento California! whoa wow! Yes, a small monument stood at the park with a plaque that mentioned the Pony Express route and SacTown! I then enjoyed poking my head inside the structures. Uniforms, weapons and other artifacts were on display. Seeing the exhibit at the restored Cavalry Barracks was pretty cool too. There are clean restrooms inside. One of the structures, the Old Bedlam, is the oldest standing building in the State of Wyoming. Imagine that, and I got a chance to see it. Question: Who was the Army defending the emigrants against? Not foreigners but the American Indians which ended upon the death of Sitting Bull in 1890. The Army abandoned the fort that same year. The park is open everyday from dawn until dusk but the Museum and Visitors Center from 8:00a to 4:30p Learning history as we go. Happy travels! Review #3478

We spent about three hours walking around this site and it was clearly apparent how much time has…read morebeen taking to restore the buildings. Be sure to walk through the officers quarters to see the furnished rooms. Such a cool glimpse of days gone by! It was fascinating to use the informational signs to try and imagine what the fort looked like as a bustling community. It was especially interesting to me because I had an ancestor who came through and spent time here back in the 1850s. The people in the museum/gift shop were friendly and informative, and even offered a list of all the Bugle calls that played periodically while we were there. I loved that! This would be a great place to visit for adult adults and children alike.

Longest and Last homestead gold mine in Lead, South Dakota (near Deadwood)…read more Everyone should check this gigantic hole out for themselves. The history is interesting, except for the fact that wealthy entrepreneurs exploited the common folks during the 1929 depression and bought their gold claims/homestead for less than market value. The museum was informative and had incredible exhibits but lacked a feature movie to chronically narrate its evolution.

This was not in my itinerary to go here. It was recommended by our friends who are residence of…read moreDeadwood. For sure make a quick stop here in Lead if you're on your way to Deadwood. Pretty cool to learn and see the mine from above ground. It was active until 1998. There are tours available.

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!! Stumbled upon this little gem when all I wanted to do was just take a picture by…read morethe jackalope. Had no idea there was a little museum and train cars you can walk into! It's like taking a step back into time. There is one luxury rail car that has beautiful upholstery and is in great condition. There are sleeper cars, engines, and a caboose to boot. The best part is the staff hidden inside of the building (see video). They welcome you to Douglas with open arms and are eager to help you plan your visit. The ladies are so sweet and the man is a great train conductor! He turned on the train sets for us and I got all giddy like a 4 year old eating candy. Such a cool way to pay homage to the union pacific railroad. Definitely recommend if you're driving through Douglas, WY.

Very friendly and helpful! Lots of area information, including a whole section for the current…read moremonth's activities. They made it fun for my little ones while I looked over the brochures and gave each of them an official Jackalope hunting license. The kids were thrilled to learn all about the elusive Jackalope that Douglas is known for. Make sure you walk around and check out all the old trains, too! You can walk through the passenger and dining cars..very cool. Great place to stop and learn about the area whether you're traveling through or just moving out here!