Great Platte River Road Archway Monument, Kearney

People were very friendly, good exhibits history of westward travel. Clean,cool place to stop. drove past for years glad I stopped.

The archway is impressive over the interstate. The greeter was helpful while being in character. The price was high for what the exhibit offered. The tour is short, under 1 hour. The tour is self guided with earphones. Watching the movie at the beginning going up the escalator was cool.

You walk right in and get greeted by a old time character and it really sets the mood. They are even expanding from only history and having their 2nd annual Pow Wow - Pawnee and Arikara. It is going to be held on June 18-19, 2010. Hope to see you all there.

Wonderful opportunity to learn about pioneer travels and development of the USA from early pioneer days. The walk through display/movie with individual headsets is a unique experience! Everyone MUST see this. I-80 Exit 272 is worth finding to experience the inside of the archway. Only one exit from I-80 so don't miss it. If you do, turn around and go back!!

I liked the idea of showing the visual history of the great road starting with the early migrants crossing the plains. I thought the displays well done, the commentary via earphones pertinent and informative, and in all a most enjoyable way to understand the history of the route that grew into Interstate 80. I almost skipped the visit until a volunteer outside the archway spoke highly of what was inside. I also enjoyed the "sheriff," on duty as a 'greeter,'who introduced the visitor to the past. Although it was quite warm the day I visited, I wouldn't have missed this panorama of history for anything.

My familiy and I have been to the Archway four times and everytime we go we enjoy it more. As a avid history buff this is one of the neatest places not only in Nebraska that we have visited but it rates in the top ten of any historic re-enactment type place I have been. The help is always willing to help and explain if you need it and the place is very well kept and clean. Makes you think that you are back in the 1800's just walking thru. Steve Ervin.....Cambridge

This IS lame. After backtracking a couple of miles off I-80, we were met by a hokey re-enactor who told us where to buy tickets and he spoke so slowly I wanted to shake him. They give you these headphones to wear, and the message consists solely of re-enactors reading "personal experiences," and I imagine they were as fake as the rest of the exhibit. Then you're walking around trying to listen to the headphones but the exhibits also have loud sound effects, like tornadoes, trains, etc., and it's all very loud. My main objection is that there's almost nothing real here--only a few small artifacts. Worse, you do not get a view of the breathtaking prairies from the monument--only two small windows with radar guns, one of which was broken. Restrooms were filthy! Don't waste your time, instead go to Pioneer Village in Minden, @15 miles south on 10 highway. It's real.

The Platte River Valley is beautiful and serene until the Great Platte River Road Archway appears on the horizon. This structure spanning Interstate 80 is quite an eyesore. On each end of the Arch are very hideous statues or sculptures. To be honest, I'm not sure what they are supposed to resemble. The admission price to enter the Arch is way too steep. In fact, the Arch should have to pay tourists to enter. Most of the displays are lame. In order to learn about the displays you have to wear these bulky earphones that have more static than voices. I don't know about you, but I am not too fond of the idea of wearing something that maybe hundreds of others have used! All in all, this monument is a pathetic tourist trap. I will definitely not return and would recommend skipping the Arch monument.

The exhibts are exciting and very educational depicting the history of transportation through this area. One needs to plan on spending more than a few minutes going thrugh the exhibit, however. You need this to read all of the descriptions for the many photogaph on display. If you are staying in Kearney the museum is not difficult to get to. Since there is no exit at the museum it is difficult to get to, especiall east bound traffic. But the stop is worth backtracking. I would recommend it especially for families with school age children.

Excellent, well-constructed and entertaining review of various travels across the country. From the Mormon & Oregon Trails, Transcontinental Railroads, Lincoln Highway, I-80...great stuff for every American.