Arthur NebraskaATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Arthur, Nebraska.
1. Courthouse Museum
WORLD'S SMALLEST COURTHOUSE
The Courthouse Museum in Arthur is listed by Ripley's Believe It or Not as the world's smallest courthouse, measuring just twenty-six by twenty-eight feet. Built in 1914 and operational until 1961, the museum contains original handmade furniture and documents from the early days of the county. Visitors can explore an array of artifacts dating back to the 1920s, offering a glimpse into the town's early justice system.
2. Arthur County Jail
HISTORIC TINY JAIL
The Arthur County Jail stands adjacent to the tiny courthouse, built just a year after the courthouse using two by fours. Despite its modest size, the jail features two rooms and a solitary confinement cell, providing insight into early law enforcement in the Sandhills. This historic building was among the first government structures built in Arthur County, which was officially organized in 1913.
3. Baled Hay Church
UNIQUE SANDHILLS ARCHITECTURE
The Baled Hay Church, built in 1928, is a remarkable structure constructed using baled rye straw with a stucco coating. Built by the Pilgrim Holiness congregation when conventional materials were expensive and difficult to find, this unique church showcases the innovative spirit of early Sandhills settlers. The church is listed in the National Register of Historic Places for its unusual construction method and its significance to the settlement history of the Nebraska Sandhills.
4. Arthur Bowring Ranch State Historical Park
HISTORIC SANDHILLS RANCH
Arthur Bowring Ranch State Historical Park is a 7,202-acre ranch located near Valentine that showcases the history of Sandhills ranch life. Visitors can explore the preserved ranch buildings and learn about the agricultural practices that have shaped this unique region of Nebraska. The park offers a glimpse into the authentic ranching lifestyle that has been a cornerstone of Nebraska's cultural heritage for generations.
5. Big Mac Parasailing
THRILLING LAKE ADVENTURE
Big Mac Parasailing offers visitors an exciting adventure soaring above Lake McConaughy, Nebraska's largest reservoir. With a 4.9 rating from visitors, this popular attraction provides breathtaking aerial views of the sandhills landscape and lake. Thrill-seekers can experience the exhilaration of parasailing while taking in the natural beauty of western Nebraska.
6. Bayside Golf Course
LAKESIDE GOLFING EXPERIENCE
Bayside Golf Course provides golfers with a scenic playing experience near Lake McConaughy in western Nebraska. The course features well-maintained fairways and greens with beautiful views of the surrounding landscape. Golfers of various skill levels can enjoy a challenging round while appreciating the natural beauty of the Sandhills region.
7. Ash Hollow State Historical Park
OREGON TRAIL LANDMARK
Ash Hollow State Historical Park preserves an important stopover point used by pioneers traveling the Oregon Trail through western Nebraska. The park features a visitor center, historic structures, and hiking trails that allow visitors to experience the same landscape traversed by 19th-century settlers. Natural formations including Windlass Hill and cave dwellings offer both historical significance and natural beauty to explorers of this historic site.
8. Mansion on the Hill
HISTORIC VICTORIAN HOME
Mansion on the Hill is a beautifully preserved Victorian-era home that offers visitors a glimpse into Nebraska's past. Built in 1887 for L.A. Brandhoefer, a wealthy businessman, the mansion now serves as a museum showcasing period furniture and artifacts. Visitors can tour the elegant rooms and learn about life in western Nebraska during the late 19th century.
9. Boot Hill
WILD WEST CEMETERY
Boot Hill Cemetery stands as a testament to Ogallala's wild frontier days when it was a booming cattle town in the late 1800s. The cemetery contains the graves of cowboys, drifters, and those who met violent ends during the town's rowdier days. Visitors can walk among the marked graves and interpretive displays that tell the stories of those buried on this historic hill overlooking the town.
10. Lake McConaughy
NEBRASKA'S LARGEST RESERVOIR
Lake McConaughy, nicknamed 'Big Mac,' is Nebraska's largest reservoir with over 100 miles of shoreline and crystal-clear blue waters. The lake offers exceptional opportunities for fishing, boating, water sports, and camping along its white sandy beaches. Visitors can enjoy walleye, trout, and bass fishing or simply relax on the shore of this massive recreational area in western Nebraska.
11. Petrified Wood Gallery
ANCIENT WOOD COLLECTION
The Petrified Wood Gallery houses an impressive collection of petrified wood, fossils, and Native American artifacts gathered from across the Great Plains. Founded by twin brothers Howard and Harvey Kenfield, the gallery displays thousands of specimens including massive petrified logs and delicate agates. Visitors can marvel at the natural history of the region through these carefully preserved and displayed ancient treasures.
12. Front Street and Cowboy Museum
OLD WEST EXPERIENCE
Front Street and Cowboy Museum recreates the atmosphere of Ogallala's wild cowtown days when it was the end of the Texas Trail. The attraction features a replica of an 1880s Main Street with a saloon, museum, and gift shop celebrating western heritage. Visitors can watch summer performances of the Crystal Palace Revue, a family-friendly western shoot-out and musical comedy show that brings the Old West to life.
13. Haythorn Land & Cattle Company
HISTORIC WORKING RANCH
Haythorn Land & Cattle Company is one of Nebraska's oldest and most respected ranching operations, dating back to 1884. The ranch maintains traditional cowboy practices while raising world-famous quarter horses and high-quality beef cattle on the rolling Sandhills. Visitors can arrange tours to witness authentic ranch operations and experience the living heritage of Nebraska's ranching culture.
14. Kingsley Dam
ENGINEERING MARVEL
Kingsley Dam is an impressive engineering achievement that created Lake McConaughy and helps control the flow of the North Platte River. Built during the Great Depression as part of a major irrigation project, the dam stands 162 feet high and stretches over 3.1 miles long. Visitors can view the massive earthen structure, tour the hydroelectric plant, and learn about the dam's construction and importance to Nebraska's water management system.
15. Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway
NEBRASKA'S NATURAL BEAUTY
The Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway passes through Arthur County, offering travelers breathtaking views of Nebraska's unique Sandhills ecosystem. This 272-mile route along Highway 2 traverses the largest sand dune formation in the Western Hemisphere, now stabilized by grass and home to diverse wildlife. Visitors traveling this byway can experience the rolling hills, wide-open skies, and small towns that characterize this distinctive region of Nebraska.