For those natural history buffs or dinosaur-loving kids, the University of Nebraska State Museum is a must! It’s the best natural history collection in the state, recently earning the University of Nebraska State Museum acceptance as an official affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution. The museum features a number of exhibits on the natural history of the plains, but is best known for its Wooly Mammoth Collection (earning it the nickname “Elephant Hall”). Visitors to the museum will find the one of the world’s largest collection of mammoth fossils. The research collections of the museum actually hold more than 1.5 million fossil specimens. Kids will love the Marx Discovery Center area, where they can touch and explore everything. The play dig site is usually a kid favorite, too. The museum is also home to Mueller Planetarium, where visitors can experience shows inside the 34-foot domed theater.

The museum is an affordable option for families, offering a $13 family admission fee for two adults and children or grandchildren ages 18 and under. The museum is open year round, with the exception of most major holidays.