3 Iconic Places in Nebraska That Look Way Cooler on Instagram

Have you ever seen a photo of a place in the Cornhusker State that compelled you to pay a visit—only to arrive and think to yourself, "Well... that's different." I know I have. It's not that they're bad places or that they shouldn't be visited, necessarily. It's just that they don't quite live up to the images you see of them on social media or other online outlets. Take, for example, this trio of tourist destinations in Nebraska. When I visited, they just didn't look quite as grand as they had in the photos I'd seen before I arrived.

1. The Archway - Kearney

In photos, the Archway in Kearney is often shot from low perspectives and at angles that make it look like it's a massive, arcing expanse that stretches across the prairie and majestically greets travelers lucky enough to pass under it on Interstate 80. In reality, though, it looks from the outside more like a Wild West-kitsch version of the freeway oases you see in the Chicago area. It just doesn't look quite as cool in real life as it does in online photos that I've seen.

On the other hand, I thought the immersive exhibits inside the Archway, covering pioneer life and westward expansion, including the Oregon Trail, which passed through Nebraska, were really impressive. Maybe my expectations had been lowered from the letdown of the Archway itself, so I was easily impressed by the experience, but I think you should definitely make the stop and see the exhibits—no matter what you think of the Archway.

2. Chimney Rock - Bayard

Speaking of the Oregon Trail, another spot that surprised me after seeing photos of it online was Chimney Rock, which is located within the eponymous national historic site. While I think the historic site and its interpretive materials are fascinating—it was an important landmark along the Oregon and California Trails, as well as for Mormons during their westward migration—the rock itself is surprisingly... small. At 350 feet, it towers above the low rolling prairie around it, and I think it's this prominence that makes it seem so much more majestic in photos. In real life, though, I was surprised by its diminutive scale as a geological formation (especially on the way back from the Rocky Mountains in Colorado). That said, I still think it's worth stopping at Chimney Rock National Historical Site and hiking the short interpretive trail—this humble rock formation played a key role in American history.

3. Golden Spike Tower - North Platte

This one may have been due to a lack of deeper research on my part, but I saw the name "Golden Spike Tower and Visitor Center" and a photo, and I thought I should probably stop, and when I did, my thought was, "This is it?" I was a little confused by the name; after all, the famous golden spike that formed the transcontinental railway was driven at Promontory Point, Utah, and not in North Platte, Nebraska. It seems that it evokes the golden spike because the titular tower overlooks the world's largest railyard, and the spire itself is a kind of control tower-like structure above the yard—something that is not immediately apparent from online images. Again, lack of research on my part, but most of the images don't really show the railyard—just the tower. So I went in—there's a gift shop and some rail exhibits—and I went up to the observation deck (the seventh floor is outdoors, the eighth is enclosed). And, yup, there were trains in a big railyard. I like a train, but I'm not the kind of train enthusiast that this visitor center was designed for. If you are, however, you should definitely go.

Have you visited any of these places only to discover that they didn't look like the online photos you'd seen of them? Can you think of any similar spots or overhyped places in Nebraska? Please let us know what you think on our Nomination page.

If you're ready for your next Cornhusker State adventure, head over to Only In Your State’s AI-powered itinerary planner for some additional travel inspiration.