Editor's note: The park is closed seasonally for maintenance and renovation, but will be open and ready for visitors in May.
Nebraska isn't just landlocked; it's actually the only triple-landlocked state in the country. That means that you have to travel through at least three states (or two states and a Canadian province) to reach an ocean. Knowing this, it might seem a little unusual that there's an impressive naval museum here, including a warship and a submarine.
Freedom Park, on Omaha's riverfront, is so underrated that many people don't even know it exists.
This outdoor park and Naval museum has two one-of-a-kind displays. The USS Hazard, the last Admirable Class Minesweeper left in the world...
...and the USS Marlin, the last target and training US Navy submarine left in the world.
Free guided tours are offered on Saturdays from 10 am to 3 pm, so you can go inside these historic structures...
...and imagine how the crews used to perform their very important jobs here.
If you've never toured the inside of a Naval craft, you're in for a surprising experience.
The quarters are even closer than you might imagine; claustrophobes beware!
The park also has an impressive collection of other displays, including helicopters, military vehicles...
...rocket launchers, missiles, and anchors, among others.
The park was closed for several years due (somewhat ironically) to flooding.
But the tireless efforts of Naval volunteers have resulted in a revamped, improved park.
Everything has been cleaned, polished, and painted to restore it to shipshape condition.
If you have family members who served in the Navy, and particularly if they served on the Marlin or Hazard, this is an especially fascinating place to visit.
But these historic objects could wow anyone, even visitors with no connection to the Navy.
Visit Freedom Park at 2497 Freedom Park Road, just down the street from Eppley Airfield along the Missouri River. The park is only open Saturdays from 10 am to 3 pm, and admission is free. Check out the Freedom Park Facebook page for special tour information, events, and news.
While you're in the area, look upstream for the unique and fascinating abandoned East Omaha Bridge.
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