Posted in Nebraska October 29, 2020 by

The Klown Doll Museum Is One of the Strangest Places You Can Go in Nebraska

Nestled along Highway 20 in Plainview, Nebraska, is one of the downright strangest little places at which you could ever spend an afternoon. Run entirely by volunteers, it’s a museum that is likely to delight some and downright terrify others.

We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. While we’re continuing to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, we don’t expect or encourage you to go check them out immediately. We believe that supporting local attractions is important now more than ever and we hope our articles inspire your future adventures! And on that note, please nominate your favorite local business that could use some love right now: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nominate/
The Klown Doll Museum is home to more than 7,000 clown dolls donated since the late 1800s.
Plainview Klown Doll Museum
It all started just before the turn of the century, when an employee at the Chamber of Commerce decorated the office with clown dolls. Before they knew it, more and more dolls had been donated by well-meaning citizens, and they were in need of a larger home.
Eventually, the city decided to create a museum for their ever-expanding collection, and they purchased the building the museum resides in to this day.
Plainview Klown Doll Museum/Facebook
Over the years, they've collected thousands of clown dolls from countless donors. In 2007, the building had an addition added and dedicated, and it is currently open six afternoons a week. One can find clowns of all kinds here, from the friendly and cute to the bizarre and unsettling.
Walking through the halls of the museum, one can almost hear the playful cacophony of the various clown dolls.
Plainview Klown Doll Museum/Facebook
The Plainview Klown Doll Museum also has their very own clown band, serving as self-described "good will ambassadors" to visitors of Plainview. The museum is a fun and unusual Nebraskan point of pride and joy, and it is well-loved by locals and curious tourists alike. Well, the ones who aren't terrified, anyway.
Whether one loves clowns or hates them, one thing is for certain: the Klown Doll Museum is a strange and incredibly unique place.
Plainview Klown Doll Museum/Facebook
If one so desired, they could volunteer their own time at the museum, keeping the clowns clean and comfortable. However, admission is always free, so one need not volunteer just to get their clown kick.
Some clowns stand alone, and others have duplicates among the shelves.
Orientalizing/Flickr
These little fellas have come from near and far, either to make someone's day or to totally ruin it, depending on one's opinion of clowns.
Plainview is quite proud of their (in)famous museum, happily calling themselves the "Klown Kapital" of Nebraska.
Orientalizing/Flickr
We suspect that the museum may be the "Klown Kapital" of the world!
Standing at eight feet tall, the museum's mascot, a jolly old clown by the name of Stumpy, waits patiently outside to greet the next guests.
Plainview Klown Doll Museum/Facebook

If you would like to pay Stumpy and friends a visit, the Klown Doll Museum is open Monday through Saturday, 1:00pm to 4:30pm. It is closed on Sundays; after all, the clowns need their beauty rest. Besides, why is “klown” spelled with a k and not with a c? We suppose you’ll have to pay the museum a visit to find out!

Have you ever seen this creepy-cute collection? Let us know what it’s like in the comments! For more Nebraska fun, check out these unique attractions.

Address: 306 W Park Ave, Plainview, NE 68769, USA