The One Thing To Do in Nebraska Before the End of the Year

I’ll admit it, I’m new to exploring Nebraska. Only recently have I found myself falling hopelessly in love with its surprise sunsets that look hand-painted, its people who wave from their trucks like you’re already cousins, and its fields that stretch so far you start questioning whether the Earth actually curves. So when I was asked to write an article about the one thing you absolutely need to do in Nebraska before the end of the year, I turned to the experts. This time, the expert was a friend I knew in high school more than 30 years ago who still has deep family roots in the state. What matters most to me is that they love Nebraska with their whole heart.

I asked them where they take folks who come to visit, and the list came in hot. They suggested Carhenge, which I'd already written about, and a handful of other stops. The instant they started telling me about the Museum of the Fur Trade in Chadron, Nebraska, I knew I had my subject. Let me tell you why I fell in love with it and why you should visit this historic museum before the end of the year.

Nebraska has many hidden gems, but this frontier world preserved just east of Chadron feels like someone opened a time portal and politely invited you in. The museum sits on the same ground where a 19th-century trading post once stood. Yes! An actual post where real traders negotiated for furs, supplies, and survival itself. The reconstructed buildings stand exactly where the originals stood, down to the old postholes and the weathered stones that once formed the hearth. You can almost imagine the creak of wagon wheels or hear the soft rush of Bordeaux Creek nearby as you walk the grounds.

Inside, the collection stretches far beyond what you expect from a small-town museum. Over 6,000 artifacts fill the space, and every one of them tells a piece of the story of the fur trade and the people who shaped the region. You’ll see clothing, trade goods, weapons, tools, and art, each carefully preserved and displayed with the kind of respect that comes from decades of research and devotion. Photography is allowed, so bring a camera or your phone with enough battery to document everything from intricately beaded jewelry to an impressively large canoe that looks ready to launch down the Missouri River.

My high school friend described it best: "The fur trade museum in Chadron, NE: chock full of history and amazing pieces! From guns and ammo used by Native Americans to harpoons used by Eskimos, the clothing and art, a gigantic canoe, and a gazillion artifacts."

Chadron itself adds to the experience. The town has a friendly, relaxed energy—the kind where diners serve pie without being asked, and nobody looks at you strangely if you wave at strangers. You can grab lunch in town, stroll through local shops, and even head toward the Pine Ridge area, which offers hiking, wildlife, and views that make you wonder why every tourist guide doesn’t start with this corner of Nebraska. Being only about 60 miles south of the Black Hills doesn't hurt either. Chadron is the kind of place that makes a road trip feel like the right answer to everything.

Before the year slips away, make a plan to visit Nebraska, stop in Chadron, explore the region’s trails, and step into this remarkable museum. I was introduced to Nebraska as a curious newcomer and found myself genuinely enchanted by this place where history feels present enough to brush past you. If you want to uncover a legendary slice of Nebraska’s past tucked away in the northwest and explore a frontier world you never knew you were missing, this is your moment.

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