Life as a prisoner is not for me. There's a friendly…read moreattendant at the entrance to guide you and give info annoy the jail. Very interesting especially for my hubby and his friend.

This is a one of a kind place worth visiting. It was a revolving prison that was used from 1885 to…read more1969. It had 3 floors of pie-shaped cells inside a cage. The fourth floor was where the jailer and his family lived. The staff were very nice and knowledgeable about the place. This is not free but your $10 is definitely worth it. Their small gift shop (also were you check in) has shirts, pins, and magnets. This is walking distance from the Union Pacific Railroad Museum which is also another place to see in Council Bluffs.

The "Little People's House," which is the politically correct term for what is technically, a…read more"Midget House," is also known as the "Bregant House." Whew! Built in Council Bluffs, Iowa for a tiny Coney Island, N.Y. vaudeville couple in 1912, the house was custom designed to fit the needs of Jean Bregant, who was 42 inches tall and Inez Lewis Bregant who was a robust 39 inches tall. The small home is termed a simple Craftsman Bungalow, which was a popular architectural style in the early part of the 20th Century. "Ceilings and doorways were built to normal height for when normal sized friends came to visit the Bregants, but the fireplace, bathroom fixtures and kitchen appliances were scaled to fit the small couple," said a story on www.nonpareilonline.com I love the 40-inch-high fireplace, small kitchen appliances and mini claw foot bathtub. The home sits amidst several larger homes that now surround it. Best of all, this very quaint home was designated in 2013, as a local landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. According to www.frontporchnationcom, " A preservation group called Preserve Council Bluffs is raising money to restore the house. One of the most recent projects was restoring the front porch. That included shoring up the foundation and bricks, as well as restoring the original latticework in front." There is a gofundme page set up to solicit donations for Bregant House upkeep. https://www.gofundme.com/5ovym0 4 YELP STARS for this most unusual but fascinating historical home.

This is a very simple statement of one family and specifically 2 people Granville Dodge and his…read morewife. The description above does a very good job of telling you what to see. During the summer it is a fountain, although the city has been having problems with the piping and it seems to off frequently. If you take the time to stand or sit by the edge of the fountain there is a quiet presence. That it is even here is a story because when the next generations of the Dodge family left Council Bluffs the stature was dismantled and stored in their basement. Many years later when the property was bought with the intent of restoring it to its original look the statue was found. Eventually, a suitable location was found to place it. A personal side note because I live only a few houses from the angel. While they deny it now the Angel goes through stages of legends being told by the kids nearby. She is said to talk or move possibly even cry at certain times of the year. Full moons and Halloween are considered prime times. None of us can verify if any of the legends are true but I know of several 'now adults' who visited the Angel when they were kids usually without their parent's knowledge or approval.

Yes I'm reviewing another cemetery. My friend has a thing for these black angels scattered through…read moreIowa so we found another one (I previously reviewed one in Iowa City). Locally known in Council Bluffs as the "Black Angel," this statue was inspired by visions experienced by Ruth Anne Dodge, the wife of General Dodge, in 1916 on the three nights preceding her death. This memorial sculpture, dedicated in 1920, represents a dream experienced by Ruth Anne Dodge. The angel, on the prow of a boat, extends her hand and offers the water of life. The solid bronze statue, commissioned by the Dodges' two daughters, was created by Daniel Chester French who call the Black Angel one of his finest works. French is known nationally for the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. According to the legend, Mrs. Dodge related to family members that she had a vision of being on a rocky shore and, through a mist, seeing a boat approach. In the prow was a beautiful young woman whom Mrs. Dodge thought to be an angel. The woman carried a small bowl under one arm and extended the other arm toward Mrs. Dodge in an invitation to partake of the water flowing from the vessel. Then, according to accounts later published by Mrs. Dodge's daughter, Anne, the angel spoke twice, saying: "Drink, I bring you both a promise and a blessing." The daughter wrote that the vision came three times to her mother and, on the third visit, Mrs. Dodge took the drink as offered and felt "transformed into a new and glorious spiritual being." Mrs. Dodge died immediately after her supposed third vision, on September 5, 1916. She had died in her sleep at her home in New York. Her body was brought back to Council Bluffs where she was buried in a mausoleum in Walnut Hill Cemetery. The memorial was commissioned in 1917 to Daniel Chester French, the same man who sculpted the statue of the Minute Man in Concord, Massachusetts and the Lincoln Memorial Statue in Washington DC. The ten foot tall angel statue is made of solid bronze. The construction of the statue took approximately two years, and the cost of the statue was reported at around $40,000. Council Bluffs began its fine military record during the Civil War when, in 1861, the attack on Fort Sumter brought four companies of the town's volunteers to the famed Fourth Iowa Infantry. In command was Captain Grenville M. Dodge, later promoted to Colonel, then General. As the War ended, Dodge returned to the Bluffs, built an impressive home on Third Street for his wife, Ruth Anne, and family, and took a job as surveyor and chief engineer for the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad. Four years prior to the War, Abraham Lincoln, in a personal visit, had designated Council Bluffs as the eastern terminus for this first transcontinental line. Dodge later built railroads all over the world and was president of seven of them before he died. Grenville's daughters, Anne Dodge and Eleanor Dodge Pusey, commissioned and contributed this city's most valuable work of art in memory of their mother, Ruth Anne Dodge. Located very near to the cemetery where The Black Angel is located, is a monument marking the spot where Abe Lincoln selected this as the terminus of The Union Pacific Railroad. This impressive pylon was erected in July, 1911 and commemorates Abraham Lincoln's visit to the site in 1859. From this site, Lincoln viewed and selected the Eatern Terminus of the first transcontinental railroad built on the United States.

Spectacular views of the whole area looking toward Omaha! We visited near sunset which was an…read moreamazing time to enjoy the scene. It is interesting to ponder that President Lincoln was at this very spot over 160 years ago. Another positive is the short drive through the historic Oakland Ave. neighborhood to get to the monument. Many of the houses are beautiful and well-kept. The nearby Fairview cemetery is also worth a visit.

This is a small monument on a little plaza area located at the end of a small and cozy…read moreneighborhood. If you are driving here, you will find free street parking available within a reasonable walking distance. The area is realtively clean and looks to be in pretty good shape. The monument consists of a tall granite obelisk that was erected in 1911 by the Daughters of the American Revolution to commemorate President Abraham Lincoln's visit to the site in 1859. This is the spot where Lincoln viewed and selected the Eastern Terminus of the first transcontinental railroad built in the US. The bronze plaque on the monument reads as follows: "This monument is to commemorate the visit of Abraham Lincoln to Council Bluffs, Aug 19, 1859. From this point he viewed the extensive panorama of the valley of the Missouri River and in compliance with the law of Congress on November 17, 1863 he selected this city as the eastern terminus of the Union Pacific Railroad." The site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007. The monument's plaza offers an amazing panoramic view of the surrounding area. The monument is on the top of a hill and I had to take a steep set of stairs to get up there. It was a work out. You will find some benches to sit on around the monument and you will probably need them after transiting up the stairs. As I mentioned, this is a nice spot to visit that give you an awesome view all the way into Omaha, plus there is its historical significance and the opportunity to stand where President Lincoln once stood. This may not be a long consumer of your time. I was there about 15 minutes and moved on to my next destination. I recommend visiting this place on your way to another destination or making this part of another larger itinerary. The Golden Spike and the Black Angel.

Had a family day recently at the Durham to check out the newest exhibit, Disney: Heroes & Villains,…read moreand we had the best time! We loved seeing Cinderella's dress up close, admiring all the incredible details of Maleficent, and taking part in the scavenger hunt (don't forget to grab it at the front desk!). Such a fun, interactive exhibit that's truly great for all ages. https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTDRNvYs7/

I was in town visiting and wanted to see how Omaha's Union Station compares to the one we have back…read morehome. It was built in 1931 in the Art Deco style and designed by LA architect Gilbert Stanley Underwood. The museum has lots of photographs and examples of materials used that would be a delight for all those interested in architecture. Downstairs was the train depot and where you can go inside and sit in the train cars. Most of the rooms appeared to be part of their permanent collection, but part of the downstairs area has rotating exhibits. The exhibit on display was "The Negro Motorist Green Book" which you may be familiar with if you watched the 2018 film "Green Book." I had a great time at the museum and would return, although check the calendar as I went when the NE SciFest going on and I prefer calmer museum visits. Still, definitely would recommend checking it out!

Lauritzen Gardens is one of my favorite places to take family when they come to visit. It's such a…read morebeautiful place to walk around, and this time of year is especially gorgeous. Everything is so green, and all the flowers are in full bloom. The lookout with the trains is always a favorite, and there's so much to explore that we ended up getting plenty of steps in. The staff is always friendly, and the gardens are so well maintained. I'm also excited to see how the ongoing construction turns out. Definitely worth a visit if you're in Omaha!

A must visit spot while in Omaha! We got hit with beautiful 70 degree weather and took advantage of…read moreit by coming here. We got our steps in while admiring the greenery and well thought out flowers. My toddler enjoyed Sophia's garden playground the most. While I enjoyed the super massive greenhouse. There were so many photo opportunities. They don't allow outside food or drinks which is a bummer for those traveling with kids! However, there are two cafes that offered food for purchase. It looks like they offer events during the holidays. Looks especially fun during Christmas time, we'll definitely be back!

Spectacular view and watching the sunset is amazing. The walk is great exercise 3,000 feet and…read moreabout half an hour round trip. Love watching the eddies in the water and the large USA flag flying in the distance. You will come to a place where the state line between Iowa and Nebraska is reflected. It's windy so wear a light jacket.

As a life long resident of Omaha, my earliest memories of The Old Market begin with big family get…read moretogethers at Spaghetti Works. I'm happy that now an adult I spend a lot more time and all over the Old Market a there are so many wonderful local businesses on Howard street. Many of the eateries include historic photos of the blocks considered OM. Le Buillon even tell a story of how one man saved the OM from becoming a park garage. It's a staple in Omaha. If you are only in town for a day, it's worth it to park and walk up and down the brick paved roads. Theres now in 2024 ample parking around the area with 2+ garages. Too bad we lost free weekend parking, but Sundays are still free. There is so much to eat, drink, and shop on these blocks. My faves include Made in Omaha, Godega Market, Eat the Worm (lol), and of course Spaghetti Works, for nostalgia. It's our special area in Omaha and I will love to watch it continue to flourish.

Streets werent exactly clean…read more Stores ok. Some variety We could see some vagrants laying around and just sleeping or roaming the streets. Did smell like rubbish. Hopefully they clean the streets up