Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum

The Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum sits along Interstate 80 near Ashland, roughly halfway between Omaha and Lincoln. It tells the story of Strategic Air Command, the Cold War force that was headquartered at nearby Offutt Air Force Base, and of aviation more broadly. Big hangars hold aircraft ranging from early propeller planes to jet-age bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. It is an easy, roomy museum to explore at your own pace, and it makes a good half-day outing from Omaha, about a 30-minute drive from downtown.

The centerpiece is the SR-71A Blackbird, which stands in the museum's atrium and anchors the free public guided tours. Elsewhere you can walk around a range of military aircraft, read about the crews and missions behind them, and see artifacts from the Cold War era. Signs beside the planes explain what each aircraft did and why it mattered, so visitors who know very little about aviation can still follow along without difficulty.

The museum also leans into hands-on learning. A Flight Lab and interactive exhibits cover science, technology, engineering and math, which makes it a good fit for school-age kids who need more than looking at planes. The Digitarium, the museum's dome theater, offers planetarium-style shows for a small additional fee. There is also an on-site cafe, so you can break up a long visit without leaving the building.

Aviation fans and history buffs will get the most out of the collection, but families with curious kids are well served too. Accessibility is a strength: the building is wheelchair accessible and limited wheelchairs and scooters are available at the front desk. Combine it with a drive-through visit to the nearby Wildlife Safari Park or Mahoney State Park, both only a few minutes away, for a full day in Ashland.

Highlights

• SR-71A Blackbird in the atrium
• Cold War bombers and reconnaissance aircraft
• Hands-on STEM exhibits and Flight Lab
• Digitarium dome theater shows
• Free public guided tours
• On-site lunch cafe

Tips for your visit

• Winter hours began Sept. 8, 2026 and run to June 1, 2027; the museum is closed Tuesdays and on Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.
• Free public guided tours start at the SR-71A at 11 am Monday to Friday and 1 pm Saturday and Sunday.
• The last hour of the day is half-price admission.
• Parking is free. Service animals only; weapons are not allowed.
• No reservations are needed for general admission.