Boomer Destinations: Grand Island, Nebraska

 By Tim Trudell

Exploring downtown Grand Island’s public art scene offers a mix of history and pop culture, from murals celebrating the city’s past and annual Sandhill crane migration to unique sculptures inviting conversations about the artist’s inspiration. While history is a major attraction in Grand Island, the city offers a diverse culinary scene.

Railside public art

With 13 sculptures located in downtown Grand Island’s Railside District, the sculpture walk is easily accessible, with most sculptures within a 12-block area. Each sculpture depicts an item of historical, social or pop culture significance. From a veteran amputee saluting the flag of the country he served to two children sitting on a bench reading, the art creates opportunities for discussion about the artist’s thought process or potential message. As with most art, the beauty (and message) is in the eye of the beholder.

While you’ll find murals on the sides of several buildings around the city, 14 artists created their own stories along the side of a warehouse among Walnut and South Front Streets in downtown Grand Island. Promoting the diversity of central Nebraska, The Mural Project represents the area’s history, culture and attractions. With the Platte River dominant in some murals, cornfields can be found in others. Animals are prominently showcased, from Sandhill cranes to tigers.

Stuhr Museum

With the Stuhr Building home to an art gallery and significant historical pieces, the building is considered the “Gem of the Prairie,” featuring hard right angles and beautiful columns. It was constructed in 1967 and designed by Edward Durell Stone. The clean-looking décor seems more like an art museum than history museum, but the staff does an impressive job of mixing art with history.

Railroad Town is a living history museum that takes visitors back to 1894, with about 100 buildings covering 200 acres. A western town invites you to stroll through history, from farms to a mercantile, and even a one-room schoolhouse, once prevalent on the Great Plains. You’ll even find a childhood home of Hollywood legend Henry Fonda, who was born in the Grand Island area.

An early 20th Century Osborne Hay Tedder and a 1925 Model T Ford are among the antique vehicles and farm implements you’ll find at the Farm Machinery Building. Showcasing more than 150 antique tractors, farm implements and automobiles, the farm building provides a look at technology from more than a century ago.

Lincoln Highway

Grand Island was one of the first cities selected to be on US Highway 30 – America’s first transcontinental highway – running from New York City to San Francisco. Grand Island was the second community to establish a seedling mile, which meant the town laid out a mile-length of road to be used for the new highway, nicknamed Lincoln Highway. The road originally crossed Nebraska from Omaha to the Wyoming border. It now begins in Blair, after the route was redesigned more than 70 years ago.

You’ll find historical attractions along Highway 30, including Kensinger’s gas station, which still offers full service options.

Fred’s Flying Circus

Shrek, Smurfette, Snoopy and Tweety Bird all call Grand Island home. That is, their models do. Fred’s Flying Circus has these and other cartoon characters standing high above the ground as part of “auto art.” Fred Schritt, a native Grand Islander, built cartoon-related cars for several decades. They’re displayed on a lot near the auto body shop on the east end of 4th Street. Schritt died about 10 years ago, but his art lives on behind a fenced-in area, which is easily viewable.

He started by making one car for fun. People liked it. So, he made another…and another…and so on. Soon, he had an art exhibit. The entire lot is full of cartoon model cars built atop poles. His first cartoon car – Peppermint Alley – actually stands outside the fence, along the sidewalk. Next to Peppermint is a mural on the fence line featuring a car crashing into the wall. A friend added a painted sign with “Fred’s Flying Circus.”

Historical architecture

As with most Midwestern cities founded in the mid- to late-1800s, Grand Island is home to impressive architecture. Walking around downtown, it’s easy to see buildings with decorative trim, brick overlays and historic dates noted on them. Some buildings, such as the cavernous Double V restaurant, were once car dealerships.

The Hall County Courthouse was designed by noted architect Thomas Kimball, using the Beaux-Arts classicism style. The brick structure, accented with limestone, features a domed interior.

Seasonal attractions

Sandhill crane migration

Each year beginning in late February and running through early April, more than half a million Sandhill cranes migrate north along the Central Flyway, a 100-mile stretch between Grand Island and North Platte. Spending 2-3 weeks each, the birds dine in farm fields and roost on sandbars in the Platte River.

The Crane Trust is an excellent location to watch the birds fly in for the evening, as well as learn more about their story. The Crane Trust hosts tours during the season, leading visitors to blinds, allowing up-close viewing of the prehistoric birds, which have been around for millions of years.

The Crane Trust is also home to a herd of purebred bison.

Fonner Park

Home to thoroughbred horse racing each February-May, Fonner Park is one of Nebraska’s primary live horse racing venues. For more than 70 years, horses have raced at the venerable track. Now home to Grand Island Casino Resort, visitors can play Las Vegas-style games in addition to watching horse racing.

Nebraska State Fair

Home to the Nebraska State Fair since 2011, 275,000-315,000 people annually visit Grand Island over the event’s 11 days, which culminates on Labor Day. With midway rides, concerts and other events and attractions, Grand Island has proven to be a good partner for the state fair.

Culinary scene

Whether you want a burger and fries, buffalo wings or perhaps a little Italian, it’s covered in Grand Island. However, if your taste buds seek something a little spicier, and perhaps south of the border, you’ve come to the right place. With restaurants covering foods from Cuba, Honduras, Mexico and other parts of Latin America, Grand Island is a food enthusiast’s paradise. Jireh Antojitos Hondurenos offers a taste of Honduras, while Kiko’s Cantina features an outstanding Mexican menu.

If your palate prefers something a little less spicy, visit Coney Island Lunch Room in downtown Grand Island. Home to chili dogs – made with mustard and onions – and a hot bowl of chili, diners can also enjoy burgers, fries and salads. You’ll want to check your ticket twice to ensure they charged you for everything, because the prices are very reasonable.

Whitey’s, named after a former Nebraska baseball star, features American pub food, including burgers and buffalo wings. With sports and Hollywood memorabilia located throughout both locations, Whitey’s also seems like it’s part museum.

Wave Pizza, with impressive dishes including wings and sandwiches, may be home to Jimmy Buffett’s “lost shaker of salt.” Look for it during your visit.

Grab a morning coffee or an evening wine with a slice of rainbow cake or chocolate treat at the Chocolate Bar.

Whatever your interests, Grand Island challenges your artist eye, historical interests and taste buds.