Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum
Ashland, Nebraska
Massive airplanes are spread out on the grounds and in the expansive exhibit halls of the Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum in Ashland, Nebraska, about 30 miles southwest of Omaha.
The Smithsonian affiliate houses an impressive collection of Cold War-era aircraft and artifacts. Visitors can get close to the menacing-looking SR-71 Blackbird in the futuristic glass atrium and check out nine bombers, including a B-36J Peacemaker, a B-17 Flying Fortress and a B-1A Lancer. Spacecraft exhibits include the Apollo Command Space Module and a collection of artifacts from astronaut and Nebraska native Clayton Anderson.
Private guided tours are available for groups of 20 or more. Two new flight simulators are also available for groups and immerse visitors in the realism of flight. Groups can also time their visits with special events such as Helicopter Day and the Indoor Air Show.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Cleveland
Just as rock ’n’ roll is ever changing, so are the exhibits and displays in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. But staples found behind the glass pyramid facade include an Elvis exhibit with an exclusive 14-minute film about the King and the “Legends of Rock and Roll” exhibit that showcases artifacts from the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix and more. The Guitar Gallery features instruments owned by Eric Clapton, John Lennon, Tom Petty, Jerry Garcia and others.
The hall of fame offers a variety of group packages that, along with discounted admission, can include a scavenger hunt, meal vouchers for the All Access Cafe and a special museum discount card. Groups can also add special experiences, such as an opportunity to perform on one of the hall’s two stages, an excursion cruise or a live performance by the Cleveland Orchestra at Severance Hall.
Milwaukee Art Museum
Milwaukee
One of the most impressive works of art at the Milwaukee Art Museum is the building itself. The 142,050-square-foot Quadracci Pavilion addition was designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and was completed in 2001. Its signature feature is the Burke Brise Soleil, a pair of steel-fin wings that open and close each day.
The museum’s history dates to 1888; its collection includes nearly 25,000 works of art, and it also welcomes special exhibits, such as “Coming Away: Winslow Homer and England,” which will open March 1, 2018, and continue through May 20, 2018.
Docent-led tours are available for groups of 15 or more, and reservations should be made six to eight weeks in advance. Groups can also customize their visits with scavenger hunts, art-making sessions and gallery activities.
