How to Spend Two Days Exploring Columbus, NE

Looking for an under-the-radar getaway from Omaha, Lincoln, or Sioux City? I spent two days in Columbus, Nebraska (it’s within a two-hour drive of them) and packed in more than I ever expected.

I wandered through a jaw-dropping historic church complex, stood beside a replica WWII Higgins boat in a memorial park, saw how the Midwest’s most iconic salad dressing is made, caught a sunrise over the water, and had dinner at the oldest tavern west of the Missouri River. And that wasn’t even everything.

I partnered with Visit Columbus, NE, for this trip, and as always, the impressions are entirely my own.

When to Go: Columbus has something to offer year-round, but spring through fall is ideal for beautiful bike rides and strolls downtown. If you’re interested in the behind-the-scenes tours, please note that they all require advance scheduling, and the factories are typically only operational on weekdays. Plan accordingly!

Touring St. Michael’s Complex

St. Michael’s Church and Museum in Tarnov, Nebraska, packs an unexpected amount of history into a single stop. (It’s about 20 minutes from Columbus and 35 minutes from Norfolk.) From a Polish Catholic boarding school and original 1900s church to an accidental WWII bombing and rooms full of museum artifacts, this site surprised me in the best way. I spent two hours exploring—and still didn’t see everything. Tours are available upon request and must be scheduled in advance.

Read the full article: St. Michael’s Church and Historic Boarding School in Tarnov, Nebraska

Lunch at Regina’s Kitchen

After a morning exploring Tarnov, Nebraska, I drove to Columbus, where I’d spend the bulk of my time in Platte County. First up was lunch at Regina’s Kitchen. This place instantly felt like a local hug. Regina runs the whole place by herself, and she’s clearly the heart of its success and the reason locals visit every single day.

It’s the kind of place where you make friends with strangers. And honestly? I loved every second of it.

Of course, she also has the kind of menu that reads like a love letter to your grandma’s kitchen. I ordered the caprese panini, which has tomato, fresh mozzarella, pesto, salami (I skipped the meat), avocado, and balsamic glaze. I devoured it! My friend ordered the chicken salad and loved that too.

There are also always daily specials and rotating desserts and pies. And if pie isn’t your thing, she makes some killer gelato. I wish I’d had room for dessert, but I darn near ate my whole sandwich!

A Tribute to a War Hero: Andrew Jackson Higgins Memorial

You don’t expect to stumble on a full-size replica D-Day landing craft in the middle of Nebraska, but that’s precisely what you’ll find at the Andrew Jackson Higgins National Memorial in Columbus. This powerful tribute honors the Columbus-born inventor of the Higgins boat, a pivotal piece of World War II history. Visitors can step aboard a replica boat and even see sand capsules from every beach where Higgins boats landed. It’s a moving and unexpected slice of military history tucked into Pawnee Park.

Read my full article here: Andrew Higgins National Memorial in Columbus, Nebraska

Dinner at Prime10 Steakhouse

My visit to Columbus lined up perfectly with Prime10 Steakhouse’s first-ever Prisoner Wine Dinner—and it was an absolute chef’s kiss. Five courses, each paired with a spot-on wine selection, and not a single miss on the menu.

From the chardonnay-poached pear and strawberry-cranberry salad to the espresso chile-rubbed filet and s’mores-inspired dessert, everything was delicious. And let me tell you—these weren’t dainty little bites. The portions were very generous.

The vibe was elevated but not the least bit stuffy, and guests were randomly seated with others. I’ll admit, that made me a little nervous at first—especially since I was flying solo and ended up at a table with a couple—but it turned out to be a blast. We chatted like old friends by the end. It was one of those nights that makes you go, “Okay, Columbus. I see you.”

Tour Behlen Manufacturing and See the Atomic Bomb Survivor

Behlen started in a Columbus, Nebraska garage in the 1930s making clamp-on steel-toed boot caps. Nearly a century later, it’s a sprawling, 850,000-square-foot operation building everything from grain bins to metal buildings—and still doing it all right in Columbus.

The tour drops you straight into the action: giant lasers, welding robots, forklifts zipping by, overhead cranes in motion —oddly satisfying to watch. Old-school methods have been replaced with sleek automation—some machines run all weekend without anyone touching them.

If you’re into behind-the-scenes factory tours, big machines, or watching sparks fly (literally), this one’s worth the stop. Tours are available upon request and must be scheduled in advance.

Pro Tip: If you’re into quirky stuff (same!), make sure to check out the dusty pink steel building on the side of the parking lot—either before or after your tour. That very building went through atomic bomb testing in the 1950s out in Yucca Flats, Nevada… and survived.

Lunch at Dusters Restaurant

Dusters is a really fun restaurant and brewery. It’s named after those long jackets people wore in old-school open-air cars, which makes sense since the building used to be the Gottberg Auto Company. I loved the big mural inside! It tells the history of Platte County, and if you look closely, the lady in the car is rocking a duster.

The most popular menu items are the Reuben sandwich and the French Onion steak, and be sure to try the house-made root beer—it’s fantastic!

I ordered the Sunset Salad for lunch. It had shaved turkey on it rather than the typical chicken, so I was super happy! I also tasted Dorothy Lynch salad dressing for the very first time. It was sweet and slightly tangy, like a blend of French and Italian. It had a really nice flavor! But I’m not a salad dressing person, so I only had a taste.

On your way out, don’t forget to look up—the exterior has some of the coolest architectural details, and I almost missed them!

Rent a Bike (for Free) and Ride the Trails

So, technically, I didn’t end up doing this, exactly—thanks to a rainy forecast (that turned out to be a false alarm). The plan was to pick up a bike at the YMCA (they require a credit card for ID, but it’s not charged) and ride the Columbus Area Recreational Trails (C.A.R.T.) by the lakes.

However, I did take a driving tour to see what I would’ve experienced. And one morning just after sunrise, I drove to Castner’s Crossing—a footbridge that spans the Loup Canal and connects two trail segments. I walked the trail for a bit, and the view from the bridge was especially beautiful.

Self-Guided Sculpture and Mural Walk

The Columbus Sculpture and Mural Walk in the Trackside District works a lot like the one in Norfolk, so I figured the Otocast app would be my go-to for background and artist info. But if apps aren’t your thing, there are printed guides at Frankfort Square—and even a web version you can pull up.

That said, simply wandering around downtown Columbus, as if it were an art-themed scavenger hunt, is part of the fun. I followed the map mostly… but also just let myself get a little lost. Highlights for me? The two-sided buffalo sculpture in Frankfort Square and the bold historic mural right across from it.

Historic Evans House Tour

This house in Columbus has lived many lives, and its story starts with Dr. C.D. Evans, who arrived in the late 1800s en route to Colorado Springs but stayed to help during a smallpox outbreak. He ultimately became a huge part of the community. He married Lorena North, whose family includes Indian scouts who rode with the Pawnee and a grandfather who ran a ranch with Buffalo Bill Cody. (!!)

The 1912 home features massive one-piece columns from Georgia—Burlington Northern literally built a rail spur to deliver them—and still has its original porch lighting.

Cost to build back then? $85,000. During the Depression, Lorena sold baked goods out the back door to keep the house afloat, and Dr. Evans often took payment in chickens and pigs from those who couldn’t afford care.

After Dr. Evans passed, the home was sold to the Elks Lodge, then to a group who turned it into the infamous Bunny Club (yes, that kind). A dining hall and party area were added, and for a while, it was a destination spot.

Meanwhile, the upstairs housed everything from an architecture studio to Girl Scout offices. It’s been a mansion, a lodge, a club, and a business hub.

The current owner has thoughtfully restored the home’s key architectural and historical details, while adding some seriously cool modern updates. It’s a fantastic mix of old soul and fresh style. Tours are available upon request and must be scheduled in advance.

Dinner at Glur’s Tavern

Glur’s Tavern has been serving up stories (and drinks) since 1876, when Swiss immigrant brothers William and Joseph Bucher opened it as a saloon. Nearly 50 years later, William sold it to longtime employee Louis Glur—just in time to put his name on what would become the longest continually operating tavern west of the Missouri River.

Legend has it that Buffalo Bill Cody was a frequent guest, stopping in a dozen or so times. On one memorable visit, he supposedly rolled in with his Wild West troupe and bought a round for the entire bar—paying with a $1,000 bill. And under Louis Glur’s watch, it wasn’t just a bar—it was a lively spot with a beer garden and traveling German bands.

Even during Prohibition, Glur’s kept the doors open, pivoting to soft drinks, root beer, and ice cream. Today, the original oak floors are still underfoot, and the building—while slightly expanded—feels much like it did more than a century ago. History with a side of beer? Yes, please.

Glur’s is known for its award-winning burgers made with fresh, locally sourced, grass-fed beef—and those famous fries: thick-cut, skin-on, and sprinkled with classic Lawry’s seasoning. I ordered the mac and cheese burger, my friend went with the BBQ brisket burger, and we split a basket of Glur’s fries. Everything was so dang good.

See How Dorothy Lynch Homestyle Dressing is Made

On a tour of the Dorothy Lynch plant in Duncan, Nebraska, I got a firsthand look at how this iconic Midwest dressing goes from massive vats of tomato paste to sealed, labeled bottles ready to ship.

It starts early—4 a.m. to be exact. The crew preps their ingredients, most of which are locally sourced, including tomato paste that comes in giant 2,200–2,500-pound totes. The mixing room runs two batches at a time. Oil is pumped in first, followed by dry spices and a liquid preservative. Everything is cold-mixed—no heating involved—using computer-controlled mixers. Once fully blended, the dressing is pumped into holding tanks.

From there, it moves into the bottling room, where various lines handle different sized containers. Bottles are blown with sanitized air before being filled. A piston filler ensures an exact volume, then bottles are capped, sealed, and date-stamped. A steam tunnel shrinks the label sleeves into place. They even add a shot of nitrogen to help with shelf life and bottle strength.

After production, they dismantle everything for a thorough sanitizing—every pump, pipe, and tank, every single day. The cleaning process takes just as long as production itself!

Seeing the factory in motion gave me a whole new appreciation for that bright orange bottle. Tours are available upon request and must be scheduled in advance.

Lunch at My Place Bar

For my final meal in Columbus, I went with a hometown classic: lunch at My Place Bar in Duncan. It’s the kind of spot where the menu’s straightforward, the food’s better than it has any right to be, and the bartender makes you feel like a regular. I got the Philly cheesesteak with curly fries, and it totally delivered.

One of the best parts of traveling is finding local gems like this. Chains have their place, but the real character lives in the independents..

Final Thoughts

Columbus is Nebraska’s most industrial city—and one that’s often overlooked. But it’s full of unexpected treasures if you take the time to explore. I most certainly did, and so should you!

For more area information and help scheduling tours, connect with VisitColumbusNE.com

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