Sure, England has Stonehenge. But here in North America, we have Carhenge. And what could be more fitting for America than a monument made out of cars?
Carhenge is actually a popular tourist attraction located near Alliance, Nebraska, in the United States. Yes, it is indeed meant to be a replica of England’s more famous henge, but instead of massive stones, it consists of vintage cars arranged in the same iconic fashion and then painted gray. From a distance, you might shake your head and swear you were seeing things.
Since its construction, Carhenge has gained international fame for its quirky and creative approach to replicating the iconic monument. Carhenge was created by local Jim Reinders in 1987 as a memorial to his father, who was a big fan of vintage cars. Reinders decided to recreate the ancient monument using cars. So, he and his family gathered 39 cars from the 1950s and 1960s and set them up in the same arrangement as the stones at Stonehenge.
Travelers interested in visiting Carhenge can walk around the structure and take their obligatory selfies, which are sure to get lots of open-mouth emoji reactions on social media. In addition to the main Carhenge structure, the Carhenge complex features other car-related sculptures and art installations. There is also a visitor center on-site that provides information about Carhenge and its history. And, of course, there’s the inevitable gift shop with souvenirs.
In case you want to make a day of it, nearby attractions include the Knight Museum and Sandhills Center, which tells the story of this region of Nebraska, from its geology to its wildlife. There’s also Dobby’s Frontier Town, a living history museum recreates a 19th-century frontier town. And for you outdoorsy types, there’s the Box Butte Reservoir State Recreation Area, which provides a variety of activities, including boating, fishing, camping, and hiking.
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Alliance, Nebraska is a 6.5 hour drive from Omaha, but you can also fly into Scottsbluff, which is about 70 miles southwest of Alliance. Flights in and out of Scottsbluff are limited, so you might just decide to fly into Denver and enjoy a four-hour road trip through Boulder, Fort Collins, and Cheyenne, Wyoming. And what better way could there be to travel to Carhenge than by car?
Have you ever been to Carhenge? Tell us about it in the comments below!
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