Carhenge

So far, I have highlighted several exciting places that are relatively close to campus. This was on purpose, as I know how highly college students value convenience. This week, I have decided to explore a unique attraction that can only be found in Nebraska. Here’s the catch though — it’s six hours away. My hope is that some of you enjoy a good road trip as much as I do. Grab your friends and some high-quality gas station snacks, and prepare to head out west to Alliance, Nebraska.

There’s a good chance that you have heard of Stonehenge, the iconic historical landmark in England. Nebraska has its own Midwest version of this sculpture that goes by Carhenge. As the name suggests, it is made entirely out of old American cars. To make the automobiles resemble the stones that were used in the original structure in England, they were all spray painted gray.

This project was originally created by Jim Reinders in 1987 on his farmland as a memorial to his father. Reinders had lived in England for some time, and his frequent visits to Stonehenge gave him the inspiration for Carhenge. It consists of roughly 39 cars that are stacked and arranged to mimic its English counterpart as perfectly as possible. As years passed, other car sculptures were added, so now the site is filled with car art. This led to the creation of the Car Art Reserve, which is right next to Carhenge.

In 2006, a visitors center was built to accommodate the tourists that were stopping by to see the odd structure. Since this is a sight that can truly only be seen in Nebraska, it has become one of the state’s most famous locations. Even though it lies far off the highway and is a journey to get to, it is definitely a classic Midwestern adventure.

Now, I know that this is a busy time of year, and the cold is setting in, but a road trip might just be the break that you need. Visiting Carhenge is free, so that’s another bonus. This sculpture is so unique to the state, would you really be getting the full Nebraskan experience without visiting it at least once?

By Kelina Rodgers