USA TODAY Readers Name Union Pacific Railroad Museum No. 3 in U.S.

"Being included on USA TODAY's '10Best' list is a testament to the Union Pacific Railroad Museum's diverse and engaging exhibits, outreach activities, and its impressive collection of artifacts and photography," said  Patricia LaBounty, museum and collections manager. "We welcome tens of thousands of guests each year, and hope this recognition further expands awareness of the museum, expanding its reach beyond the many that already know and love it."

USA TODAY travel experts selected the top 20 nominees in contests in areas such as food, lodging, destinations and travel gear, and then conducted nationwide online surveys to determine winners in each category.

The museum's three primary exhibits include:

• America Travels by Rail, bringing to life the travel destinations Americans enjoyed from the 1930s through 1970s;
• The Lincoln Collection, celebrating the life of President Abraham Lincoln, who – upon signing the Pacific Railway Act – became Union Pacific's founding father, forever connecting and uniting the nation; and,
• Building America, which uses immersive design and cutting-edge technology to educate guests about frontier life, the monumental work required to construct the railroad and the communities that were created along its route.

The Union Pacific Railroad Museum's robust education program reaches more than 7,000 adults and students annually, with affordable tours and programs, as well as scholarships that cover program fees for schools unable to do so. The programs include exciting hands-on tours, workshops and in-classroom options to engage students of all ages. Lectures and additional learning opportunities are offered annually on a variety of railroad history topics.

The Union Pacific Museum Association, a 501 (c) 3, operates a patron program whose contributions go directly towards educational programs and exhibits offered at the museum, making it possible to offer free admission to the museum and affordable educational tours and programs. Information on becoming a financial supporter of the patron program is available online: http://www.uprrmuseum.org/museum/about_us/memberships/details.shtml 

The Union Pacific Railroad Museum is located at 200 Pearl Street in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and is open Thursday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. Please visit www.uprrmuseum.org or call 712-329-8307 for more information.

ABOUT THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD MUSEUM

The Union Pacific Railroad Museum is housed in a historic Carnegie Library building in Council Bluffs, Iowa, where visitors will discover an extensive compilation of artifacts, photographs, documents and equipment from more than 150 years of our nation's most ambitious endeavors – including constructing the transcontinental railroad and settling the West. Among the most popular museum exhibits are "America Travels by Rail," which celebrates the height of passenger travel; the Lincoln Collection, featuring artifacts from President Abraham Lincoln's rail car and funeral; and an exhibit that features the technology and innovation that sustain Union Pacific as a railroad industry leader. The Union Pacific Railroad Museum's mission is to promote a sense of connectedness that's shared by generations of people whose personal and family histories have been touched by the railroad.

ABOUT UNION PACIFIC

Union Pacific Railroad is the principal operating company of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP). One of America's most recognized companies, Union Pacific Railroad connects 23 states in the western two-thirds of the country by rail, providing a critical link in the global supply chain. From 2006-2015, Union Pacific invested approximately $33 billion in its network and operations to support America's transportation infrastructure. The railroad's diversified business mix includes Agricultural Products, Automotive, Chemicals, Coal, Industrial Products and Intermodal. Union Pacific serves many of the fastest-growing U.S. population centers, operates from all major West Coast and Gulf Coast ports to eastern gateways, connects with Canada's rail systems and is the only railroad serving all six major Mexico gateways. Union Pacific provides value to its roughly 10,000 customers by delivering products in a safe, reliable, fuel-efficient and environmentally responsible manner.

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SOURCE Union Pacific

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