Note: This page contains affiliate links. If you decide to purchase through these links, we may receive a small percentage of the sale at no additional cost to you. You can read more about our affiliate partnerships on our policy page.
Carhenge: America’s Curious Vehicular Stonehenge
March 6, 2022
One of America’s most iconic roadside attractions sits on the flat open plains of Western Nebraska, just north of the quiet city of Alliance - population 8,151 according to the 2020 census.
Located on Highway 87 that stretches from Montana to southern Texas, Carhenge is a replica of the famous megalithic monument, Stonehenge, in Salisbury, England, the construction of which still confounds historians today.
Alliance native, Jim Reinders, created the Nebraska attraction in tribute to the original. According to the Carhenge website, Reinders himself studied the design of Stonehenge while living in England. A long career in the oil industry allowed for extensive travel to over 30 countries.
With the help of his family, Reinders erected Carhenge over six days in June of 1987, celebrating its dedication on the Summer Solstice of that year. 30 years later people gathered for the Solar Eclipse of 2017.
“We were able to reduce the time of the original Stonehenge construction by 9,999 years and 51 weeks,” Reinders notes on a welcome plaque at the site.
Donations are accepted at the site, and there’s a seasonal gift shop with all kinds of fun Carhenge schwag. If you show up and the shop is closed, no worries - you can now get your Carhenge souvenirs online.
Open Year-Round From Dawn to Dusk
Photography and text by Elaine Skylar Neal / Travels and Curiosities
more Unique roadside attractions
RAPTOR RANCH AND BEDROCK CITY
Looking for unique things to do near the Grand Canyon? Check out Raptor Ranch where you can see birds of prey and a vintage Flintstones-themed park all in one.
THE UFO WATCHTOWER
Visit one of Colorado’s Most Unusual Places, The UFO Watchtower, a museum and viewing platform where hundreds of strange sightings have been documented.
THE SASQUATCH OUTPOST
One of Colorado’s most curious attractions is a museum in the quiet mountain town of Bailey devoted entirely to Bigfoot lore.
Welcome to travels and curiosities
Hi there!
I’m Elaine Skylar Neal, the main content creator, photographer, and travel nerd here at Travels and Curiosities.
If you’re new to our website, we are a travel blog featuring unique destinations, secret places, and hidden gems. We also happen to really love nature.
We’re always interested in collaborating with other like-minded brands. If you’re interested in working with us, reach out today!
We love storytelling in all its amazing formats. As a photographer and online publisher, Adobe is a critical tool for running my business. Their creative cloud membership incorporating Lightroom and Photoshop speeds up my workflow and helps me make my images look their best. If you’re new to Adobe and the Creative Cloud membership, they have several plans to fit your creative needs, but the $9.99/mo photography plan allows you to access Lightroom, Lightroom Classic, and Photoshop from anywhere your photography takes you.
