Attractions
Experience the History
When Father Edward J. Flanagan purchased the Overlook Farm in 1921, it became the new, permanent site of Boys Town. Over the decades that followed, schools, churches and homes were built, and tens of thousands of young lives were transformed. When you visit the Village of Boys Town, you’ll get an unforgettable glimpse into the history of an organization that has given new hope to so many children at-risk.
Village Drive
A drive through our community reveals trees, flowering gardens, farmland, open spaces, memorial statues, fountains and abundant photo opportunities. You’ll see how our children live, work, play and go to school. Entrances are located on West Dodge Road, 132nd Street, 144th Street and Pacific Street. Maps directing you to all of our attractions, including the Hall of History and Garden of the Bible, are available at the Visitors Center near the West Dodge Road entrance. Download a map of our historic village.
Visitors Center/Gift Shop
Start your visit to Boys Town at our Visitors Center, located near the West Dodge Road entrance. Our café serves breakfast and lunch, and you can pick up information on guided and self-guided tours at the front desk.
The Visitors Center is open to the public:
Monday-Friday, 8am – 4:30pm (CLOSED Saturday & Sunday)
Visitors Center/Gift Shop
13628 Flanagan Blvd
Boys Town, NE 68010
Stop in the Gift Shop for one-of-a-kind collectibles and Boys Town branded gear. All profits from the Gift Shop support the work of changing the way America cares for youth and families.
Overlook Café
Overlook Café is located near the West Dodge Road entrance to the Village in the Visitors Center. The café is open to the public Monday thru Thursday. Overlook Café is also where new boys and girls become citizens of the Village of Boys Town.
The Café is open to the public Monday-Thursday.
Breakfast: 6:30 to 9:30am; Lunch: 11:00am to 1:30pm
Overlook Café
13628 Flanagan Blvd
Boys Town, NE 68010
531-355-1126
Hall of History
The Hall of History museum presents the unique history of Boys Town through permanent exhibits that use audio and video presentations. You’ll discover how Boys Town programs developed and how we continue our mission to change the way America cares for children and families. Some of the artifacts on display include the Best Actor Oscar presented to Spencer Tracy for his role as Father Flanagan in the motion picture “Boys Town,” and the Flex bus that once carried Boys Town athletic teams across America.
The Hall of History is open to the public
Monday – Saturday 10 AM - 4:30 PM
Sunday 11 AM - 4 PM.
Hall of History
14057 Flanagan Blvd
Boys Town, NE 68010
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Dowd Memorial Chapel
For more than 70 years, Dowd Memorial Chapel of the Immaculate Conception has stood at the center of the Village of Boys Town. Rising from the landscape in the tradition of a 15th-century Gothic church, Dowd Chapel shines as a beacon of hope for thousands of children seeking comfort and consolation. Inside, visitors can pay their respects at the tomb of Father Flanagan, the beloved founder of Boys Town. The chapel is a symbol of our commitment to helping troubled youth find a positive balance of the spiritual, intellectual and physical.
Dowd Chapel Catholic Mass Times
Mass is open to the public.
- Weekdays at 11:40 am
- Sundays at 8:00 am, 9:30 am and 11:00am
Dowd Memorial Chapel
13943 Dowd Dr
Boys Town, NE 68010
Garden of the Bible
Located midway between Dowd Memorial and Chambers Chapels, the Garden of the Bible was created in the summer of 1989 and features three acres of plants, trees and flowers. Boys Town youth designed and installed the pond and laid the brick sidewalks which form arches to complement the Gothic architecture found in Dowd and Chambers Chapels. This tranquil green space gives the youth a place for solitude and reflection in nature.
Chambers Protestant Chapel
The Herbert B. Chambers Protestant Chapel of the Nativity of Our Lord is the spiritual home for the Village’s Protestant youth. The chapel’s altar area is decorated with terra cotta tiles designed by Boys Town children. Visitors are welcome to attend services at Chambers Chapel throughout the year.
Worship Service: Sunday, 9:30 a.m.
Chambers Protestant Chapel
410 Bucher Drive
Boys Town, NE 68010
Father Flanagan House
The Father Flanagan House museum is the former residence of Boys Town’s founder, Father Edward Flanagan. The house was constructed in 1927 and was Father Flanagan’s home until 1941, when he moved to the rectory of Dowd Memorial Chapel. The Flanagan House’s décor and furnishings interpret the year 1929, when Father Flanagan would have been in residence.
Father Flanagan House
14153 Grodinsky Cir
Boys Town, NE 68010
Father Flanagan’s Garden
The garden’s roots date back to the 1930s when Father Flanagan encouraged gardening as a positive outdoor activity for children.
The garden is adjacent to the home where Father Flanagan lived and near a bronze statue honoring the man who dedicated his life to improving the lives of children around the world.