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Village Drive
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Whether you’re just in the neighborhood or are looking for a nice, scenic place to visit, we invite you to drive through our community. Entrances to the Village can be found on Dodge Street, 132nd Street, 144th Street and Pacific Street.
Driving through the Village allows you to see where our children live, work and play. Trees, flowering gardens, farmland, open spaces, memorial statues and fountains create a picturesque setting that’s perfect for a leisurely drive. Maps directing you to all of our attractions, including the Hall of History and Garden of the Bible, can be picked up at the Visitors Center (near the Dodge Street entrance). Self-guided audio tours on tape are also available at the Visitors Center.
Hall of History
The Hall of History museum presents the unique history of Father Flanagan’s Boys’ Home through permanent exhibits incorporating audio and video presentations. Discover how Boys Town programs continue Father Flanagan’s mission to bring help, healing and hope to children and families across America and the world.
The museum is located in the former Dining Hall built by Father Edward Flanagan in 1939. Some of the artifacts on display include the Oscar presented to Spencer Tracy for his work in the motion picture “Boys Town,” and the Flex bus which carried the Boys Town athletic teams across America. Visitors can discover how Father Flanagan was able to spark a revolution in the field of childcare, impacting the lives of children around the world, by listening to voices from the past and seeing how the organization he founded continues to work for America’s future.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 the home of Father Flanagan until 1941, when he moved to the rectory of the Boys Town Dowd Memorial Chapel.
Dowd Memorial Chapel
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Visitors are welcome to attend Mass at Dowd Chapel. |
For more than 60 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. The chapel is a symbol of our commitment to helping troubled youth transform their lives into a positive balance of the spiritual, intellectual and physical.
The timeless beauty of Dowd Chapel’s Gothic influence is evident in the use of Indiana Bedford limestone inside and out. Strong buttresses line the nave and support a simple timber ceiling inside and a variegated English tile roof outside.
Adjacent to the nave on the west side is the Father Flanagan Shrine. Boys Town’s famous founder is entombed in a bronze vault that briefly tells his life story to thousands of visitors every year. Father Flanagan often said, “All boys need to learn how to pray, how they pray is up to them.”
The Boys Town Executive Director, Father Steve Boes, currently serves as pastor for Dowd Chapel. Five priests have served as the chapel pastor since its completion: Monsignor Edward J. Flanagan, from construction until his death in May 1948, Monsignor Nicholas Wegner, from 1948 to 1973, Monsignor Robert Hupp, from 1973 to 1985, Father Val J. Peter, 1985 to 2007, Father Steve Boes, 2007 to present.Chambers Protestant Chapel
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Visitors are welcome to attend services at Chambers 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. Other decorative highlights include cast bronze gargoyles and stained-glass windows.
Chambers Chapel’s Gothic architecture was specifically chosen to complement Dowd Chapel. Both chapels are linked by a three-acre Garden of the Bible. The garden features numerous species of plants, including herbs, trees, fruits, grains, reeds and shrubs referred to in the Bible.
Both chapels stand equidistant from the Two Brothers Statue that has become the symbol of the Village and our national presence.Garden of the Bible
One of the reasons Father Flanagan chose the Village’s present location was the ability for his boys to raise food and be self-sufficient.
Today, the farm provides opportunities for after-school and summer employment as well as small animal and gardening projects. The three-acre Garden of the Bible is maintained by Boys Town youth and includes rose bushes, olive, fig, pomegranate and cedar trees, lilies, the rose of Sharon, a burning bush, fountains and benches.
In addition to its more than 150 plant species (all of which are mentioned in the Bible), the garden’s brick path forms a Gothic window design that complements the nearby Catholic and Protestant chapels. The picturesque surroundings are a favorite spot for visitors to enjoy quiet reflection, picnic lunches and Bible study.
Rose Garden
Hundreds of roses bloom in this 22-bed garden. Tended to by Village youth, 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, as well as a bronze statue honoring the man who dedicated his life to improving the lives of children around the world.
The Leon Myers Stamp Center
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Click here to learn more about the stamp center and stamp donations. |
The Leon Myers Stamp Center is a museum and office located at the Visitor Center. The Stamp Center promotes stamp collecting among youth and adults and supports Boys Town programs by selling many donated stamps.
The Stamp Center promotes stamp collecting among children in many ways. Exhibits in the museum show stamps designed by kids, children on stamps, and children’s fairy tales on stamps, and a variety of educational and philatelic topics. The World’s Largest Stamp Ball, on display at the Stamp Center is a favorite with children and adults alike. Next to the Stamp Ball, children can go though our “penny bin” and pick out colorful stamps for their collections. Stamp Center staff speak to children at Boys Town’s Wegner Middle School about how they can begin a stamp collection. Also, scouting and school groups from the Omaha area frequently tour the Stamp Center, where staff assist them in getting their collections started.
Gift Shop
One-of-a-kind collectibles, commemorative souvenirs and inspirational keepsakes for the home and office are at your fingertips. Please browse our web catalog for the best in distinctive gifts. All profits from the Gift Shop support the work of changing the way America cares for youth and families.
