Drive to a quiet corner of the Nebraska countryside to visit Carhenge, a circle of gray-painted vintage cars stuck in the ground. This is a quirky car version of Stonehenge, the prehistoric ring of standing stones in the English countryside.
The unusual sculpture was created by local man Jim Reinders as a bit of fun for a family reunion at his farm in 1987. The cars were placed in a way that mirrors the ancient stone circle in England. This includes a replica of the Heel Stone which stands away from the main stones and receives the first of the sun’s rays during the summer solstice. The Carhenge version is a 1962 Cadillac.
Walk around the 96-feet (29-meter) diameter circle which consists of cars from the 1950s and 1960s. Some of them are planted trunk down and rise up 15 feet (4.5 meters) to 17 feet (5 meters) in the air. They are approximately 7 feet (2 meters) wide which corresponds to the width of Stonehenge’s standing stones. All of the monoliths are replicated in this unique vehicle installation.
Browse additional sculptures on the 10-acre (4-hectare) site that have been made entirely of cars or of car parts. Look up at the large sculpture of a dinosaur skeleton. See the Ford Seasons, an artwork of different colored cars sticking out of the ground that was inspired by Vivaldi's Four Seasons.
Study the Spawning Salmon, a large metal sculpture of a skeletal-looking salmon that can be seen springing from the ground. Other works include the Graffiti Car, a white car that has been daubed by visitors over the years. Bring a marker pen and add your own moniker if you can find room on the paintwork.
Carhenge is located on Highway 87 less than 3 miles (5 kilometers) north of the city of Alliance. There is no public transportation to the popular attraction so drive and use the free parking facilities. Carhenge is open daily during daylight hours, and admission is free.
