Carhenge Uses 39 Old Cars to Copy Stonehenge in a Nebraska Field. Here’s the Story Behind It

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Carhenge in Alliance Nebraska is a full-size replica of England’s Stonehenge built from 39 old cars, painted gray and arranged in a circle about 96 feet across in a field north of town. Jim Reinders, a Nebraska native, built it in the summer of 1987 with about 35 relatives as a memorial to his father, who had died in 1982. The family dedicated it at the summer solstice in June 1987.

That’s the short version of the story behind it. Reinders had studied Stonehenge while living in England, and he wanted to bring something like it to the farm where his father had lived. He chose cars because they were cheap, plentiful, and roughly the right size. Many people in Alliance thought it was an eyesore at first, but it became one of Nebraska’s best-known roadside attractions. Today, it’s owned by the city of Alliance, and it’s free and open every day.

The Story Behind Carhenge

Who built it

Jim Reinders grew up in the Alliance area. He worked in several countries, including England, where he became fascinated with Stonehenge, the prehistoric stone monument on Salisbury Plain. He studied how its stones were arranged and how they lined up with the sun.

Why he built it

When Reinders’ father died in 1982, the family wanted a memorial. Reinders decided to build one that echoed Stonehenge, which some believe was used for burial or to honor the dead. He planned to build it on his father’s former farmland outside Alliance.

How it was built

In the summer of 1987, about 35 members of the Reinders family gathered in Alliance for a family reunion and spent days building the sculpture. They collected old cars from farms and junkyards in the area, dug pits, and buried some cars trunk-first in pits about five feet deep so they stood upright like Stonehenge’s standing stones. Other cars were welded on top to form the arches, or lintels. Every car was spray-painted gray to look like stone.

The layout follows Stonehenge closely, with cars placed to match the positions of the original stones. A 1962 Cadillac stands in for the “heel stone,” a large stone outside the main circle at Stonehenge.

The dedication

The family dedicated Carhenge at the summer solstice in June 1987, when the sun rises in line with Stonehenge’s heel stone in England. It drew attention from the start, both from visitors and from critics.

The early controversy

Some local residents and officials didn’t like it. They called it junk and an eyesore, and there were early efforts to have it removed. Supporters argued that it was a work of art and that it would draw tourists. It stayed, and over time, opinion in town shifted.

The Friends of Carhenge

In 1992, Reinders removed a Toyota from the sculpture, saying he wanted it to be an American Carhenge. He later donated the 10-acre site to a volunteer group, the Friends of Carhenge, which maintained and promoted it. A visitor center was built in 2006. In 2011, the group listed the attraction for sale, and in 2013 it donated Carhenge to the city of Alliance, which now owns and maintains it.

The Car Art Reserve

Next to Carhenge is the Car Art Reserve, a collection of other sculptures made from cars and car parts by different artists. Look for pieces like “Spawning Salmon,” made from car bodies, and a “Fourd Seasons” sculpture made from Ford cars.

Recent history

Carhenge drew thousands of visitors in August 2017, when Alliance was in the path of a total solar eclipse. Jim Reinders died in 2021, at age 94. His memorial still stands in the field.

Visiting Carhenge in Alliance Nebraska

• Location: A few miles north of Alliance along Highway 87. Look for signs.
• Hours: The site is open every day, around the clock.
• Cost: Admission is free. Donations help with upkeep.
• Visitor center: There’s a small visitor center and gift shop, with seasonal hours.
• Time needed: Plan 30 minutes to an hour.
• Parking: There’s a free parking lot next to the site.

Visiting in Late Fall

Late fall is a good time to visit because crowds are smaller, and the low sun makes for dramatic photos. But western Nebraska can be cold and windy in November and December, and snow is possible. A few tips:

• Dress warmly, with a hat and gloves.
• Check the weather and road conditions before you go.
• Visit near sunrise or sunset for the best light.
• The visitor center may be closed or have short hours, so plan to see the site on your own.
• The winter solstice, in late December, is a popular time for photos.

Getting There

Alliance is in the Nebraska Panhandle, about 60 miles northeast of Scottsbluff and about 400 miles from Omaha. It’s far from interstates, so most visitors drive in on highways from other parts of the state. Many combine Carhenge with nearby attractions like Scotts Bluff National Monument, Chimney Rock, or a drive through the Sandhills.

Other Things to Do in Alliance

• Knight Museum and Sandhills Center: A local museum about the history of the area.
• Downtown Alliance: Small shops and restaurants.
• Sandhills drives: Scenic routes through the grass-covered sand dunes north and east of town.

How Carhenge Compares With Stonehenge

Stonehenge, on Salisbury Plain in southern England, was built in stages over many centuries, starting around 5,000 years ago. Its largest stones weigh many tons, and some smaller stones were brought from Wales. It’s managed by English Heritage, and visitors usually view it from a path around the stones.

Carhenge copies its layout and approximate size, but there are some big differences:

• Material: Carhenge uses cars instead of stones. Painting them gray makes the resemblance clear, especially from a distance.
• Condition: Stonehenge today is partly in ruins, with fallen and missing stones. Reinders built Carhenge to look like Stonehenge does now, not as it might have looked when complete.
• Access: At Carhenge, you can walk right up to the cars and stand inside the circle. At Stonehenge, most visitors stay on a path outside the stones.
• Cost: Carhenge is free. Stonehenge charges admission.
• Setting: Carhenge sits on open High Plains farmland, with big skies and few trees, which gives it a stark look that many visitors find striking.

Tips for Photographing Carhenge

• Shoot low. Crouching down makes the cars look taller against the sky.
• Use the light. The long shadows of early morning and late afternoon bring out the shapes of the cars.
• Try the night sky. The Nebraska Panhandle has dark skies, and Carhenge makes a dramatic foreground for stars on a clear night. Bring a tripod and warm clothes.
• Watch for snow. A light snowfall on gray cars can make for unusual photos.
• Respect the site. Don’t climb on the cars. They’re old and can be slippery, and the site depends on visitors treating it carefully.

Making Carhenge Part of a Bigger Trip

Because Alliance is far from big cities, most visitors combine Carhenge with other stops in western Nebraska. A few ideas:

• Scotts Bluff National Monument: A massive bluff that was a landmark on the Oregon Trail, with a road and trails to the top.
• Chimney Rock National Historic Site: A tall rock spire that pioneers used as a landmark on the trail west.
• The Sandhills: One of the largest areas of grass-covered sand dunes in the Western Hemisphere, with scenic byways and small ranch towns.

In late fall, many attractions in the area have reduced hours, so check before you go. Fill up on gas when you can, since towns are far apart.

Is Carhenge Worth the Drive?

Alliance is a long way from most places, so it’s fair to ask whether Carhenge is worth a special trip. For many visitors, the answer depends on what else they’re doing. If you’re driving across western Nebraska, to or from the Black Hills, Colorado, or Wyoming, Carhenge is an easy and memorable stop. If you’re coming from Omaha or Lincoln, it’s a full day’s drive, so it makes more sense as part of a longer trip through the Panhandle and the Sandhills.

The site itself doesn’t take long to see. Most people walk around the circle, step inside it, take photos, browse the Car Art Reserve, and leave within an hour. What visitors often remember is the setting: a strange, gray circle of cars on the open prairie, under a huge sky, with almost nothing else around. In late fall, when the grass is brown and the wind is blowing, it feels even more remote.

Winter Driving in the Nebraska Panhandle

If you’re visiting Carhenge in November or December, be ready for winter conditions. Towns can be far apart, and storms can bring snow, ice, and strong winds that cause blowing snow and poor visibility. Before you go:

• Check the forecast and Nebraska road conditions.
• Keep your gas tank at least half full.
• Carry water, snacks, warm clothes, and a blanket in the car.
• Make sure your phone is charged, and know that cell service can be spotty between towns.

The Bottom Line on Carhenge in Alliance Nebraska

Carhenge started as a son’s memorial to his father and became one of the best-known roadside attractions in the country. It’s free, open around the clock, and worth a stop if you’re anywhere near the Nebraska Panhandle. Go in late fall for empty fields and long shadows, and bring warm clothes.