Discover 5 of the Oldest Cities in Nebraska

The Great Plains states are sometimes called “flyover states” because people fly over them going between the more “exciting” parts of the country. To people who don’t live there, they are just big, flat expanses of corn and little else. Spend a little time there, though, and you might start to think that all the other states are just “packing peanuts” to protect the true treasures at the center of the country! In this article we’ll have a look at five of the oldest cities in Nebraska and how they make this state a destination itself, not just a “flyover.”

1. Bellevue, 1822 (Population: 64,176)

Bellevue is just south of Omaha, Nebraska’s largest city. The Lewis and Clark expedition camped five nights there in 1804 during their westward expedition. The town itself was established in 1822 as a French trading post named “Bellevue,” meaning “beautiful view” in French. The city relocated in 1835 to nearby bluffs overlooking the river valley.

In the 1940s, Bellevue became a military town with the establishment of the Martin Bomber Plant in 1941 and Offutt Air Force Base in 1948. Offutt is the site of the U.S. Strategic Command headquarters. It is now the largest economic driver of the local economy. Bellevue is also the site of Bellevue University, which has contracts with Disney, Walmart, and other major employers to provide online education.

At the Schilling Wildlife Management Area guests can see the confluence of the Platte and Missouri rivers, go canoeing, camping, and do other outdoor activities. Fontenelle Forest has interactive exhibits, an aerial adventure park, a children’s play area, and 17 miles of hiking trails. Gifford Farm is a 400-acre working farm with hands-on educational animal experiences. Swanson Park Trail is a biking trail that starts off easy but continues into a challenging course for advanced bikers. If you prefer to do something indoors, Sarpy County Museum by Offutt Air Force Base tells the history of the area from Native American days to the present. It’s possible to tour Offutt itself but you need to set up a reservation 60 days in advance. Every few years there’s an incredible air show at Offutt that you’ll remember for a lifetime!

2. Omaha, 1854 (Population: 486,051)

Omaha is the largest city in Nebraska and it was settled many years before the official establishment of the city in 1854. The city is named after the Omaha tribe, which was one of the most powerful Native American tribes in the area. The tribe relocated to a reservation in Thurston County in northeastern Nebraska in 1856.

Omaha grew into the largest population center and center of manufacturing in the state, with an economy built on agriculture, ranching, and the military service industry. Omaha is the home of butter brickle ice cream, Duncan Hines cake mix, and Raisin Bran. It is the home of the Gallup Organization and numerous Fortune 500 companies, including Berkshire Hathaway under the leadership of Warren Buffett, the world’s sixth-richest person and an Omaha native. Omaha is also home to Boys Town, a famous orphanage that has become a treatment center for boys and girls, specializing in mental health.

By far one of the greatest attractions in Omaha is the Henry Doorly Zoo, which is considered one of the most prestigious zoos in the world. One of its fascinating displays is a nocturnal exhibit with bats and other creatures of the night in darkened conditions so that they are active for visitors. There is also an indoor rainforest and a desert display inside a 13-story-tall geodesic dome. Heartland of America Park has 31 acres of paved trails and a 300-foot-high fountain with a night show. The best time to visit there is during the annual Taste of Omaha festival. The Joslyn Art Museum is free to the public and has spectacular displays of fine art from around the world, dating from prehistory to the present.

3. Plattsmouth, 1854 (Population: 6,544)

Plattsmouth was originally called “The Barracks” and was a trading post started by several local business and political leaders. It was later renamed after the Platte River. One of the noteworthy people who came from Plattsmouth was John O’Rourke, a businessman, Wisconsin state legislator, and mayor of Plattsmouth. He was the subject of the Civil War song “When Johnny Comes Marching Home.”

The local Cass County Historical Museum has a log cabin, a train caboose, a one-room schoolhouse, and a boat used by Lewis and Clark. Rhylander Park is a community park where visitors can enjoy picnics, playgrounds, a walking and biking trail, volleyball courts, and horseshoe pits. The Museum of Shadows is considered one of the most haunted museums in the world. It has more than 3,000 artifacts from all over the world claimed to be haunted. Visitors have reported being touched, seeing ghosts, and hearing voices. Poltergeist activity has allegedly been verified on security cameras!

4. Lincoln, 1856 (Population: 291,082)

Lincoln is the capital and second-largest city in Nebraska after Omaha, which is about 45 minutes away. While Omaha is more of a manufacturing and business center, Lincoln has more of a college town feel, with the University of Nebraska, Lincoln dominating the area’s cultural life. “Cornhuskers” football fans are some of the most dedicated (some would say “fanatic”) that you’ll find anywhere. Lincoln is also home to the American Kawasaki Motors Corporation which assembles motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, utility vehicles, recreational vehicles, and watercraft.

In Lincoln, you can visit the University of Nebraska State Museum, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institute. It has the world’s largest mammoth remains. Sunken Gardens in the heart of Lincoln uses over 30,000 plants every year to create new floral displays. It has a variety of sculptures and fountains and is listed as one of the 300 best gardens to visit in the U.S. and Canada in the National Geographic Guide to America’s Public Gardens. You can tour the Nebraska State Capitol building, the tallest building in Lincoln, and learn about the state’s unique unicameral legislature, the only one of its kind among U.S. states.

Pioneers Park Nature Center is a good place to see what the Great Plains looked like before most of them were converted to farmland. There are 8 miles of hiking trails where you can see bison, white-tailed deer, and elk, red-tailed hawks, and wild turkeys. There’s a nature center to see and touch animals up close and a children’s play area. While you’re in the area, be sure to stop at a Runza fast food joint. It’s a local chain with outstanding burgers, but their specialty is the Runza sandwich: a sort of roll with a ground-meat-and-vegetable filling that was inspired by the cuisine of Czech and Slovak settlers who came to Nebraska in large numbers.

5. Columbus, 1856 (Population: 24,028)

Columbus is located west of Omaha at the juncture of the Loup and Platte Rivers. It was named after Columbus, Ohio because many of the early settlers came from there. Some of the founders and early promoters of the city had high hopes for it to become a major population center and even suggested the U.S. Capital should be moved there to be closer to the geographic center of the country. It was located on a major overland travel corridor that was part of the Oregon Trail, the Mormon Trail, the California Trail, and the Pony Express.

In Columbus, you can visit the Platte Valley Playhouse, which puts on four plays a year with a dinner theater in May. Taste of Columbus is a chance to sample tasty dishes from local restaurants and food vendors, and wine and craft beer distributors. Columbus is the birthplace of the inventor of the Higgens Boat, an effective landing craft of World War II. The Andrew Jackson Higgens National Memorial in Pawnee Park has a life-sized replica of a Higgens Boat with bronze statues of soldiers exiting onto the sand. There is also a Freedom Memorial with pieces of steel from the World Trade Center. The Platte County Agricultural Society hosts annual events, including live thoroughbred horse racing. Glur’s Tavern, built in 1876, is the oldest tavern west of the Missouri River still operating. “Buffalo Bill” Cody visited there often when he passed through Columbus.

Summary of 5 of the Oldest Cities in Nebraska

Here’s a recap of the five oldest cities we looked at in the state of Nebraska.

The Good Life

Residents of Nebraska appreciate the slower pace of life there, the friendly people, the good schools, the job opportunities, and the uncrowded highways. The state has been through tragic times in conflicts with the Native Americans, natural disasters like the Dust Bowl, and the losses of war, which are felt acutely in towns that serve major military bases. But these times have just shown the strength of the people to carry on through good times or bad. Visitors to Nebraska today can see the vast plains that have made it an agricultural breadbasket of the country, but they can also see how it has become a Mecca for Fortune 500 companies. If you’re a short-term visitor, you’ll find plenty to keep you and the kids occupied. But we’re betting you might just decide you don’t want to leave.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/Jacob Boomsma