The Oak Ballroom in Schuyler combines architectural history with a motif recalling the Mormon Trail. It was built between 1935 and 1937 as a WPA job-creation project. Local oak and stone from the ruins of the Wells & Abbott, Nieman Milling Company, were used in its construction. Inside is a hand-painted mural, added in 1960, depicting a wagon train on the Mormon Trail. The Oak Ballroom is listed on the National Register for its significance to community entertainment and cultural development, as well as for being an intact building from the WPA era. It brings together job creation in the 1930s, building materials and a depiction of Trail history.
Routes and History along the Platte River
The Mormon Trail passed through the southern part of what is now Schuyler in Colfax County in 1847. The Lincoln Highway ran through the southern part of the county and was incorporated for the most part into U.S. Highway 30, which remains the county’s primary east-west connection. The two routes offer different perspectives on the region’s transportation history: one leads to a specific historic section in present-day Schuyler, while the other reflects the development of an important county connection.
Another historic crossing was Shinn’s Ferry. In 1859, Moses Shinn, a Methodist preacher, and his son began operating the ferry across the Platte River. The ferry landing was about four miles southwest of present-day Schuyler and west of the current site of the Schuyler Bridge, which carries State Highway 15. The ferry is part of the river’s history; there is no ferry service there today. The broader history of the wide Platte River valley is also part of the picture: it was inhabited by the Pawnee; over the next 30 years, increasing numbers of traders, trappers, gold seekers and Mormon settlers traveled through the area.
Museums and Cultural Sites
The Schuyler/Colfax County Museum presents the history of Schuyler and Colfax County. Its holdings include items from the Wells Abbott Nieman Mill, as well as outstanding collections of memorabilia from the American Civil War and World Wars I and II. The Clarkson Historical Museum contains more than 5,000 artifacts relating to local history. In Leigh, the House of Yesteryear Museum is housed in a building erected in 1875 as the town’s first general store and post office. These buildings present history in different ways: through regional collections, memorabilia and the former uses of a building.
The Clarkson Opera House was built for meetings, Czech-language entertainment, concerts, dances, films and family gatherings. It continues to be a year-round center for family and community activities. These include special events during the annual Czech Festivals in late June; the program may change. The annual Colfax County Fair is also held in Leigh in late July. In Clarkson, the rodeo arena hosts an officially sanctioned rodeo each year. Check current event dates before traveling.
Getting Around Maple Creek Dam
Maple Creek Dam has a public hiking and biking trail around the dam. It is 2.36 miles long in total and includes a bridge over the lake. There are also two boat ramps and a sandy beach for swimming near the boat docks. Visitors can choose from several activities here: walking or biking the loop, spending time on the water or enjoying the beach. Trail and facility details, as well as swimming rules, may change; check current information before your visit.
Howell’s recreational facilities include the Prairie Winds Wildlife Sanctuary. Maple Creek Dam offers further options, with its combination of trail, bridge, boat ramps and swimming beach.
Retreats and Spiritual Reflection
The St. Benedict Center is a nonprofit retreat and conference center. There, Benedictines offer hospitality and spirituality to people seeking personal and spiritual growth. Its offerings include group and individual retreats, scheduled programs and spiritual guidance. Groups and individuals are served homemade meals during a retreat. The entrance hall also displays a large Madonna collection, with statues from the Americas, Asia, Europe and Africa. Spiritual offerings and a collection of works from four continents come together here, without limiting a visit to just one way of discovering the center.
Discover more destinations: Schuyler, Madison County, Adams County, Keith County, Franklin County, Holt County, Nuckolls County, Scotts Bluff County.
For the main travel overview: Nebraska.
