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National Register of Historic Places listings in Butler County, Nebraska facts for kids

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Map of Nebraska highlighting Butler County
Location of Butler County in Nebraska

This article tells you about special places in Butler County, Nebraska that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This is like a special list kept by the United States government. It helps protect important buildings, sites, and objects that have a lot of history. These places tell us stories about the past and how people lived a long time ago.

In Butler County, there are 13 places on this important list. Some of these are old buildings, some are bridges, and some are even places where people lived thousands of years ago!


Historic Places in Butler County

Many amazing places in Butler County have been saved because they are so important to history. Let's explore some of them!

Old Bridges and Roads

Butler County has some old bridges and even parts of old trails that are now protected. These show us how people traveled and built things in the past.

Big Blue River Bridge

The Big Blue River Bridge is near a town called Surprise, Nebraska. It's an old bridge that crosses the Big Blue River. This bridge was added to the list in 1992. It's a great example of how bridges were built many years ago.

Big Blue bridge (Butler County) from SW 1
The historic Big Blue River Bridge near Surprise.

Clear Creek Bridge

Another old bridge is the Clear Creek Bridge, located northwest of Bellwood, Nebraska. This bridge also crosses Clear Creek and was added to the list in 1992. It's similar to the Big Blue River Bridge, showing us the engineering of its time.

Butler County Clear Creek bridge from W
The Clear Creek Bridge in Butler County.

Upper Oak Creek Descent Ruts

Imagine pioneers traveling across the country! The Upper Oak Creek Descent Ruts are actual tracks left by wagons from the old Woodbury Cutoff, which was part of the Ox Bow Trail and the California Road. These ruts are near Brainard, Nebraska. They were added to the list in 1992 and remind us of the long journeys people made.

Butler County, NE Oak Creek descent ruts overview 1
Wagon ruts from an old trail near Brainard.

Historic Buildings and Sites

Many buildings in Butler County have stories to tell. From old schools to opera houses, these places show us how communities grew and what was important to people.

Butler County District No. 10 School

The Butler County District No. 10 School is an old schoolhouse near Linwood, Nebraska. It was built a long time ago and was added to the historic list in 2011. This school is a great example of the small, one-room schoolhouses where children used to learn.

Butler County District 10 school from SW
The old Butler County District No. 10 School.

David City Park and Municipal Auditorium

In David City, Nebraska, you can find the David City Park and Municipal Auditorium. This area was added to the list in 2000. It's a special place where people gather for events and enjoy the outdoors. The auditorium is a building used for performances and community meetings.

David City park W entrance 2
The entrance to David City Park.

Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad Depot

The Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad Depot is an old train station in Dwight, Nebraska. It was added to the list in 1979. Train stations were very important in the past for travel and moving goods. This depot shows us what a busy place it once was.

Dwight, Nebraska RR depot from SE 2
The old railroad depot in Dwight.

St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church, School and Grottoes

Also in Dwight, Nebraska, the St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church, School and Grottoes is a historic complex. It includes a church, a school, and special outdoor shrines called grottoes. This site was added to the list in 2008 and shows the history of the community's faith and education.

St. Mary Assumption (Dwight, Nebraska) Mother of Grace shrine 2
A grotto at St. Mary of the Assumption complex.

Surprise Opera House

The Surprise Opera House is in Surprise, Nebraska. It was added to the list in 1988. Opera houses were popular places for entertainment, plays, and community events in the past. This building tells us about the social life of the town long ago.

Surprise, Nebraska opera house from W 1
The historic Surprise Opera House.

Chauncey S. Taylor House

The Chauncey S. Taylor House is a historic home in David City, Nebraska. It was added to the list in 1982. This house is important because of its architecture and the history of the family who lived there. It gives us a peek into how people lived in the past.

Chauncey S. Taylor house from E
The Chauncey S. Taylor House in David City.

Thorpe's Opera House

Another opera house, Thorpe's Opera House, is also in David City, Nebraska. It was added to the list in 1988. Like the Surprise Opera House, this building was a center for arts and entertainment in the community. It's a reminder of the vibrant cultural life of the past.

Thorpe Opera House from NE 2
Thorpe's Opera House in David City.

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