GOTHENBURG COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OFFICE
  • Home
  • Live
    • City Services
    • Education
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Churches
    • Restaurants
    • Lodging
    • Retail
    • Gallery
  • Work
    • Job Board
    • Gothenburg Improvement Company
  • Play
    • Pony Express Station
    • Museums
    • Attractions
    • City Parks
    • Sports & Recreation
    • 2022 HARVEST FESTIVAL >
      • 2021 HARVEST FESTIVAL
    • 2022 Play Wild Horse
  • Membership
    • Directory
    • Chamber Benefits
    • Free Members Support
  • Calendar
  • Join
  • Contact
  • LOGIN

Gothenburg...
It's more than a place, it's a state of mind!

Planning a trip to Gothenburg? Nearly 25,000 people visit Gothenburg each year. See below for pictures and information to plan your trip. Need more detailed information? Visit our business directory for contact information and addresses.

Attractions


Lincoln Highway

Swedish Crosses

Picture











Construction of the coast-to-coast Lincoln Highway from New York to San Francisco began in 1913. Following section lines north of the Platte River, it crossed over the bridge at Gothenburg and follwed a narrow road, which is still visible, as it proceeded west on the south side of the River.
In 1930 traffic was rerouted onto what is now Highway 30. It remained the main thoroughfare across Nebraska until Interstate 80 was constructed in the 1960's - 1970's.
The Lincoln Highway was designated  one of Nebraska's nine scenic byways in 1999 and was named Lincoln Highway Scenic & Historic Byway.
Recently, the Gothenburg Chamber of Commerce Tourism Committee funded new signage to bring attention to both the historic 1913 route and the Lincoln Highway stair-steps than run south of Gothenburg.
Click HERE to visit the Lincoln Highway website.

Sun Theatre/
​Community Playhouse

Picture
The Sun Theatre of Gothenburg has achieved a long-standing history as a connection to the arts in this charming central Nebraska community of approximately 3,700 residents. The theatre building was originally built and used as an opera house from 1909 to 1926. As the community changed with the times, the theatre was converted to a movie theatre by a gentleman named Glen VanWey. In 1927, children could enjoy a silent movie accompanied by a live orchestra for only 10 cents (adults were charged 20 cents). The 1930′s brought sound, Technicolor and controversy over allowing movies to be shown on Sundays. A public vote was narrowly approved allowing the showing of Sunday movies in town. When money was scarce during the depression, the theatre advertised an “egg night” where a dozen eggs valued at 6 cents was the price of movie admission. VanWey’s son Ernie continued the family business and operated the Sun Theatre as a full time cinema until 1981.  The Gothenburg Community Playhouse (a non-profit organization formed in 1968) purchased the theatre in 1983, the result of a successful fund drive to “save the Sun” from closing its doors to the public forever. Since that time, the theatre has thrived in its split-personality role by providing both live productions and cinema to the community. The cinema side of the business has continually provided first run movies 48+ weekends a year (Friday, Saturday, & Sunday) at the most affordable prices in the region. The playhouse side offers playhouse productions several times a year and strives to bring the community the highest quality of varied entertainment in the form of outside productions, talent shows, and live musical concerts. More information.

Veterans' War Memorial

Picture
Located on the west shore of Lake Helen, this memorial is a reminder of sacrifices made by veterans and their families of all wars. The names listed commemorate local residents who gave their lives in World War I, World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam War. They served that we might enjoy freedom.

Picture











For over a century, three unique crosses have served as a lasting symbol of the Swedish heritage of Gothenburg.  These unusual and artistic grave markers wrought in Swedish steel by a loving grandfather, mark three children’s graves… making a small corner of Dawson County “forever Sweden”. Located two miles north of Gothenburg on hwy 47 and two miles west on road 769, the Swedish Crosses Cemetery is one of Dawson County's historic sites.  In 1991 it was designated a Nebraska Historical site.
In the early 1800's, Peter & Anna Berg, along with Anna's parents, the Benjamin Palms, came to Gothenburg from Helsingland, Sweden.
Tragedy struck the Bergs on their prairie homestead when their fist child, Signe Ester, died on July 21, 1885 at 4 months old. Carl Alfred, their second child, died at the age of 3 months on Sept. 14, 1886. Gustav Andrew, two years old, died August 19, 1889. The three children were buried on a knoll near the family farm. 
Although the crosses have stood for over 100 years, several mysteries remain and the causes of their deaths have never been conclusive. Additional information can be found at the Public Library.

Historic Tour of Gothenburg

Picture
Take your own personal tour down beautiful tree-lined streets graced with lovely older homes and buildings. Settled by Swedes and Germans, the town has many homes that boast a Scandinavian influence in architectural style.  Homes on this tour include one that was a wedding present, one that was a hospital, one that has a widow’s walk and one that had a back staircase that was hidden by a bookcase.  
Take the tour and find out the long-forgotten history.  It will take you north from downtown to Lake Helen, which has become a beautiful recreation site. For a brochure with tour stops and information, stop at the Pony Express Station in Ehmen Park or the Visitors Center at 1001 Lake Ave.
Click HERE to see a map and information about the stops on the historic walking tour.


Gothenburg Public Library

Picture
The library was built in 1916 with assistance from a $7,000 grant from the Carnegie Foundation. It is architecturally unique as most Carnegie Libraries in Nebraska had Classical features. The Gothenburg library style, however, is Jacobethan Revival. In 1986 the library was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The library has cemetery records and microfilm of back issues of the local paper available to the history enthusiasts. A 6,000 square foot $1.2 million addition and renovation of the original building was completed in 1999. The architecture of the addition carries on the unique features of the original building. The new library addition houses the adult library, which includes a technology room with 10 computers in the computer lab and two in the children’s library, offices, study rooms and a reading area with fireplace. The original building has been converted to a community meeting room and the children’s library. The children’s library hosts nearly 100 pre-school age children in Story Hour during the school year. In the summer, the library sponsors a Summer Reading Program for elementary age children.

museums
sports & recreation
city parks

Gothenburg Community 
Development Office

Picture

​Mailing Address:
 
1001 Lake Ave.
Gothenburg, NE 69138

​Physical Address:
 
1001 Lake Ave.
Gothenburg, NE 69138

​Phone:
 308-537-3505
Fax: 308-537-2541
Email: chamber@gothenburgdelivers.com
Gothenburg Area Chamber of Commerce, Chamber of Commerce, Gothenburg, NE

Website Privacy Policy
Picture
Advanced Automation by Chamber Nation / Services by Chamber Solutions


  • Home
  • Live
    • City Services
    • Education
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Churches
    • Restaurants
    • Lodging
    • Retail
    • Gallery
  • Work
    • Job Board
    • Gothenburg Improvement Company
  • Play
    • Pony Express Station
    • Museums
    • Attractions
    • City Parks
    • Sports & Recreation
    • 2022 HARVEST FESTIVAL >
      • 2021 HARVEST FESTIVAL
    • 2022 Play Wild Horse
  • Membership
    • Directory
    • Chamber Benefits
    • Free Members Support
  • Calendar
  • Join
  • Contact
  • LOGIN