Lincoln Highway |
Swedish Crosses |
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/
|
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
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
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.
|
|
|
 |
