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Beatrice, Nebraska

Beatrice, Nebraska

Whether you're taking a step back in time to visit our deep historic roots or racing to the future at the Beatrice Speedway, you'll find yourself captivated by the beauty of Beatrice. Beatrice welcomes you with friendly shopping, five-star dining and attractions galore.

We honor our past through nationally recognized museums and monuments - namely the Homestead National Monument of America and the Gage County Museum, both designed to remember the past in the contest of today. Very few people can relate the town of Beatrice with such notables as Robert Taylor, Harold Lloyd, Berlin Guy Chamberlin, C.B. Dempster, and Meadow Gold, but each has a story of their beginnings in this midwestern community.

Look to Beatrice to provide many outdoor recreational activities. The surrounding area has many wildlife management areas as well a hunting lodges. With more than 6,000 acres of prime hunting land, whether you stalk with rifle or cameras, we have your shot. Other sporting opportunities include the Beatrice Speedway where you'll find weekend IMCA racing, the Beatrice Bruins, and summer league soccer, baseball and softball games.

If it's antiquing and specialty stores you're after, Beatrice is your destination. Beatrice hosts various antique shops with all the hidden treasures you never knew you were looking for. Several homemade and handmade products are available in Beatrice as well, for those who take the time to browse.

A little history ...

Beatrice owes it existence to a group of pioneers who, unknown to each other before boarding the boat, journeyed together up the Missouri River from St. Louis in 1857. They formed one common mission: to "explore Nebraska for the purpose of selecting a town site."

Their committee - known as the Nebraska Association, in which each member tossed in $100 to cover expenses for this scouting expedition - disembarked at Nebraska City, where they split into two parties. One group eventually formed the backbone for today's capital, Lincoln. Their companions moved southwesterly until they wandered upon the banks of Indian Creek where it meets Big Blue River. The pioneers, led by Judge Fitch Kinney, named their new venture Beatrice (pronounced Be-AT'trice) for their town in honor of Julia Beatrice Kinney, eldest daughter of Judge Kinney, the first president of the Nebraska Association. This name was chosen over the first proposal of: Wheatland.

When the National Homestead Act took effect six years later, Beatrice became a destination spot. Under this law, more than 270 million acres - 10 percent of the land in the United States - were turned over to individual citizens. Much of our recreational and tourism sites today hinge on this rich past.

Attractions and Upcoming Events

Kilpatrick Mansion

The "Kilpatrick Mansion" is a two-and-one-half story brick dwelling constructed in 1904-5 in the Renaissance Revival style, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Beatrice, NE Historic Homes

Christ Church Episcopal

This church listed on the National Register of Historic Places is an Early Gothic piece of architecture whose cornerstone was laid in 1889

Beatrice, NE Historic Churches

Gage County Museum

Gage County Historical Society and Museum is housed in the Burlington Railroad Depot built in 1906 in the Neo-Classical Revival style. The building was constructed of Omaha pressed brick with Bedford stone trim at the cost of $35,000, and is listed on the

Beatrice, NE Museums

Centenary United Methodist

This impressive limestone church was erected in 1929

Beatrice, NE Historic Churches

Chautaqua Tabernacle

The Chautauqua, which operated annual summer assemblies from 1889 until the 1920's, based on high moral standards and offered secular and religious

Beatrice, NE Historic Churches

Things to do near Beatrice, NE

Nehawka Flint Quarries - NHR

Early archeologists observed nearly 300 unusual depressions in flint-rich areas of Pennsylvanian limestone formation along...