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Beaver City, Nebraska

In 1910, on the square in Beaver City, George Washington Shafer opened what his family lovingly calls, "the first Wal-Mart," G.W. Shafer's. "Grandpa Shafer was the first Wal-Mart," said Jean Shafer of Beaver City. "He sold everything ... absolutely everything."

G.W. Shafer owned three buildings in downtown Beaver City, and sold groceries, shoes, clothes, furniture, appliances, farm implements. The general store in the middle is the last remaining business, and it's run by G.W. Shafer's grandson's widow, Jean.

"There's always been a Shafer running the business," said Jean, who is 89 years old. She runs the shop, "as a hobby."

Attractions and Upcoming Events

Civil War Veteran's Memorial, Gazebo Park

The Civil War(1861-1865) Statue and Marker honor those unknown dead that fought for their beliefs and for the freedoms that this nation is based upon.

Beaver City, NE Memorials

Kool-Aid's Beginning

"Mother would bring home some of the soft drink powder that Edwin was experimenting with and my father didn't know if he wanted to drink that powder, sugar, and water mixture!" - A partial reprint from the booklet Hendley Nebraska Centennial

Beaver City, NE One Of A Kinds


Brick Streets - Downtown Business District - Park

Beaver City was founded in 1872. The central downtown business district situated around a square block of city park began developing at the end of the 1800s. The first city streets were only dirt roads. Then in 1927

Beaver City, NE Historic Downtowns

Furnas County Wildlife Management Areas

Burton's Bend WMA - Along the Republican River Valley 90 acres of pasture land are maintained throughout the year to provide excellent hunting ground for common game birds. Oxford WMA

Beaver City, NE Wildlife Refuges

Things to do near Beaver City, NE