Steele City, NE—Come to where history comes alive in historic Steele City, Nebraska! The first weekend in May kicks off the living history season for this rural community nestled near the Little Blue River in southern Jefferson County.
Platted in 1873, Steele City was named in honor of D.M. Steele, then President of the St. Joe & Western Railway. In its heyday, Steele City was a bustling and prosperous railroad town. This history has been preserved in four sites owned and maintained by the Jefferson County Historical Society. Explore a working blacksmith shop, circa 1902 livery barn built of native stone, limestone Baptist church built in 1882, and the Exchange Bank Museum. These sites are open to the public during Living History weekends held the first weekends of May and July. As well as living history, the third weekend in September features the annual Steele City Flea Market and Old Farm Machinery Show.
Join us for a delightful experience featuring living history and craft demonstrations, blacksmiths working the forge, and self-guided tours of the buildings that comprise the Steele City Historic District.
Highlights of the weekend will include local blacksmiths demonstrating the age-old skills of metalworking both days in the historic blacksmith shop. Old-fashioned rope making demonstrations will take place on Saturday, and pioneer soap making and basket weaving on Sunday afternoon. To celebrate Nebraska’s 150th year of statehood, local historian Gary “Mitch” Zabokrtsky will give a special presentation on the early settlers of Jefferson county on Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
The event will run from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free.
For more information on this event, please contact the Jefferson County Historical Society.
Phone: (402) 729-5131 (messages checked weekly)
Email: info@historicjeffersoncounty.org
Website: www.historicjeffersoncounty.org