Lincoln Highway Scenic and Historic Byway – NE

Story of the Byway

Nebraska’s Lincoln Highway Scenic & Historic Byway traverses the entire length of Nebraska and offers travelers an eclectic inside look at Nebraskan transportation history as well as an abundance of natural attractions and dining options. The byway is a major stretch of America’s first transcontinental highway — the Lincoln Highway — and used to be known as the “Great Platte River Road.” The last stretch of the Lincoln Highway in the United States to be paved was in North Platte, NE in 1935. Before that, the route across the state was anything from paved streets in parts of Omaha to brick streets, gravel roads, and dirt paths elsewhere. The best roads at the time made up the rute, depending on the weather. Every community in its path benefited from the route, and tourist destinations sprung up across the state. From Kimball in the west to Omaha and Blair in the east, road travelers found unique attractions and accommodations. The Lincoln Highway era, 1913-1950s, was the heyday of flurry and activity on the Lincoln Highway before Interstate 80 took its place as the main thoroughfare through Nebraska in 1962.

Native Americans and fur traders who first began westward exploration, traveled along this deeply historical byway. The route was then frequented during America’s great westward migration, by Oregon and Mormon Trail pioneers, then by the Union Pacific Railroad, and finally by America’s first transcontinental highway – the Lincoln Highway. The modern-day lure of the byway resides in the presence and preservation of the small rural towns that developed along the route every six to twelve miles across the entire byway. Moreover, Nebraska’s contribution to the construction of the Lincoln Highway was extensive and the byway has preserved a handful of the original seedling miles of the nationally known highway.

In 1913, Central City became the first community in the nation to ratify the Lincoln Highway proclamation on the steps of the Merrick County courthouse, and today’s travelers can experience where this momentous occasion occurred. The original pavement of the seedling mile at Grand Island, which was the first in the state and the second in the nation, has been preserved and is marked with historical interpretive panels. The town of Fremont is home to the longest seedling mile in the country that stretches six miles, and it can still be driven on Highway 30 between Fremont and Ames. The last section of pavement on US Route 30 was completed just west of North Platte and was dedicated on November 6, 1935. Historical markers along the highway commemorate significant moments and accomplishments. In addition to the dozens of original 1928 concrete Lincoln Highway markers placed by the Boy Scouts, there are reproduction concrete markers and utility poles painted with iconic red, white, and blue “L” emblems.

The purpose of the Lincoln Highway Historic Byway is to promote and preserve the intrinsic scenic and historic qualities of the Lincoln Highway route through Nebraska. Driving across Nebraska on this byway today is a reminder of what the road was like. The communities along the route are embracing their Lincoln Highway past, with new renovations and restorations occurring each year. Many sites are right on Highway 30, and others are just a block or two away. Many yet-to-be restored locations also exist, adding interest to the journey.