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The County.

Bellevue is in Sarpy County, the 59^th most populated county when license plates leading numbers were decided on (it would now be number 3). Sarpy is a wide county, so wide that most people never drive to its south western corner. If they did, they might see a herd of buffalo. A lot of people in Bellevue have never seen a buffalo in Sarpy County. They do exist (south of Buffalo Road, along Cornish Road).

Bellevue Haworth Park

Bellevue is another spot to cross the Missouri River

A boat loading dock makes for easy access to the Missouri River.

Fontenelle Forest Nature Center. (1111 Bellevue Blvd N.)

The forest is located along Bellevue Boulevard, a curvy road leading from Bellevue to Omaha, the old way, close to the river. The forest has a visitor's center, guided tours and programs. There are many trails to walk and enjoy the scenery. Look for anything from butterflies to deer. Fontenelle Forest has several educational programs, and special tours. Some of the help is volunteer, hint, hint.

Sarpy County Historical Museum. (2402 Clay St.)

The museum is located at the Offutt AFB Bellevue Gate. The museum contains artifacts from the early pioneer days. Of all the spots in Bellevue to visit, this is one to not miss out on. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday all year long from 9 A.M. to 4 P.M. You can call the museum at 402-292-1880

The log cabin is from the 1830s. It originally was built near a trading post in what is now known as Fontenelle Forest. During a cholera epidemic in 1835, the building was moved to the plateau area (near its present day location???). It has been surmised that it probably is the oldest building that still remains between the Missouri River and the Pacific Ocean. 402-293-3080

The bank is from 1856. It claims credit to be the oldest commercial public building in Nebraska. It was the first bank granted the right to circulate and issue money in the Nebraska Territory. It failed during the Financial Panic of 1857. The building was used as a courthouse, jail, opera house, and dance house. When the county seat moved to Papillion in 1875 the city of Bellevue used a portion of the building as city hall. The city purchased the building in 1925. When a new City Hall was built in 1959, the building no longer was considered as important and was nearly torn down. It was sold to private business and had several shops inside. The city purchased the building back as a historic landmark in 1972. The original vault has been with the bank all this time. Other parts of the bank has been restored to take us back in time to the beginning.

The Presbyterian Church is from 1856. You might think that a church from this time would be a monument, preserved but off limits and could only be viewed from the outside or for special tours. Instead, the building has been in continued use and therefore constantly maintained. The original stained glass windows and oak pews are still in use. Services are still held there each Sunday. Call 402-293-3080 for additional information.

Pioneer Cemetery.

The Bellevue Pioneer Cemetery is the second oldest graveyard west of the Missouri. Several early settlers and important people are buried there, among them the last full blooded chief of the Omaha nation, Big Elk.

The cemetery is located at Lord Boulevard and 19th Ave. Many of the gravesites are from the earliest settlers to the area.

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Intro

The County.

Truly Historic.

Places of Interest

Bellevue Haworth Park