Crete Heritage Society

Crete Heritage Society The Crete Heritage Society is dedicated to the preservation of Crete's history, and also to providing hands-on history educational programming.

The Crete Heritage Society was created in 1975 as The Crete Bicentennial Society, Inc. to choose and sponsor a project in celebration of the nation’s 1976 bicentennial anniversary. The group decided to purchase and preserve a 17-acre tract near Tuxedo Park in northwest Crete that was once part of Crete founder Jesse C. Bickle’s original 80-acre homestead. A section of Crete is situated on this hom

estead, and the town’s first post office was located in Bickle’s 1864 log cabin. This original log cabin is part of the 1870s frame Carpenter Gothic house, still extant on the property. After many years of fund-raising activities, the organization paid off the $38,000 mortgage, and the property has been renovated and is well maintained. It is also listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Known commonly for many years as “The Maples,” the name of longtime owner M.O. Smith’s meat market, the property has also been designated a Nebraska State Arboretum site. Today, students of all ages, and also adults, participate in heritage activities at the facility each year. The Bickle farmstead, located on the northeastern portion of the acreage, includes the house, an early 20th century barn, and small outbuildings. Also located on the property are Saline County District #1 Star School, renovated in 2004 in ca. 1910 style, and the Benne Memorial Museum.

We enjoy hosting the 4th graders each year!
05/04/2026

We enjoy hosting the 4th graders each year!

03/18/2026

Pure Nebraska

Mark your calendars for Sunday afternoon! Learn about Crete’s history and interesting architecture.
10/21/2025

Mark your calendars for Sunday afternoon! Learn about Crete’s history and interesting architecture.

Don’t forget to come see us at the Benne Museum, Star School and Bickle House this afternoon 1-4 pm. We have lots on di...
05/31/2025

Don’t forget to come see us at the Benne Museum, Star School and Bickle House this afternoon 1-4 pm. We have lots on display!

Don’t forgot to mark your calendars for Saturday afternoon May 31 and come see us at the Crete Heritage Society. All bu...
05/16/2025

Don’t forgot to mark your calendars for Saturday afternoon May 31 and come see us at the Crete Heritage Society. All buildings will be open from 1-4 pm. We are happy to be on the schedule of Crete High’s Cardinal Alumni Weekend activities.

If you can’t make it that weekend, come visit us the next Saturday afternoon June 7.

We have so pleased and grateful to have the original 1940s CTC dispatcher’s board for the part of Thomas Doanes rail l...
05/09/2025

We have so pleased and grateful to have the original 1940s CTC dispatcher’s board for the part of Thomas Doanes rail line known as the Hastings (Nebraska) Subdivision of the BNSF RR. It is on display in our museum gallery thanks to generous contributions from the Lincoln Railfan Club and other local and regional donors.

Railroad history doesn't stop with only equipment. It takes a lot of PEOPLE to run a railroad. Here is a photo of one of them at work. We are looking at the centralized traffic control board in the Glena Dispatcher's office located in the now destroyed Chicago passenger terminal on Madison street at Canal in Chicago. This is a C&NW company photo. The name of the individual is not recorded on the photo.

Mark your calendars for Cardinal Weekend May 30-June 1! Special activities are planned for Crete High alumni at certain...
04/29/2025

Mark your calendars for Cardinal Weekend May 30-June 1! Special activities are planned for Crete High alumni at certain times, and all are welcome to join in the sight-seeing around town on Saturday. Don’t miss this opportunity to check things out! Details are posted below The museum buildings will be open from 1-4 pm.

We were awarded a grant recently by the Nebraska State Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation. We are so grateful...
01/30/2025

We were awarded a grant recently by the Nebraska State Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation. We are so grateful.

Big news about a very special Nebraska site!!! And— it is nearby! Add this to your next Nebraska City visit.
12/21/2024

Big news about a very special Nebraska site!!! And— it is nearby! Add this to your next Nebraska City visit.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland today announced the designations of 19 new National Historic Landmarks (NHLs), reflecting the importance of the sites in sharing America’s diverse history. The new NHLs are nationally significant properties for le***an, gay, bisexual, transgende...

Address

800 West 13th Street PO Box 304
Crete, NE
68333

Telephone

+14028269461

Website

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