A historical marker along NE 64 bears the name of Shinn's Ferry, a ferry service for early pioneers looking to head north into the American prairie between 1859 and 1872.
Two historical markers along NE 64 northwest of David City tell the tale of Shinn's Ferry and the town of Savannah, now both long-gone and remembered only in a few artifacts and a map.
A printed copy of a photograph of the only map of Savannah, a settlement in north Butler County that largely moved to the new David City in 1873, hangs in the Butler County Historical Society Museum.
The Schuyler bridge across the Platte River, now concrete and seeing thousands of cars on a daily basis, was constructed in 1872 and largely made Shinn's Ferry obsolete as wagons and animals alike could now simply cross a bridge rather than ride a boat.
A "pioneer flag" from 1868 that once flew over the town of Savannah sits in the Butler County Historical Society Museum. The flag was made of Savannah's women's dresses and was preserved for posterity by Horace Garfield. Note the flag has 36 stars, indicating it was made before Nebraska became the 37th state in 1867.
A wooden pulpit belonging to Peg Wilson (Napier) now sits as one of only a few remnants of the town of Savannah. Wilson's family lived in Savannah at one point and she has been interested in the town's history for years.
A painted picture of the former Savannah courthouse hanging in the Butler County Historical Society Museum in David City. The courthouse was moved in 1872 along with many of Savannah's residents to David City, where it was destroyed in a cyclone in 1887.
A printed copy of a photograph of the only map of Savannah, a settlement in north Butler County that largely moved to the new David City in 1873, hangs in the Butler County Historical Society Museum.
A "pioneer flag" from 1868 that once flew over the town of Savannah sits in the Butler County Historical Society Museum. The flag was made of Savannah's women's dresses and was preserved for posterity by Horace Garfield. Note the flag has 36 stars, indicating it was made before Nebraska became the 37th state in 1867.
The Schuyler bridge across the Platte River, now concrete and seeing thousands of cars on a daily basis, was constructed in 1872 and largely made Shinn's Ferry obsolete as wagons and animals alike could now simply cross a bridge rather than ride a boat.
Two historical markers along NE 64 northwest of David City tell the tale of Shinn's Ferry and the town of Savannah, now both long-gone and remembered only in a few artifacts and a map.
A wooden pulpit belonging to Peg Wilson (Napier) now sits as one of only a few remnants of the town of Savannah. Wilson's family lived in Savannah at one point and she has been interested in the town's history for years.
A historical marker along NE 64 bears the name of Shinn's Ferry, a ferry service for early pioneers looking to head north into the American prairie between 1859 and 1872.
A painted picture of the former Savannah courthouse hanging in the Butler County Historical Society Museum in David City. The courthouse was moved in 1872 along with many of Savannah's residents to David City, where it was destroyed in a cyclone in 1887.
