18 | Dawson & Gosper County Travel Guide 2025
Lexington Racquet Center
Lexington Aquatic Center
Dawson County Fair Rodeo
Josh Hoyer performing at Mac’s Creek
two homesteaders ended with Bob Olive being shot and killed. In vengeance, Print Olive shot and hanged the homesteaders, a crime he would pay for in the Nebraska State Penitentiary. This caused quite a stir in the little town of Plum Creek and the story was later made into a book, “The Ladder of Rivers” by Harry E. Chrisman. Plum Creek quickly became known as a “cowboy” town. Even though it continued to grow and business was booming, the community became worried that it would soon have a bad name, and that nobody would want to settle in a town filled with scalawags and gunfighters. Several community leaders got together and decided to rename the town. Maybe if it had a more “regal” name, things would change. In 1889, by a write-in vote, the town name was changed to Lexington. With the construction of a new bridge over the Platte River south of Lexington and the designation of Lexington as the county seat, the community soon became a trading hub. To accommodate all the new people coming into town, the community leaders once again came together to build a luxurious hotel in 1890 called The Cornland. It was known as the best hotel between Omaha and Denver and offered all the latest amenities such as steam heat and gas lighting. Throughout the years, Lexington has seen many changes in business and population. It continues to grow and draw people from a wide variety of ethnic backgrounds just as it did when it was the small town of Plum Creek. The overland trails were taken over by the railroad, and then came the motor car and Lexington changed yet again to accommodate the Lincoln Highway traffic. Motels, diners and gas stations sprang up along what we now refer to as Highway 30. In the 1960s, the interstate system came through south of Lexington, causing the town to grow rapidly in that direction. Overland commerce has never stopped in Lexington, it’s merely
changed. In 1973, Lexington was named an All American City by the National Civic League, and Dawson County received the All American City award in 1993. It is the only county in Nebraska to be so honored. Lexington has three buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places: the Olive House at 401 E 13th St., Dawson County Courthouse at Seventh and Washington streets, and the H.V. Temple House at 305 E. 13th St. The downtown still has brick streets, and many structures have been restored, such as the Majestic Theatre, which was taken on as a project by the Lexington Public School system and has been operated by the school and volunteers for a decade. To learn more about Lexington’s history, visit the Dawson County Historical Museum and the Heartland Museum of Military Vehicles where the area’s history is proudly displayed! City Services Lexington is governed by a five-member elected City Council. Regular meetings of the City Council are on the second and fourth Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. The city employs a professional manager who oversees day-to-day operations. Lexington Utilities System provides or administers electricity, water, sewer and trash removal. Lexington Public Library 907 N Washington Street, 308-324-2151 Lexington’s 18,528-square-foot Public Library opened in late 2005, replacing the previous 40-year-old 4,950-square-foot facility. Besides being a beautiful public structure, the Lexington Public Library offers public use computers, free Wi-Fi and a growing makerspace. There are also four public meeting rooms, private study rooms, a young adult space and a children’s area for story time and other programming. An updated color
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