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.

Happening tomorrow evening! This will be interesting.
08/24/2026

Happening tomorrow evening! This will be interesting.

Mark your calendars!! Join us

08/22/2026

📚 SCHOOL DAYS — CRETE 🍎

Now THIS was a schoolhouse! Our School Days series takes us to Crete in Saline County for a look at the old Crete High School.

The building pictured here was erected in 1888 at a cost of $25,000. At the time it included a high school assembly room, recitation rooms, graded classrooms, offices and even steam heat.

With its tall central tower, arched entrance and almost castle-like architecture, it must have made quite an impression on generations of Crete schoolchildren.

And yes — this is not the Crete High School standing today. Crete has gone through several generations of school buildings since this photograph was taken; the present high school opened in 2016.

🎓 Crete alumni — who remembers the different school buildings through the years? Which Crete school did YOU attend?

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

We enjoy hosting the 4th graders each year!

Address

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

Telephone

+14028269461

Website

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