The Most Historic Gas Station In Nebraska Belongs On Your Bucket List
Though gas stations are often thought of as merely an inconvenient stop along a road trip, they can also be part of the fun, and sometimes, even a destination. Take, for example, this historic gas station turned town visitor center in Nebraska. This might just be the only gas station you’ll ever want to add to your ever-growing Nebraska bucket list. Let’s take a look, shall we?
Located on Spruce Street in downtown Ogallala, Nebraska — a small town nestled along the South Platte River near the Colorado border — the Standard Oil Red Crown Service Station is a historic gem just waiting to be discovered.
By 1930, Standard Oil had built service stations in approximately 130 Nebraska communities, but that number has dwindled greatly over the years.
The Spruce Street Station is often considered to be one of the best preserved of these stations and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.
The small brick building facing diagonally on a corner lot onto the main business street of Ogallala, Spruce Street, and 3rd Street, and reminds us of another era.
In addition to historic gas pumps, you will find a statue of a man named Hugh, a friendly hometown mechanic who embodies the spirit of the Lincoln Highway.
"He commemorates a simpler, gentler time, when an attendant would pump your gas, check your oil, and wave you on your way with a smile," reads a plaque found at the service center.
Designed by architects John and Alan McDonald, the building has found a new life as the Spruce Street Visitor Center after sitting vacant for many, many years. The building was restored in 2003 as part of the ceremony for the 90th anniversary of "America's Original Main Street," the Lincoln Highway.
With more than 10 years of experience as a professional writer, Megan holds a degree in Mass Media from her home state of Minnesota. After college, she chose to trade in her winter boots for slippahs and moved to the beautiful island of Oahu, where she has been living for more than five years. She lives on the west side but is constantly taking mini-road trips across the island and visits the neighboring islands whenever she can getaway. She loves hiking, snorkeling, locally-grown coffee, and finding the best acai bowl on Oahu.
