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Photograph of Broken Bow Carnegie Library
Photograph by Ammodramus, Public domain. Via Wikimedia Commons.

Broken Bow Carnegie Library

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.

From the record

“The Broken Bow Carnegie Library is a historic building in Broken Bow, Nebraska. It was built by Clyde Elder in 1915-1916 as a Carnegie library thanks to a $10,000 donation from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, and designed by M.N.”

Wikipedia article Broken Bow Carnegie Library, CC BY-SA 4.0.

One of 14 National Register listings published here for Custer County · listed in 1998 · category: Building.

Sources: the Wikipedia article · the case file at the National Archives · the National Register database, National Park Service

The listing

  • What is counted as historic. The nomination lists 1 building as contributing to the listing.
  • Address. 255 S. 10th St., Broken Bow, 68822
  • When was it listed? March 1998
  • Category. building
  • Also known as. Carnegie Libraries in Nebraska MPS; Carnegie Libraries in Nebraska MPS
  • City. Broken Bow city
  • National Register reference number. 98000193 - the number the National Park Service assigned this property when it was listed, and the key its nomination file is catalogued under at the National Archives.

The ground it stands on

8,212 words

The chapter on Broken Bow City in History of Custer County, Nebraska; a Narrative of the Past, with Special Emphasis Upon the Pioneer Period of the County's History, Its Social, Commercial, Educational, Religous, and Civic Developement from the Early Days to the Present Time, published 1919 names Broken Bow. This is what it says, exactly as the scans read.

Streeter for the first time wintered cattle in the territory now comprising Custer county. On Ash creek, a short distance soiitli of Broken Bow, lie turned out in the fall 821 cattle, of which 385 were yearlings. They were all Texas cattle ; the following spring he rounded up 819, a loss of only two head.

Passage source: History of Custer County, Nebraska; a Narrative of the Past, with Special Emphasis Upon the Pioneer Period of the County's History, Its Social, Commercial, Educational, Religous, and Civic Developement from the Early Days to the Present Time, published 1919.

Early in the fall of 1884 a few settlers located homesteads in the northeast corner of the Brighton Ranch Company's pasture, on Ash creek. This pasture was about fifteen miles square and extended several miles south of the Loup river almost to Broken Bow, and was inclosed with a wire fence. The land being government land, and subject to entry, these settlers served notice on the ranch company to remove their fences from about their claims within thirty days. The company paid no attention to this request, and at the expiration of the time the settlers made a raid on the fence and appropriated the posts to make roofs for their sod houses. Roofs in those days were made by laying a large log, called a ridge log, lengthwise of the building at the top. The fence posts were then laid up to form the rafters, to which brush was fastened, the whole being covered with one or two layers of prairie sod, coated with several inches of yellow clay, procured from the canyons, which turned water very eft'ectually.

Passage source: History of Custer County, Nebraska; a Narrative of the Past, with Special Emphasis Upon the Pioneer Period of the County's History, Its Social, Commercial, Educational, Religous, and Civic Developement from the Early Days to the Present Time, published 1919.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Broken Bow City - 8,212 words on its settlement, mills, schools and churches.

Fires near this property

40 since 2002

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 40 fires within 5 miles of Broken Bow Carnegie Library between 2002 and 2020, burning about 609 acres in total. 1 started naturally. None was recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined9
Railroad operations and maintenance9
Debris and open burning8
Equipment and vehicle use6
Power generation/transmission/distribution3
Fireworks2
Smoking1
Misuse of fire by a minor1
Natural1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
5 September 2010Fireworks10 acresNebraska Forest Servicenot named
22 September 2012Equipment and vehicle use4.0 acresNebraska Forest Servicenot named
21 September 2008Misuse of fire by a minorunder an acreNebraska Forest Servicenot named
15 September 2012Railroad operations and maintenance7.0 acresNebraska Forest Servicenot named
8 August 2012Missing data/not specified/undetermined2.0 acresNebraska Forest Servicenot named
3 August 2018Railroad operations and maintenance14 acresNebraska Forest Servicenot named
2 August 2018Railroad operations and maintenanceunder an acreNebraska Forest Servicenot named
17 August 2020Equipment and vehicle useunder an acreNebraska Forest Servicenot named

Every fire recorded in Custer County

Storms near this property

60 of 119 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Broken Bow, the town this property stands in, in 119 storm reports between 1993 and 2025: 59 hail, 46 thunderstorm wind, 9 flash flood, 4 tornado. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
October 2000Tornado (F2)Broken Bow$1,000,000The tornado touched down 7 miles southeast of Broken Bow and traveled 12 miles north northeast across farm and rangeland. Initial damage occurred at touchdown with a modular home destroyed. Then over the next 2 miles 3 farmsteads were struck. The first suffered heavy damage to all buildings including the house. At the second farmstead a modular home and several buildings were completely destroyed. The third farmstead suffered extensive damage to the outbuildings and minor damage to the house. The tornado then moved across highway 2 and destroyed several farm building 4 miles east of Broken Bow. Then as the tornado moved across highway 70 another farmstead was struck with several outbuildings destroyed and the house damaged. The tornado remained on the the ground and destroyed a barn 5 miles northeast of Broken Bow, then did extensive damage to a farmstead 7 miles northeast of Broken Bow where several outbuildings were destroyed or damaged and damaged the house. Tree damage was extensive along the entire path and several center pivot irrigation systems were destroyed. The tornado lifted 7 miles northeast of Broken Bow.
October 2023Flash FloodBroken Bow$500,000Public reports flooding with buildings inundated at the Custer County Fairgrounds.
June 2013Thunderstorm WindBroken Bow$200,000Strong winds downed power lines and produced extensive tree damage in Broken Bow. Additional damage included overturned center pivots east of town and in Callaway. Visible wind damage covered a 40 mile path from Callaway to Comstock.
June 2012Thunderstorm WindBroken Bow$150,000Downburst winds up to 70 mph caused extensive tree damage and loss of power to half the city of Broken Bow. Reports of wind damage extended through west central Custer County to include Callaway and Arnold, where fallen tree limbs caused damage to homes, parks and power lines.
June 2013Thunderstorm WindBroken Bow$100,000Strong winds downed large trees and power lines. Roofs were blown off buildings with one roof estimated 30 to 40 yards away from a house.
August 1996Thunderstorm WindBroken Bow$50,000no account filed
September 2010Thunderstorm WindBroken Bow$40,000A 40 X 60 Wick steel storage building was damaged when lifted by strong winds. The building had several trusses splintered and shifted before approximately 20 feet of the peak panels broke with the structure slammed back to the foundation. A 26 foot horse trailer was also moved two to three feet. In addition, southwest of Broken Bow a lean-to congregated steel roof on a large barn was damaged as the winds lifted and peeled panels off. A center irrigation pivot was also overturned.
October 1997Thunderstorm WindBroken Bow$40,00075 to 90 mph thunderstorm winds broke down power lines causing power outages in and around Broken Bow. Wind blown tree limbs damaged roofs and broke out windows.
June 2012Thunderstorm WindBroken Bow$35,000Strong winds down numerous 3 to 4 inch diameter tree branches that covered Highway 2 from Ansley to Broken Bow. The road was temporarily closed for tree limb removal.
July 2009Thunderstorm WindBroken Bow$35,000The strong thunderstorm winds snapped a traffic light pole and broke off 10 to 15 inch diameter tree limbs. Some of the tree limbs fell on homes and power lines. A large part of Broken Bow was without power for a period of time.
June 2013Thunderstorm WindBroken Bow$25,000A large garage was destroyed.
June 2004Thunderstorm WindBroken Bow$25,000Strong thunderstorm winds up to 60 knots knocked down power lines and numerous trees around Broken Bow. Property damage included windows broken out of cars, business signs broken or knocked down, and a metal shed overturned.
August 2017Thunderstorm WindBroken Bow$20,000Emergency manager reports numerous damaged trees in Broken Bow.
September 2010Thunderstorm WindBroken Bow$20,000The strong winds destroyed a 20 X 30 open faced garage and 8 X 10 garden shed 3 miles south of Broken Bow on highway 21.
July 2000HailBroken Bow$20,000no account filed
June 1998Thunderstorm WindBroken Bow$15,000Thunderstorm downburst wind damaged building and fence at fairgrounds.
July 2000HailBroken Bow$15,000no account filed
July 2024Tornado (EF1)Broken Bow$10,000Tornado briefly touched down just northwest of the intersection of Ryno Road and Highway 2, west of Broken Bow. Surveillance video showed a brief tornado that picked up an 800 pound trailer and tossed it into a car. A large SUV was also lifted and moved 3 inches.
July 2020Flash FloodBroken Bow$10,000Torrential rainfall caused flooding at a golf course near Broken Bow.
July 2020Flash FloodBroken Bow$10,000Custer County Fairgrounds is under water. Water is standing or flowing all across town.
August 2002HailBroken Bow$8,000no account filed
May 1998Thunderstorm WindBroken Bow$5,000Thunderstorm winds at 60 mph damaged farm equipment 6 miles west of Broken Bow.
June 2014HailBroken Bow$5,000no account filed
August 2000HailBroken Bow$5,000no account filed
June 2003HailBroken Bow$3,000no account filed
August 2002HailBroken Bow$2,000no account filed
June 2008HailBroken Bow$1,500no account filed
July 2011HailBroken Bow$1,000Tennis ball sized hail damaged trees at this location.
June 2003HailBroken Bow$1,000no account filed
June 2025Thunderstorm WindBroken Bow-Gust measured at the Broken Bow Airport.
May 2023Thunderstorm WindBroken Bow-A 58 MPH thunderstorm wind gust was reported at the Broken Bow Airport.
May 2023Thunderstorm WindBroken Bow-A measured thunderstorm wind gust of 70 MPH was reported at the Broken Bow Airport.
May 2023Thunderstorm WindBroken Bow-A 59 MPH wind gust was reported at the Broken Bow Airport.
July 2023Thunderstorm WindBroken Bow-Broken Bow Airport ASOS measured a 51 kt wind gust.
October 2023Flash FloodBroken Bow-Extensive overland flooding is noted in the vicinity of highway 21 and road 797.
October 2023Flash FloodBroken Bow-Swift water being reported over Highway 70 in the vicinity of Highway 2 just east of Broken Bow.
July 2022Thunderstorm WindBroken Bow-Broken Bow Airport ASOS measured a 90 mph wind gust.
July 2022Thunderstorm WindBroken Bow-Emergency management reported multiple trees downed or uprooted, gas lines broken, corn crop stripped, and other damage in and around Broken Bow. Report coincides with a 90 mph gust from the nearby ASOS.
July 2020Thunderstorm WindBroken Bow-Large trees were downed in Broken Bow.
July 2020Thunderstorm WindBroken Bow-Large trees were downed, blocking a road in Broken Bow.
May 2019Thunderstorm WindBroken Bow-Wind gust of 62 MPH measured at the Broken Bow Airport.
May 2019Thunderstorm WindBroken Bow-Gust measured at the Broken Bow Airport.
June 2018Thunderstorm WindBroken Bow-Wind gust measured at the Broken Bow Airport.
May 2018Thunderstorm WindBroken Bow-No damage reported.
June 2017Thunderstorm WindBroken Bow-Official gust.
August 2017Flash FloodBroken Bow-Emergency manager reports several roads in Broken Bow covered with 6+ inches of water.
August 2017Thunderstorm WindBroken Bow-Trained spotter estimated 80 MPH wind gusts at this location.
August 2017Flash FloodBroken Bow-Trained spotter reports numerous roads covered with water up to the top of curbs.
July 2016Thunderstorm WindBroken Bow-Broken Bow Airport measured a 60 mph wind gust.
July 2014Thunderstorm WindBroken Bow-Wind gusts to 70 mph estimated on the north side of Broken Bow.
June 2014HailBroken Bow-Golf ball size hail had fallen for 5 minutes at time of report.
August 2013HailBroken Bow-Strongs winds bending tree trunks with strength unknown.
June 2013Thunderstorm WindBroken Bow-Numerous trees down with estimated wind gust in excess of 70 MPH.
July 2013Thunderstorm WindBroken Bow-A trained spotter estimated thunderstorm wind gusts of 55 to 60 MPH.
July 2013Thunderstorm WindBroken Bow-Thunderstorm wind gust to 74 MPH, measured at the Broken Bow Airport.
August 2013Flash FloodBroken Bow-Flood waters up to law enforcement vehicle bumpers downtown or around a foot deep.
February 2012HailBroken Bow-Half inch size hail covered the ground.
July 2010Thunderstorm WindBroken Bow-Strong winds damaged an eight foot diameter tree that was blown over in Broken Bow.
July 2010Funnel CloudBroken Bow-Trained weather spotter observed a well defined funnel cloud.
September 2010Thunderstorm WindBroken Bow-The strong winds were accompanied by quarter size hail.

Every storm recorded in Custer County

Map coverage status

No historic map-sheet match is published for this property yet. That does not mean no map exists. This record needs a coordinate-quality review before it can be joined to a sheet boundary. Browse the county's mapped places while that work is pending.

Listed places nearby

5 within 8 miles

Other National Register properties close enough to walk or drive between, ordered by distance from this one. Both positions come from the same geocoding pass that matched these properties to their map sheets.

Photograph PropertyDistance Listed
Custer County Courthouse and Jailunder 500 feet1979
Security State Bank Buildingunder 500 feet1987
Broken Bow Commercial Square Historic District0.1 miles2006
Arrow Hotel0.1 miles1985
Stillman P. Groat House0.4 miles2015

Sources for this property

National Archives recordThe nomination case file for reference 98000193 in Record Group 79.
Wikipedia articleCommunity-written account of this property, licensed CC BY-SA.
Custer CountyAll 14 listed properties in this county.

Provenance

  • Listing record. National Park Service National Register of Historic Places, listed-properties dataset, current to 2026-05-22.
  • Map join. Address geocoded through the United States Census geocoder, then tested against the published boundary of every sheet in the USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection.
  • How this page is made. Listing fields come from federal records; map-sheet coverage is a labelled coordinate-to-boundary calculation, not a source-field claim.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.