The Rose Creek Mausoleum In Nebraska

Are you familiar with the Rose Creek Mausoleum? Well, imagine walking around in the woods one day and suddenly stumbling across a hand-carved cave that was meant to be someone’s final resting place. In Rose Creek Wildlife Management Area just outside of Fairbury (Jefferson County), you can have just such an experience.

Rose Creek Wildlife Management Area is located 2 miles south, 2.5 miles west, and 1.25 miles south of Fairbury. It's a truly breathtaking place to hike, go horseback riding, or camp (primitive camping only). It's also a popular hunting area.

But there's something fascinating hiding in these woods. You can see it coming up from a distance: a sandstone cliff - which is very common in this area of Nebraska - with a hole in the front.

This is McDowell's Mausoleum, or McDowell's Tomb, named after its creator, Nelson L. McDowell.

In the early 20th century McDowell, a wealthy bachelor and the son of one of Fairbury's founding fathers, decided to create a grand final resting place for himself.

He spent nearly a decade with a hammer and chisel carving out this cavernous two-room mausoleum. Think about that - this was once a solid block of sandstone that one man carved out completely by hand.

There is a depression in the back wall, maybe meant to hold a shrine or religious figurines. On either side of the back room are platforms that are just the perfect size for a human body.

Why two platforms? Was McDowell hoping to be entombed alongside someone, or was the second simply for symmetry's sake?

Sadly, McDowell's masterpiece was never used for its intended purpose. When he died on September 27, 1937 in a car vs. train accident, the law prevented his entombment in the mausoleum. His body instead rests in the Fairbury Cemetery.

Due to the soft nature of the sandstone, countless people have felt the need to scratch their own names and messages into the stone over the years. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (along with everyone who hates to see local treasures vandalized) asks that visitors do not try to leave their mark in a similar manner.

Getting to the mausoleum is a feat in itself. The hike is steep, slippery, and at times treacherous. If you go in the winter or after rain, you’ll encounter slick conditions. The trail is right next to Rose Creek and is utterly beautiful. The video below shows a hike in and out, giving an idea of what it is like to traverse the trail.

The video below gives some more general history of the mausoleum.

So, did you know about this unique mausoleum in Nebraska? Have you ever encountered Rose Creek Mausoleum while hiking in Rose Creek WMA? Know of any other unique sites hiding along the state’s hiking trails? Whatever it is, tell us!

For more unusual places to go in the state, check out this list of nine of the weirdest places in Nebraska.

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Daniella DiRienzo | October 07, 2022

What's the most beautiful hike in Nebraska?

The hike to Rose Creek Mausoleum is not the only Nebraska hike worth mentioning. The state is brimming with unforgettable hiking trails, including the Riverview Boardwalk. Nestled within the Fontenelle Forest in Bellevue, the Riverview Boardwalk meanders nearly 1.5 miles through some of the forest’s most beloved areas. Along the way, hikers are afforded scenic views of a river, downtown Omaha, and more. A great trek for hikers of all abilities, the boardwalk is wheelchair accessible. The Riverview Boardwalk isn’t the only great hike in the Fontenelle Forest, though. There’s also the Hidden Lake Trail. It’s not as well known as the Riverview Boardwalk, but it boasts beautiful vistas, including a serene, secluded lake.

Can I hike to abandoned places in Nebraska?

The Rose Creek Mausoleum is just one of several abandoned places in Nebraska that you can hike to. There are actually quite a few, and St. Deroin is one of them. Likely the state’s most easily accessible ghost town, St. Deroin is situated within Indian Cave State Park. The now-deserted town was founded in 1854, making it one of the earliest settlements in the Nebraska Territory. At its peak, St. Deroin was home to roughly 300 residents. The town’s demise isn’t much different than most ghost towns: the railroad passed by St. Deroin, eventually forcing all traffic to nearby towns. The final nail in the coffin, so to speak, came in 1911, when St. Deroin suffered a disastrous flood. Today, the town’s memory lives on through a restored schoolhouse and the (allegedly haunted) St. Deroin Cemetery – both of which can be easily explored by park-goers.

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68352, Fairbury, NE 68352, USA

The Story Behind This Unique Mausoleum in Nebraska Is Heartbreaking

Delana Lefevers

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