Bellevue, NE: Moved/CB&Q Depot and New Offutt Air Force Base

Original Depot Location: (Satellite)

Current Depot Location: (Satellite)

Old Air Base: (Satellite)

New Air Base: (Satellite, they moved the BNSF/CB&Q tracks further east and built on the flood plain.)

Michael Behem posted
Bellevue station, otherwise known as the Burlington Depot in Bellevue, Nebraska is a historic railroad station which served trains of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad (Burlington Route). The depot was originally built in 1869 for the Omaha and South Western Railroad, making it the oldest surviving depot in Nebraska. I have neglected to ever  visit this depot till today. Seen tons of pictures of it . My picture from 3/14/26

Bryan Moran: It appears to be run down. Weeds,etc.

Michael Behm: Bryan Moran the museum that it is at is trying to get a new home but it's not going well. The new location fell through the depot and the museum (sarpy county museum) are sitting in limbo currently.

Thisisa Mendolia: The mayor of Bellevue wants the land under it to build more apartment buildings. It may soon disappear.

Randy Early shared

I.e. Xam commented on Michael's post
Looked better in 2023. [Just three years earlier.]

Dennis DeBruler commented on Michael's post
I also wonder where it is. I could not find it along the tracks, https://maps.app.goo.gl/b3dWxAHVcE2SrQXe8.

Dennis DeBruler: It has been moved to a museum: https://maps.app.goo.gl/bAcHukn3xtuqKpU27.

The depot is now part of the county museum. I wonder if the mayor will get a kickback from the developer if he manages to destroy this museum.

Street View, Jul 2015

I included the southern part of this photo to show that the CB&Q tracks curved westward to stay off the flood plain.

May 1, 1952 @ 17,000; AR1TL0000070116

Zooming in. The depot appears to be a little south of the road that goes to the power plant. The Mission Avenue Bridge is under construction.

May 1, 1952 @ 17,000; AR1TL0000070116

When I noticed that today's BNSF tracks no longer curved west as much as they used to, I got the aerial photo that is south of the above aerial photo. The Offutt Air Force Base was a lot smaller in 1952, and it was west of the flood plain.

May 1, 1952 @ 17,000; AR1TL0000030134

By 1956, the CB&Q tracks were moved closer to the river so that the Air Force could build on the flood plain.

1956/58 Plattsmouth and Omaha South Quads @ 24,000

In 2019, the Air Force paid the price for building on a flood plain. Part of a runway and some of their buildings were under water.

Dennis DeBruler