Welcome to Cottonmill Park in Kearney, Nebraska, a site rich with history and transformation. Established in the late 1800s, this area once housed the Kearney Cotton Mill, a testament to the city’s ambitions to become a manufacturing hub. The cotton mill, completed in 1892, was then the largest manufacturing plant in Nebraska, financed partially by a Massachusetts firm. This two-story brick structure cost over $400,000 to construct and employed about 450 workers at its peak, producing 26,000 yards of unbleached muslin daily.
The mill’s establishment was driven by Kearney’s business leaders who envisioned the city as a major manufacturing center, alongside other ventures like paper and oatmeal mills. However, the economic depression of the early 1890s had a devastating impact, causing many of these businesses, including the cotton mill, to struggle.
By 1901, the mill faced closure due to high freight rates, labor costs, and competition. Despite its initial promise, it never operated at a profit. The building stood vacant until it was repurposed as part of the Midway Amusement Park in 1920, featuring a swimming pool in the basement and a dance pavilion in the main structure. Sadly, the mill and park were destroyed by fire in 1922.
As you explore Cottonmill Park today, you’re walking through a place that tells the story of industrial ambition, economic challenges, and community resilience. The park now serves as a recreational haven, preserving the memory of its industrious past while providing a space for leisure and enjoyment.
