Historical Sites

O'Connor House

Located two miles east of Hwy 75 near Homer, this 14 room mansion was one of the most luxurious homes in the area when it was constructed between 1865 and 1875 by Captain Cornelius O'Connor. Homer is now situated.

All the woodwork including the staircase was hand cut from walnut trees taken from behind the house. The feather painting on the woodwork throughout the home was done by the Captain’s daughter, Charlotte O’Connor, and is original. The mansion features a curved staircase in the front hall, a large marble fireplace imported from Italy, eight bedrooms on the second floor, and servants' quarters on the lower level.

During this time, Cornelius O’Connor was commissioned by Nebraska Governor Richardson as a captain of a company formed to resist attacks by the Indians.  Captain O’Connor served as a member of the Nebraska Territorial Legislature during the Civil War, representing Dakota County.

The house is operated by the Dakota County Historical Society, which sponsors a Summer Social each summer and a Christmas tour and Open House each year during the first two weekends in November. This building is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Combs School House

Combs School was built in early 1857, four miles south of Dakota City at Omadi.  It is the oldest school building in Dakota County and one of the oldest in Nebraska. When the Missouri River began to undermine the Omadi area, the school was moved two miles south of Homer and a new school district was formed.  The school was moved again after construction of the Burlington Railroad between Sioux City and Lincoln.  It’s present location is near the old Combs mill and the school closed on May 22, 1964.  The Board of Education of the new district donated the school to the Dakota County Historical Society, who set is aside as a monument.  Today, the school is used for “Pioneer School Day” activities for area fourth grade students.

Tonwantonga Indian Village

An important Omaha Indian village called Tonwantonga (Large Village) by the Omaha stood on Omaha Creek in this area. Ruled by the great chief Blackbird, an estimated 1,100 people lived in this earthlodge town about 1795 and it played an important role in Indian and exploratory history.

Source: http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM1TK1