Lighthouses of the United States: Nebraska

The United States of America is a federal union of 50 states and a capital district. The state of Nebraska is in the center of the country, far from the coasts. The Missouri River, flowing along the eastern border of Nebraska, is the only major navigable waterway touching the state. The Coast Guard maintains lights on the river, but as far as I know none of them qualify as lighthouses. The lighthouses on this page were built privately.

When Congress created the Nebraska Territory in 1854 it included a large area of the northern Great Plains. The state, carved out of this larger territory, was admitted to the Union as the 37th state in 1867.

Among lighthouse fans Nebraska is best known for two historic faux lighthouses, Lake Minatare and Linoma Beach.

To be listed in the Directory, a lighthouse must actually serve as an aid to navigation. This means it must be located on a navigable lake or river and must be lit as a navigational aid at least during the local boating season.

General Sources
Johnson Lake Lighthouses
Photos and notes on the construction of these lighthouses.

Lake McConaughy Lighthouse
* The Dunes
2002. Active (?) (not charted by Navionics); focal plane unknown; continuous white light. 35 ft (11 m) round stone lighthouse with lantern and gallery. The tower is unpainted; lantern pained black. A small gazebo is adjacent to the lighthouse. A photo by Lori Parsons is at right and Bing has a satellite view. Lake McConaughy is a large reservoir formed by damming the North Platte River in Keith County, north of Ogallala in western Nebraska. The lake is 22 mi (35 km) long and roughly 4 mi (6.5 km) wide over much of its length. The lighthouse is atop a bluff on the south side of the lake, about midway along its length. Located off Meadow Lane near the entrance to the Dunes at Lake McConaughy development. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: The Dunes at Lake McConaughy.
The Dunes Light
The Dunes Light, Lake McConaughy, February 2007
Flickr photo copyright Lori Parsons; used by permission

Johnson Lake Lighthouses
* Lakeshore Marina
2021. Active (not charted by Navionics); focal plane about 25 ft (7.5 m); continuous white light. Approx. 16 ft (5 m) octagonal tower with lantern mounted on an octagonal concrete base. Lighthouse painted with black and white horizontal bands, lantern painted black. A photo (third photo on the page, also seen at right) and a 2022 photo are available and Bing has a satellite view. Johnson Lake is a reservoir southwest of Lexington on the Dawson/Gosper County line. Located on a short jetty at the Lakeshore Marina on the northwest side of the lake. Site open, tower closed.
* Mallard Cove
2018. Active (not charted by Navionics); focal plane about 20 ft (6 m); continuous white light. Approx. 16 ft (5 m) octagonal tower with lantern mounted on an octagonal concrete base. Lighthouse painted with red and white horizontal bands, lantern painted black. A photo and a second photo (second photo on the page) are available and Bing has a satellite view. Johnson Lake is a reservoir southwest of Lexington on the Dawson/Gosper County line. Located on a short breakwater at Mallard Cove on the southwest side of the lake. Site open, tower closed.

Omaha Lighthouse
* Glenn Cunningham Lake (relocated)
1990s (relocated here in 2009) (not charted by Navionics). Active; focal plane 34 ft (10.5 m); continuous white light. 22 ft (7 m) round steel tower with lantern, painted with green and white (formerly red and white) horizontal bands. Terry Schmidt has a photo, another photo is available, and Bing has a satellite view. This lighthouse was first installed in downtown Omaha on the Lewis and Clark Riverwalk. Later removed from that location, it was stored for several years before being reinstalled as part of a reconstruction of Glenn Cunningham Park. In October 2018 the park was closed and the lake drained to eliminate an investation of zebra mussels and common carp. The city took this opportunity to upgrade all of the park facilities, temporarily removing the lighthouse. The park reopened in July 2021 with the lighthouse restored and painted in green and white. Located at the marina, at the southeastern corner of the park, on the north side of Omaha. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: City of Omaha (Glenn Cunningham Lake).

Lakeshore Marina Light, Johnson Lake, August 2021
KHGI News photo

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: East: Iowa | Southeast: Missouri | South: Kansas

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Posted July 31, 2013. Checked and revised October 1, 2023. Lighthouses: 4. Site copyright 2023 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.