The Sam Machette Pony Express Station is located in Ehmen Park just blocks from downtown Gothenburg and the Lincoln Highway. The station is open to visitors from April 1st through October 31st each year. Admission is free and the guides are more than happy to give a quick overview or a detailed history of the Pony Express in Nebraska; they will also answer any questions you have.
A visit to the Pony Express Station might be worth it just to spend some time lollygagging in the park on a summer day. Ehmen Park is well maintained and has a variety of shade trees, lawns, and playground equipment. It looks like it came out of a Norman Rockwell painting.
Right across the street from the Pony Express Station is the Gothenburg Historical Museum. Admission is free and it features displays on Union Pacific’s westward expansion, the power plant that was built in 1891 that made Gothenburg the first town in western Nebraska to have electricity, as well as exhibits on the Swedish and German immigrants who first settled Gothenburg in the 1800’s.
Taking a little while to explore Gothenburg is well worth taking a quick detour off of the Lincoln Highway. Whether you’re interested in history or just want to escape from your car for a while there are options.