The panoramic view from Indian Cave State Park. Photo by Joshua Hardin.

Nemaha County is tucked along the Iowa border near the southeast corner of the state. Named for an Otoe Indian word that means miry or swampy waters, the Little Nemaha River meanders across the county before flowing into the Missouri River near the town of Nemaha. Nemaha County’s 7,500 residents enjoy scenic river bluffs and the northern tip of Indian Cave State Park. They also claim ownership to McKissick Island, an odd enclave of Nebraska located on the eastern side of the Missouri River. The towns of Peru, Johnson, Auburn and Brownville all call Nemaha County home.

Learn more about Nemaha County communities and attractions by visiting enjoynemahacounty.org.

Discover Activities in Nemaha County

  • Whiskey Run Creek Vineyard and Winery

    Whiskey Run Creek Vineyard and Winery in Brownville opened in 2002, but it looks and feels like a trip back through time. Located on the grounds of one of the ...

  • Nemaha County Fair

    The Nemaha County Fair draws visitors to downtown Auburn in mid-July for two parades that lead out to the fairgrounds. It's three days of carnival rides, fair food and 4...

  • Peru Bottoms Wildlife Management Area

    The Peru Bottoms Wildlife Management Area preserves 2,000 acres of prime habitat for hunting, fishing and birdwatching along the banks of the Missouri River. Public boat access is available near ...

  • Old Man River Days

    Old Man River Days traces its origins back to 1943 when Peru's residents banded together to protect the town from the rising flood waters of the Missouri River. Peru’s ...

  • Johnson’s Father’s Day Chicken BBQ

    Every June for more than 50 years, Johnson has hosted a Father’s Day Chicken BBQ. The celebration has grown into a weekend event with a 5k fun run, tractor ...

  • Steamboat Trace Trail

    Mountain bikers, hikers and parents with strollers seek out the Steamboat Trace Trail for a peaceful, 21-mile route through limestone bluffs and scenic riverbanks. From the trailhead in Peru, ...

  • Legion Memorial Park

    Legion Memorial Park in Auburn showcases red granite boulders from Nemaha County quarries and serves today as a picturesque setting for weddings and concerts. It’s also the home ...

  • Boettner Park

    Boettner Park in Brownville is a prime location for gatherings and festivals. The park offers the chance to have a picnic surrounded by green grass, trees and a wealth ...

  • Heritage Highway Scenic Byway

    The Heritage Highway Scenic Byway stretches 238 miles east-west on U.S. Highway 136 starting in Brownville and ending mid-state not far from Holdrege. This road-less-traveled begins on the banks of ...

  • Didier Log Cabin

    The Didier Log Cabin offers the chance to step inside pioneer history in Brownville's Boettner Park. Built in 1854 with whole logs stacked seven high, the cabin has been beautifully ...

  • Museum of Missouri River History

    The Museum of Missouri River History in Brownville is located just south of U.S. Highway 136 in Riverside Park. This unique museum is housed in the Captain Meriwether Lewis ...

  • Spirit of Brownville

    The Spirit of Brownville offers Missouri River cruises Memorial Day through September near historic Brownville. Step aboard a river boat and enjoy two decks of covered seating as you ...

  • Brownville Main Street

    Brownville's Main Street is a destination all by itself. Charming, modern and historical all at once, the street is lined with artist galleries, boutique shopping, a bookstore, an ice ...

  • Peru Nebraska State College

    Peru State College

    The small town of 600 residents at Peru swells by approximately 2,500 people every fall when students return to Peru State College. Founded in 1867 as the first college in Nebraska, it ...

  • Auburn Post Office Mural

    A mural commissioned by President Roosevelt’s Works Progress Administration still adorns the Auburn Post Office. Ethel Magafan painted Threshing in 1938. The Auburn Post Office is one of only 12 ...

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Photos from Nemaha County