Windmills are as much a part of Nebraska’s landscape as fields of grain and softly rolling hills of prairie grass. Way back when, windmills were used to supply fresh water from a well. Today, modern plumbing has shifted our reliance away from traditional windmills, so many have been lost forever. Some, however, have been preserved and allowed to stand sentinel, watching over the land they have served for so long. These lovely windmills are a throwback to an earlier era in Nebraska.
- The winter sun does little to warm this windmill in a stark brown field.
flickr/Ryan
- I love the washed-out colors of this windmill spotted just outside of Nebraska City.
flickr/Shannon Ramos
- A lovely closeup of this windmill in western Nebraska.
flickr/photoreb
- This sweet wooden windmill was once located in rural Nebraska. It’s now in Fremont and serves as the Wooden Windmill Restaurant.
flickr/RLEVANS
- Is it possible for a windmill to look cheerful? This one in Garden County seems to.
flickr/TNVWBOY
- This beautiful pic was captured just this side of the Wyoming/Nebraska border in western Sioux County.
flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM
- This old structure near Alliance looks to be in great condition.
flickr/mysticad24
- What a very Nebraska image: rolling green hills with a solitary windmill.
flickr/Marion Patterson
- This one is set against a beautiful sunset near Lincoln.
flickr/Eric Bjerke
You can see this one at Wessels Living History Farm in York.
This windmill rises above its surroundings at the Homestead Heritage Center in Beatrice.
flickr/Katrina J. Houdek
- A graceful windmill tucked among the hills in western Nebraska.
flickr/Clint
- A moody portrait of a lonely windmill.
flickr/Mr. Nixter
This windmill in the Sandhills is one of the most photogenic we’ve seen.
If you’re a windmill enthusiast and haven’t yet seen the collection outside of Jackson, make it a priority for your next road trip.
flickr/Ali Eminov The vintage windmills sit on private property, but visitors are welcome to walk around and read the informational signs describing the history of each windmill. This is a uniquely Nebraskan roadside attraction.
- What a great portrait from somewhere in the Sandhills.
flickr/overduebook
- This sunset shot just outside of Valentine creates a silhouette of a tall windmill.
flickr/Kelly DeLay
- The depth of this picture is very striking. The windmill in the distance is watching over the land around it.
flickr/David Williss
- This lovely Dempster windmill - built in Beatrice - now resides at the Gage County Historical Society Museum in Beatrice.
flickr/John Carrell
- This windmill and tree beside it look like old friends under a dark sky.
flickr/John Carrell
- A vibrant blue sky sits behind this Nebraska-built windmill from R. Bean & Son in Kenesaw.
flickr/John Carrell
- What a spectacular view! A windmill sits in the foreground while Chimney Rock sits quietly in the background.
flickr/ccarlstead
- This incredible photo taken in 1869 shows a windmill at the North Platte Station.
flickr/US Geological Survey
- WOW. This picture is absolutely stunning. It goes to show just how beautiful something as simple as a windmill can be.
flickr/sunrisesoup
These stunning prairie sentinels are almost like works of art in their own right. They define Nebraska’s landscape and they look a lot like home. Do you have any spectacular windmill shots? Share them with us on our Facebook page.
flickr/Ryan
flickr/Shannon Ramos
flickr/photoreb
flickr/RLEVANS
flickr/TNVWBOY
flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM
flickr/mysticad24
flickr/Marion Patterson
flickr/Eric Bjerke
flickr/Katrina J. Houdek
flickr/Clint
flickr/Mr. Nixter
flickr/Ali Eminov
The vintage windmills sit on private property, but visitors are welcome to walk around and read the informational signs describing the history of each windmill. This is a uniquely Nebraskan roadside attraction.
flickr/overduebook
flickr/Kelly DeLay
flickr/David Williss
flickr/John Carrell
flickr/ccarlstead
flickr/US Geological Survey
flickr/sunrisesoup
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