Florence Mill

About

A unique attraction connecting agriculture, history and art. May to October. Summer hours are 1-5 Wed-Sat. 10-3 Sundays for the Farmers Market

Story

The Florence Mill, located near Interstate I-680, Exit 13 at 9102 North 30th Street in Omaha NE, was originally constructed during the winter of 1846-47 as Mormon Pioneers made their trek to new settlements in the west.

The mill played an important role in the history of Omaha and growth of the Florence area in particular. After the original mill was abandoned by the Mormons in 1848, it was rebuilt by a gold-rusher, Alexander Hunter, who never made it out of Nebraska. The mill remained operational under the ownership of the Weber family for 104 years: from before the Civil War to the Cold War. The Florence Mill is currently owned by an artist, Linda Meigs, whose goal to restore the mill as an historic site. Today it connects agriculture, history and art, housing a non-profit Winter-Quarters Mill Museum, ArtLoft gallery, and a Sunday Farmers Market.

Still visible inside the mill are original supporting beams that were put in place by Mormon Pioneers in 1846. The grain elevator was added in 1915. The mill is currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been designated as a Nebraska State Historic Site and a Save America's Treasures Project.