Nebraska Freemasonry shares a familiar Great Plains story: it followed the wagon trains, the railroads, and the homesteaders. The first lodge in what is now Nebraska was Nebraska Lodge No. 184, chartered in 1855 in Bellevue under the Grand Lodge of Illinois - back when Nebraska was a sprawling territory that included parts of what would become Wyoming, Montana, and the Dakotas. Bellevue at the time was a fur-trading post and ferry crossing on the Missouri River, and the lodge served traders, soldiers from nearby Fort Atkinson, and the first wave of American settlers.

Within a few years lodges were active in Omaha, Nebraska City, and Plattsmouth - all river towns that served as launching points for wagon trains heading west. By 1857, three lodges had been chartered under various jurisdictions, and on September 23, 1857, delegates met in Omaha to organize the Grand Lodge of Nebraska. Robert C. Jordan was elected the first Grand Master.

The Grand Lodge predates Nebraska statehood by ten years - Nebraska didn't become a state until 1867. Throughout the late 19th century, Nebraska Masonry expanded rapidly with the Union Pacific Railroad, the homesteading boom, and the rise of cattle towns like Ogallala and Sidney. By 1900, hundreds of lodges had been chartered across the state, and the Grand Lodge had become one of the largest in the Midwest per capita. The mid-20th-century peak saw Nebraska Masonry well over 30,000 members.

Today the Grand Lodge of Nebraska has its headquarters and Masonic Library in Omaha, oversees roughly 130 lodges, and continues to operate the Nebraska Masonic Home in Plattsmouth - one of the oldest continuously operating Masonic homes in America.

Oldest and Most Historic Lodges in Nebraska

Nebraska Lodge No. 1 in Omaha is the senior lodge in the state. Originally chartered as Nebraska Lodge No. 184 in Bellevue in 1855 by Illinois, it was relocated to Omaha and renumbered when the Grand Lodge of Nebraska was formed.

The lodge has been continuously active for more than 170 years. Capitol Lodge No. 3 in Omaha (chartered 1857) and Western Star Lodge No. 2 in Nebraska City (chartered 1856) round out the trio of lodges that founded the Grand Lodge of Nebraska.

Plattsmouth Lodge No. 6, dating to 1858, served one of the major Missouri River crossings on the Mormon and Oregon Trails. Saint Johns Lodge No. 25 in Omaha and Covert Lodge No.

11 in Lincoln are among the senior 19th-century lodges. Lincoln Lodge No. 19, chartered in 1869 shortly after Lincoln was named the state capital, became one of the most prominent lodges in the state and counts among its alumni General John J. Pershing, who was raised there in 1888 while a young Army officer at the University of Nebraska military department.

Lone Tree Lodge No. 36 in Central City, Albion Lodge No. 78, North Star Lodge in McCook, Hastings Lodge No. 50, and Grand Island Lodge No.

33 are all among the lodges that anchored Nebraska's heartland during the homesteading and railroad era. Many of these older lodges meet in striking turn-of-the-century buildings - the Lincoln Masonic Temple and the Omaha Masonic Temple are among the most architecturally impressive Masonic buildings in the Plains states. Lodge buildings in towns like Plattsmouth, Beatrice, and Fremont are often the oldest standing brick buildings on Main Street.

Nebraska Masonic Lodges by the Numbers

The Grand Lodge of Nebraska currently oversees approximately 130 to 140 subordinate lodges with around 7,500 to 8,500 Master Masons. The mid-20th-century peak was over 35,000 members. Lodge density is highest in the Omaha metro, the Lincoln metro, and along the Platte River corridor (Grand Island, Hastings, Kearney, North Platte). Western Nebraska and the Sandhills region still have small but active lodges in towns like Scottsbluff, Alliance, Valentine, and Broken Bow.

The Grand Lodge holds its annual communication in February in Omaha or Lincoln. The Nebraska Masonic Home in Plattsmouth, founded in 1903, remains one of the oldest Masonic homes in continuous operation in the United States. Nebraska also has active Scottish Rite Valleys in Omaha, Lincoln, and Hastings, and York Rite bodies throughout the state. The Grand Lodge maintains a substantial Masonic Library at its Omaha headquarters - one of the largest fraternal libraries in the central United States.

How to Become a Freemason in Nebraska

Joining a Nebraska lodge follows the standard American process. You need to be at least 18 years old (Nebraska lowered the age from 21 in recent years to align with most jurisdictions), believe in a Supreme Being, and be of good moral character. Find a lodge - LodgeFinder helps if you're not sure where to start - and reach out to a member or attend a public lodge event. Many Nebraska lodges hold pancake breakfasts, fish fries, or chili feeds open to the community.

Ask a member for a petition. Two current Brothers in good standing must sign your petition. You'll submit it with the application fee, which varies by lodge. An investigation committee of two or three Brothers then visits you - typically at your home, sometimes including a conversation with your spouse or partner.

They report back to the lodge, which votes by secret ballot. Nebraska uses the traditional unanimous-ballot system. Once accepted, you'll receive your Entered Apprentice degree. Nebraska requires that candidates demonstrate proficiency in each degree before advancing - you'll memorize portions of the ritual and recite them before the lodge.

The full Three Degrees typically take three to six months at a normal pace. Some lodges offer faster tracks for candidates with demanding schedules. Initiation fees in Nebraska generally run $200 to $500, and annual dues range from $75 to $200.

Notable Nebraska Freemasons in History

General John J. Pershing is Nebraska's most famous Mason. Pershing was raised in Lincoln Lodge No. 19 in 1888 while serving as a tactics instructor at the University of Nebraska.

He went on to command the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I, become General of the Armies (a rank shared only with George Washington), and serve as Army Chief of Staff. Pershing remained connected to Nebraska Masonry throughout his career. William Jennings Bryan, the three-time presidential candidate and Secretary of State, lived in Lincoln, Nebraska, and is sometimes claimed as a Mason though his actual membership status varies in sources - the more confirmed Bryan Masonic connection is through his family. Senator George Norris, the progressive icon and architect of the Tennessee Valley Authority, was a Mason in McCook.

Charles G. Dawes, the Nobel Peace Prize winner, Vice President under Coolidge, and Comptroller of the Currency, was a Mason and lived part of his life in Lincoln. J. Sterling Morton, founder of Arbor Day and U.S.

Secretary of Agriculture, was a Mason in Nebraska City. Father Edward Flanagan, founder of Boys Town, was not a Mason (he was a Catholic priest), but the Boys Town story has Masonic supporter ties given the Order's emphasis on youth charity. Senator Roman Hruska and Governor Norbert Tiemann are among Nebraska's many Masonic political figures. Buffalo Bill Cody, who built his ranch and Wild West Show empire in North Platte, Nebraska, was a Mason - raised in Platte Valley Lodge No.

32 in North Platte in 1870.

Prince Hall Freemasonry in Nebraska

Prince Hall Freemasonry in Nebraska is organized under the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Nebraska and Its Jurisdiction, headquartered in Omaha. The first Prince Hall lodge in Nebraska was chartered in the 1880s in Omaha, where the city's growing African American community - many of whom worked for the Union Pacific Railroad or in the Omaha Stockyards - sought fraternal connection. The Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Nebraska was organized in 1919 and remains the parent body for Prince Hall Masonry in the state. Lodges have historically been concentrated in Omaha (especially the historic North Omaha district), Lincoln, and a few smaller cities including Grand Island.

Prince Hall Masonry in Nebraska played an important role during the era of segregation, providing one of the few institutional spaces where African American men could organize, lead, mentor, and serve their community. The Grand Lodge maintains affiliated bodies including the Order of the Eastern Star and youth organizations. The Grand Lodge of Nebraska A.F. & A.M.

and the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Nebraska have entered into mutual recognition - meaning Brothers from each jurisdiction can visit and fellowship in each other's lodges. The Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Nebraska maintains its own website and directory; if you're looking to visit or affiliate, the official Prince Hall jurisdiction is the right starting point.

Frequently Asked Questions about Masonic Lodges in Nebraska

Was John Pershing really a Nebraska Mason?

Yes. General of the Armies John J. Pershing was raised a Master Mason in Lincoln Lodge No. 19 in Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1888 while he was serving as a tactics instructor at the University of Nebraska before his rise through the U.S.

Army.

Where is the Nebraska Masonic Home?

The Nebraska Masonic Home is in Plattsmouth, Nebraska, just south of Omaha along the Missouri River. Founded in 1903, it is one of the oldest continuously operating Masonic homes in the United States.

How old is the Grand Lodge of Nebraska?

The Grand Lodge of Nebraska was founded on September 23, 1857, ten years before Nebraska achieved statehood. It was organized in Omaha by delegates from three early lodges chartered under other jurisdictions.

What's the oldest Masonic lodge in Nebraska?

Nebraska Lodge No. 1 in Omaha is the oldest, originally chartered as Nebraska Lodge No. 184 in Bellevue in 1855 under the Grand Lodge of Illinois. It later relocated to Omaha and was renumbered when the Grand Lodge of Nebraska was formed.

Was Buffalo Bill a Mason?

Yes. William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody was raised a Master Mason in Platte Valley Lodge No. 32 in North Platte, Nebraska, in 1870.

He remained connected to Masonic life throughout his Wild West Show career.