Blair in Washington County, Nebraska — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Post Office
1901
| | Washington County Heritage Trail | |
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 16, 2025
1. Post Office Marker
Originally the site of a blacksmith shop and livery stable, the city gained this stately post office after a clever Congressman from Blair secured federal funding for his hometown. A bill was passed that provided government funding for the construction of public buildings in Nebraska, and the hometown Congressman scored $43,000 for Blair. It was thought he greatly exaggerated the population of the town to get that kind of money, but it produced a magnificent post office for the growing city of Blair. Mail came nine times per day by train, so the post office was a busy and popular gathering place.
The post office moved into this building in 1901 with Wesley J. Cook as the postmaster. It remained a post office until 1970 when it moved to a larger facility with better parking. It later served as the administration office for the Blair Community Schools.
Erected 2023.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Architecture. A significant historical year for this entry is 1901.
Location. 41° 32.58′ N, 96° 8.152′ W. Marker is in Blair, Nebraska, in Washington County. It is at the intersection of Lincoln Street and South 16th Street, on the right when traveling west on Lincoln Street. The marker is mounted near the southwest corner of the
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Regionally, this marker is in Eastern Nebraska and in Greater Omaha. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Lewis & Clark Corridor, in the Corn Belt, and on the prairies. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Blair City Hall and Fire Hall (within shouting distance of this marker); Pilot Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Blair Firehouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Blair State Bank Bldg. (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Congregational Church of Blair (about 700 feet away); Central School 1899 (approx. 0.2 miles away); Washington County Courthouse 1891 (approx. 0.2 miles away); Blair Depot 1880 (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Blair.
Also see . . . Old Post Office (Blair Historic Preservation Alliance).
Excerpt: It was designed by James Knox Taylor. Taylors education and early practice was in St. Paul, Minnesota. In 1897 he became the supervising architect of the U.S. Treasury.(Submitted on November 22, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 16, 2025
2. Post Office Marker
The marker is mounted at eye-level near the southwest [left] corner of the building, facing Lincoln Street.
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 16, 2025
3. 1901 Post Office (south elevation)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 16, 2025
4. 1901 Post Office (west elevation)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 16, 2025
5. 1901 Post Office (southwest elevation)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 16, 2025
6. U.S. Post Office, Blair, Nebraska
The present-day Post Office building, architecturally mundane by comparison, is 4 blocks north on North 16 Street at Front Street.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 22, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 49 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on November 22, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
