Gretna in Sarpy County, Nebraska — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Welcome to the Canyon Ponds

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 15, 2025

1. Welcome to the Canyon Ponds Marker

Inscription.
First Fish Hatchery
Schramm Park is the site of the first fish hatchery operated by the State of Nebraska. In 1881, the Nebraska Fish Commission chose to establish the first state-run hatchery at this location because of the quantity and quality of pure spring water flowing through the canyon you see here. In addition, this site offered facilities for protecting the natural spring and had space available to create the lower hatchery ponds. The canyon ponds, lower hatchery ponds, and tanks within the Hatch House enabled the state to raise fish to stock the waters of Nebraska in the most economical way possible.

The Gretna State Fish Hatchery operated on this site until 1974, when hatchery activities ceased, and the site's focus was shifted to be a park. Today, visitors can still enjoy seeing trout that thrive in the cold spring water here in the canyon pond, as well as carp, catfish, bluegill, bass, and other species in the warmer water of the lower ponds.

[photo captions]
• The current Hatch House building was built in 1914. This photo shows an earlier Hatch House.
• The original Hatch House and Canyon Ponds.

Erected by Nebraska

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Game and Parks Commission and Schramm Park State Recreation Area.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1881.

Location. 41° 1.247′ N, 96° 14.856′ W. Marker is in Gretna, Nebraska, in Sarpy County. It can be reached from State Highway 31 0.4 miles north of South 204th Street, on the right when traveling north. The marker is on the railing at the Canyon Ponds trail entrance in Schramm Park State Recreation Area. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 21502 Nebraska Highway 31, Gretna NE 68028, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Gretna Fish Hatchery

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 15, 2025

2. Welcome to the Canyon Ponds Marker

Looking east. The Fish Hatchery Museum parking lot is in the right background. The Canyon Ponds are beyond this image to the left.

(within shouting distance of this marker); Prehistoric Burial Site (approx. 3½ miles away); Platte River (approx. 3.9 miles away); Native Americans in the Lower Platte Valley (approx. 4.6 miles away); Melia (approx. 4.6 miles away); The Ox-Bow Trail (approx. 5.8 miles away); In Honor Of John McBride Belnap (approx. 6.2 miles away); The Mormon Pioneer Trail (approx. 6.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gretna.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Also see . . .
1. Schramm Park State Recreation Area (Wikipedia).

Excerpt: The area currently has 3 milew of scenic nature trails, picnic areas, the Schramm Education Center and the Gretna State Fish Hatchery, the oldest fish hatchery in the State of Nebraska, established in 1882. The hatch house is now operated as a fish hatchery museum.

(Submitted on February 14, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Nebraska Fish Hatcheries (OutdoorNebraska.gov).

Excerpt: Nebraska Game and Parks operates five fish hatcheries across the state that supply fish for angling and conservation
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 15, 2025

3. Welcome to the Canyon Ponds Marker
Looking south. The 1914 Hatch House, now home to the Fish Hatchery Museum, is in the background.
purposes. Each fish hatchery has unique resources. Cooperatively, they produce many species including cold-water trout; cool-water northern pike, muskellunge and walleye; and warm-water largemouth bass, bluegill, white bass and catfish. Nebraska’s fish production efforts are reinforced through trade agreements with other state and federal agencies.

(Submitted on February 14, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Canyon Ponds image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 15, 2025

4. Canyon Ponds

Looking north along the newly renovated access trail through the Canyon Ponds.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 15, 2025

5. Canyon Ponds

The access trail continues northward through the Canyon Ponds.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 15, 2025

6. Canyon Ponds

Looking south. The Fish Hatchery Museum can be seen in the distant background.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 14, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 12, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 71 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on February 14, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.