OMB No. IOU--0018
NPS Form 10-900
(Rev. 6-86)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Registration Form
This form is for use in nominating or requesting determinations of eligibility for individual properties or districts. See instructions in Guidelines
for Completing National Register Forms (National Register Bulletin 16). Complete each item by marking "x" in the appropriate box or by entering
the requested information. If an item does not apply to the property being documented, enter "NIA" for "not applicable ." For functions, styles, materials,
and areas of significance, enter only the categories and subcategories listed in the instructions. For additional space use continuation sheets
(Form 10-900a). Type all entries.
1. Name of Property
historic name
other names/site number
Ste i na ue r Ope ra Hous e
Ne HBS #PW07-8 ; OHB IN #02-2 1 -03
2. Location
street & number
city, town
state
f\1Z1j not for publication
NL:A vicinity
2 1 5 Ma i n
Ste inaue r
code
Ne b ras ka
NE
county
Pawnee
code
1 33
zip code
6844 1
3. Classification
Category of Property
Ownership of Property
W building(s)
D district
GJ rrivate
Dpublic-local
Dpublic-State
Dpublic-Federal
Dsite
Dstructure
Oobject
Name of related multiple property listing:
CTLJ::lg e._8JJ..il..Q ings
in Nebras ka 1 867- 1 9 1
Number of Resources within Property
Contributing
I
Noncontributing
buildings
sites
structures
objects
Total
Number of contributing resources previously
listed in the National Register
0
7
4. . State/Federal Agency Certification
As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, I hereby certify that this
0nomination Drequest for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the
National Register of Histo ic Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60.
In
o inion, t
y
00 meets Ddoes not meet the National Register criteria. DSee continuation sheet.
l,/fff
1g ature of certifying official
Director
D
ebraska Sta
State or Federal agency and bureau
In my opinion, the property
Dmeets Ddoes not meet the National Register criteria. DSee continuation sheet.
Date
Signature of commenting or other official
State or Federal agency and bureau
5. National Park Service Certification
I, hereby, certify that this property is:
D entered in the National Register.
D See continualion sheet.
Ddetermined eligible for the National
Register. DSee continuation sheet.
D determined
not eligible for the
National Register.
D removed from the National Register.
Oother , (explain:)
_
Signature of the Keeper
Date of Action
6. Function or Use
Historic Functions (enter categories from instructions)
Rec rea t i on
& C u l t u re : T heat re ·
Current Functions (enter categories from instructions)
Vaca n t/ Not
in use
m us i c fa c i I i ty
Social :
Meet i n g ha l I
7. Description
Architectural Classification
(enter categories from instructions)
OT H E R :
Two-part comme rcial block
Materials (enter categories from instructions)
Foundation:
walls _
concrete
Brick
Other : Ta r
Deco ra t i ve b rlcis.-1.c..Ji..w
m
roof
other
!
_
_
Describe present and historic physical appearance.
The Steinauer Opera House is located at the southeast corner of the
i intersection on of Third and Mai n Streets, on the second floor of what has always
been the Bank of Steinauer, built by Joseph A. Stei nauer, founder of the town.
Constructed i n 1 888, the Two-Part Commercial block brick structure has brick
arches above the second floor windows, a border of decorative brickwork near the
top of the building, stone window l edges, a border of stone extend i ng around the
building near the tops of the windows on the second level,two stone borders at the
top of the building, and decorative pressed metal pediments atop al l the
windows on the first floor. Measuring approximately 25 feet wide by 75 feet long,
the building has a flat roof protected by a layer of tar coati ng.
Access to the
second-floor auditorium i s through a door i n the extreme northeast corner of the
building, on Third Street. No ticket window exists.
The small auditorium i s 21 feet wide by 50 feet, 9 inches long from the
proscenium openi ng to the back wall of the house. Windows exist in both side
walls and the back wall of the stage, which i s the front facade of the building.
A well preserved pressed tin ceil i ng adorns the room. In addition, pressed tin i s
used as a wall covering down to a level of about three feet above the floor, where
wooden wainscoting completes the wall decor (see photo #3 ) . No balcony exists i n
this small house.
The proscenium arch measures 1 2 feet wide by 1 1 feet high. Narrow wings of
four feet, six inches on stage right and four feet, three inches on stage left
allow no access to the backstage area except through the proscenium opening
itself. There were no dressing rooms i n thi s small opera house. This proscenium
arch i s apparently makeshift, added at an indeterminate time after the room was
completed, rather than being built i n during construction of the facility, as
was usual . The stage i s on l y about two feet above the l evel of the floor. A
three foot, two inch apron extends beyond the proscenium opening. The stage
depth i s ten feet from the curtain l i ne to the back wall.A piece of painted
scenery illustrating a "town" scene hangs partially unrolled behind the
proscenium open i ng .
The structural and historical integrity of the building and the theatre has been
preserved.
NPS Fonn 1
(
)
OMB Approval No. 1024-001'
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section number _7
Page ---"---
Floor plan, Steinauer Opera House, Steinauer
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P. Leitner, Draftsman
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Credit:
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8. St ateme nt of Significance
Certifying otticial has considered the significance of this property in relation to other properties:
GJ statewide
Dnationally
Applicable National Register Criteria
WA
DB
DC
DD
Criteria Considerations (Exceptions)
DA
DB
DC
DD
Areas of Significance (enter categories from instructions)
Pe rform i ng
Arts
Enterta i nment/Recreati on
Soc i a I Hi story
0locally
DE
DF DG
Period of Significance
Significant Oates
1 888-1 91 7
1 888
Cultural Affiliation
N/A
Significant Person
N/A
ArchitecVBui1der
Unknow n
State significance of property, and justify criteria, criter ia considerations, and areas and periods of significance noted above.
The Stei nauer Opera House i s si gni ficant for i ts associ ati on wi th and i n
reference to the hi stori c context "Aestheti c Systems: Iti nerant and Local
Performi ng Arts i n Nebraska" and the property type of "Opera House Bui ld i ngs i n
Nebraska, 1 867 to 1917." Under Cri teri on A, thi s opera house i s si gni ficant i n the
areas of the performi ng arts; entertai nment/recreati on; and soci al hi story , on a
state l evel , as a wel l preserved exampl e of an opera house bui l d i ng i n Nebraska.
The bui l d i ng retai ns a hi gh degree of hi stori cal i ntegri ty, possessi ng the physi cai
and associ ati ve characteri stics to make i t an el i gi bl e mem ber of i ts p operty type.
Thi s opera house i s signi ficaftt i n the area of performi ng arts for bri ngi ng a
vari ety of entertai nment to the communi ty of Stei nauer. As a faci l i ty for the
performi ng arts, i t offered producti ons such as magi c l antern exhi bi ti ons, musi cal
concerts, magi ci ans, touri ng stock compani es, speci al ty acts, and home tal ent
prod ucti ons. (See fol l owi ng tabl e of Representati ve Entertai nments 1 896-1 91 7.)
_ Thi s opera house i s si gni fi cant i n the area of entertai nment/recreati on, si nce
i t provi ded a pl ace where the whol e communi ty cou l d gather to attend dances,
l ectures , and mov i ng pi ctures. (See fol l owi ng tabl e of Representati ve
Entertai nments 1 896-1 91 7.)
Thi s opera house i s si gn i ficant i n the area of soci al hi story, because i t gave
Stei nauer a neutral , nonaffi l i ated l ocati on for pol i ti cal meeti ngs, l i terary
societi es, and school acti vi ti es. (See fol l owi ng tabl e of Representati ve
Entertai nments -1917.) In the days before rad i o, tel ev i si on, and sound movi es,
acti v i ties at the opera house were anti ci pated for days or weeks ahead of time. It
prov i ded a pl ace for peopl e to get together to have a good time and forget thei r
troubl es over crops; weather, taxes, the rai l roads, and the general l y hard l i fe of
settl i ng the Great Pl ai ns.
0See continuation sheet
NPS Fonn 10(Me)
OMB Approval No. 1024--0011
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section number - B - Page
_
The peri od of si gni ficance i s deri ved from the ori gi nal constructi on date of
the bui ldi ng, c. 1894. It conti nues through 1917, the year consi dered to signal
the end of the opera house era i n Nebraska, based on decl i ni ng numbers of touri ng
compani es nati onal l y and ri sing numbers of movi e houses and automobi les. The
proxi mi ty of Pawnee Ci ty (1 0 mi l es) and Humbol dt (16 mi l es), whi ch had mov i ng
pi cture theatres and communi ty aud i tori ums by 1917, meant that as more Stei nauer
resi dents bought cars, acti vi ties i n that nearby city became a more vi able opti on.
L i m i ted choi ces i n the Stei nauer Opera House doomed i t to a dwi ndl i ng number of
sporad i c events.
OMB Approval No. 10213
NPS Form 1CHICO-•
(&-ae)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section number
s
Page -2 -
Stei nauer Opera House
Representati ve Entertai nments, 1896-1917
DATE
EVENT AND PERFORM ERS
Soci al History
Oct
Oct
Nov
Nov
Oct
Oct
Oct
Oct
Oct
1 896
1 896
1 896
1 901
1 903
1 904
1 906
1 910
1912
Pol i ti cal speech by the Hon. Charl es H. Sloan of Geneva
Pol i ti cal speech by the Hon. J. B. Strode
Li terary Soci ety organ i zational meeti ng (reg. Fri day meeti ngs)
Mass meeti ng for communi ty protecti on
Pol itical speech by the Hon. C. F. Reavi s of Fal l s Ci ty
Pol i ti cal meeti ng, musi c by Edmund's Band
Pol i tical Speech by Congressman E. M. Pol l ard
Musi c reci tal by Mi ss Dunton's musi c cl ass
Pol i ti cl meeti ng wi th ex-Governor A. H. -Shennenberg and the Hon.
Jon H. Morehead , cand i date
Entertai nment/Recreati on
Nov
Nov
Nov
Oct
Nov
Nov
Nov
1 897
1 899
1 900
1 901
1 901
1 902
1 903
Oct 1 905
Nov 1 905
Nov 1 906
Dec 1 907
Oct 1 908
Nov 191 2
Oct 1 913
Nov 1 913
Oct 1 915
Nov 1 915
Oct 1 916
Danci ng party
Lecture by L. S. Burnham for benefi t of the Fi re Dept.
Thanksgi v i ng bal l
Dance
Thanksgi vi ng bal l
Thanksgi v i ng bal l , musi c by Edmund's Band
Dance
Hard times dance
Thanksgi vi ng bal l
Dance
Dance, musi c by The Edmund' s Band
Soci al dance by Peter R. Wenner
Thanksgi vi ng dance, musi c by Edmund's Band
Bi l l Bone, humorous l ecture on "Sunny Smi l es"
Lecture by Ral ph Parl ette on "The Uni versi ty of Hard Knocks"
Grand bal l , musi c by Prof. Watzek' s brass band of Humbol dt
Grand Thanksgi v i ng bal l , musi c by the Orchestra of Auburn
Jones Photo Pi cture co., movi ng pi ctures
Dance, musi c by the Tecumseh Orchestra
Thanksgi vi ng grand bal l
Free pi cture show
Lad ies Ai d Soci ety, soci al dance
Dance
ONB Approv9I No. 1021'
NPS Form 1
(Me)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section number
s
Page
3
_
Stei nauer Opera House
Representati ve Entertai nments, 1896-1917
DATE
EVENT AND PERFORMERS
Pe rf orm i ng A rts
Nov 1 897
Nov 1 899
Oct 1 903
Nov 1904
Nov 1907
Oct 1 908
Nov 1909
_ Oct 1910
Nov 1 910
Dec -1910
Oct 1912
Nov 1 912
Dec 1912
Oct 1 913
Dec 1 913
Oct 1 914
Nov 1 914
Nov 191 6
Professor Kl ond i ke's Magi c Lantern exhi bi tion
Court of Fame, home tal ent cantata
Band concert
Entertai nment, unspeci fied, by travel i ng company, unspeci fied
Ol d Pl antati on Quartett
Bear and Dog Show
Beul ah Buck Concert Co.
Bl i nd Robert entertai nment
Al vah Green entertai nment
Totten, the Magi ci an
Tri er Concert Co.
Piani st Bel l i n concert
Yare Duo Co.
Imperi al Stock Co.
Gi dd i ngs Fami l y Concert Co.
The G ir l and the Shepherd, Wesselman Wood Stock. Co.
Wessleman Wood Stock Co.
McFadden 's F lats
D iamonds and Hearts, home tal ent pl ay by Young Lad i es Soci ety
The Panama Si ngers
J ul i us Caesar Nagphe, Greci an entertai ner
Mari e Parry, vi ol i n concert
9. Major Bibliographical References
Besom, A. Pawnee County, Nebraska: As It Was, Is, and Is To Be, w ith a New
County Map and D irectory. Atchi son, KS: The Immi grant Un i on, 1878.
Brand Irons, comp. B icentenn ia l A lbum of ,Pawnee County. McPherson, KS: Brand
Irons, 1976.
Bredemei er, Edwi n H . 'Letters to the author. Stei nauer: 1 986, 2 2 Aug. and 2 4
Aug. 1987.
Souvenir Book of Pawnee County. Photostat. N.p.: W.E. Hassl er, 1 897.
Stei nauer Opera House. Stei nauer site vi sit. 21 Feb. 1987.
DSee
Previous documentation on file (NPS):
D preliminary determination of individual listing (36 CFR 67)
Primary location of additional data:
State historic preseNation office
Other State agency
has been requested
previously listed in the National Register
previously determined eligible by the National Register
designated a National Historic Landmark
recorded by Historic American Buildings
SuNey #
_
D
D
D
D Federal agency
D Local government
D University
D
D
Gather
Specify repository:
D. Layne Eh l ers
Drecorded
by Historic American Engineering
Record #
continuat ion sheet
_
( see be l ow )
10. Geographical Data
Acreage of property
Les s
UTM References
A lJ tlJ 17 1 3 i5 14 L2 0 I
Zone
Easting
than
o ne
[I J a c re
B LLJ I I
I
-- Is b
13 15
Northing
Zone
LLJ I I
c
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I
.I '
.l. .1__..
...
D
1
I
I
I
I
Northing
Easting
LLJ I I
I
I
I
I
I
I
DSee
continuat ion sheet
Verbal Boundary Description
T h is p roperty i s desc r i bed as the w est ha l f o f Lot 1 8 i n B l ock 6 o f the O r ig i na l
Town o f Ste inauer, Pawnee County , Neb ras ka .
D See continuation sheet
Boundary Justification
The bounda ry i nc l udes the ent i re tow n lot that has been h i stor i ca l l y assoc iated
w it h th i s property .
D See continuation sheet
11. Form Prepared By
date
Ap r i l . 1 988
telephone
[4021 4 35-69
46
ci or
wn
L i n c o l n--------
--
---
ate
NE
p code 68502
NPS Form 10-
OMS Apprr:1v9/ No. 102..ao18
(&-Se)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section number
Photog raphs
Page _
.
The fol l owi ng i nformati on i s the same for both Stei nauer photographs :
NAM E OF PROPERTY: Stei nauer Opera House
CITY, COUNTY, STATE: Stei nauer, Pawnee, Nebraska
NeHBS SITE No.: PW07-8
OHBIN SITE No.: 02-21-03
NAM E OF PHOTOGRAPHER: Chri sti an H. Ehl ers
PHOTO NUMBER: Stei nauer #1
DATE OF PHOTOGRAPH (and NEGATIVE NUMBER) : 02-21-87 (861 1/8:36)
LOCATION OF ORIGINAL NEGATIVE: Nebraska State Hi stori cal Soci ety
DESCRIPTION OF VI EW INDICATING DIRECTION OF CAM ERA: Exteri or vi ew, l ook i ng
southeast at the west (front) and north facades.
PHOTO NUMBER : Stei nauer #2
DATE OF PHOTOGRAPH (and NEGATIVE NUMBER) : 02-21-87 (861 1 /8:30)
LOCATION O ORIGINAL NEGATIVE: Nebraska State Hi stori cal Soci ety
DESCRIPTION OF VIEW INDICATING DIRECTION OF CAM ERA: Interi or vi ew, l ooki ng west
at the stage.
PHOTO NUMBER: Stei nauer #3
DAT E OF PHOTOGRAPH (and NEGATIV E NUMBER) : 02-21-87 (861 1 /8:32)
LOCATION OF ORIGINAL NEGATIVE: Nebraska State Hi stori cal Soci ety
DESCRIPTION OF VIEW INDICATING DIR ECTION OF CAMERA: Interi or v i ew, l ook i ng south
at the wal l and the cei l i ng.
Photo 1 of 3
Photo 2 of 3
Photo 3 of 3