Kregel Windmill Museum
The Kregel Windmill Museum is an industrial factory in Nebraska City where windmills for pumping water were manufactured. The single-story brick building holds over one million original tools and equipment that show how workers assembled these essential machines for farms and rural communities.
The factory opened in 1903 and produced windmills into the 1940s, after which workers maintained pumps and wells for local customers. The shift to electric power in the 1920s increased production and showed how technology advanced in rural industrial settings.
The name "ELI" on the windmills honors Eli Huber, a preacher and co-founder of the company. The factory was rooted in a local craft tradition where workers and owners worked closely together to build machines that served farming communities across the region.
The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 5pm by appointment at its Central Avenue location. The straightforward layout and well-preserved machinery make it easy for visitors to follow the production process and appreciate the craftsmanship of earlier times.
The famous "Eli" windmill was known for its simple yet durable design, outlasting other models from that era. Many of these windmills still stand today in rural areas, showing the quality and longevity of work done in this factory.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
