5. First National Bank of Chadron - 2nd &     Main Street
The First National moved to a new location across the street to the south of the old Chadron State Bank in 1895,
and was located there when it was taken over by Charles Franklin Coffee, a successful western Nebraska cattle
rancher and banker.

In 1917, Coffee, in cooperation with B.F.Pitman, built a new banking facility across the street to the east. The Coffee Family operated this bank until the late 1960’s. The First National is the longest continuously operating business under the same name in Chadron and has, to date, occupied three sides of this key intersection.

There was a competition for the “main” street of Chadron between Main and 2nd Street, with Main being the winner, due in large part to the construction of the large brick and stone buildings you can see on the west side of the street and south from the corner. Over the years these buildings have drawn key businesses to locate along Main Street.

6. Nelson Opera House - 200 Block of     Main
Across the street from City Hall is the Nelson Opera House, built by Peter and Olifina Nelson. The Nelsons were early pioneers of the area having opened a store in the town of Bordeaux, five miles east of Chadron, before any town was located in the area.

The Opera House was completed in 1888 and it is said that this impressive structure was influential in making Main the primary street in Chadron. This building was the site of many traveling shows and community meetings, such as organizational gatherings for the Chadron to Chicago horse race.

In 1910, town leaders met with members of the Nebraska State School Board to present their case for locating a normal school in Chadron. The buildings to the north of the opera house all date to 1888, being built following Chadron’s most
devastating fire in 1887 when the wooden structures along the west side of the street were destroyed. These buildings of variegated Buffalo Gap stone and Chadron brick are still a part of the community business district.