Last updated: August 4, 2025
Place
Nishnabotna River Crossing
Photo/ L. Kreutzer
Quick Facts
Location:
12499 385th St., Macedonia, IA (Old Towne County Park) (Old Macedonia commemorative park)
Significance:
Brigham Young’s vanguard company camped and built a bridge at this hard-bottom bend in the West Nishnabotna River on June 9-10, 1846. Another Mormon party, traveling separately that autumn, established the hamlet of “Old” Macedonia a quarter-mile southeast of present Olde Town County Park.
MANAGED BY:
Amenities
5 listed
Boat Ramp, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Parking - Auto, Picnic Shelter/Pavilion, Restroom
West Nishnabotna River Crossing/Olde Town County Park and Old Macedonia Commemorative Park, Macedonia, Pottawattamie Co., IA
The West Nishnabotna River, like other streams across Iowa that spring, was swollen with runoff when Brigham Young’s vanguard company reached its banks on June 9, 1846. Potawatomi people from nearby “Indian Town” routinely swam and forded the river at this hard-bottomed bend, but the Mormon company decided not to risk the wagons in the rushing current. Instead, the emigrants camped for two nights near the river’s east bank, about a half-mile south of today’s Olde Town Park, while building a bridge. The work crew finished the job at about 6 p.m. on June 10, in time to enjoy a camp party.
Wrote pioneer Horace Whitney, “We had quite a pleasant time this evening, which we spent in dancing on the grass until bed-time—the bright orb of night singing in all its glory over our heads.”
After crossing the bridge and continuing west on June 11, the wagons climbed a gradual rise. Pausing near the hillcrest to look back, emigrant John D. Lee witnessed a “grand & sublime scene.”
He wrote in his diary, “The high Rolling green Elevated Prairies were lined with wagons & almost covered with heards for Miles.”
Arriving at the crossing later that fall was a 43-member party of Latter-day Saints who had departed Macedonia, IL, to join the emigration later in the spring. They halted and established a small settlement, “Old” Macedonia, on the river’s west bank about a half-mile southeast of present Olde Town Park.
The Mormon families abandoned the settlement in 1852 to gather with the Church in Salt Lake City. Other Iowa settlers soon moved into the abandoned houses, but in 1880 they relocated the town to its current location (“New” Macedonia) to be nearer the railroad.
Site Information
Location (12499 385th St., Macedonia, IA (Old Towne County Park) (Old Macedonia commemorative park))
A roadside park on the north side of Pioneer Trail Road, about a mile west of the center of Macedonia, locates and commemorates the Old Macedonia settlement. To visit the crossing area and view an exhibit about the history of that vicinity, continue west on Pioneer Trail, cross the river, and turn left at the next road, 385th St. Immediately turn left to enter Olde Town County Park and navigate past the camping loop to the picnicking area. The exhibit is near the river at the southwest corner of the park, near a river bend where the pioneer bridge once stood.
Swales on adjoining private property immediately west of Olde Town Park are still faintly visible from the park boundary and can readily be seen on online satellite imagery. To visit the crossing, go to Olde Town Park on W. Minnesota Street, west of Macedonia, IA.
Amenities
Boat ramp, historical/interpretive information/exhibits, parking-auto, parking-boat trailer, picnic shelter, picnic table, playground, restrooms, RV sites, tent sites, electrical hookups, and water-trail access on the river.
Safety Considerations