Last updated: June 17, 2025
Place
Nishnabotna River Crossing
Photo Courtesy of the Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area
Quick Facts
Location:
705 W. Minnesota St., Macedonia, IA
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 Park.
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Amenities
5 listed
Boat Ramp, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Parking - Auto, Picnic Shelter/Pavilion, Restroom
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 dairy, “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 Mormons 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 (705 W. Minnesota St., Macedonia, IA)
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.
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