Mark Morehead, a life-long resident of Plattsmouth, Neb., has a dream. His dream consists of extending downtown Plattsmouth eastward towards the Missouri River and adding

	Plattsmouth Main St. will be extended to the new riverfront development area.

a marina with 160 boat slips, a restaurant and social hall, 26 cottages for daily and long-term rental and an undetermined number of RV pads.

Morehead, who bought the 30 acres of riverfront property in 1989, envisions reuniting Plattsmouth with the river and creating a development that will bring folks in the area 'Back to the River'. 

Plattsmouth (Missouri River mile marker 591.0) was once considered a 'river town' (see Plattsmouth River History) where steamboats regularly docked in territorial and statehood days. Channelization diverted the path of Plattsmouth Bend back in the 1930's in an eastward direction and locked the river in place about one-half mile east of downtown.

Plattsmouth City Council approved a preliminary plan for the project on September 3rd.

	Map shows where the 'new' riverfront will be developed

The next step is to gain approval from the U.S. Corps of Engineers, who has ultimate jurisdiction along the river.

The City Council also approved renaming the old 'Dock Road' to 'East Main Street' in preparation of the new riverfront. Cass County commissioners must still make the final approval because the land lies outside the city limits.

If the Corps approves the plan by year's end, Morehead hopes to be able to start building on the first of ten commercial lots next year.
 

A bit of Plattsmouth's Missouri River Steamboat History... During the golden age of river traffic, 1854-60, ferries shuttled across the Missouri, and  steamboats docked at the foot of the main street, where a warehouse and loading platform The "Rosebud," one of many paddlewheelers that brought people and goods up the Missouri to the docks at Plattsmouth. (pic - 1878)   had been constructed. Thirteen companies advertised river service. Overland freighting was Plattsmouth's primary enterprise. The route from Plattsmouth, along the south side of the Platte to Ft.Kearny, was preferred by many because it was shorter, with fewer large tributaries to cross, and travelers were less apt to be attacked by Indians. The Army Quartermaster Corps depot in Plattsmouth moved great quantities of corn and supplies to western army posts. Huge amounts of civilian goods, bound for the mines in Montana, and Colorado, also funneled through town by steamboat before railroads were completed.