• Scotts Bluff National Monument is located in western Nebraska, landmark for the Pony Express, Oregon, California and Mormon Pioneer national historic trails

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Fort Kearny

Photo image of Fort Kearny.

The Wagner Perspective

Fort Kearny - Kearney, Nebraska

Fort Kearny was established by the U.S. Army in 1848 to protect the growing traffic along the Oregon Trail from the threat of Indian attacks. This military post was strategically located at a junction where various eastern feeder trails merged, forming one broad trail. Those routes joined at Fort Kearny and became one broad and vast trail following the Platte River 330 miles west to Fort Laramie.

J. Goldsborough Bruff recorded his impressions on June 17, 1849, "I visited the Fort . . . . This place is as yet merely the site of an intended fort; it has some adobe embankments, quarters of adobe & frame, and a number of tents & sheds. Is on the bank of the Platte, where Grand Island makes a narrow branch of the river between it and the shore."

Although none of the original sod and adobe buildings have survived, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has reconstructed two of the fort buildings.

Fort Kearny State Historical Park
Route 4
Kearney, NE 68847
308-234-9513
 
Map image showing location of Fort Kearny.
Map image showing location of Fort Kearny.
NPS Image

Did You Know?

Windless Hill near Ash Hollow on the Oregon & California trails.

After climbing up onto the prairie out of the Platte River Valley of western Nebraska, emigrant wagons headed for Oregon & California in the 1840s-1860s were faced with a very steep descent down Windless Hill near Ash Hollow. More...