Ogallala and the Platte Valley
Posted by: 
NevaP
N 41° 07.204 W 101° 36.226
14T E 281406 N 4555353
This marker is about the Overland Trail, the Platte Valley and the cowtown days of nearby Ogallala, Nebraska's Cowboy Capital,
Waymark Code: WM1MVZ
Location: Nebraska, United States
Date Posted: 06/03/2007
Views: 63
This is one of Nebraska's older marker's and it is getting worn. It's mounted in a brick wall behind the main building at the westbound I-80 rest area near Roscoe, east of Ogallala.
The text reads:
This region holds much that is significant to the history of the West. At this point, I-80 follows the route of the Overland Trail, along the South Platte River. Leaving the South Platte near here, the trail continued up the North Platte Valley, today the route of U.S. 26. Beginning in 1841, an estimated quarter of a million travelers crossed the plains over this great natural highway. Oregon and California were early goals, and the Platte Valley later became an important freighting and military route. The Pony Express used the Platte River Road, and when the first trans-continental railroad was completed in 1869, it too followed the valley.
Nearby Ogallala was a wild and woolly cowtown from 1875 to 1885 while the northern terminus of the Texas Trail. Located on the Union Pacific Railroad, the town was a shipping point for great herds of Texas Longhorns, and the chief gateway to the newly opened ranges of the Northern Plains. Boot Hill, which still survives, was the final resting place for many who helped make Ogallala the Cowboy Capital of Nebraska.
The marker, #97 was placed by the Nebraska State Historical Society
Another historical marker, one of the sculptures in Nebraska's 500 mile sculpture garden, and a virtual cache are also at this rest area.
Marker Name: Ogallala and the Platte Valley
City: no
Roadside: yes
Other: yes
Web Address if available:: [Web Link]
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Visit Instructions:
Post Pictures:
1. Close up of historical marker
2. Picture of surrounding area (would prefer to have the marker in the picture also). Thanks!