La Grande Isle
Posted by: 
BruceS
N 40° 54.037 W 098° 21.513
14T E 554028 N 4527922
Historical marker located in Stolley Park in Grand Island, Nebraska.
Waymark Code: WMNZJ
Location: Nebraska, United States
Date Posted: 08/30/2006
Views: 26
"Grand Island, in the Platte River, has given its name to the city of Grand
Island. The island was formed by a narrow channel branching off the Platte River
approximately 28 miles upstream from the present city of Grand Island and
rejoining the main river about 12 miles downstream from the city.
The name "Grand Island" came from the French name "La Grande Isle", meaning
the large or great island. The island probably was discovered and named by
French fur traders in the late 1700's. Grand Island or Grand Isle was a
well-known landmark for fur traders by 1810. The name Grand Ile appears on a
French map published in 1821 and on American maps published in 1822 and 1823.
Both the Long and Fremont exploring expeditions of 1820 and 1842 took note of
the size of Grand Island and west-bound travelers of the 1830's often mentioned
the island as the most conspicuous feature of the Central Platte Valley.
Grand Island was ceded to the United States Government by the Pawnee Indians
in 1848. The modern history of the island begins with the arrival of the first
permanent settlers on July 5, 1857." ~ text of marker
Hall County Historical Society
Historical Land Mark Council
Stolley Park, Grand Island
Hall County
Marker 55
