Welcome to Nebraska
Ways of the Old West
With its magnificent scenery, geologic wonders, an important place in the history of settlement of the High Plains, and a still-vibrant culture of the American West, Northwest Nebraska’s Pine Ridge country, the southern gateway to the Black Hills, offers more than just pass through attractions for visitors.
The Pine Ridge itself, a geologic escarpment that extends in a 100 mile arc and ranges up to 20 miles wide, gives the region its name and a stunning visual array of high white cliffs, spectacular buttes and pine-covered hills. The area’s geology has been of interest to visitors and scientists alike since the earliest days of European settlement — fossil excavations began in the region in the 1890s, and the discoveries at what is now Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, south of Harrison, Neb., are renowned for what they revealed of the Miocene period, 19 to 21 million years ago. Among the finds were a prehistoric rhinoceros, a gazelle-like camel, the early horse, Mesohippus, and the mysterious “devils’ corkscrews,” unusual spiral-shaped formations that are the fossilized remains of burrows of a small, prehistoric beaver.
More recently, in the 1960s, a pair of ice-age mammoths were discovered in the grasslands north of Crawford, Neb. The 13-foot tall giants fought to their death and were found with their tusks still locked together.
Their fossils are now the central display at the Trailside Museum at Fort Robinson State Park.
Many American Indian tribes, including the Kiowa, Apache, Arikara, Crow and Sioux, were in the Pine Ridge in historic times. Most of the great chiefs of the Sioux, including Red Cloud, Spotted Tail and Crazy Horse, lived in the region.
Fur traders, including French from St. Louis and Spaniards from New Mexico, were in the Pine Ridge, some even before Lewis and Clark. They established the first road in the region, a trail from Fort Laramie to Fort Pierre on the Missouri River, in the 1830s, to ship furs and supplies. At least four Indian trading posts operated in the Pine Ridge, including the Bordeaux Trading Post east of present-day Chadron, which operated for 40 years.
The reconstructed buildings of the Bordeaux Trading Post are on the grounds of the Museum of the Fur Trade, an internationally known institution that tells the story of North American’s first business — the fur trade.
Following the Civil War, government pressure forced the Indians to cede their lands and move to reservations. Fort Robinson, established in 1874, got its start protecting the Red Cloud Agency, and continued as a U.S. Army post until 1948. Crazy Horse was killed there in 1877 and “buffalo soldiers” were stationed there for many years. When active it was a cavalry remount depot, a K-9 training center and a German POW camp. Now a Nebraska State Park, Fort Robinson has a museum telling of its long history, as well as guest rooms, camping and a host of visitor activities.
For more information and visitor packets, call 800-603-2937 or 308-432-4401.
Northwest Nebraska calendar of events
June 13-15 — Ninth annual Intertribal Gathering and Pow Wow, Fort Robinson State Park, Crawford
June 21 — 87th Anniversary Celebration, Chadron State Park, 8 miles south of Chadron on Highway 385
July 1 — Old West Trail Junior Rodeo, Crawford
July 2-4 — Old West Trail PRCA Rodeo, Crawford
July 4 — Independence Day Parade and Celebration, Crawford
July 11-13 — Fur Trade Days Celebration, Chadron
July 19 — Ride the Ridge Trail Ride, Fort Robinson State Park
July 25-27 — Nebraska State Quilt Convention, Chadron State College, Chadron
Aug. 1-8 — Dawes County Fair, Chadron
June 1-Aug. 10 — 41st annual Red Cloud Indian Art Show, Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota
Sept. 7-9 — Northwest Nebraska Treasure Trek, festivals, community events, sales, farmers markets
Oct. 25 — Feast of the Hunters Moon Museum of the Fur Trade, Chadron
Places to visit in northwest Nebraska
- Toadstool Geologic Park — Spectacular Badlands area located in the Oglala National Grasslands, 308-432-4475 or 308-432-0300
- Hudson Meng Bison Kill Site — A herd of 600 prehistoric bison perished here nearly 10,000 years ago. Site of ongoing research, 605-745-6017 or www.hudson-meng.org
- Fort Robinson State Park — Nebraska’s largest state park. Jeep and horseback rides, fishing, historical museum, geologic museum, swimming, tennis, live theater, chuckwagon suppers, camping and lodging, 308-665-2900
- Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center — Explore the life and works of author Mari Sandoz, who grew up nearby, and enjoy other exhibits in the area. At Chadron State College. 308-432-6401
- Dawes County Museum — Records the history of the county. Exhibits include a general store, a one-room schoolhouse, a pioneer cabin and memorabilia from the 1893 Chadron to Chicago Horse Race, 308-432-4999
- Chadron State Park — Eight miles south of Chadron on Highway 385, cabins, RV and camping spaces, pool, cookouts, paddleboats, horseback rides, hiking and biking trails, 308-432-6167
- Museum of the Fur Trade — Three miles east of Chadron on Highway 20. Dedicated to the history of the Fur Trade-Mountain Man exhibit, firearm collection, gift shop, recreated Bordeaux Trading Post, 308-432-3843 or www.furtrade.org
- Nebkota Dining Car — Enjoy a sumptuous meal while traveling through the countryside in a special railroad dining car, 308-432-2589.
- Agate Fossil Beds National Monument — Fossil displays, James Cook Native American artifact collection, 308-668-2211 or www.nps.gov.agfo
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