Near Beatrice in Gage County, Nebraska — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Is All Barbed Wire the Same?

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., May 30, 2011

1. Is All Barbed Wire the Same? Marker

Inscription.
Barbed wire proved invaluable for marking boundaries on the open prairie. Soon after its invention in 1874 there were over 570 different patents and thousands of variations. You can examine dozens of them on the fence nearby.

Why so many? Early inventors tried to improve the basic idea, most notably Joseph F. Glidden's 1874 innovation of a simple barb on a strong, double-stranded wire. Later entrepreneurs tried to cash in on barbed wire's potential. Those versions that could be produced more efficiently, and sold more cheaply, succeeded.

Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Deparment of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1874.

Location. 40° 17.113′ N, 96° 49.618′ W. Marker is near Beatrice, Nebraska, in Gage County. Marker is on the path leading from the Homestead Heritage Center to the log house. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8523 West Nebraska Hwy 4, Beatrice NE 68310, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Homesteading's Legacy is Written on the Land (within shouting distance of this marker); A Prairie Reborn (within shouting distance of this marker); Boundaries of Freedom

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(within shouting distance of this marker); Close Quarters (within shouting distance of this marker); Walk in Their Shoes (within shouting distance of this marker); The Homestead Heritage Center (within shouting distance of this marker); Do You Live Near a Homestead? (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Daniel and Agnes Freeman (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Beatrice.

Also see . . .
1. Glidden's Patent Application for Barbed Wire. (Submitted on September 25, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Cool Things - Barbed Wire. (Submitted on September 25, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
3. The Kansas Barbed Wire Museum. (Submitted on September 25, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
4. 1939 Barbed Wire Fencing Journal Article. (Submitted on September 25, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., May 30, 2011

2. Is All Barbed Wire the Same? Marker

Is All Barbed Wire the Same? Marker Detail image. Click for full size.

Photographed By National Park Service, undated

3. Is All Barbed Wire the Same? Marker Detail

Credits. This page was last revised on August 13, 2020. It was originally submitted on September 25, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 598 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 25, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.