North Platte in Lincoln County, Nebraska — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

1887 Horse Barn

Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 2, 2013

1. 1887 Horse Barn Marker

Inscription. The Barn, built in 1887, is 148 feet long, 70 wide, 40 feet high. It required seven railroad cars of lumber for construction. The original rafter ends under the eaves were shaped as gun stocks. Annie Oakley's trademark, the Ace of Hearts with a bullet hole in the middle, is at the peak of the roof. This was a horse barn that housed the stock needed for working the ranch. There was another barn located east of this barn that was used for cattle. The “T” barn as it was called, burned down in 1904.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Buildings • Parks & Recreational Areas • Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Pony Express National Historic Trail series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1887.

Location. 41° 9.827′ N, 100° 47.745′ W. Marker is in North Platte, Nebraska, in Lincoln County. It can be reached from Scouts Rest Ranch Road (State Highway 56E) 0.2 miles west of North Buffalo Bill Avenue, on the right when traveling west. Marker is located within Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park,

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

along the walking path near the southwest corner of the subject building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2921 Scouts Rest Ranch Road, North Platte NE 69101, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Nebraska and in the Platte River Valley.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

on the prairies,

on the Great Plains,

and specifically on the High Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Spring House (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Cody-North Cabin (about 300 feet away); Scout's Rest Ranch (about 300 feet away); Scout's Rest Ranch Headquarters (about 300 feet away); Scout's Rest (about 300 feet away); Oregon Trail Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Mormon Pioneer Camp (approx. 0.3 miles away); Pony Express (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in North Platte.

More about this marker.

1887 Horse Barn, Scout's Rest Ranch (<i>west-end; view from marker</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 2, 2013

2. 1887 Horse Barn, Scout's Rest Ranch (west-end; view from marker)

Annie Oakley's trademark, the Ace of Hearts with a bullet hole in the middle, is visible at the peak of the roof.

Marker is an engraved composite plaque, mounted horizontally, at waist-level, on a wooden post.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park

Also see . . .
1. Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park: The Barn. The barn is a sprawling structure situated in the midst of the Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park. Inside the barn you will see horse stalls that once housed draft and riding horses. An impressive collection of saddles including side saddles, Mexican saddles, California and Texas saddles and a McClellan Saddle are on display in the barn. Highlighted in the collection is a saddle from the late 1800s with Cody’s initials inscribed on the back fender. Additional memorabilia throughout the barn includes reigns, carriages, chains and iron. (Submitted on October 17, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. About Buffalo Bill. At age 9, Cody started working for Russell, Majors and Waddell, a freighting firm out of Kansas that also started the Pony Express. He later served in the Union Army during the Civil

1887 Horse Barn, Scout's Rest Ranch (<i>southwest corner; marker hidden behind shrub at left</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 2, 2013

3. 1887 Horse Barn, Scout's Rest Ranch (southwest corner; marker hidden behind shrub at left)

War. Following the war, Cody earned his nickname “Buffalo Bill” while supplying buffalo meat for the Kansas Pacific Railway. By the mid-1880s, Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show was in full swing, touring the United States and Europe. The success of the show enabled Cody to build “The Mansion on the Prairie,” as the locals called it. It was Buffalo Bill’s home from 1886 to 1913. He raised cattle and purebred stallions on his 4,000 acres of land. A large barn was built in 1887 to house Cody’s ranch horses and stallions. (Submitted on October 17, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

1887 Horse Barn, Scout's Rest Ranch (<i>south side</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 2, 2013

4. 1887 Horse Barn, Scout's Rest Ranch (south side)

1887 Horse Barn, Scout's Rest Ranch: horse stalls inside barn image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 2, 2013

5. 1887 Horse Barn, Scout's Rest Ranch: horse stalls inside barn

1887 Horse Barn, Scout's Rest Ranch: Buffalo Bill's Pony Express Marker (<i>on wall inside barn</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 2, 2013

6. 1887 Horse Barn, Scout's Rest Ranch: Buffalo Bill's Pony Express Marker (on wall inside barn)

Young Bill Cody started his career with Russell, Majors and Wadell and served for several years in various capacities. His first assignment as a Pony Express rider was out of Julesburg, and later he had the run between Red Buttes and Three Crossings.

1887 Horse Barn, Scout's Rest Ranch: Pony Express Centennial Medallion (<i>on wall inside barn</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 2, 2013

7. 1887 Horse Barn, Scout's Rest Ranch: Pony Express Centennial Medallion (on wall inside barn)

1887 Horse Barn, Scout's Rest Ranch: Buffalo Bill Painting & Saddle (<i>on exhibit inside barn</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 2, 2013

8. 1887 Horse Barn, Scout's Rest Ranch: Buffalo Bill Painting & Saddle (on exhibit inside barn)

Credits. This page was last revised on April 17, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 17, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 846 times since then and 38 times this year. Last updated on October 17, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on October 17, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.