North Platte in Lincoln County, Nebraska — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Old Glory Blowout
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 2, 2013
1. Old Glory Blowout Marker
”Old Glory Blowout”
July 4, 1882
This event held in Lincoln County
Nebraska, was the manifestation of a dream
that became a reality as the:
”Buffalo Bill’s Wild West”
and was witnessed by millions of people throughout the United States and parts of Europe.
The “Old Glory Blowout” parade on the morning of that historic day was routed past this spot on its way to the exhibition site, now Cody Park.
William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody
An industrious Nebraska Citizen
Presented by the Fletcher Family
Erected by The Fletcher Family.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical date for this entry is July 4, 1882.
Location. 41° 8.16′ N, 100° 45.792′ W. Marker is in North Platte, Nebraska, in Lincoln County. Marker is on North Jeffers Street (U.S. 83) north of East 3rd Street, on the right when traveling north. Marker is a large metal plaque, mounted at ground-level, directly on the Lincoln County Courthouse building, on the right side of the west entrance. Touch for map
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Lincoln County Courthouse (here, next to this marker); 100th Meridian (a few steps from this marker); Statue of Liberty Replica (within shouting distance of this marker); Sioux Lookout (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); "Buffalo Bill" Cody (approx. 1½ miles away); 20th Century Veterans Memorial (approx. 1.9 miles away); United States POW-MIA History (approx. 2 miles away); District #36 School (approx. 2.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in North Platte.
Also see . . .
1. Nebraska: The Old Glory Blowout. “Buffalo Bill” Cody had already established his presence on stage in theatrical performances and on the pages of dime novels when he launched a new, bold program: a spectacle that featured fearless horseback riders, daring stagecoach drivers, and carefully choreographed “fights” between soldiers, settlers, and American Indians. He birthed his Buffalo Bill Wild West Show in 1882 to celebrate North Platte’s “Old Glory Blowout.” The town needed a celebration—an extravaganza—and Bill Cody was the man they knew could pull
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 2, 2013
2. Old Glory Blowout Marker (tall view)
2. William F. Cody. Cody’s theatrical genius revealed itself in 1883, when he organized Buffalo Bill’s Wild West, an outdoor extravaganza that dramatized some of the most picturesque elements of frontier life: a buffalo hunt with real buffalo, an Indian attack on the Deadwood stage with real Indians, a Pony Express ride, and at the climax, a tableau presentation of Custer’s Last Stand in which some Lakota who had actually fought in the battle played a part. Half circus and half history lesson, mixing sentimentality with sensationalism, the show proved an enormous success, touring the country for three decades and playing to enthusiastic crowds across Europe. (Submitted on October 18, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 2, 2013
3. Lincoln County Courthouse (west side; marker visible on right side of Jeffers St. entrance)
Credits. This page was last revised on October 28, 2019. It was originally submitted on October 18, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 365 times since then and 64 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 18, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
