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

Ox Yokes

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 4, 2021

1. Ox Yokes Marker

Inscription. These reproduction yokes would sit over the necks of two oxen each. Oxbows, small bent wood rods were placed under the oxen's necks and through the holes in the yokes and secured with pins. This allowed the yoke to secure itself against the oxen's shoulders so they could pull with greater force.

A yoke of oxen is made up of two oxen. So, if there were forty-eight oxen pulling the ditch plow there were twenty-four yoke of oxen.

What are oxen anyway? They are adult, neutered bulls (neutered to make them docile) trained to pull loads. These animals were used extensively on the Oregon Trail to pull pioneers' wagons because they were cheap, hardy, and required less feed than a horse.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Oregon Trail series list.

Location. 41° 9.643′ N, 100° 47.375′ W. Marker is in North Platte, Nebraska, in Lincoln County. Marker can be reached from North Buffalo Bill Avenue, 0.8 miles north of Lincoln Highway (U.S. 30), on the right when traveling north. Marker and ox yokes are located on the Lincoln County Historical Museum grounds. Touch for map. Marker is at or

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near this postal address: 2403 North Buffalo Bill Avenue, North Platte NE 69101, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Capstan (here, next to this marker); Crab (here, next to this marker); Blacksmith Shop (a few steps from this marker); Ditch Plow (within shouting distance of this marker); Jeffers Family Home (within shouting distance of this marker); U. P. Caboose #25486 (within shouting distance of this marker); Dick Neve Barber Shop (within shouting distance of this marker); General Store (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in North Platte.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Lincoln County Historical Museum

Also see . . . Oxen - Engines of the Overland Emigration.

Dixon Ford, of Fruit Heights, Utah, devoted much of his life to training and driving oxen using techniques he learned from his Mormon pioneer grandfather. In this article he explains what oxen are, how they were traditionally trained to draw wagons, and how they are properly driven and cared for. Emigrant accounts triumphs and tragedies involving oxen on the overland trails are woven through this narrative.

(Submitted on February 11, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Marker detail: Ox Team & Yokes image. Click for full size.

2. Marker detail: Ox Team & Yokes

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 4, 2021

3. Ox Yokes Marker

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 4, 2021

4. Ox Yoke

Credits. This page was last revised on March 3, 2024. It was originally submitted on February 11, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 303 times since then and 98 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 11, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.