Frontier Forts in Nebraska

Frontier Forts in Nebraska. . , In the period of westward expansion, the presence of the U.S. Army on the frontier was necessary to protect emigrants and settlers from Indians who were less than enthusiastic about the white intrusion on their lands. Forts were set up as key locations throughout the west, and several of the most important of these posts were located in Nebraska., As the region became settled and the need for forts diminished, most of these early Army posts were abandoned., [Captions:] , Fort Atkinson, about 25 miles up the Missouri from modern Omaha was the earliest fort in Nebraska – established in 1819., Fort Sidney was built in 1867 after peace negotiations failed and Indians continued to harass Platte Valle travelers. The restored commander’s home is open to visitors., Fort Kearny served from 1848 to 1868 as the principal post guarding the Nebraska portion of the Great Platte River Road., Fort Hartsuff, now a state historical park, once guarded the eastern part of Nebraska’s Sandhills country., Fort McPherson was located east of the forks of the Platte and once hired William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody as one of its’ scouts. Today, a national cemetery honors American war dead., Fort Robinson in the scenic Pine Ridge country of northwest Nebraska was a major army post during the struggle with the Sioux Indians. Today the old fort is a popular state park with many restored historic buildings.