Near Bertrand in Phelps County, Nebraska — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Historic Plum Creek History
Photographed by Susan Van Den Bosch, February 24, 2026
1. Historic Plum Creek History Marker
1849 - Gold rush in California brought thousands of people to Plum Creek heading for California.
1850 - 42,000 people traveled the trail through Plum Creek.
1850 - Cholera epidemic claimed hundreds of travelers along the trail near Plum Creek.
1859 - Would-be gold miners pass by Plum Creek in search of gold at Pikes Peak, Colorado and later returning to Plum Creek, broke and dying of starvation.
1860 - 1861 Pony Express travels through Plum Creek carrying mail.
1860 - Plum Creek Stage Station built one-half mile northeast of this cemetery.
1861 - 1866 Plum Creek Post office built near Plum Creek Stage Station.
1861 - Telegraph built at Plum Creek ending the Pony Express.
August 8, 1864 - Plum Creek Massacre occurred. Eleven men were killed and buried in a long trench, 1-1/4 miles east of the cemetery on the south side of the road. This massacre marked the beginning of the 1864-1869 Indian War.
September 1864 - Plum Creek Post built to protect the travelers attacks from the Sioux, Cheyenne and Arapaho Indian attacks.
Caleb Dilworth homesteaded 160 acres of land where Plum Creek Post once stood.
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Nancy Jane (Fletcher) Morton, survivor of the Plum Creek Massacre later wrote:
"Such a sight as ever before! The wagons had all been plundered and mangled, forms of dear dead ones were about me."
"Oh how I did pray to die because I though death would be my refuge."
Erected by Nebraska Prairie Museum.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers • Wars, US Indian. A significant historical date for this entry is August 8, 1864.
Location. 40° 40.353′ N, 99° 36.348′ W. Marker is near Bertrand, Nebraska, in Phelps County. It is on B Road near Local Road 748, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 10263 B Rd, Bertrand NE 68927, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Eastern Nebraska. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Corn Belt, and on the prairies. 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 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Oregon Trail (here, next to this marker); Pony Express (here, next to this marker); Historic Plum Creek Cemetery Information & Directory (here, next to this marker); The Plum Creek Massacre (here, next to this marker); Sarepta Gore Fly (a few steps from this marker); The Tobin Indian Raid (approx. 6.9 miles away); M60A1 Main Battle Tank (approx. 8.4 miles away); M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle (approx. 8½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bertrand.
Other markers no longer nearby. The Plum Creek Massacre (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Plum Creek Massacre Site (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Credits. This page was last revised on March 1, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 1, 2026, by Susan Van Den Bosch of Almond, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 43 times since then. Photo 1. submitted on March 1, 2026, by Susan Van Den Bosch of Almond, Wisconsin. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
