Grand Island in Hall County, Nebraska — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Pioneer Park

Photographed by Charles T. Harrell, June 29, 2011

1. Pioneer Park Marker

Inscription. Pioneer Park, site of the first Hall County courthouse, honors the courageous settlers who peacefully inhabited this area in 1857 when only Pawnee lived here. In 1866 the Union Pacific reached Grad Island and in 1868 the railroad donated Block 19 for the construction of county buildings. Three years later the county commissioners requested that General Grenville M. Dodge, agent and trustee of the railroad, exchange the property for Block 84 where this park is located.

Special elections were held in 1872 wherein bonds totaling $20,000 were issued for construction. A two story courthouse with a clock tower was completed June 28, 1873 at a cost of $16,500. In 1901 a special election voted bonds for a new courthouse and other county buildings. When the new structure was completed in 1905, the original courthouse was razed. Four elections were held from 1902 to 1905 to authorize the sale of this block, but dedicated work by the Women’s Park Association maintained this site was a memorial to Hall County pioneers. In 1964 action was brought to construct a new post office on this land and a 1970 election was held to locate a new library here, but the park was preserved on both occasions. Hall county Historical Society. Nebraska State Historical Society. (Marker Number 141.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this

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topic list: Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Nebraska State Historical Society series list. A significant historical date for this entry is June 28, 1873.

Location. 40° 55.334′ N, 98° 20.738′ W. Marker is on Grand Island, Nebraska, in Hall County. It is at the intersection of West 2nd Street and Cleburn St. on West 2nd Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Grand Island NE 68801, 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,

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 walking distance of this marker: Grand Island Public School Bell (within shouting distance of this marker); The Lincoln Memorial Highway (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Dodge School (approx. 0.2 miles away); Martin Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); Federal Building (approx. 0.3 miles away); Civil War and Spanish-American War Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Fort O. K. Cannon (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Yancey (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Grand Island.

Pioneer Park, 1953 Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Charles T. Harrell, June 29, 2011

2. Pioneer Park, 1953 Marker

Pioneer Park, site of First Court House in Hall County, built in 1875. Erected March 1953, Daughter of the American Revolution.

Photographed by Charles T. Harrell, June 29, 2011

3. Pioneer Park Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 29, 2011, by Charles T. Harrell of Woodford, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,008 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 29, 2011, by Charles T. Harrell of Woodford, Virginia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.