Ogallala in Keith County, Nebraska — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
The Great Platte River Road
1841- 1866
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, December 9, 2011
1. The Great Platte River Road Marker
Inscription.
The Great Platte River Road. When gold was discovered in 1848, California became the main destination. After 1849 many emigrants and gold seekers began traveling the trail on the north side of the Platte. Throughout the peak migration years, the trail to Oregon or California was not a single clearly-defined pathway, but varied depending on weather and destination. Historian Merrill Mattes has estimated that as many as 500,000 people went west on various branches of the Great Platte River Road between 1841 and 1866.
Beginning in the early 1840s, thousands of people began crossing the continent to settle in the Oregon country. Their wagons followed the south bank of the Platte and North Platte Rivers en route to South Pass in the Rockies. Emigrants often described the Platte as a mile wide and inches deep, treacherous to ford, and too muddy to drink.
When gold was discovered in 1848, California became the main destination. After 1849 many emigrants and gold seekers began traveling the trail on the north side of the Platte. Throughout the peak migration years, the trail to Oregon or California was not a single clearly-defined pathway, but varied depending on weather and destination. Historian Merrill Mattes has estimated that as many as 500,000 people went west on various branches of the Great Platte River Road between 1841 and 1866.
Beginning in the early 1840s, thousands of people began crossing the continent to settle in the Oregon country. Their wagons followed the south bank of the Platte and North Platte Rivers en route to South Pass in the Rockies. Emigrants often described the Platte as a mile wide and inches deep, treacherous to ford, and too muddy to drink.
Erected by Ogallala/Keith County Chamber of Commerce. (Marker Number 2.)
Location. 41° 7.555′ N, 101° 43.076′ W. Marker is in Ogallala, Nebraska, in Keith County. Marker is at
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the intersection of East A Street and West Second Street on East A Street. This marker is located on the northeast corner of the intersection of East A Street and West Second Street. It is marker no. 2 of the Historic Walk of Fame in Ogallala, NE. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 201East A Street, Ogallala NE 69153, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, December 9, 2011
2. The Great Platte River Road Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on December 20, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 508 times since then and 7 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on December 20, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
