Ogallala in Keith County, Nebraska — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

The Mormon Trail

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, December 9, 2011

1. The Mormon Trail Marker

Inscription. Mormons traveled the Great Platte River Road to fulfill a religious mission. In the 1840s members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.(Mormons) moved westward to escape religious persecution. Beginning in 1847 they crossed the Plains to establish their New Zion in Utah’s Salt Lake Valley. To avoid contact with those who did not share their faith, the earliest Mormon emigrants followed the north bank of the Platte, which is often called the Mormon Trail. By the 1850’s and 1860s, however, non-Mormons were also using the north bank route, while many Mormons followed trails south of the Platte.

Some of the Mormon emigrants used handcarts to carry their belongings, enabling poorer converts to make the journey west. Some handcart pioneers died on the trail from starvation or cold when they left too late in the season. In all, more than 70,000 Mormons went west on the Great Platte River Road.

Erected by Ogallala/Keith County Chamber of Commerce. (Marker Number 5.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Religion & Religious Structures • Roads & Vehicles. In addition,

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it is included in the Mormon Pioneer Trail series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1847.

Location. 41° 7.541′ N, 101° 43.228′ W. Marker is in Ogallala, Nebraska, in Keith County. It is on West A Street near West Second Street. This marker is located on the northeast corner of the intersection of West A Street and West Second Street. It is marker no. 5 of the Historic Walk of Fame in Ogallala, NE. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 200 West A Street, Ogallala NE 69153, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Nebraska. It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

on the prairies,

on the Great Plains,

and specifically on the High Plains.

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: The Union Pacific (within shouting distance of this marker); California Hill (within shouting distance of this marker); The Pony Express (within

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, December 9, 2011

2. The Mormon Trail Marker

The Ogallala Public Library is in the background.

shouting distance of this marker); Highways 26 and 92 (within shouting distance of this marker); Standard Oil Gas Station (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Interstate 80 (about 400 feet away); The Lincoln Highway (about 400 feet away); End of the Texas Trail (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ogallala.

Also see . . . Mormon Trail - Wikipedia. (Submitted on December 20, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

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 1,175 times since then and 19 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.