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

The Union Pacific

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, December 9, 2011

1. The Union Pacific Marker

Inscription. When the Union Pacific laid track west from Omaha in 1865 the rails also followed the Great Platte River Road. The Union Pacific linked up with the Central Pacific at Promontory, Utah in 1869 to complete the nation’s first transcontinental railroad. The railroad provided a faster and more comfortable way for settlers, miners and adventurer to go West, and the trains also transported cattle, grain, gold and mail. The Union Pacific reached the Ogallala vicinity in 1867, and the town soon became an important shipping point for longhorn steers driven north on the Texas Trail. The railroad built loading facilities west of town so cattle could be shipped to market.

Track laying was done by crews of Civil War veterans, emigrants, ex-miners, adventurers, and gamblers. The crews averaged about two miles of track per day. In 1867 three workers were killed by Indians about one mile west of Ogallala.

Erected by Ogallala/Keith County Chamber of Commerce. (Marker Number 6.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the First Transcontinental Railroad

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series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1865.

Location. 41° 7.525′ N, 101° 43.229′ 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 southeast corner of intersection of West 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: 120 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: California Hill (within shouting distance of this marker); The Mormon Trail (within shouting distance of this marker); Highways 26 and 92 (within shouting distance of this marker); The Pony Express

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, December 9, 2011

2. The Union Pacific Marker

(about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Interstate 80 (about 300 feet away); The Lincoln Highway (about 300 feet away); Standard Oil Gas Station (about 400 feet away); End of the Texas Trail (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ogallala.

Also see . . . Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum. This is the website for early photographs of the Transcontinental Railroad. (Submitted on December 20, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

Credits. This page was last revised on November 5, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 20, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,019 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.