The Great Platte River Road # 111 - Nebraska Historical Markers on Waymarking.com

The marker reads as follows

THE GREAT PLATTE RIVER ROAD

This is the Platte River Valley, America's great road west. It provided a natural pathway for westward expansion across the continent during the nineteenth century. Here passed the Oregon Trail, following the South Platte River along much the same route as the highway over which you now travel. Beginning in 1841, nearly 250,000 travelers crossed the plains to Oregon and California over this important overland route. Here, at O'Fallon's Bluffs, the wagon trains faced one of the most difficult and dangerous spots on the trail. The Platte River cut directly against the bluff, making it necessary to travel the narrow roadway over O'Fallon's Bluffs. Deep sand caught the wagon wheels and Indian attacks were always a danger. Ruts made by the thousands of wagon wheels still remain. Although first traveled primarily by immigrants, the trail was later used by the Pony Express and became an important freight and military route. With the completion of the trans-continental railroad across Nebraska in 1867, travel on the trail declined. Although the danger and hardships faced by early travelers no longer exist, the Great Platte Valley route remains an important, modern thoroughfare across Nebraska and across the nation.

Department of Roads
Historical Land Mark Council

Sutherland rest area I-80, Westbound
Lincoln County
Marker 111

Marker Name: The Great Platte River Road # 111 City: no Roadside: yes Other: no Web Address if available:: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
Post Pictures:
1. Close up of historical marker
2. Picture of surrounding area (would prefer to have the marker in the picture also). Thanks!

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Date Logged Log User Rating   09/23/2015 Markerman62 visited it 07/08/2012 Chutch1035 visited it

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