railroad town river trails historical
museum and buffalo bill ranch park
North Platte is in southwestern Nebraska at the confluence of the North
and South Platte Rivers. It was established in 1868 when the Union Pacific
Railroad was extended to that point; it was named from the North
Platte River.
The Platte River originates in the state of Nebraska
and is about 310 miles - 500 km - long. The Platte is a tributary of the
Missouri and Mississippi Rivers which flows to the Gulf of
Mexico.
River Valley Trails played
an important role in the westward expansion of the United States, providing the
route for several major emigrant trails, including the Oregon, California, Mormon
and Bozeman Trails. The French were the first Europeans to reach the Platte. The
North Platte River is navigable
over most of its length at high water by canoes, kayaks and rafts.
Bailey Yard is
the world’s largest. The Golden Spike Tower and Visitor Center is an
eight-story building which overlooks the expansive classification yard and
engine facilities.
The Lincoln County Historical Museum contains a display detailing the history of the North Platte Canteen,
which greeted 6.5 million service personnel from Christmas Day 1941 through
April 1, 1946. It also contains a Prairie Village with local landmark homes and
a Pony Express station and pioneer church.
Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park is located near here, a
Nebraska living history park about Buffalo Bill Cody. The park includes
his actual house known as Scout's Rest Ranch.