Great Platte River Road

History

Robert Stuart, an explorer with the Pacific Fur Company, was one of the first European-Americans to explore the potential for the route in the 1810s. As the United States organized new territory in the West, thousands of settlers moved west along routes that followed the east-west course of the Platte River, which offered easy navigation and a dependable water source. The corridor became the primary avenue of transcontinental travel, used simultaneously by several popular pioneer trails.

All emigrants on the Oregon or California Trails followed the Great Platte River Road for hundreds of miles. The north side of the river was considered healthier, so most Latter-day Saints stuck to that side, which also separated them from former enemies from Missouri or Illinois. In 1849, 1850, and 1852, traffic was so heavy that virtually all feed for grazing livestock was stripped from both sides of the river. The lack of food and threat of disease made the journey a deadly gamble.

An estimated 250,000 travelers used the road during its peak years of 1841 to 1866. The road was also used by the Pony Express and became an important freight and military route. Ongoing conflict with Native Americans threatened migrants. Following attacks in spring and summer of 1864 by Colorado Volunteers on the Cheyenne and other Plains Indians, a state of war developed along the South Platte, with numerous raids on stage stations, ranches, and freighters.

After the Sand Creek massacre, Julesburg, Colorado was attacked in January 1865 and again in February. Traditional travel declined with the completion of the First transcontinental railroad in 1869, which followed much of the same route through Nebraska. The route remained important, becoming the path for the Lincoln Highway in 1913 and eventually Interstate 80.

Route

The Great Platte River Road started at various spots on the Missouri River, such as Omaha, Council Bluffs, Nebraska City, St. Joseph, and Kansas City. These separate paths came together close to Fort Kearny in central Nebraska Territory. People setting out from Omaha or Council Bluffs traveled on the Platte’s north side, while those from St. Joseph or Kansas City mostly kept to the south.

Somewhere along the river, the emigrants had to cross to the north bank, often a dangerous move, to reach Fort Laramie. Where the Platte splits into its two branches in western Nebraska, some routes—like the Oregon, California, and Mormon Trails—headed northwest up the North Platte. Others, including the Overland Trail, turned southwest along the South Platte.

Points of interest along the route

Fort Kearny, named after Stephen Watts Kearny, was established in June 1848. Another fort named after Kearny was established in May 1846 but quickly abandoned in May 1848; the second is sometimes called "New" Fort Kearny. The site was purchased from Pawnee Indians for $2,000 in goods. At Confluence Point, on May 11, 1847, a "roadometer" was attached to Heber C. Kimball's wagon driven by Pilo Johnson; its measurements were used in William Clayton's Latter-day Saints' Emigrants' Guide.

O'Fallon's Bluff, near Sutherland, was one of the most treacherous stretches, where the South Platte River cut against the bluff, forcing travel over narrow bluffs with deep sand and threats of Native American attacks. From 1858 to 1860, a trading post, stage station, and post office operated there. By 1866, Fort Heath was established nearby. In 1867, a railroad siding, depot, post office, trading post, and saloon were built north of the river opposite the bluff.

Ash Hollow was noted for its beauty by passing diarists, though it was ruined by thousands of emigrants. Sioux Indians were often present, and General William S. Harney's troops won a battle there in September 1855. The site is a burial ground for many who died of cholera during the gold rush years. Chimney Rock is perhaps the most significant landmark on the Mormon Trail; emigrants noted it appeared closer than it was, and many sketched or painted it and carved their names into it.

Roadside settlements

Along the Great Platte River Road in Nebraska Territory, settlements and ranches gave pioneers places to rest and Missouri River outfitters spots to sell goods. From east to west, these stops included Hook, Fort Kearny, Dobytown, Platte, 17 Mile, Hopeful, Craig, Blondeau, Thomas, Freeman, Mullaley, Pinniston and Miller, Midway, Gilman, Clark, Machete, McDonald, Post Cottonwood, Box Elder, Cold Springs, Bishop, Fremont's Springs, O'Fallon, Williams, Moore, Alkali, Sandhill, Diamond Springs, Beauvais, Bueller, Julesburg, and Camp Rankin.