In Western Nebraska, Our History Surrounds You
While we have theaters and art centers in Western Nebraska, our history and culture cannot be contained within four walls. Our history is alive in our breathtaking landscapes. Our parks not only have hiking, camping, and hunting but also have Oregon trail experiences, trading posts, museums, and historic pastures for viewing herds of bison.
The Western Nebraska Panhandle was central to the Oregon Trail, a roughly 2,000-mile route from Independence, Missouri, to Oregon City, Oregon, that was used by hundreds of thousands of American pioneers in the mid-1800s to emigrate west.
In fact, no state is more closely associated with our country’s early westward migration than Nebraska because it is home to some of the stunning landmarks most frequently noted in emigrant diaries. Chimney Rock, Scotts Bluff Monument, and Robidoux Pass served as important mileposts for pioneers to mark they had completed about a third of their journey.
You can be transported even further back in time with a visit to the Agate Fossil Beds and its surrounding prairie that are preserved in a 2,270-acre National Monument. It is one of the world’s most outstanding fossil records.
Things To Do
Agate Fossil Beds
308-668-2211
301 River Road, Harrison, NE
In the early 1900s, paleontologists unearthed the Age of Mammals when they found full skeletons of extinct Miocene mammals in the hills of Nebraska. At the same time, a friendship began between rancher James Cook and Chief Red Cloud of the Lakota.These two remarkable events are preserved and protected at Agate Fossil Beds.
Agate Fossil Beds and its surrounding prairie are preserved in a 2,270-acre National Monument that boasts one of the world’s most outstanding fossil records. The park includes
upper Niobrara River wetlands in a High Plains ecosystem and many trails. The Visitors Center/Museum contains Miocene Era paleontology exhibits and American Indian artifacts. American Indian artists demonstrate their work during summer months on selected artist-in-residence weekends.
Oregon Trail Wagon Train
308-586-1850
Bayard, NE
You can enjoy a covered wagon tour of the Oregon Trail coupled with a relaxing evening complete with a Prime Rib Cookout over an open wood fire and rousing campfire entertainment. Tent and RV camping is available. Activities include three-hour Chimney Rock tours and canoe rentals on the North Platte River.
Chimney Rock National Historic Site & Visitor’s Center
308-586-2581
Bayard, NE
“Towering to the heavens” is how one pioneer described Chimney Rock, the most
recognized landmark along the Oregon Trail. Today, an interpretive center operated by the Nebraska State Historical Society pays tribute to those who traveled the trails and features original maps made from Captain John C. Fremont’s 1842-43 exploration of the Oregon Trail. Chimney Rock is lit nightly by the City of Bayard.
The Scotts Bluff National Monument
308-436-4340
Gering, NE
Scotts Bluff is a majestic landmark used by American Indians, fur trappers, pioneers, and modern travelers along the still visible Oregon Trail. The museum tells the Oregon Trail story. Visitors can drive through three tunnels or hike to the summit to enjoy the panoramic view. There are over four miles of hiking trails. A free shuttle to the summit is available during the summer months.
Robidoux Pass and Trading Post
308-436-6886
Gering, NE
This 1851 trading post of Antoine Robidoux was where the Plains Indians traded their wares. It has been reconstructed from 100-year-old hand-hewn logs on its original site. It is definitely a trip worth making.
Chadron State Park
308-432-6167
Chadron, NE
Nebraska’s first state park is nestled in the picturesque Pine Ridge with a modern campground, available cabins, a swimming pool, trail rides, and more. There are big game and wild turkey firearm seasons.
Nebraska National Forest and Grasslands
308-432-0300
Chadron, NE
Open year-round, the primary attractions include Toadstool Park, Soldier Creek Wilderness, and Pine Ridge National Recreation Area. Camping and various hiking, biking, and horseback trails are there to enjoy. Deer and turkey hunting are seasonally available on public lands. Group tours of the Hudson-Meng Bison Kill Bed, a fossil site, are offered in the summer.
Fort Robinson State Park
308-665-2900
Crawford, NE
Fort Robinson is the perfect vacation destination for history buffs and outdoor enthusiasts. Visitors can stay where blue-coated cavalrymen once bunked. Activities include trail rides, historic tours, cookouts, swimming, trout fishing, crafts, hiking, jeep and stagecoach rides, a viewing pasture for bison herds and purebred Texas longhorn herds, and more. Hiking, camping, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, and hunting in season are available. There are cabins and a lodge with modern facilities. Group tours are offered for the museums.
Theatre West
308-635-6193
Scottsbluff, NE
Theatre West Summer Repertory is a semi-professional theater program that calls the Western Nebraska Community College Theater home. They present three productions and 24 performances each season.
Five Rocks Amphitheater
308-436-6886
Gering, NE
Located along Five Rocks Road west of Gering, this amphitheater and pavilion hosts bands and other open-air entertainment in the summer months, as well as Thursday night movies with a “drive-in” atmosphere. The 1,500-seat theater with a 40x120-foot pavilion has a concession area, restrooms, horseshoe pits, a playground structure, and eight acres of buffalo grass enclosed with fencing.
West Nebraska Arts Center
308-632-2226
Scottsbluff, NE
The West Nebraska Arts Center is committed to providing artists with a lively public venue to share their talents with the community. The Main Gallery and the Bronson Gallery at WNAC are beautiful spaces that feature 18 exhibits each year by local, national, and international artists representing a wide variety of visual art. Classes are available, including the Ed Wards Project for teens.
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