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North Platte, Nebraska, may not sound too exciting but it’s got a lot of history, making it a decent place to stop for a day. In this entry, I’ll write about the things I did on my day in North Platte. Visit the town’s official website for more info on what to do or special events taking place.
Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park
Firstly, North Platte is billed as the hometown of Buffalo Bill Cody. The Wild West showman built Scout’s Rest, a home and ranch a few miles from the town, in 1886, on some of the 4,000 acres he owned. They’re now part of Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park. Adult admission is US$4 (as of April 2024). A US$12 Nebraska State Park daily permit is also required for private vehicles with out-of-state plates. From May through October, it’s open Wednesday through Sunday from 9am to 5pm. The rest of the year, it’s open by appointment only. The grounds are open year-round.
In the Victorian home, period furniture and personal artifacts are on display. The barn has remnants of original posters from the Wild West show along with some wagons and other equipment.
Near the barn is an authentic cabin used by Cody when he was a scout. It was brought to the park from its original location near the Dismal River in Nebraska. A small pen of bison are also on display.
Lincoln County Historical Museum
Near Scout’s Rest is the Lincoln County Historical Museum. This wonderful volunteer-run museum tells visitors about the history of North Platte and Lincoln County. Behind it is a small “village” of historical buildings collected from all over the county. Adult admission is US$7 (as of April 2023). It’s open daily from May through September.
The most important section of the museum explains the history of the North Platte Canteen. It was a volunteer effort used to feed soldiers who passed through North Platte during WWII. From Christmas Day in 1941 until 1 April 1946, over 6,000,000 servicemen and women were served food and entertained by the people of North Platte. Everything was donated.
The “village” is a collection of historic homes and buildings, including an original building from Fort McPherson, which stood near North Platte from 1863 to 1880.
The small boyhood home of William Jeffers, former president of Union Pacific Railroad, is also on display, as is the Brady Island Depot and a caboose. Other buildings include a school, church, some homes, and businesses.
Golden Spike Tower
North Platte has always been linked to the railroad industry. It was the western terminus of the Union Pacific Railway in 1867 for one year. Today, it is the home of the largest railroad yard in the world, Bailey Yard. The Golden Spike Tower allows visitors to view the yard daily from 9am to 5pm. Adult admission is US$10 (as of April 2024).
There’s a small museum and video on the ground floor. An elevator to the 7th and 8th floors take you to viewing platforms. On the 8th floor, a volunteer is on hand to explain what’s happening in the yard at any given moment.
Combination Ticket
When I visited North Platte in September 2015, there was a combination ticket for Scout’s Rest Ranch, the Lincoln County Museum, and the Golden Spike Tower. I haven’t been able to find any information about the ticket since then. If it’s available, it’s a significant savings if you plan on visiting all three sites. Tickets can be purchased at the first of the three locations visited.
Fort Cody Trading Post
A kitschy site at the highway exit to North Platte is the Fort Cody Trading Post, which has been a roadside attraction since 1963. This huge souvenir store contains an Old West museum full of oddities and a mechanical scale model of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show that runs on the half hour. Behind Fort Cody is an outdoor area with some log cabins, wagons, and a giant Indian. Admission is free (as of April 2024) and it’s open daily year-round.
Downtown North Platte
The historic downtown of North Platte isn’t much to see. The most interesting buildings are the old Fox Theatre and the Pawnee Hotel.
Hotel & Food
We stayed at the America’s Best Value Inn. It had clean and comfortable rooms and a swimming pool. Breakfast was not included. Wifi was ok.
For food, we had a quick breakfast at the local chain of Daylight Donuts and lunch at the Oak Tree Inn’s Penny’s Diner. Neither were special.
