We invite you to experience the Historical sites in Gering, Nebraska. As the Oregon Trail passed through the region, it left events that shaped the area and created a way of life for many. Whether you are a history buff or have a casual interest in how the west was formed, you will want to visit Gering, Nebraska and see the historical sites throughout the area. Kindly scroll down to get directions to the historical sites in Gering, Nebraska.
Gering was officially founded on March 7, 1887, being located at the base of the bluff that is now the center of Scotts Bluff National Monument.
Although settled in 1886, Gering officially became a town in 1887 by a corporation headed by Oscar Gardner of Broken Bow, Nebraska and named for Martin Gering, a pioneer merchant with whom Gardner started the first dry goods store. Gardner, who was also a lawyer and Gering’s first notary public, started the post office 1887, becoming Gering’s first Postmaster. Union Pacific Railroad platted the town in 1887, but did not lay any track until 1910.
In November 1888, Scottsbluff county split from Cheyenne County, and Gering became the new county seat. The city of Scottsbluff was founded across the North Platte River from the bluff in 1899, by a subsidiary of the Burlington Railroad, and had a track and a makeshift depot by 1900.
Separated only by the river, the two cities have since grown together and now form the 7th largest urban area in Nebraska.
The pioneer graves include the “Dunn” grave, one of only seven marked burial sites along the Oregon Trail.
Towering 800 feet above the North Platte River, Scotts Bluff has served as a landmark for peoples from Native Americans to emigrants on the Oregon, California and Mormon Trails to modern travelers. Rich with geological and paleontological history as well as human history, there is much to discover while exploring the 3,000 acres of Scotts Bluff National Monument.
Find an Oregon Trail historical marker along with other treasures from the past. Legacy of the Plains Museum is a destination for people interested in stories of human and agricultural history in the North Platte Valley and High Plains. State-of-the-art, interactive exhibits focus on the archeology of Native Americans and Westward Expansion, the lives of pioneering settlers, this establishment of irrigation, the development of rural communities, the diversity of cultures on the High Plains, and the innovative technologies and cultural practices of raising animals and crops in a semi-arid environment
The Pony Express operated from April 1860 to November 1861, carrying mail by horseback on a 10-day, 1,966-mile relay between St. Joseph, Missouri, and Sacramento, California. The site originated as a Pony Express station and later served as a telegraph station and temporary garrison in 1865. In 1871, cattle rancher Mark M. Coad acquired the sod station. Later, Daughters of the American Revolution, Katahdin Chapter & American Pioneer Trails Association erected the marker.
National Register of Historic Places
The Gering Courier Building is a historic building in Gering, Nebraska. It was built in 1915 as the third headquarters of the Gering Courier. The building was designed in the Classical Revival style, “with symmetrical pedimented entrances flanked by pilasters and a parapeted roofline with a large classical cornice.” It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since October 15, 2004.
National Register of Historic Places
Robidoux Pass, is a gap passing through the Wildcat Hills. The gap was on the Great Platte River Road section of the historic Oregon or Emigrant Trail. The area was named for members of the Robideau family, who in the 1840s maintained a trading post east of the gap. Scotts Bluff blocked wagon travel along the south bank of the North Platte River, forcing early travelers to swing south and go through Robidoux Pass, a natural gateway in the great bluffs. The site was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1961.
National Register of Historic Places
The Scotts Bluff County Courthouse is a historic building in Gering, Nebraska, and the courthouse of Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska. It was built in 1920, and designed in the Classical Revival style, with “symmetric arrangement, monumental shapes, smooth surface finish, a relatively simple entablature, and colossal columns.” It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.
National Register of Historic Places
Signal Butte is a major prehistoric archaeological site. It was one of the first pre-contact Native American sites to be formally investigated in the central plains. Signal Butte was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1961. The site is not open to the public.
National Register of Historic Places
Severin Sorensen, a Danish immigrant, headed the firm of S. Sorensen and Sons, operators of the Gering Brick Company and general building contractors. The Severin Sorensen House, located in Gering, demonstrates the Sorensens’ approach to residential comfort and style, which was expressed through the family craft of brickmaking. The original house was built by the Sorensen family about 1910. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966.
Although there are many amazing events that take place in Gering, Nebraska each year, it is worth mentioning our crown jewel, Oregon Trail Days! Oregon Trail Days is the longest, continuous running celebration in Nebraska. In 1922, Gering started its annual Oregon Trail Days celebration that now takes place during the second week of July each year. Friends, families, visitors, Gering High School classmates, and the Old Settlers reunion all congregate in Gering for a weekend full of activities.
To mention only a few events, the weekend kicks off with the community barbecue on Thursday night. Friday morning is the Annual Kiddie Parade on 10th Street, with the International Food Fair in Downtown Gering Friday night. Saturday morning the community gathers for the annual Oregon Trail Days Parade. This is followed by the annual Chili-Cookoff in Oregon Trail Park, and a concert at Five Rocks Amphitheater on Saturday evening. As you can see, this is an exciting, family friendly weekend for all! But there is much much more going on!
