Well, let's get the orthography out of the way for starters: the name of the fort in Nebraska is Kearny, while the name of the nearby city has one more "e" (Kearney). As you travel westward you'll see a spelling peculiarity again with Casper, Wyoming versus Fort Caspar. Anyway, the name is pronounced "carny" in either case.

Historic Fort Kearny

In 1846 Congress approved the construction of a series of forts to be built along the Oregon Trail. Fort Kearny, finished in 1848, was the first to offer protection and assistance to the emigrants. Later on it also served as a home station for the Pony Express, as well as a stage coach station. By the way, it was named in honor of General Stephen Watts Kearny who had been responsible for a previous and short-lived fort of the same name near Nebraska City.

So, did Fort Kearny become well known? You bet! Records kept by the War Department in 1849 indicate that 30,000 emigrants passed through it in an eighteen month period on their way to Oregon, the gold fields of California or Salt Lake City.

Today it is a wonderful State Historical Park several miles southeast of Kearny, Nebraska. It has a very nice interpretive center with excellent artifacts from the Oregon Trail days, a restored blacksmith's shop, a stockade, and beautiful grounds in which to picnic or relax. When we were there, a regiment of soldiers in period garb conducted military exercises with a very large and loud cannon. I also remember having a pleasant picnic lunch there in the shade of some gorgeous trees.

The fort has a fascinating history; for more details be sure to pick up brochures and pamphlets on it. (See the picture to the left). Some of these are free of charge, while others are available inexpensively at the bookstore in Fort Kearny's interpretive center. I like showing you these things from my collection, but want to make sure you know who deserves the credit for them. So click the [footnote] to get the full publishing details of the items displayed.

Museums Galore

Finally, if you're planning a trip here, let me mention that this is in the heart of Nebraska's "museum alley." Nearby in Grand Island is the world class Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer, and in Hastings is what I consider to be one of the finest natural history museums I've ever been to, the Hastings Museum of Natural and Cultural History (and it has a decent planetarium, too!). Incidentally, also close by is the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument, Crane Meadows Nature Center and the Harold Warp Pioneer Village. I haven't visited these latter three, so I don't know much about them — yet!

I get very tired of pea-brains telling me that Nebraska is dull; one visit to this neck of the woods should disabuse them of that erroneous notion! If you haven't figured it out yet, this is my favorite state to visit — the residents are friendly, the history surrounds you 360 degrees, and the geography is breathtaking once you get beyond the miasma of Interstate 80, Omaha and Lincoln.

• State
  • Fort Kearny State Recreation Area
    
  • Nebraska State Parks
  • State of Nebraska Travel and Tourism
  
  
• Municipal
  • City of Grand Island
  • City of Hastings
  • City of Kearney
  
  
• Other Interesting Sites
  • Crane Meadows Nature Center
  • Great Platte River Road Archway Monument
  • Harold Warp Pioneer Village
  • Hastings Museum of Natural and Cultural History
  • Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer