Chadron, NE

[Coyote]

Bowring Ranch State Historical Park



The Bowring Ranch doubles as a current day working cattle ranch and a state historical park. The visitors center and ranch home preserve, interpret the settlement of Nebraska's sandhills and its livestock induustry.


Bowring Ranch brings old west to life

On our way home from Chadron State Park last July, my family and I took a slight detour to Bowring Ranch State Historical Park located a few miles north of Merriman. Since we were already in the area, we figured we should visit this ranch which we’d heard so much about. Besides, it was also a 2021 Nebraska Passport stop. The park’s official name is actually Arthur Bowring Sandhills Ranch State Historical Park. It was established to preserve the pioneer ranching legacy of Arthur Bowring and his wife, Eve.

In 1894, Arthur Bowring began ranching on 160-acres near Merriman. Eventually, he increased his land holdings and expanded his cattle herds to include Shorthorns and Herefords. He met Eve when her car broke down and he assisted her. They got married in 1928. Besides ranching, Arthur was involved in various local and state politics, serving as a judge, county commissioner, school board member, and state legislator. After Arthur passed in 1944, Eve continued running their Barr 99 Ranch. She also involved herself in public service, including an appointment as U.S. Senator, making her the first Nebraska woman to serve in Congress.

[Coyote]

Dawes County Historical Museum offers wide range of exhibits



CHADRON, Neb. (KOLN) - If you get a chance to visit the great community of Chadron, you might want to travel about three miles south of town to visit the Dawes County Historical Museum, and see all that it has to offer. Assistant curator Linda Rotness says the museum has a number of buildings for visitors to see. “The Card family donated this quarter section to the Dawes County Historical Society,” Rotness said. “We have room to expand. Right now, we have a log cabin, a barn that is built out of logs, and we have a school house with a merry-go-round that was made in Chadron. A lot of schools were used as churches, too. So, we have another school that stands as our example of a church. We have a blacksmith shop, and we have a big building that has 3,000 dolls in it. The other part of it features transportation exhibits.”

Rotness says they have a display of unique farm equipment that was built in Dawes County. A man named Marcus Cain built this equipment to suit his farming needs. “On one of the pieces, he has a roto-tiller in the front, a drill behind it, and then packer wheels, so that he could till, drill and pack all at one time,” Rotness said. “He had trouble with his plow cutting through stubble, so he made this big elaborate machine called a stubble cutter, but he never used it! He just decided to make a better plow.” Some of the other exhibits include a toy collection, and there is a display that puts the spotlight on the Chadron to Chicago horse race. “It was 1,000 miles in 1893,” Rotness said. “I don’t thing there’s ever been another horse race that long. Some of the things they incorporated are still used in long distance horse races.”

The museum hosts a “History in Action” day the last Sunday in September. “During this time, we have wagons pulled by teams, Model A car rides, corn shelling, apple pressing, kids games like jacks and marbles, and we give visitors a chance to run an old push mower,” Rotness said. “People show us how to quilt, tool leather, and many other things. In May, we have the 3rd grade kids come out and have a day of “Pioneer School”. We go to the schoolhouse, the kids write with a quill, use a slate, do a spelling bee, and they tour the museum.”

The museum opens May 1, and stays open through the end of September. During that time, the museum is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays and Holidays.

[Coyote]

Take a selfie at Chadron’s ‘Art Alley’



LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) - A unique public art project is drawing visitors to downtown Chadron, and it’s also giving a chance for local residents to connect. In a recent visit to Chadron, we talked with Kerri Rempp, who is the Northwest Nebraska Director of Tourism. “This Art Alley started in 2019,” Rempp said. “Our Chadron Chamber Director Gabby Michna is an artist, and she loves visiting art alleys and seeing murals. She got together with another group of artists and decided to do this here in town. Now we have 13 murals, mostly in the alley just to the west of main street. There are a few others spread out in other locations as well.”

“An effort is made each summer to add a couple of murals,” Rempp said. “They have two more planned this summer, possibly three. A call is made for artists to help, businesses donate their walls to be painted, and then painting weekends are held. An announcement is made to the public that we are going to paint a mural. It’s all community-based, and is all done by donations. The paint is donated, the artwork is donated by the artists, and the artists range from high school students to retirement age folks. It’s very much a community driven project.”

Rempp says the community embraced the concept of an Art Alley from the beginning. “I know there is a long list of businesses that want murals,” Rempp said. “It’s been a huge effort to get art incorporated, and to beautify the town. It’s another attraction where people can come and take selfies or photos while they are on vacation. It’s definitely been a boost to the community.” The Art Alley in Chadron was on the Nebraska Tourism Passport in 2021. If you would like to know more about the Art Alley, go to Discover Northwest Nebraska . There, you can learn about “Soul to Soul” walking tours. All of the murals are listed there, and you can get more information about them.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mi ... 89989&z=14

[thenewguy]

isn't there a road near chadron that goes through a tunnel up there? Up in the rocky terrain?

[Coyote]

Road trip to northwest Nebraska



CHADRON, Neb. (KOLN) - Dawes and Sioux counties are found in the 308 area code, and in the “308″, you’ll find many unique places that are worth seeing and experiencing. Kerri Rempp is the Northwest Nebraska Director of Tourism, and we talked with her recently about some of the highlights in her part of the state that people should see. “We are big on outdoor recreation,” Rempp said. “We have two state parks, we have eight wildlife management areas, we’ve got Toadstool Geologic Park, the National Forest Service and Grasslands. Hiking, biking, hunting, fishing, you know all of those outdoor recreation things are big here. The trails aren’t crowded. If you go to a lake or stream to fish, you are not going to find it overpopulated.”

Rempp points out that along with the outdoor recreation, northwest Nebraska is also at the forefront of frontier history. “We have native American and military history here,” Rempp said. “We have that particularly at Fort Robinson State Park. History buffs love to come out here, and dive deep into all of that.” The two state parks in the area are Fort Robinson, and Chadron State Park. “Chadron is the first state park in Nebraska,” Rempp said. “It turned 100 years old in 2021, as it was established in 1921. It has many activities. It is surrounded by National Forest Service land. There is hiking, biking and horseback riding there. They have one of the best disc golf courses in the state at the park. If you don’t want to do too much, you can always just set up the camper and kick back by the fire if that’s more your speed.”

In addition to the parks and the outdoors, there seems to be a budding arts scene. “We are applying for a Creative District designation through the Nebraska Arts Council,” Rempp said. “With Chadron State College, and all of the things going on with Art Alley and downtown, we are working to bring more attention to the art community that has been under the radar for a lot of the time. We have Post Playhouse at Fort Robinson, and that is summer stock theater. There are many cultural amenities in the area that have been hidden gems. We are trying to bring all of that to the forefront as well.”

If you’d like to learn more about what to see in Dawes and Sioux counties, go to Discover Northwest Nebraska

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C-Hill Celebrates 100 Years



C-Hill is a landmark at Chadron State College. The C was placed in 1924 and the hill has been a regular hiking journey for generations of Chadron State students. Learn more at Chadron State College