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NORTH PLATTE

North Platte, NE is located where the North and South Platte Rivers join to form the Platte River to flow east across the Nebraska plains. As a source of important water, the emigrants had followed the Platte from near Kearney, then from here they followed the South Platte for about 60 miles west, then crossed it and headed up to the North Platte which they followed into Wyoming past Casper. The city of North Platte was not founded until 1873, but with its location along the Great Platte River Road, the spot was a stopping point for the Oregon Trail, Mormon Trail, Pony Express, Overland Trail, and the Union Pacific Railroad. The name "Platte," which means flat or shallow, came from French traders. O'Fallon's Bluff is a section of hills located about 19 miles west of North Platte along now I-80 and the South Platte River near Sutherland. Because the bluffs are so close to the river, early travelers were forced to traverse the bluffs above.

Non-Oregon Trail points of interest include Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park (home base for Buffalo Bill and his Wild West Show) north of town. Fort McPherson was establed in 1873 and is now a National Cemetery site about 12 miles east of North Platte off I-80.