Fort Kearney Marker
subject: Wooden Post Marker
description: Original wooden road marker for Fort Kearney Crossing. The dates on the front are 1848, 1871. The marker was installed in 1910 and found years later. The dates on the front mark when the trail to Fort Kearney crossed the Platte River from 1848-1871 on the Overland-Oregon Trail, and there are visible bullet holes. Don received the marker as a birthday present c. 1996. It was found in the 1950s by amateur archaeologist Merwyn Henderson. This web article has a much more detailed history of the artifact: http://www.kearneyhub.com/news/local/history-buffs-solve--year-old-mystery/article_25afb46a-ebfc-11e0-9a0e-001cc4c002e0.html Don Dingman has this important information to include: There were three crossing points on the Platte River. All of these crossing points were, and still are, located in Buffalo County, Nebraska. There were two crossing points on the north side of the river, and one on the south side at the ferry crossing point on the Oregon Trail where this marker was placed. The Soldier's Free Homestead Association of Gibbon, Nebraska (a.k.a. the Old Settler's Association) was a Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) group of civil war soldiers. They first came to Buffalo County in 1871 on a train with the purpose of homesteading land there. In the following years, they would meet on the grounds of Fort Kearney for picnics and reunions (see attached PDF photos). In 1906, this group organized into the Fort Kearney National Park Association with the goal of having their beloved fort declared a national part. At that time they decided to have an annual three-day reunion and gain political support for their idea with their representatives in Washington D.C. The group wanted to place large, granite markers on the three crossing points and also honor General Carrington. Carrington had done a complete survey of the islands and the crossing route in 1866. He was still alive in 1910 and had planned to be at the reunion that same year. Sadly, his health was failing and he was u…
creator: Kearney, Nebraska
source: Don Dingman
source: Merwyn Henderson (1989)
date: 1848-1871
date: 1910
date: 06/20/2015
date: 1950s
contributor: April White
contributor: Dr. Thomas Kiffmeyer
rights: Don Dingman
rights: University of Nebraska at Kearney (Images)
relation: http://www.kearneyhub.com/news/local/history-buffs-solve--year-old-mystery/article_25afb46a-ebfc-11e0-9a0e-001cc4c002e0.html
relation: http://www.nebraskahistory.org/publish/markers/texts/old_ft_kearny_road.htm
relation: http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/39434712/
format: JPEG
format: Wooden Board
language: English
coverage: Kearney, Nebraska
coverage: Buffalo County, Nebraska
coverage: Platte River
coverage: Fort Kearney, Nebraska

Hand-drawn Map of Thayer County and Belvidere, Nebraska Area
subject: Hand-drawn Map from 19th Century Nebraska
description: Map of Thayer County and Belvidere, Nebraska from 1883. Framed and hand-drawn by Earl Philip Dill. Contains a numbered grid and included on map are trail markers (Oregon Trail), school, Government building, railroads, rivers/streams, etc. (see photograph). On the back is written: Earl Philip Dill 1883= 7-25-78 Belvidere, NE Thayer County
creator: Earl Philip Dill
source: Barbara Beechner
source: Earl Philip Dill
date: 06/20/2015
date: 1883
date: 7-25-78 (on back of map)
date: 1910 (date written on front of map, center)
contributor: April White
contributor: Dr. Thomas Kiffmeyer
rights: Barbara Beechner
rights: University of Nebraska at Kearney (Images)
relation: http://www.historicmapworks.com/Atlas/US/8107/Thayer+County+1900/
relation: http://nebraska.hometownlocator.com/ne/thayer/belvidere.cfm
format: JPEG
format: Hand-drawn map on paper with wooden frame
language: English
coverage: Belvidere, Nebraska
coverage: Thayer County, Nebraska

P & J Arnold Brown Derby Pottery Vitreous Stone Bottle
subject: 19th Century Brown Stoneware piece, Inkware Bottle
description: Full vitreous stoneware ink bottle from P & J Arnold of London, England. This was part of the Denby Pottery Company near Derby, England. Artifact's spout is broken and the lettering is worn, but upon further research the full label should read: Vitreous Stone Bottles J. Bourne & Son Patentees Denby Pottery Near Derby P & J Arnold London England
creator: Vitreous Stone Bottles—J. Bourne & Son—Patentees—Denby & Codnor Park Pottery—Near Derby—P. & J. Arnold, London
source: Barbara Beechner
date: 06/20/2015
contributor: April White
contributor: Dr. Thomas Kiffmeyer
rights: Barbara Beechner
rights: University of Nebraska at Kearney (Images)
relation: https://www.sar.org/News/Artifact-Unearthed-Site-New-Museum-Construction National Society, Sons of the American Revolution (Full Documentation and Photo Archive of Complete Object)
relation: History Harvest
format: JPEG
format: Brown Stoneware
language: English
coverage: Dobytown, Nebraska
coverage: London, England