Fort Kearny

Fort Kearny is a former military outpost in Kearney County, Nebraska, now preserved as a historic site along the north bank of the Platte River. The reconstructed buildings include a blacksmith shop, powder magazine, and soldiers' quarters that show how the compound looked during the great western migrations.

The outpost was founded in 1848 to protect settlers and traders on the main routes to Oregon, California, and Utah. It remained active until 1871, when the transcontinental railroad reduced the need for such frontier stations.

The outpost stood at a crossroads where settlers, traders, and soldiers gathered to resupply and exchange news before continuing west. Today, the reconstructed buildings show how people from different worlds met and moved on across the plains.

A visitor center offers exhibits about daily life on the frontier and the duties of the garrison. Guided tours take place in spring and summer, when the grounds are most accessible.

Each spring, thousands of sandhill cranes pass along the river and rest near the grounds. Visitors can watch this annual migration up close without leaving the site.