Lone Tree Monument

The Lone Tree Monument is a granite structure shaped like a tree trunk located in central Nebraska near Kearney. It stands at the spot where a natural tree once grew, serving as a landmark for travelers crossing the Great Plains.

The original cottonwood tree stood from 1833 until it disappeared in 1865, serving generations of people crossing the region. Its long presence made it a crucial reference point for those traveling the Mormon Trail and other main routes westward.

This monument marks a place where people crossing the plains stopped and gathered as they traveled through the region. The original tree served as a familiar meeting point for those moving through Nebraska.

The monument is located at an easily accessible spot near a road where visitors can stop and view the granite structure. A newer cottonwood tree planted beside the original site creates a living connection to what once stood there.

The original tree was remarkably large for its isolated location on the flat prairie landscape. Its size and solitary position made it visible to travelers from considerable distances across the seemingly endless grassland.