Courthouse and Jail Rocks

Courthouse and Jail Rocks is a pair of sandstone formations rising from the flat Nebraska plains. The taller one once supported a courthouse structure, while the other housed a jail, with both buildings now gone from the landscape.

In the 1800s, these rocks served as practical locations for courthouse and jail buildings because they rose above the surrounding terrain. The structures vanished long ago, but the rocks remain as witnesses to this frontier past.

The rocks are easy to spot from the road and sit in open plains landscape. Visitors can view these formations from a distance and explore the surrounding area on foot.

These rocks served as one of the few available elevated structures in the flat frontier region, making them an unusual choice for public buildings. The fact that both buildings were constructed on rock formations shows how settlers had to be creative working with a sparse landscape.

Location: Nebraska

GPS coordinates: 41.59694,-103.11583

Latest update: December 15, 2025 13:27