Please click on the images below to view more photos of Standing Bear Trail as it looks today. All photos courtesy William Locke of Hastings, NE.
Niobrara
Homeland
Ponca Homeland Sign
Niobrara State Park
Niobrara State Park Confluence of Missouri and Niobrara
Niobrara State Park
Niobrara State Park Closer View of Confluence – White Cliffs in Distance.
Latter Day Saint Marker
Latter Day Saint Marker (intersection between Latter Day Saints & Ponca)
Ponca Tannery
Ponca Tannery – South of Hwy 12 on Gravel Road
Powwow Grounds
Powwow Grounds – South of Hwy 12 on Gravel Road
Powwow Grounds
Close up of Powwow Grounds – South of Hwy 12 on Gravel Road
Cemetery
Cemetery
Cemetery
Cemetery (Large White Cross)
Cemetery View
Cemetery View to Niobrara Valley
Buffalo Pasture
Buffalo Pasture – West of Cemetery
Buffalo Pasture
Buffalo Pasture – West of Cemetery
Niobrara State Park
Flooding on Hwy 12 west of town of Niobrara / Vicinity of Fish Smell Village, 5 miles east of Verdel
Niobrara State Park
View of Missouri River in flood
Niobrara State Park
Missouri River View (bicycle, interpretive sign)
Niobrara State Park
Floodwaters north of Niobrara High School
Niobrara State Park
Niobrara High School Sandbagged
Niobrara State Park
Moonrise over Niobrara River, view to east from Niobrara State Park
Niobrara State Park
Moonrise over Niobrara River, view to east from Niobrara State Park
Niobrara State Park
Moonrise over Niobrara River, view to east from Niobrara State Park
Niobrara State Park
Moonrise over Niobrara River, view to east from Niobrara State Park
Niobrara State Park
Moonrise over Niobrara River, view to east from Niobrara State Park
Niobrara State Park
Moonrise over Niobrara River, view to east from Niobrara State Park
Niobrara State Park
Moonrise over Niobrara River, view to east from Niobrara State Park
Niobrara State Park
Moonrise over Niobrara River, view to east from Niobrara State Park
White Cliffs
Old Railroad Grade (hiker/biker trail) view west over Niobrara River. View of White Cliffs
Trail
Hiker/Biker trail – view east of confluence of Missouri/Niobrara
Trail
Hiker/Biker trail and flood waters
Ponca Creek
View to S.W. across Ponca Creek Valley East of Verdel Hwy 12
Hwy 12 Bluffs
View to Southwest from Hwy 12 – bluffs (hills on right horizon—possibly excavations)
Verdigre-Creighton
Wildwood
Views Verdigre town park called “Wildwood”. Burr Oak grove. Some of the Burr Oaks were likely here when tribe camped (May 20)
Wildwood
Views Verdigre town park called “Wildwood”. Burr Oak grove. Some of the Burr Oaks were likely here when tribe camped (May 20)
Wildwood
Views Verdigre town park called “Wildwood”. Burr Oak grove. Some of the Burr Oaks were likely here when tribe camped (May 20)
Wildwood
Views Verdigre town park called “Wildwood”. Burr Oak grove. Some of the Burr Oaks were likely here when tribe camped (May 20)
Wildwood
Views Verdigre town park called “Wildwood”. Burr Oak grove. Some of the Burr Oaks were likely here when tribe camped (May 20)
Hwy 14
View to south from shoulder of Hwy 14. Tribe did not go straight south to Neligh. Why? 1) Steep hill ahead – hand pull for wagon teams? 2) No water on this road to Neligh? 3) No good camp site
Verdigre Bridge
7 mi south of Niobrara (town) on Hwy 14. East side of Verdigre Bridge. Hwy 14 at this point is on old wagon road that the tribe followed
Verdigre Creek
View is to north on Verdigre Creek from bridge at Verdigre (town)
Creighton
So angled southeast to Creighton—good water at Creighton (Bazile Creek) and probably followed near railroad grade which gently links side creek to Creighton.
Creighton
So angled southeast to Creighton—good water at Creighton (Bazile Creek) and probably followed near railroad grade which gently links side creek to Creighton.
Old Railroad
Blacktop is on old railroad grade or beside
Council Hill
View south to “Council Hill” on left side of gravel road. How did they go from Creighton to Neligh—diagonal southwest cross country? Easy ground although sandy in places.
Neligh
Ponca Trail of Tears
Nebraska Historical Marker Ponca Trail of Tears – White Buffalo Girl Cemetery northeast of Neligh
White Buffalo Grave
White Buffalo Girl Gravestone
White Buffalo Grave
White Buffalo Girl Gravestone Closeup
White Buffalo Grave
White Buffalo Girl Gravestone Closeup
Elkhorn Valley
View of grave and south to Elkhorn Valley
Cemetary
Lane in Cemetery
Shell Creek – Northwest of Columbus
Platte Center
Approximately 3 miles Northwest of Platte Center – view is southeast from county gravel to shell creek and possible changed of May 28
Platte Center
Approximately 3 miles Northwest of Platte Center – view is southeast from county gravel to shell creek and possible changed of May 28
Platte Center
Approximately 3 miles Northwest of Platte Center – view is southeast from county gravel to shell creek and possible changed of May 28
Lowlands Southwest of Columbus
Lowlands Southwest of Columbus. The land between the Loup and Platte. View is East Northeast on Hwy 30 (note need to get photo further east right at confluence. I’ve been told this is an historic indian campground)
Shell Creek
Shell Creek 1.5 miles south of Platte Center. Tribe would have crossed Shell Creek near this point on their way to Columbus
Shell Creek Valley
.5 South of Platte Center—view is south toward Shell Creek Valley
Loup Fork Ferry
Loup Fork Ferry Marker in Columbus City Park near north bank of Loup River & east of Hwy 81—Tribe would have crossed bridge over Loup near this point
Shell Creek Valley
Shell Creek Valley 1 mile south of Platte Center. View to Southeast
Wilkinson Wetlands
Wilkinson wetlands near Shell Creek South of Platte Center 1.5 miles
Milford
Potter’s Field
Princess Prairie Flower Monument, Mt. Pleasant Cemetery .5 miles North of I-80 on Matzge Hwy .5 west on gravel
Potter’s Field
Princess Prairie Flower Monument, Mt. Pleasant Cemetery .5 miles North of I-80 on Matzge Hwy .5 west on gravel
Mount Pleasant
Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, large sign
United Church of Christ Church
1874 (set) United Church of Christ Church and Cemetery. 6 miles South of Milford. Tribe would have passed near this site if they were still traveling on west side of Blue.
East Seal Camp
Site of Former East Seal Camp .5 miles north of Milford on West Side of Blue River. Tribe could have camped in this area on June 6th if they were still traveling on west side of the Blue River.
Beatrice to Barneston
Holmesville
Railroad grade serves Holmesville area—eventually will be a hike bike trail connecting at Kansas border with Blue River
Holmesville
Railroad grade serves Holmesville area—eventually will be a hike bike trail connecting at Kansas border with Blue River
Marysville, Kansas
Trail that goes north of Marysville, Kansas
Marysville Trail
Trail that goes north of Marysville, Kansas
Wolf Creek
Tribe crossed this on improvised driftwood bridge 6 miles Northeast of Barneston (site of Otoe Agency)
Otoe Agency Building
Otoe Agency Building
Otoe Agency Building
Otoe Agency Building
Marysville
Blue River Trail
Current trail head of Blue River Hike/Bike trail (north side of Marysville, Kansas)
Rocky Run Creek
Restored covered bridge on “21 miles north of Marysville
Big Blue River
View of Big Blue River from Hike/Bike Trail approximately 2.5 miles north of Marysville
Marshall County Sign
Ponca tribe crossed several historic trails
Council Grove
Welcome Sign
Santa Fe Trail
Santa Fe Trail swale 3 miles west of Council Grove. Tribe would have crossed Santa Fe Trail east of town.
Kaw Agency Store Marker
View is north to Kaw Agency Store Marker (right horizon). To the left is Little John Creek Valley joining Neosho River Valley in foreground. Tribe 6/27/1877 along Little John Creek near just west of the Kaw Agency
Little John Creek
Treeline is Little John Creek View is to the northwest from County Road. Tribes 6/27/1877 camp would have been strung out along this creek close to the Kaw agency
Kaw Agency Marker
View is northeast from County gravel road. Location is just a few hundred yards from Flint Hills Nature Trail. The area to the north of the monument has an extensive system of Hiking Trails
Flint Hills
View is north from Flint Hills Nature Trail and is a typical Flint Hills view (just east of Kaw agency)
Flint Hills Nature Trail
View is north from Flint Hills Nature Trail and is a typical Flint Hills view (just east of Kaw agency)