Name: Offutt Air Force Base
Brand: Ben Justman of the Sarpy County Museum
SKU: 9781467112710
Price: 18.74 USD
Availability: InStock

Offutt Air Force Base

9781467112710

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

The year is 1888, and Pres. Grover Cleveland has just signed into law a bill that will lead to the establishment of Fort Crook. In 1948, that Army post gained a new name: Offutt Air Force Base. The history of Offutt Air Force Base is truly unlike that of any other military installation. In the face of adversity, it has overcome challenges during the United States' rise to global prominence, was active during the golden age of flight, and served as a wartime bomber plant. The base remained ever vigilant during the Cold War and continues to do so as a combatant of 21st-century threats. Its remarkable existence of nearly 125 years can serve as a road map of US history. Today, the 55th Wing serves as the host unit for Offutt Air Force Base; its motto, "Videmus Omnia" ("We See All"), can also be applied to the saga of the base.

The Nebraska Winter of 1948-49

9781467154239

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In 1948-49, Nebraska experienced a winter like never before. Brutal cold, unbearable winds and record snowfall made roads impassable and life difficult for locals. Farmers and ranchers struggled with hunger due to a dwindling supply of coal and food. The governor requested federal aid, and the U.S. Air Force dropped bales of hay into pastures for animals. Many locals perished in the weather, and icy roads forced the state to redesign and rebuild highways. Author Barry Seegebarth details the tragedy and courage of the Nebraska winter of 1948.

The Canteen

9781467197076

$16.99 $12.74 Save 25%

With historical photos and impeccable storytelling, this extraordinary book chronicles an astonishing moment in American history. Starting Christmas Day, 1941, when transport trains on the Union Pacific Railroad stopped in North Platte to refill their water tanks, the local families of North Platte, Nebraska, came together to provide love, support, food, and morale to young soldiers involved in World War II--black and white--who briefly passed through their town. Troops poured into the North Platte Depot, "The Canteen," to find homecooked meals, birthday cakes, hot coffee, cold milk, magazines, postcards, and the warmth of a grateful and loving community. The stops lasted only ten minutes, but the people of North Platte made sure that everyone in their midst was taken care of. This remarkable story will inspire readers of all ages, as The Canteen nourishes all who have the privilege to visit.

History Lover's Guide to Lincoln, A

9781467144452

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Dramatic change accompanied Lincoln’s growth from a village of 30 settlers to a city of 300,000. Today, Lincoln retains the residue of its fascinating past for those who know where to look. Tour Lincoln’s storied heritage by charting the arrival of the university, penitentiary, asylum and railroads. Learn how the early churches still anchor the community. Discover the five towns that later merged into Lincoln. Visualize the artwork that best reflects Lincoln—both the person and city. Locate where Lindbergh learned to fly. Revisit the downtown Lincoln scene of what was once the largest bank robbery in the United States. Picture the once thriving Capitol Beach Amusement Park. Explore Nebraska’s capital city in the expert company of Gretchen M. Garrison.

Cover image for History Lover's Guide to Lincoln, A, isbn: 9781467144452

History Lover's Guide to Omaha, A

9781467148450

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In Omaha, an evening stroll can provide passage into a fascinating past. Travel from a madam's elaborate grave in North Omaha to the site of the first U.S. airmail flight in Aksarben. Chase down the echoes of a Duke Ellington performance at the Dreamland Ballroom in the Jewell Building. Stow away on a tour that treats the whole city like a museum. Colorful street murals and Gilded Age mansions stand in as exhibits alongside the more traditional offerings of state markers and archival collections. Gain fresh appreciation for familiar landscapes and famous landmarks as Eileen Wirth and Carol McCabe move through Omaha neighborhood by neighborhood.

Lincoln

9781467108188

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The village of Lancaster became the state of Nebraska's first capital city in 1867, renamed Lincoln. Not everyone predicted its success. One early observer noted: "There are no roads leading to it now. It has no commerce and there is scarcely a wagon load of produce raised annually within ten, perhaps twenty miles of it." These postcards from the authors' collections tell a different story in 200-plus images of a city that not only survived but thrived. Most of these images are from postcards' heyday in the first quarter of the 20th century. Many show buildings and places still recognizable a century later, while some depict less familiar scenes now lost.

The 1931 Hastings Bank Job & the Bloody Bandit Trail

9781609497965

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In February 1931, Mr. & Mrs. Robert Hendricks" and three others tied up fourteen employees at the Hastings National Bank and walked away with over $27,000 from the vault. They then returned home to plan a robbery of the First National Bank for the following day. Even though police quickly surrounded the house, the robbers managed to capture all eleven officers on the scene and make a getaway. Retired police lieutenant and historian Monty McCord recounts the crime and the grisly aftermath in the first account of the heist ever to be published."

The 1931 Hastings Bank Job & the Bloody Bandit Trail

Nebraska's Missing Public Enemy

9781467143127

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In 1934, a band of desperadoes known as the Ghost Gang terrorized bankers across the state of Nebraska with a series of daring robberies. A posse of lawmen traced the gang to a Gage County ghost town, and the hideout was raided on a cold November night. One by one, all the members of the gang faced prison or death, until only Maurice Denning remained at large. Denning, the son of a respectable farm family, had drifted into bootlegging and, ultimately, bank robbery. For ten years, he was at the top of the FBI's list of Public Enemies, but incredibly, he was never found. Although rumors about his whereabouts swirled for decades, his final fate remains a mystery. In this book, writer and researcher Brian James Beerman brings the fascinating true story of the most wanted man in Nebraska back to light and recounts the circumstances surrounding his mysterious disappearance.

History of Nebraska Agriculture, A

9781467136495

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Once known as the "Great American Desert," Nebraska's plains and native grasslands today make it a domestic leader in producing food, feed and fuel. From Omaha to Ogallala, Nebraska's founding farmers, ranchers and agribusiness leaders endured hardships while fostering kinships that have lasted generations. While many continued on the trails leading west, others from around the world stayed, seeking a home and land to cultivate. American Doorstop Project co-founders and authors Jody L. Lamp and Melody Dobson celebrate the state's forgotten and untold agricultural history, highlighting more than a century and a half of agriculture industry, inventions and innovations in the Cornhusker State.

Gering, Scottsbluff, and Terrytown

9780738560748

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The twin cities of Gering and Scottsbluff are located in the west Nebraska panhandle, just a stone's throw from the Wyoming border and separated by the North Platte River. Gering was established three miles south of the river in 1887 and became a thriving center of commerce. Gering founders gambled that the Union Pacific Railroad would build its track through town, but it was the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad that arrived first and laid track on the north side of the river in 1900, prompting rapid growth in Scottsbluff. Some Gering residents moved their homes and businesses to the newer community, but others remained steadfast in their belief that the Union Pacific would soon arrive. The Union Pacific track did not reach Gering until 1911, giving Scottsbluff the advantage of years of railroad-spurred growth. Fast-forward to 1948, when latecomer Terrytown was incorporated on the south bank of the river, sandwiched between the two older, larger cities. United by a bridge and undistinguishable municipal boundaries, the three cities retain their separate identities.

Nebraska Cornhusker Football

9780738534374

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When Matt Davison made a diving catch on the famous "flea-flicker" play against Missouri in 1997, securing Nebraska's perfect season, the Husker faithful were in football nirvana. And that memorable play was preceded by over a century of Nebraska Football greatness. The team was winning conference championships back in the 1890s, and was an established national powerhouse by the time they joined the Big Eight (later Big Twelve) in 1928. Even the mediocre years brought excitement, such as the stunning 25-21 upset of the "unbeatable" Sooners in 1959. Five National Championships (1970, '71, '94, '95, and '97) under the coaching of Bob Devaney and Tom Osborne, when the Huskers won at least 9 games per season for over 30 straight years, is an accomplishment of which most collegiate football programs can only dream.

Wicked Omaha

9781467137317

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In old Omaha, the scent of opium wafted through saloon doors, while prostitutes openly solicited customers. When the St. Elmo theater ran short of the usual entertainment, the residents could always fall back on robbing strangers. Tenants of the Burnt District squirmed under the extorting thumb of a furniture dealer dubbed the Man-Landlady. The games of chance and confidence and outright municipal graft all played a part in a wicked city where gambler Tom Dennison ran politics and Madam Anna Wilson drove philanthropy. Join Ryan Roenfeld for a stroll along the seamier side of Omaha's past.

Historic Railroads of Nebraska

9780738520353

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The advance of Union Pacific Railroad tracklayers across Nebraska was part of America's great adventure of the 19th century. It marked the beginning of the era of the "iron horse" in Nebraska-a time when the whistle of an approaching train became synonymous with prosperity and contact with the outside world. Historic Railroads of Nebraska takes a photographic journey down the tracks of the five major railroads and various short lines that helped Nebraska progress into a national center of agriculture and business. The trip begins with the formative years of Nebraska towns that were established along railroad lines in the 19th century. It then travels through the 20th century and documents the major changes and challenges that the railroad industry faced. Through over 200 photographs, this book chronicles the era of streamlined passenger trains, rustic steam locomotives, and a bustling Omaha Union Station. The journey makes stops at railroad landmarks, significant cities, the state's only railroad tunnel, and the legendary North Platte Canteen.

Cover image for Historic Railroads of Nebraska, isbn: 9780738520353

Joslyn Castle

9781467107976

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In the spring of 1893, media titans George and Sarah Joslyn bought a farm in Omaha, Nebraska, that would prove to be one of the city's most noteworthy real estate transfers. On this land, the Joslyns would construct a transformational home that would become an Omaha landmark known as Joslyn Castle, a Scottish baronial-style home built of limestone from neighboring Kansas. They chose their good friend, Canadian-born architect John McDonald, to design the residence, and he did so in grand style. Over the years, the Joslyn Castle has survived a devastating tornado, served as a home base for the administrative staff of the Omaha Public Schools, and charmed thousands of visitors who have come to tour the grounds. It stands today as a reminder of a bygone era and the dream of the Joslyns, who shared their home--and their wealth--with the city they loved so much.

North Platte

9780738519883

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Situated at the junction of the North Platte and South Platte rivers, North Platte has a long history as an important stopping point in the westward migration of from the days of the California gold rush to the building of the transcontinental railroad and beyond. The Oregon Trail to the gold rush followed the South Platte River, and the Mormon Trail followed the North Platte River. In 1866 the building of the Union Pacific railroad stopped at North Platte for the winter. The railroad brought the town of North Platte to life. In 1869 the Union Pacific built a huge depot and hotel which stood until destroyed by fire in 1915. It entertained many famous visitors including William F. Cody, George Armstrong Custer, Bat Masterson, and Teddy Roosevelt. Since the 1920s North Platte has grown considerably, helped by the transcontinental Lincoln Highway which still runs through town. North Platte also had the first lighted runway in the United States, used for the air mail planes of the 1920s.

Lost Restaurants of Lincoln, Nebraska

9781467139496

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Home to the beloved Miller & Paine cinnamon rolls, Lincoln boasts a restaurant history rich with delicious food and unique stories. Tony & Luigi's, once considered the city's premier restaurant, grossed just $6.50 on its opening day in 1945. Legendary Nebraska football coach and athletic director Bob Devaney made the Legionnaire Club his home away from home. Paramount Pictures chose K's Restaurant to film scenes for the Academy Award-winning Terms of Endearment because of its Norman Rockwell-like atmosphere, and touring musicians didn't realize that the Drumstick was named for a fried chicken leg until after arriving to perform. Author and longtime Lincoln Journal Star restaurant critic Jeff Korbelik remembers the Star City's most memorable eateries.

Kearney

9780738541280

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Kearney is situated in the Platte River valley in south-central Nebraska. The Platte River has always been an important route across the Great Plains. Native American tribes such as the Pawnee followed the river to their western hunting grounds. Soldiers at nearby Fort Kearny guarded the Oregon and Mormon Trails while the Pony Express skirted through the county. The Union Pacific Railroad pushed through the region in 1866, and when the Burlington Railroad reached the area in 1871, Kearney (originally Kearney Junction) was born. By the early 1900s, the automobile began to make its mark. The Lincoln Highway, the nation's first paved transcontinental highway, traveled through the heart of town. Today Kearney sits on Interstate 80, and the Archway Monument, a museum that celebrates the region's transportation history, spans the thoroughfare.

Nebraska Courthouses

9780738519678

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County courthouses stand at the center of Nebraska local government. Their authority in the state extends over hundreds of square miles with county populations ranging from less than a thousand to nearly half a million. The activities taking place within these buildings range from storing vital statistics, such as birth and death certificates, to hosting the trials of common criminals and not-so-common "crimes of the century." Using over 235 photographs, Nebraska Courthouses vividly describes the architectural and political evolution of the courthouse. Often in the early years of Nebraska statehood war nearly broke out in these courthouses as county formation saw spirited battles to become the county seat. Today, the courthouse remains the center of community pride, anchoring the downtown of each county seat. Courthouses contain the offices of elected officials and county staff. In this volume you will see the places where judges, lawyers, the County Attorney, social workers, librarians, janitors, and other individuals that make government work.

Alliance, Nebraska

9780738508313

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Once heralded as the "Queen City of the Plains,"
Alliance, Nebraska originated as a simple railroad
junction called Grand Lake. Founded on true pioneer
spirit in 1887, Alliance has grown from a farm and ranch
community into a major retail center for Box Butte County.
The Knight Museum showcases over 200 images in this new
book, depicting the history and growth of Alliance during its
113-year history.
Although there are many anonymous threads that make
up the social fabric of Alliance, readers will recognize the
more familiar faces of the Newberry family, Dr. Frank Knight,
Miss Susan Frazier, and Miss Katherine Schill. While some
landmarks are gone forever, such as the depot and the Coors
Building, many timeless photographs remain to guide the
reader down the main street of Alliance's rich history. From
the vintage image of the county courthouse to the beauty
of western Nebraska's largest park system, readers will get a
glimpse of the pioneering spirit that is still so abundant.

Lost Omaha

9781467119849

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The landmarks of Omaha's past reveal a history of industry, innovation and change. The Hotel Fontenelle, the Omaha Athletic Club and the Medical Arts Building disappeared in the wake of changes remaking downtown after World War II. Jobbers Canyon, a vital part of the city's wholesale district, was sacrificed to ConAgra's headquarters. Peony Park closed as suburban sprawl prevented its expansion, and changing leisure patterns took residents farther away for their amusement park experience. The stockyards finally closed in 1999, ending a long chapter in Omaha's history. Author and historian Janet R. Daly Bednarek charts the legacy of Omaha's lost history through its landmarks.

Seward County

9781467106009

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Many immigrants were moving through the prairie as early as the 1840s and 1850s, and the majority were using the trails located about 60 miles north of Seward County along the Platte River. This county's part of the prairie lay undisturbed and pristine until the late 1850s. In the tall grasses, the antelope, deer, and buffalo roamed freely along the Big Blue River and its tributary creeks and crystal-clear natural springs, which were previously only visited by Native Americans passing through. When people from the Eastern United States and Europe started to settle the prairie, it was a daunting undertaking.

Sarpy County

9781467146562

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The smallest of Nebraska's ninety-three counties, Sarpy County's history looms large. The area was home to Native Americans--including the Otoe, Omaha and Pawnee tribes. Hundreds of thousands of settlers moved through the area during westward migration, and they had to cross rivers on ferries like the one operated by the county's namesake, Peter Sarpy. The addition of Offutt Air Force Base and the Martin Bomber Plant made the county an important hub during World War II and beyond. Author, historian and museum director Ben Justman offers the rich history of Sarpy County.

Railroads of Omaha and Council Bluffs

9780738520421

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Well into the 20th century, the railroad industry implemented a series of great technological changes that revolutionized rail transit in America. The twin cities of Omaha and Council Bluffs, serving as Union Pacific headquarters and the nation's nucleus of continental train travel, witnessed the bulk of these changes. Through a collection of captivating photographs, Railroads of Omaha and Council Bluffs documents the transformations that took place in the railroad industry and the impact those changes made on these two cities, as well as the rest of the country. The creation of the "streamlined" passenger train, the transition from steam to diesel power, the golden years of Omaha's Union Station, and the revolution of railroad freight service through mergers and government deregulation are just some of the events explored in this fascinating book.

The Burlington Railroad: Alliance Division

9781467112970

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Alliance has been a railroad center ever since the Burlington Railroad established the city in 1888 while pushing tracks into the vast, open regions of Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, and Montana. As a hub for trains carrying a variety of agricultural and mining products to market, Alliance became headquarters in 1902 for the large and geographically diverse area of Burlington train operations called the Alliance Division. For 86 years, the Alliance Division controlled much of the region's rail traffic. Despite the loss of its division point status in 1988, Alliance continues to have its fortunes closely tied to the railroad, now known as the Burlington Northern & Santa Fe. Today, the BNSF funnels large numbers of coal trains through the city while transporting Power River Basin coal to power plants across the nation.

The Burlington Railroad: Alliance Division

Bellevue

9780738576510

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Bellevue received its French name, meaning "beautiful view," from fur trader Manuel Lisa as he stood high atop a hill, looking out at the scenic Missouri River Valley before him, or so the legend goes. Two hundred years after Lisa's proclamation, Bellevue has grown to become a sprawling metropolis proudly recognized as the third largest city in Nebraska. However, the story could have ended long before this. Bellevue was originally supposed to serve as an important railroad thoroughfare and as the first capital of the Nebraska Territory. Neither of these ultimately happened. Yet, Bellevue has persevered onwards and upwards. From its origins as little more than a trading post for westward travelers and Native Americans, to serving as the headquarters for the former Strategic Air Command at the onset of the modern jet age, Bellevue has taken a remarkable journey.

Kearney's Historic Homes

9781467110143

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The city of Kearney was founded in 1871 under the name Kearney Junction. Rev. D.N. Smith and Moses S. Sydenham were tasked with the job of choosing a townsite. In 1873, after much debate, the small railroad stop was named Kearney. Over the years, the town continued to grow; it really began to boom in 1886, when the Frank family completed construction on an electric power plant, ushering in an unprecedented era of construction and business in the small town. By 1889, over 700 homes had been built in the area. The allure of commerce and real estate drew many investors from the East to Kearney, where they developed neighborhoods filled with impressive mansions. Today, these homes stand as landmarks and testimonies to the historic figures who built Kearney from the ground up.

Fort Robinson

9780738551180

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Established in northwestern Nebraska in 1874, Fort Robinson served as a military post for nearly 75 years, playing a critical role in the settlement of the West. From here, soldiers marched out to participate in the Great Sioux War of 1876-1877. The famous Oglala leader Crazy Horse was killed at the post. In 1878, Dull Knife's band of Northern Cheyenne attempted to escape the post, resulting in more than 64 deaths. Troops from Fort Robinson were also sent to the Pine Ridge Agency during the Ghost Dance fervor in 1890, the last of the armed conflicts with the Lakota. The arrival of the railroad at Fort Robinson initiated a new role for the post in the 20th century. Between 1885 and 1907, Fort Robinson was home to the 9th and 10th Cavalry, the famous buffalo soldiers. In 1919, Fort Robinson became a remount depot where horses and mules were purchased and conditioned for issue to the army. During World War II, Fort Robinson included a German POW internment camp and the site of the army's largest war dog reception and training center. The fort closed in 1948 and was made a state park in 1972.

Colfax County

9781467111966

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Colfax County is unique with having two towns within its boundaries, Schuyler and Clarkson, plus four villages: Leigh, Howells, Richland, and Rogers. A number of farm precincts were once bustling communities, including Dublin, Heun, Maple Creek, Midland, Shell Creek, Tabor, and Wilson; now, most have only a church and/or cemetery to denote their sites. Schuyler is the county seat and can boast of having the first electric plant, water plant, and telephone exchange in the state. The Morman Trail, Oregon Trail, and Military Trail followed the banks of the Platte River and were utilized by troops and immigrants. Cattle herds from the Chisholm Trail were shipped from the Schuyler rail yards to markets in the East.

Jewish Life in Omaha and Lincoln

9780738519272

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Jewish history and culture is rich in the State of Nebraska. By the early 20th century there was a Jewish presence in over 30 Nebraska towns, some dating back to the 1850s. Today, the great majority of Jews live in Omaha, with a smaller community in the capital city of Lincoln. Synagogues, temples, community centers, and cemeteries mark the landscape.

In the pages of Jewish Life in Omaha and Lincoln: A Photographic History, peoples' lives, events, neighborhoods, and institutions that helped shape and transform today's Jewish community are brought to life. This vibrant tapestry is captured in images ranging from a mid-19th century stereopticon to a recent aerial photograph. The over 230 images, culled from the collection of the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society, focus on immigration patterns that brought Jews into the region, from the opening of the West, to the Holocaust, to the arrival of Soviet Jews. Other images look at the changing face of synagogues and religious practices in the Midlands. Jewish-founded businesses that are mentioned in this book are landmarks in Omaha and throughout the Midwest, from the Nebraska Furniture Mart to Omaha Steaks International.

Boys Town

9780738508276

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Boys Town: The Constant Spirit maps the remarkable journey of a tiny youth refuge, Father Flanagan's Boys' Home, from its humble beginnings in December 1917 to its role as a leading national force in youth care by the end of the century. Compiling over 200 photographs from the Boys Town archives, author James R. Ivey recreates the history of the ideas, successes, and triumphs of Father Flanagan and his boys.

In 1917, Father Edward J. Flanagan, a Roman Catholic priest and Irish immigrant, borrowed $90 from a friend to open a home for wayward boys in downtown Omaha. The first five boys he took off the streets moved in just after Thanksgiving of that year, and a legacy was born. Featured here in vintage photographs are the first house at 25th and Dodge Streets, the move to the spacious Overlook Farm, the road to Hollywood, and Father Flanagan's rarely noted assistance to Japanese Americans during World War II.

Nebraska Sweet Beets

9781467144278

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Sugar beets are as tenaciously rooted in Nebraska's history as they are in its soil, especially in a seventy-mile stretch of the North Platte Valley that extended into eastern Wyoming. The state's first processing facility opened in Grand Island in 1890, boasting the largest mill in the world. The height of the beet boom occurred in the early part of the twentieth century as Wyobraskan towns courted factory locations as feverishly as rival sugar companies competed for territory, and an irrigation network turned the region into America's Valley of the Nile. Some rail lines have disappeared from the map, while catastrophes like the Scottsbluff and Bayard sugar bin explosions and the Gering Molasses spill will never be forgotten. From neglected beet dumps and abandoned rail spurs to silos ready for future harvests, explore Sugar Valley's heritage with Lawrence Gibbs.

Norfolk, Nebraska

9780738507767

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Founded in 1866 by German immigrants, Norfolk, Nebraska grew up along the banks of the North Fork of the Elkhorn River. The original 250 settlers founded Madison County's first church and school, and from these humble beginnings grew a town that today is the jewel in the crown of northeast Nebraska and the state's third largest retail area. Showcasing over 200 images, Sheryl Schmeckpeper traces the history of this community from its roots as a Native American campground, to a sleepy farming community, and finally to a bustling city. Although there are many anonymous people pictured here who contributed to the Norfolk of today, readers will
recognize the more familiar faces of Herman Gereke,
Dr. "Diamond Dick" Tanner, and Johnny Carson. Vividly
captured are the landmarks that are gone forever, such as the Granada Theater, the Sugar City Cereal Mill, and the old high school that burned down in 1907. Also included are never before published photographs of the flood of 1944, the blizzard of 1948, and the Chicago Lumber Company fire.

World War II Nebraska

9781467139090

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The fight against the Axis required sacrifice and dedication, and Nebraskans proudly answered the call. Three ordnance plants and two naval munitions depots brought employment and economic opportunities but also housing shortages and racial disturbances. The U.S. Army Air Corps established eleven air bases here, leading to community engagement through USOs and war bond drives. In central Nebraska, the North Platte Canteen welcomed thousands of service members en route to war on troop trains. Henry Doorly's successful scrap campaign became a model for a nationwide operation. Local farmers fed the nation, K-9 war dogs trained at Fort Robinson and native sons Ben Kuroki and Andrew Higgins affected the war in very different ways. Through detailed archival research, author Melissa Amateis tells the remarkable story of the Cornhusker State's homefront.

A Culinary History of the Nebraska Sand Hills

9781626195561

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Spanning nineteen thousand square miles of central Nebraska, the Sand Hills--North America's largest sand dune--is held in place by only a thin, sturdy layer of native prairie grasses and continuing faith that the land can be made prosperous by its residents. Settlers in the area had to be hardy and resourceful, making use of what the land provided and holding fast when their hard work blew away with the prairie winds. From foraging to ranching, food meant survival, but it also meant community. Staples like fried chicken, biscuits, fruit pies, preserves and cakes all play a role in the fascinating story of the region. Join food writer Christianna Reinhardt as she dishes up the unique and tasty history of this exceptional part of the world.

A Culinary History of the Nebraska Sand Hills

Around Bennington

9781467106245

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The area around Bennington played an important role in the westward expansion of the United States. The Missouri and Platte Rivers were important travel corridors for indigenous peoples, early explorers, trappers, and pioneers. Railroads revolutionized travel and led to the creation of hundreds of small villages along the rail lines; Bennington, founded in 1887, was one of these villages. The arrival of the automobile and better roads decreased the dependency on rail service. By 1975, the rail line that created Bennington had been abandoned. Bennington benefitted from upgraded roads and highways and from suburban sprawl. In the meantime, the Washington community declined, eventually closing its school and church.