Buffalo Bill Ranch facts for kids
|
Scout's Rest Ranch
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Nebraska
Location in the United States
|
|
| Nearest city | North Platte, Nebraska |
|---|---|
| Area | 25 acres (10 ha) |
| Built | 1886 |
| Architect | Walsh, Patrick |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| NRHP reference No. | 78001705, 100006250 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | January 30, 1978 |
| Designated NHL | January 13, 2021 |
Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park, also called Scout's Rest Ranch, is a special park in Nebraska. It's a "living history" park, meaning you can see what life was like long ago. This ranch was once owned by a famous person named William (Buffalo Bill) Cody.
Buffalo Bill bought the first part of this land in 1878. It was 160 acres near North Platte, Nebraska. Over time, his ranch grew to about 4,000 acres. He sold the ranch in 1911. Since 1964, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has taken care of it.
Today, the park is 25 acres. It became a historic place in 1978 and a National Historic Landmark in 2021. You can visit the park from April to October. You can explore the old house and other buildings. There's also a museum that tells the story of Buffalo Bill's life. He was a Pony Express rider and later famous for his Wild West shows.
Contents
Buffalo Bill's First Ranch
In 1877, Buffalo Bill Cody teamed up with Major Frank North. North was a leader of the Pawnee Scouts. Together, they started a cattle business called the Cody-North Partnership.
Major North found a good place for cattle to graze. It was along the Dismal River, about 65 miles north of North Platte. While Cody was busy with his "Buffalo Bill’s Wild West" show, North bought cattle. He hired cowboys to help run the ranch.
This ranch became very large, covering seven thousand acres. They grew a lot of crops like alfalfa and corn. The Omaha Bee newspaper even wrote about how well Cody's ranch was doing. They said it was one of the best farms in Nebraska. Cody and a neighbor built a 12-mile ditch to water their crops. This helped the ranch make money.
However, by the 1880s, more people were moving to Nebraska. They started taking over the grazing land. So, in 1882, the Cody-North Ranching Operation ended. John Bratt bought it.
Scout's Rest Ranch: Buffalo Bill's Home
Even while he had the Cody-North Ranch, Buffalo Bill started buying land near North Platte in 1878. His first purchase was 160 acres for $750. He eventually bought almost 4,000 acres next to North Platte.
The land was mostly treeless prairie. Cody wanted trees, like the ones he had in Kansas. His brother-in-law, Al Goodman, found out why trees weren't growing well. He then planted many cottonwood and box-elder trees. These trees could handle the local conditions. Soon, the ranch had many trees. This idea helped other people in North Platte plant trees too.
Buffalo Bill's wife, Louisa, and their daughters moved to North Platte in 1878. Cody hoped to retire at this ranch someday. He often invited family, friends, and even famous people to visit. Everyone enjoyed spending time with the cowboys.
The ranch grew with the help of the Goodmans, who managed it. They took care of special livestock and thoroughbred horses. By 1885, the ranch had large fields of corn, alfalfa, and oats. About 80 horses and 30 to 60 men worked on the ranch.
As the trees grew, the southern part of the ranch became a wooded park. It had deer, young buffaloes, and a big lake. This beautiful area was named “Scout’s Rest Ranch.” Cody even had the words “Scout’s Rest Ranch” painted on the roof of the large barn. People on the Union Pacific tracks, a mile away, could read it.
This ranch was very advanced for its time. Cody brought in special cattle and horses when that wasn't common. He changed the treeless prairie into a forested area. Even though the ranch did well, it cost a lot to run. So, Cody sold it in 1911 for $100,000.
The Ranch Today
The main house at the ranch was built in 1886. It has two stories and was made for Al and Julia Goodman. They were Cody's sister and brother-in-law, and they managed the ranch. Patrick Walsh built the house for $3,900.
In 1964, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission bought the house. They wanted to make Scout's Rest Ranch a State Historical Park. A local history group helped raise money for the purchase. They raised $37,500, and the Commission paid the rest. More money was spent to fix up the buildings and grounds. Since 1964, the park has been open to everyone.
Park Buildings and Features
The Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park covers 25 acres. It has four original buildings.
- The main house was built in 1886. It's in the Second Empire style. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
- There's a "cob house" where they stored corncobs. These were used to start fires in the house stoves.
- An ice house was also built in 1886. It kept ice cool for a long time.
- The original barn was built in 1887. It held the special horses and livestock. You can still see "Scout's Rest Ranch" painted on its roof.
The 2011 Flood
In the summer of 2011, the Platte River had a big flood. The park was closed, and exhibits were moved to safety. Walls were built around the buildings to protect them. The flood came close but didn't cause as much damage as people feared.
See also
In Spanish: Buffalo Bill Ranch para niños
