NEBRASKAland Magazine is dedicated to outstanding photography and informative writing with an engaging mix of articles and photos highlighting Nebraska’s outdoor activities, parklands, wildlife, history and people.
Issue link: http://mag.outdoornebraska.gov/i/846037
26 NEBRASKAland • JULY 2017 t does not take long for a visitor of Fort Robinson State Park to fall in love with the place. Even the locals seem never to become weary of spending time at northwestern Nebraska's flagship attraction, with activities as diverse as its expansive, beautiful landscape. One observation penned by a newspaper editor surely had it right: "No visitor or tourist in that vicinity neglects the opportunity of viewing and enjoying an afternoon at the Fort. Filled with sights so interesting and history so thrilling that the same never grows old or tiresome to the most familiar." Such praise has become common enough for Fort Robinson that the editor's remark may seem trite. Extraordinary, though, is that the sentiments were written in 1907, 110 years ago and just a few decades after the U.S Cavalry first set up camp in this northwestern Nebraska setting. From the beginning, visitors have recognized Fort Robinson, with its pine-studded buttes rising above sweeping grasslands at the confluence of two coldwater streams, as a special place. As time goes on, those attributes seem only to gain value. Throughout almost all of Nebraska's 150 years of statehood, Fort Robinson has been making history, compiling a story as rich as that of any other Nebraska attraction. As Nebraska's largest state park, the fort continues to offer a wide range of experiences sure to be memorable for visitors of all ages and interests. While history remains a big part of the fort's appeal, much of its reputation now centers on fun. It has become the choice destination for families wanting to experience a vacation rich with horseback riding, swimming, camping, fishing, hiking, biking, hayrack rides, cookouts, floating the river, watching a Broadway show or just hanging out in a scenic place. Fort Robinson is always sure to impress. An Evolving Mission Fort Robinson State Park has its roots in the U.S. military, dating back to the 1870s and running up to the mid- 20th century. Historians regard it as one of the most significant destinations for reliving the days of the U.S. Cavalry, the Indian wars and Euro- American settlement of the West. Camp Robinson, as the military first named the outpost, was established t o fa E b at north I A mountain bluebird lands on a sunflower stalk near Cherry Creek Pond. Fort Robinson State Park abounds with birds and wildlife viewing opportunities.