Location
c/o State Parks & Historic Sites HQ
307-777-6323 or
Site Facilities
Surrounding land privately owned; no public access. Gift to State by Davis Family.
Brief History
Because of a large island in the middle, emigrants traveling on the Overland Trail found this a good place to ford the often dangerous North Platte River. Remotely located in a natural desert of sagebrush and grasses, the area was frequented by Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute Indians long before the coming of the emigrants. A small cemetery is nearby, with the graves of eight emigrant men and women buried between 1863 - 1865. Also nearby is the site of Bennett's ferry, where twisted buffalo hides were used as cables to pull ferries across during periods of high water. Today the area is devoted to ranching.
The story goes that the very first jackalope was created by a Douglas taxidermist. But is that reality or myth? You see, if the first jackalope came from the inspiration of an animal stuffer, how come the animals have been known to sing harmony with cowboys riding the range? And why is there now an annual hunting season on the critters? Did they take on a real life after creation like Alice's friends in Wonderland? read more
Monument Plaque reads: "The Ames Monument. Left picture reads 1868 Work Train; right side picture is Town of Sherman. Completed in 1882 at a cost of $65,000, this monolithic, 60-foot read more
