Into an uninviting wilderness of buffalo pasture and Indians came Pierre and Paul Mallet in June 1739 to explore the valley of the Platte as far west as the forks to what would become the bustling railroad town of North Platte.

Born in 1866 as the Union Pacific Railroad thrust its iron rails across the prairies, North Platte in its entire history has been closely associated with railroading and ranch country. Located at the southeastern corner of the Nebraska Sandhills, North Platte is truly the "Gateway to the Cattle Country."

By November 1866, track was completed to North Platte, but the work was brought to a standstill because of hostile Indian activity. Gen. Grenville M. Dodge, chief engineer of construction when the project was started, summarized the task: "During the e ntire construction of the road, a relentless, determined war has been waged all along the line by the tribes of the plain. Every mile had to be run within range of musket...some of our men were killed." With this insight into the struggle of westward expa nsion, all honor goes to the men who constructed the Union Pacific Railroad and braved danger and almost insurmountable difficulties to blaze the way for civilization.

With the completion of the Union Pacific Railroad to North Platte came a crowd of construction camp denizens, numbering close to 3,000, with no governing power. The North Platte of those days was a lively and picturesque place. Construction of the road was resumed by July 1867, and the camp moved west. The newspaper and the majority of the population of North Platte followed. Almost overnight, barely 150 people were left in the town, most of whom were employed by the railroad. In that same year, howeve r, the Union Pacific designated North Platte as a division point and built machine shops, a ten-stall roundhouse, and the Union Pacific Hotel.

By October 25, 1867, North Platte had so increased in population it was considered to be more suitable to be the county seat than Cottonwood Springs (located at one time seven miles from Ft. McPherson). On that same date, the county commissioners met a nd it was ordered that the Lincoln County Seat be moved. By 1874, North Platte had the population and standing to entitle it to municipal government; they applied for a charter and got it. Early in 1876, the courthouse was completed.

Trouble with the Indians had by no means subsided, and a commission was appointed to meet at North Platte on September 24, 1868, in the Union Pacific machine shop. Famous Indian chiefs -- Standing Elk, Swift Bear, Pawnee Killer, Spotted Tail, Man-That- Walks-Underground and Big Mouth arrived on the appointed day and a Treaty of Peace was entered upon.

North Platte was organized as a city on December 28, 1873. An early resident was the Honorable Col. William F. (Buffalo Bill) Cody who resided in North Platte for more than thirty years. On July 4, 1882, Cody staged a local celebration, the Old Glory B lowout, which turned out to be the world's first recorded rodeo.

In 1967, the centennial year for Nebraska, North Platte was named "Centennial City" of the state. This honor was awarded to North Platte at the same time the city won the Community Betterment Award given by the Nebraska Department of Economic Developme nt. In 1990, North Platte was awarded the status of an "Economic Development Certified Community" and in 1991 received "Government Services Certification" through the Nebraska Department of Economic Development.