Great Plains Collection (#8)

NEBRASKA: SETTLERS, 1892. A homesteader family in front of their sod house dugout on the South Loup River, Custer County, Nebraska. Photograph by Solomon D. Butcher, 1892

ARAPAHO MAN, 1898. Black Horse, a Southern Arapaho Native American man. Photographed by Frank A. Rinehart, 1898

CROW SCOUT, 1883. Curley, a Crow Native American scout. Photographed by F. Jay Haynes, 1883

KANSAS-NEBRASKA MAP, 1854. Detail of a map of the United States showing the Kansas and Nebraska territories as they appeared following passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854

NATIVE AMERICAN WAR CLUBS. Various war clubs of Native American tribes of the western United States, ranging from 32 (top) to 20 (bottom) inches in length

Building the transcontinental railroad
Immigrants and other workers laying track for the transcontinental railroad across Nebraska, 1860s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Transcontinental railroad workers attacked by Native Americans
Cheyenne Indians attacking workers building the transcontinental railroad on the Great Plains, 1867. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Transcontinental railroad across the Great Plains
Transcontinental railroad track to a station on the Great Plains, 1800s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Laying railroad track across the Great Plains
Workers laying track for the transcontinental railroad, 1860s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Supplies in the Fort Laramie trading post, Oregon Trail
Shelves of supplies in the reconstructed trading post at Fort Laramie, Wyoming. Digital photograph

Oregon Trail wagons camping for the night
Pioneers camp at sunset along the Oregon Trail, 1850s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

HSET2A-00003
Sod house of a homesteader family on the Great Plains, 1800s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Covered wagon on the prairie
A " prairie schooner" heading west. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Oregon Trail pioneers on the Great Plains
Families in covered wagons crossing the plains. Hand-colored engraving combined with photo of western Nebraska

Dugout home covered with prairie sod
A dugout covered with sod, home of a prairie homesteader, 1800s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Sod home of a pioneer family on the plains
Prairie homestead family preparing for winter at their sod home. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Pioneer name in Register Rock on the Oregon Trail, 1855
Oregon Trail travelers name carved into Register Cliff by the North Platte River near Guernsey, Wyoming. Digital photograph

Wagon tracks on the Oregon Trail, Wyoming
Oregon Trail ruts worn into rock by wagon trains near Guernsey, Wyoming. Digital photograph

Conestoga wagon on the Oregon Trail
Conestoga wagon replica on the Oregon Trail, Scotts Bluff National Monument, Nebraska. Digital photograph

Covered wagon brake detail
Brake mechanism of a covered wagon on the Oregon Trail, Scotts Bluff National Monument, Nebraska. Digital photograph

Oregon Trail pioneer graves, Wyoming
Graves of pioneers along the Oregon Trail in Wyoming. Photograph

Hand-carts on the Mormon Trail to Utah
Mormons pulling hand-carts across the plains on the trail to Utah, 1850s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Homestead in Dakota Territory, 1800s
Homesteaders cabins marking their claims in the Red River Valley, North Dakota, 1800s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Powder horns and musket balls used in the fur trade
Powder horns, musket balls, and other trade items at a mountain-man rendezvous reenactment, Fort Mandan, North Dakota. Photograph

Buffalo hide tipi of the Lakota Sioux
Sioux tepee made of buffalo hide sewn with sinew in the traditional way, Wicoti Living History Lakota Encampment, Hill City, South Dakota. Digital photograph

NATI2D-00405
Sioux tepees, Wicoti Living History Lakota Encampment, Hill City, South Dakota. Digital photograph

Interior of a Sioux tipi
Buffalo robes and pillows inside a Sioux tepee made of buffalo hide, Wicoti Living History Lakota Encampment, Hill City, South Dakota. Digital photograph

Sioux tepees
Sioux tipis, Wicoti Living History Lakota Encampment, Black Hills, SD. Digital photograph

Comanche on his pinto pony, 1800s
Comanche brave on horseback, 1800s. Hand-colored halftone of a Frederic Remington illustration

Flag of France, 1700s
French flag marking La Verendrye expeditions claim of the northern Great Plains for France in 1743, Pierre, South Dakota. Digital photograph

Windmill ad, about 1900
Advertisement for Aermotor Co. windmills, Chicago, about 1900. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

EXPL2A-00035
Map of the Lewis and Clark route across Louisiana Territory, 1804-1806. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

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The Great Plains: A Tapestry of History and Culture Immerse yourself in the captivating tales of the Great Plains, a vast region that stretches across North America. From the legendary Native American chief Petalesharo II, also known as Man Chief, to the thrilling accounts of Native American attacks on western stagecoaches, this land is steeped in rich history. As you explore further, discover intriguing snapshots frozen in time. Picture a cowboy and a Native American man engrossed in a game of cards on a blanket circa 1915. This image speaks volumes about the cultural exchanges and interactions that occurred amidst these wide-open spaces. Gaze upon the striking portrait of Cheyenne Chief Two Moons captured by Edward S. Curtis around 1910. His dignified presence embodies both strength and resilience—a testament to the indomitable spirit found within these plains. Sitting Bull, Sioux Native American leader extraordinaire, left an indelible mark on this landscape with his remarkable leadership during tumultuous times. His legacy continues to inspire generations who seek courage amidst adversity. Visit Little Bighorn Monument atop Custer's Hill where all bones from the Battle of Little Bighorn were laid to rest—a solemn reminder of past conflicts that shaped this land forever. Quanah Parker emerges as another prominent figure—an influential Kwahadi Comanche leader whose photograph taken around 1895 captures his regal essence and unwavering determination. Venture eastward towards Fort Dearborn, standing proudly on what would become Chicago's bustling cityscape—once an outpost guarding against potential threats while now symbolizing progress and growth. Witness Buffalo soldiers charging fearlessly into action—their bravery etched into every fiber of their being—as they come to rescue those in need across these expansive plains. Step back in time with Laton Alton Huffman's photograph capturing cowboy Honeycut astride White Star on Montana's open range in August 1904.