Valentine (pop. 2,800) began as a town on the Sioux City and Pacific railroad line in 1883. The town is named for E K Valentine, who was a Nebraska Congressman.
The Cherry County Historical Society Museum in Valentine features historic artifacts and photos. A log cabin owned by the first postmaster has period furnishings.
Hours:
May 30 to September 15: 1pm-5pm; Closed: Sun, Mon, Tue, Wed
Disability Access: Full facilities for persons with disabilities.
The Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge features skeletons and bone fragments that were dug from fossil beds on the refuge. These include the long-jawed mastodon and three-toed horse. They were in the area from 13 million years ago to the last ice age, about 12,000 years ago.
Herds of bison also roam the grasslands along with elk. Fort Niobrara was built in 1879 to keep the peace between the settlers and the Sioux Indians.
Tips: Visitor Center is open 8:00 am - 4:30 pm daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day, and Monday through Friday during the rest of the year (except for Federal holidays).
The Niobrara Valley offers a landscape of resources with ranches and farms. The western portion of the river has over ninety waterfalls and the upper section is an excellent area for canoeing.
Address: Niobrara National Scenic River, Box 319, Valentine, NE 69201-0319, United States
Phone: 1 (402) 336-1901, Fax: 1 (402) 376-1949
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