History Left A Definite Mark At This One Fascinating Spot In Nebraska
By Delana Lefevers|Published November 02, 2017
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Delana Lefevers
Author
As a lifelong Nebraskan, Delana loves discovering the many hidden treasures of her state. She has worked as a writer and editor since 2007. Delana's work has been featured on more than a dozen websites and in Nebraska Life Magazine.
Nebraska’s historic sites are all fascinating in different ways, but we especially love this spot that has a very long, very diverse history – and you can visit it to walk through nature.
Ash Hollow State Historical Park, near Lewellen, dates back far past recorded history. This beautiful natural spot attracted Native Americans for thousands of years.
Those settlers left actual physical marks on the area: deep wagon wheel ruts leading over and down the steep Windlass Hill can still be seen to this day.
Ash Hollow cave, near the spring, made a wonderful shelter and a home base for hunting and food collecting. Native Americans realized the vast value of this site, and later it, too, became a part of the westward settlers' journey.
A wealth of prehistoric Native American tools have been recovered from the site. Today, the visitors center sits on a cliff above the cave and descends down over it, protecting the fascinating piece of Nebraska history from vandals as well as natural and unnatural degradation.
Plenty of prehistoric fossils have also been found in and near the site. The remains of mammoths, turtles, camels, horses, beavers and many invertebrates have been uncovered here.
This area was also the site of The Battle of Ash Hollow in 1855. The horrifying event saw 600 US army troops attack a Brule Sioux encampment. Casualties included 86 people - men, women, and children - and 70 women and children were taken as captives.
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Ash Hollow was designated a state park in 1962. Today you can visit Windlass Hill, the cave, a rock schoolhouse, a sod house, many hiking trails, and the informative visitors center.
Be aware before you visit: this place is large, and the cave and Windlass Hill are a good 2.5 miles apart. The hiking trails are absolutely beautiful and have an almost meditative quality to them. It's definitely worth taking a walk through this important historical Nebraska site.
While you’re in the area, be sure to stop by the Ash Hollow Cemetery to visit Rachel Pattison’s grave. Hers is one of the many sad stories of the Oregon Trail. The cemetery isn’t an official part of the state historical park, but it’s a must-see for all Nebraska history buffs. Learn more about the Ash Hollow site here. Please note: the visitors center is open only in the summer, but the park grounds are open year-round from 8 am to sunset.
Have you ever visited Ash Hollow? Tell us all about your experiences in the comments!
This state historical park is close to Lake McConaughy, which we certainly recommend visiting while you’re in the area. Be sure to also stop in Lewellen at The Most Unlikely Place, a delightful restaurant that lives up to its name.
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