Few People Know This Charming Small Town In Nebraska Is Right On The 100th Meridian
By Delana Lefevers|Published March 15, 2022
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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.
If you’ve ever heard that mid-Nebraska is “where the West begins,” you should know that it’s not just a fun saying. The 100th meridian, a theoretical longitudinal line passing through the U.S., marks the spot where the arid western part of the country meets the more moist and humid eastern part. Today, the 100th meridian passes right through the little Nebraska town of Cozad.
The 100th Meridian passes through the U.S. from the Gulf of Mexico in Texas, north through Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, and North Dakota.
When explorer and geologist J.W. Powell traversed the country in the late 1870s, he confirmed the location of the 100th meridian. Noting the differences in climate between the western and eastern sides of the imaginary line, he proposed forming districts that would manage water and land based on the area's needs rather than on state borders. While his exploration was groundbreaking, his resource-management proposal was shot down in Congress.
Still, the 100th meridian has proved an accurate divide between the dry west and the humid east. The spot where the meridian passes through Cozad was also an important site on another history-making journey.
That ambitious goal was achieved in October of 1866. The first passenger train riding from Greenwich in the east to the 100th meridian carried 250 politicians, railroad officials, reporters, and other notable passengers. A large celebration followed to commemorate this truly incredible feat of modern engineering.
A sign erected near the railroad tracks proudly proclaiming "100th Meridian - 247 Miles From Omaha" remained in place until the 1930s, at which time it was replaced by a stone monument donated by locals.
Today, this historical marker tells the story of this unique spot.
When you visit this historic location, be sure to take a little trip through Cozad. The 100th Meridian Museum is a delightful place that celebrates the line where the West officially begins.
It's open Memorial Day through Labor Day by appointment, or you can drop in whenever you see the flag raised out front - that's your sign that it's open for walk-in visitors.
The museum shows off items that would have been used in Nebraska around the time that the railroad came through, including a historic coach that carried President Taft (who was Secretary of War at the time) through Yellowstone National Park
The exhibits celebrate the lives of the people who have chosen to make their homes right here on the line where east meets west.
There are lots of other terrific places to visit in the little town of Cozad, including an original Pony Express station and a museum dedicated to artist and former Cozad resident Robert Henri. Nearby, Gallagher Canyon State Recreation Area is one of the most beautiful underrated natural spots in the state. Make a whole day of it and enjoy everything the middle of Nebraska has to offer!
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