Sidney, Nebraska a landmark of the American West

While driving from Denver on Route 76 in Northeastern Colorado, it is only the event of a roadrunner skirting across the highway and the intermittent patches of brilliant yellow wildflowers that break the monotony of vast nothingness. We’re heading to Sidney, Nebraska by way of Route 76 and then Nebraska Highway 19 ……destination Cabella’s.

The importance of Cabella’s to Sidney is evidenced by the first landmark you see approaching the town. Like the Eiffel Tower to Paris, the shining green water tower boldly imprinted with Cabela’s brand is to Sidney.

Established in 1867 as a railroad town, better known as a jumping off point to the Black Hills of South Dakota for gold seekers, Sidney had a rich history prior to Cabella’s. Originally a settlement of the Union Pacific Railroad designed to provide living quarters for railroad construction workers, the town got it's name from Sidney Dillion, who was at the time head of the Union Pacific.

While the railroad was being expanded across Western Nebraska in 1867, the Sioux, Cheyenne and Arapahoe intensified their attacks in attempts to thwart construction. To protect the railroad workers and the track being laid, a troop station was established and later a Fort, Fort Sidney. Today in what remains of the original fort, an authentic restoration of the living quarters of the post commander from 1867-1894, operates as a museum.

A walk through the Fort Sidney Museum is a journey back to a critical period in the history of the American West. Along with period furniture, household items and clothing from the the late 19th and early 20th century, eye-catching photos of cowboys, railroad workers and townspeople from the time pull you back to this mythical era. The railroad memorabilia is especially noteworthy, in particular, the advertisement for the Union Pacific Line from Omaha to Sidney that warns against "bad storms, bad lands, and bad ferries" encountered when not using the rail line.

Because the Sidney-Deadwood Trail was the shortest route to the gold fields, and Sidney was the main link with military outposts and Indian agencies and a trailhead for cattle drives going both East and West, the town attracted some not so welcome characters, like the noted horse thief, Doc Middleton. Sidney's main street became lined with saloons, gaming halls, houses of ill-repute, boarding houses, and the world’s first all night theatre. Today the historic downtown Sidney is much quieter and has a charm of its own with some restaurants and shops.

Then on the outskirts of Sidney is what draws most people to the area today --- Cabella's, the world famous outfitter....a topic for another post.

There's a tourist tweeter in Sidney, NE: SidneyNebraska. Then, of course, there's cabelasfishing, currently the only official Cabela's tweeter.