The Lone Tree Monument is on the site once occupied by a large tree in central

Nebraska Nebraska () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Kansas to the south; Colorado to the southwe ...

. Native Americans held council under it,Reutter, Harold.
"Monument rededicated 100 years later".''Grand Island Independent''.
2011-07-07. Retrieved 2012-12-28. early pioneers used it as a landmark, and it was the first official name of the

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US st ...

of Merrick county. It is marked as a historical location by the

Nebraska State Historical Society History Nebraska, formerly the Nebraska State Historical Society is a Nebraska state agency, founded in 1878 to "encourage historical research and inquiry, spread historical information ... and to embrace alike aboriginal and modern history." I ...

History

Lone Tree was a solitary cottonwood tree, which stood on the north side of the

Platte River The Platte River () is a major river in the State of Nebraska. It is about long; measured to its farthest source via its tributary, the North Platte River, it flows for over . The Platte River is a tributary of the Missouri River, which itself ...

about three miles southwest of where

Central City In urban planning, a core city, principal city metropolitan core, or central city, is the largest or most important city or cities of a metropolitan area. A core city is surrounded by smaller satellite cities, towns, and suburbs. A central city ...

is located. The trunk of the tree was about in circumference at the base and was about tall. It was a landmark, it was claimed, which could be seen for across the prairie by early travelers. Native Americans knew the tree and named it (though the name is not known) before the pioneers came. Legend has it that Native American chiefs held council under its shade. It was a landmark for pioneers as early as 1833. In 1858, it was selected by Western Stage Co. as the site for the Lone Tree Station. From 1860 to 1861, the Western Stage Company station was built and operating. The huge cottonwood tree marked its location, which was operated by Mary Hilton from 1860 to 1861. In 1858, the

Nebraska Territorial Legislature The Nebraska Territorial Legislature was held from January 16, 1855 until 1865 in Omaha City, Nebraska Territory. Major issues Slavery In 1854 the Kansas–Nebraska Act created the Nebraska Territory, overturning the Missouri Compromise b ...

established Merrick County and designated "Elvira" as its mythical county seat located under Lone Tree near present day

1865 storm

Lone tree Nebraska State Historical Marker-12-26-12

In 1865, a great storm blew the tree over. The tree had died in 1863 and this was thought the consequence of two factors. First, as pioneers passed along the

Overland Trail The Overland Trail (also known as the Overland Stage Line) was a stagecoach and wagon trail in the American West during the 19th century. While portions of the route had been used by explorers and trappers since the 1820s, the Overland Trail w ...

and Mormon Trail, they made carvings in its bark, thereby gradually destroying it. Second, pioneers often built campfires at the base of the tree, which may have further weakened it. Part of its trunk was taken to Lone Tree station (which later became Central City) and placed on the depot platform. Over time, fragments of it were carried away by tourists until it disappeared.

Lone Tree (Central City)

In 1866, the mythical Merrick county seat of Elvira was given an actual location in a town called "Lone Tree," which, in 1875, would be renamed "Central City."

1911 monument

Although the original Lone Tree had long disappeared, the people of Merrick county had not forgotten its historical significance. In 1911, they erected a granite monument. Thirty years later, another cottonwood tree was planted at the original tree's location next to the granite monument. In 1911, there were also two dedications of the monument, one on August 9, 1911 and a second rededication of it on July 3, 2011.

References

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External links

History and Stories of Nebraska: Lone Tree

Lone Tree Days
Monuments and memorials in Nebraska Individual trees in the United States Merrick County, Nebraska 1860s individual tree deaths 1911 sculptures