Heritage Highway
Rock Creek Station State Historical Park, NE

This state historical park is run by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, but not long ago this area was a stop for the Pony Express and a road ranch that catered to pioneers trekking west on the Oregon Trail and freight lines. However, it is a bloody encounter of the Old West that ensured this station's place in history.

In 1861, "Wild Bill" Hickok was hired by David NcCanles as a stable hand. Horace Wellman was going to buy the station from McCanles, and as McCanles approached Wellman one day about the payments, Hickok killed him for reasons that are not entirely clear. This event was published and Hickok became enshrined as a legend.

The Rock Creek Station is the visitor's gateway to the past, as legend mixes with fact. This area speaks of the pioneer history of the area, as deep ruts from wagons on the Oregon Trail are visible. California-bound travelers on the Oregon Trail passed through this area, where an interpretive center now exists. The area is a place for families to picnic, camp, and hike while enjoying the feel of the past.