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Wandermore in Nebraska, Newman Grove, NE (2026)

06/05/2026

Town Spotlight: Haigler, Nebraska
Population: 145
County: Dundy
Town: 359/531
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The cornerstone of southwest Nebraska and one of the closest towns in proximity to Colorado, Haigler, was founded in 1886 by the Lincoln Land Company and named after Jacob Haigler. He was an early area landowner who helped run the local post office. Much of the town's early history and growth can be attributed to the expansion of the Burlington Railroad line from Indianola, Nebraska, to Denver, Colorado, in the early 1880s. Once it was necessary to build a depot, the railroad company purchased the land of James and Arabelle Porter, and thus a new community was underway. "Uncle" Jimmy Gray, the first white settler of Haigler, is commemorated with a small wooden statue in the community park. Its most famous modern resident is Scott Olin Wright, who served as the Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri from 1991 to 2016. Eastward travelers can find Rock Creek Lake State Recreation Area, a 50-acre lake offering outdoor recreation.
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These photos of Haigler range in date from July 5, 2020 to the present day. Towns are dynamic entities and are always changing, so please note that things may look different today. Not every business, point of interest, etc. in every town will be pictured. We hope you enjoy the photos shared and we encourage you to add your own pictures, thoughts, memories & anecdotes in the comments! If you love these spotlights, you might be interested in book on Nebraska history: Visit531Nebraska. It’s a historical, pictorial, and travel guide to all 531 of Nebraska’s incorporated towns. Join thousands of others who have already picked up a copy and “wander more” around the Cornhusker State with us! https://wandermorepublishing.com/shop/p/nebraskatravelguide

06/04/2026

Town Spotlight: Benkelman, Nebraska
Population: 821
County: Dundy (County Seat)
Town: 358/531
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The postal service began operating in this area of Nebraska around 1880 under the name "Elmer," in honor of the rancher Elmer Miller. It was changed to "Collinville" not long before the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad was extended through southwest Nebraska in 1882. Because of its position within the newly formed Dundy County and its notoriety as a stopping point for westward travelers, it assumed the title of county seat without much competition from neighboring Haigler, Max, and Parks. J. G. Benkelman and his brother were the largest cow herders in the cowtown at the time, so the railroad struck a deal with them to ship their cattle along its line through Omaha in exchange for naming rights to the station. One of the community's feel-good stories is that, after a carnival franchise stopped coming to town, several locals banded together to travel across the nation to amass a collection of 302 rides and games to be enjoyed at the Dundy County Fair. Three famous men highlight Benkelman's past residents: actor Ward Bond, known primarily for his roles in It's a Wonderful Life and The Searchers; Edward W. Snedeker, a Navy Cross recipient; and Dave Heineman, the 39th governor of Nebraska.
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These photos of Benkelman range in date from July 5, 2020 to the present day. Towns are dynamic entities and are always changing, so please note that things may look different today. Not every business, point of interest, etc. in every town will be pictured. We hope you enjoy the photos shared and we encourage you to add your own pictures, thoughts, memories & anecdotes in the comments! If you love these spotlights, you might be interested in book on Nebraska history: Visit531Nebraska. It’s a historical, pictorial, and travel guide to all 531 of Nebraska’s incorporated towns. Join thousands of others who have already picked up a copy and “wander more” around the Cornhusker State with us! https://wandermorepublishing.com/shop/p/nebraskatravelguide

06/03/2026

Town Spotlight: Stratton, Nebraska
Population: 310
County: Hitchcock
Town: 357/531
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Started as a depot on the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad, Stratton is named for Mary Stratton, the original owner of the townsite. C. V. Bailey is recorded as Stratton's first settler, having built a log cabin there in 1879. The structure went on to house a post office and general merchandise and goods for the cattlemen who traversed the area herding cattle. The town grew naturally as the railroad's arrival in 1882 spurred the construction of businesses, saloons, churches, schools, and even a hotel. Four years after the Burlington Railroad laid its tracks, Stratton was formally incorporated. The population grew despite the hardships of the 1890s (when grasshoppers devastated crops), and by the Great Depression, there were well over 650 residents in town. Rita Bell, a Broadway actor and singer-songwriter, was born here in December 1893, as was George Sauer, Super Bowl III Champion for the New York Jets, and NFL fullback Jim Lankas.
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These photos of Stratton range in date from July 5, 2020 to the present day. Towns are dynamic entities and are always changing, so please note that things may look different today. Not every business, point of interest, etc. in every town will be pictured. We hope you enjoy the photos shared and we encourage you to add your own pictures, thoughts, memories & anecdotes in the comments! If you love these spotlights, you might be interested in book on Nebraska history: Visit531Nebraska. It’s a historical, pictorial, and travel guide to all 531 of Nebraska’s incorporated towns. Join thousands of others who have already picked up a copy and “wander more” around the Cornhusker State with us! https://wandermorepublishing.com/shop/p/nebraskatravelguide

06/02/2026

Town Spotlight: Trenton, Nebraska
Population: 516
County: Hitchcock (County Seat)
Town: 356/531
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This cowtown's history dates back to the trail days, when cowboys on the Texas-Ogallala trail used it as a cattle crossing and dubbed the area between Elm and Bush creeks as "Trail City." In the year 1873, when Hitchcock County was organized, a terrible massacre of over 700 Pawnee men, women, and children took place in the area now known as "Massacre Canyon" at the hands of the rival Sioux. Trail City was soon home to a post office, school, newspaper office, and a store, but by 1885, the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad had moved the entire townsite to a more convenient location for laying track. Trenton was platted by Anselmo Smith and the Lincoln Land Company that year and named after Trenton, New Jersey. In 1887, it was incorporated, and after a fight with nearby Culbertson for the title of judicial seat, it won in a third election. Settlers raided Culbertson's county records under the order of the District Judge, and the records made their home in Trenton for good. It was in the 1950s that Trenton reached its highest population, with approximately 1,239 residents. Southwest Nebraska's largest recreational area (nearly 9,000 acres), Swanson Reservoir State Recreation Area, offers concessions, fishing, boating, and other outdoor activities.
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These photos of Trenton range in date from July 5, 2020 to the present day. Towns are dynamic entities and are always changing, so please note that things may look different today. Not every business, point of interest, etc. in every town will be pictured. We hope you enjoy the photos shared and we encourage you to add your own pictures, thoughts, memories & anecdotes in the comments! If you love these spotlights, you might be interested in book on Nebraska history: Visit531Nebraska. It’s a historical, pictorial, and travel guide to all 531 of Nebraska’s incorporated towns. Join thousands of others who have already picked up a copy and “wander more” around the Cornhusker State with us! https://wandermorepublishing.com/shop/p/nebraskatravelguide

06/01/2026

Town Spotlight: Culbertson, Nebraska
Population: 534
County: Hitchcock
Town: 355/531
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The town of Culbertson is named in honor of Alexander Culbertson, a well-known Indian agent (individuals authorized to negotiate and interact with Native American tribes on behalf of the United States government). The origins of its pioneer settlers can be traced to 1873, when a small group of Norwegians settled near Blackwood Creek. W. Z. Taylor of the Lincoln Land Company platted it shortly after that, naming it after himself, but it was changed the following year to its present nomenclature. Culbertson was declared the county seat of Hitchcock County because it was the only community in the county, and the title motivated settlers to establish a permanent public school, saloons, several newspapers, and other businesses until the railroad decided to lay tracks there. Ironically, the same man who had platted the town, W. Z. Taylor, was responsible for killing the town's chance at becoming the economic center of southwestern Nebraska. When the railroad built its roundhouse on his land, it attempted to purchase the land outright, but Taylor's exorbitant price led them to move the roundhouse to McCook instead. Culbertson was still incorporated in 1885, but things only continued to worsen: they lost the county seat to Trenton in 1891 after the town won a third vote and stole the records. In the 1920s, a new school attracted new settlers alongside an irrigation project started by Buffalo Jones, and in the 1940s, Culbertson briefly boomed again with the opening of the McCook Army Air Field. Among the thousands of residents of Culbertson's past, two men stand out: Carl L. Sackett, who served as the United States Attorney for the District of Wyoming from 1933 to 1949, and Steve Brooks, a National Champion and Hall of Fame jockey. He had 4,451 career wins as a horse rider.
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These photos of Culbertson range in date from July 5, 2020 to the present day. Towns are dynamic entities and are always changing, so please note that things may look different today. Not every business, point of interest, etc. in every town will be pictured. We hope you enjoy the photos shared and we encourage you to add your own pictures, thoughts, memories & anecdotes in the comments! If you love these spotlights, you might be interested in book on Nebraska history: Visit531Nebraska. It’s a historical, pictorial, and travel guide to all 531 of Nebraska’s incorporated towns. Join thousands of others who have already picked up a copy and “wander more” around the Cornhusker State with us! https://wandermorepublishing.com/shop/p/nebraskatravelguide

05/30/2026

The Nebraska book is 20% off now through June 6th! Now's a great time to pick up a copy if you've been on the fence! Use code SUMMERTRAVEL at checkout :) wandermorepublishing.com/shop. The code also works on our North Dakota, Iowa, South Dakota, Kansas, and Minnesota books. Or a combination of any of them!

Hey, we hope you're having an amazing start to your summer! Although Memorial Day Weekend and graduation party season have already passed, Eliese and I are kicking it into high gear for another busy summer. We've already visited 105 of Colorado's 273 incorporated communities this year (new book coming this Fall Wandermore in Colorado!), and we've got some plans to see the new Dambo trolls in Iowa and visit Chicago for the first time together later this June! It seems we're always on the move!

Whether you've got some day trips planned this summer, or you're kicking it at home and taking things easy, we've got something special for ya… 20% off all Wandermore guides with code SUMMERTRAVEL! We're always talking about how you can find a million different things to see and do across the communities in the six states we've covered thus far, but did you know that our "guides" are also chock-full of history? The Minnesota book alone is 724 pages (one of the LARGEST and most detailed books on any Midwest state) and could keep ya busy for two, three, or twenty rainy days, depending on how fast you read! ;) We'd be happy to fill your summer schedule with trip inspiration and cool historic stories.

Anyways, we hope that you'll have an awesome summer regardless of how you decide to spend it. We're looking forward to "wandering more" ourselves and continuing to make future improvements to each of our books. We try to update each one at least once a year with new restaurant and festival information, added stories, and other interesting tidbits! The journey never truly ends. Happy wandering!

P.S. - Let us know if you have any good tips for Colorado! We're always looking for suggestions on things to do, places to eat, and potential cool experiences or places to check out before we publish "Wandermore in Colorado" this Fall.

Seth & Eliese Varner

05/30/2026

Town Spotlight: McCook, Nebraska
Population: 7,446
County: Red Willow (County Seat)
Town: 354/531
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Founded in June of 1882 (and previously known as Fairview), McCook is named for Alexander Dowell McCook, a Union Brigadier General in the American Civil War. Its status as the economic center of southwest Nebraska can be attributed to its long-held ties as a Burlington & Missouri River Railroad town. In 1882, the railroad needed a division point, and so this section of the Republican River was platted by the Lincoln Land Company. Less than a decade later, over 2,300 tradesmen, businessmen, railroad workers, and citizens alike called it home, and in 1892, they took the county seat title from Indianola. Early accomplishments ranged from the Menard Opera House and a Carnegie Library to McCook Junior College, which in September 1926 became the first two-year junior college in the state. Another boost in population and economic activity came in the early 1940s, when the United States Air Force selected it as the location of one of its eleven training bases in Nebraska. It was located nine miles northwest of McCook and could house up to 5,000 soldiers. Several famous men have city ties, amongst the most noted being television evangelist Bob Larson, former NFL running back Jeff Kinney, the first Comptroller General off the United States John R. McCarl, 40-year Congressman George Norris, and Baseball Hall of Fame and McCook Braves pitcher Phil Niekro and his former teammates Pat Jordan, author of A False Spring and Joe Torre, another Baseball Hall of Famer who is the only person in MLB history with over 2,000 hits as a player and 2,000 wins as a manager. Three Nebraska governors also lived in McCook at different points: Ralph G. Brooks (29th), Frank Morrison (31st), and Ben Nelson (37th). Today, McCook boasts two major historical sites: the Museum of the High Plains and the Senator George Norris State Historic Site. Red Willow State Recreation Area offers outdoorsmen some of the best fishing and hunting in the state, as well as amenities for swimmers, boaters, and archers.
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These photos of McCook range in date from July 5, 2020 to the present day. Towns are dynamic entities and are always changing, so please note that things may look different today. Not every business, point of interest, etc. in every town will be pictured. We hope you enjoy the photos shared and we encourage you to add your own pictures, thoughts, memories & anecdotes in the comments! If you love these spotlights, you might be interested in book on Nebraska history: Visit531Nebraska. It’s a historical, pictorial, and travel guide to all 531 of Nebraska’s incorporated towns. Join thousands of others who have already picked up a copy and “wander more” around the Cornhusker State with us! https://wandermorepublishing.com/shop/p/nebraskatravelguide

05/29/2026

Town Spotlight: Danbury, Nebraska
Population: 80
County: Red Willow
Town: 353/531
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Attempts were made at surveying this part of the Beaver Creek Valley in 1869 by Nelson Buck and his surveying crew, but they were ambushed and killed by the Sioux. A few years passed following the incident, and in 1871, Royal Buck successfully formulated a settlement. When the post office arrived in December 1873, the first postmaster of Danbury, George Gilbert, named the town to honor his former hometown, Danbury, Connecticut. Gold was discovered north of Danbury early on, which spurred a brief gold rush, but low yields resulted in a quick end to the excitement. The railroad constructed a two-story depot in 1888 (which still stands today as the Danbury Railroad Depot Museum), and in 1898, Danbury was incorporated as a municipality. The depot was almost torn down in 1983. Scott Cu***ng, then a 17-year-old high school senior, organized a fundraising drive alongside Patsy Lee Redfern, Vera Cu***ng, and other locals to restore the building and move it to downtown Danbury..
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These photos of Danbury range in date from July 5, 2020 to the present day. Towns are dynamic entities and are always changing, so please note that things may look different today. Not every business, point of interest, etc. in every town will be pictured. We hope you enjoy the photos shared and we encourage you to add your own pictures, thoughts, memories & anecdotes in the comments! If you love these spotlights, you might be interested in book on Nebraska history: Visit531Nebraska. It’s a historical, pictorial, and travel guide to all 531 of Nebraska’s incorporated towns. Join thousands of others who have already picked up a copy and “wander more” around the Cornhusker State with us! https://wandermorepublishing.com/shop/p/nebraskatravelguide

05/29/2026

In case y’all weren’t aware — Eliese and I are visiting all 273 of Colorado’s incorporated communities this year! You can follow along at Wandermore in Colorado to see spotlights on familiar places like Wray and Holyoke located just across the border! 😄

05/28/2026

Town Spotlight: Lebanon, Nebraska
Population: 46
County: Red Willow
Town: 352/531
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This tiny hamlet of Red Willow County can trace its beginnings to September 12, 1873, when the United States Postal Service established an office there at the request of the B. F. Bradbury family. Its name, "Lebanon," refers to Cedrus libani, more commonly known as the Cedars of Lebanon, a tree of great religious and historical significance worldwide. The office was first located in the dugout home of Mr. Bradbury, then moved to the home of Henry Galusha, and finally to the home of Mrs. Harvey Burgess. In 1887, the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad extended westward from Orleans with a new branch line, and its arrival spurred the construction of all the typical lines of enterprise of a small frontier town. School District No. 6 was founded in 1874, and its historic 1930 brick building still stands today. The community's population decline began largely after the September 1939 fire, which burnt the west side of the business district for the third time in 45 years. At this time, there were approximately 262 residents. The small community made national headlines in 1955 when it sent a representative to the country of Lebanon in the Middle East for a conference where forty mayors of United States cities called "Lebanon" were invited to visit the country by their government. Mayor Chester Keith was unable to attend, so Charles Harris was sent in his place. Harris unintentionally crossed into the territory of the neighboring country, Jordan, and was killed by a soldier. The United Nations conducted an investigation, and a major international incident ensued.
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These photos of Lebanon range in date from July 5, 2020 to the present day. Towns are dynamic entities and are always changing, so please note that things may look different today. Not every business, point of interest, etc. in every town will be pictured. We hope you enjoy the photos shared and we encourage you to add your own pictures, thoughts, memories & anecdotes in the comments! If you love these spotlights, you might be interested in book on Nebraska history: Visit531Nebraska. It’s a historical, pictorial, and travel guide to all 531 of Nebraska’s incorporated towns. Join thousands of others who have already picked up a copy and “wander more” around the Cornhusker State with us! https://wandermorepublishing.com/shop/p/nebraskatravelguide

Wandermore in Nebraska

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