Cherry County Historical Society Museum

Valentine started out a lot rougher than its name. Founded in 1883, the town began as a rowdy, end-of-the-track town on the Sioux City and Pacifi c Railroad. The name, incidentally, was chosen to honor E.K. Valentine, a Civil War veteran, lawyer and Nebraska Congressman known as a friend to settlers. In the early days, the area was home to cattlemen, outlaws and Indians. Legendary horse thief “Doc” Middleton used to hide out at a place known as Rustler’s Roost southwest of town. Sioux and Pawnee Indians came to hunt buff alo and to summer their horses on the lush Sandhills grass. Clashes between cowboys and Indians led to the founding of Fort Niobrara four miles east of town. The Cherry County Historical Society Museum, at the corner of Main Street and Highway 20, has a variety of displays devoted to early-day cattlemen, Fort Niobrara, Native Americans, U.S. wars, and daily life of the pioneer era. An archival library includes historic newspapers and genealogical records. Th e museum is open Memorial Day through October 1, Th u-Sat, 1-5 p.m. or by appointment. (402) 376-2015. Centennial Hall, at 3rd and Macomb, is the 1897 Valentine High School, the oldest surviving high school building in Nebraska. Today it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and houses museum exhibits in all 12 rooms. It is open from the fi rst weekend in May through Labor Day, Th ursday-Saturday, 1-5 p.m. or by appointment. (402) 376-1455. Apparently, the location is also haunted by a ghost that loves to play music, though no instruments are left in the building.