Bowring Ranch State Historical Park

Bowring Ranch State Historical Park
Map showing the location of Bowring Ranch State Historical Park
Map showing the location of Bowring Ranch State Historical Park
Location in Nebraska
LocationCherry County, Nebraska, United States
Nearest townMerriman, Nebraska
Coordinates42°57′28″N 101°40′38″W / 42.95778°N 101.67722°W / 42.95778; -101.67722[1]
Area435 acres (176 ha)[2]
Elevation3,258 ft (993 m)[1]
DesignationNebraska state historical park
Established1987[3]
Named forArthur Bowring
AdministratorNebraska Game and Parks Commission
WebsiteBowring Ranch State Historical Park

Bowring Ranch State Historical Park is a state park of Nebraska, United States, interpreting the ranching heritage of the Sand Hills region and the lives of former owners Arthur and Eva Bowring (the first female U.S. Senator from Nebraska). The park is three miles (4.8 km) north of Merriman in Cherry County, near the South Dakota border.

The ranch was founded in 1894. Arthur and Eva met when her car broke down near his ranch and he came to her assistance. They married in 1928 and kept the ranch running while each served in a variety of public offices. Eva Bowring maintained ranch operations on her own from Arthur's death in 1944 to her own in 1985. Concerned that it would be fragmented to new owners, the former Senator willed her ranch to the state in memory of her husband.[4] The ranch continues to be operated as a working Hereford cattle ranch. The ranch house and outbuildings have been preserved, and a large visitor center documenting the Bowrings' lives is on the site.[5]

  1. ^ a b "Arthur Bowring Sandhills Ranch State Historical Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference ngpc2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference herald was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference nebraskalife was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference ngpc was invoked but never defined (see the help page).