Nebraska & Samuel R. McKelvie National Forests
Buffalo Gap, Fort Pierre, & Oglala National Grasslands

USDA Forest Service
Nebraska &
Samuel R. McKelvie
National Forests
Buffalo Gap, Fort Pierre,
& Oglala National Grasslands
125 North Main Street
Chadron, NE 69337
308-432-0300

Telephone for the
Hearing Impaired
308-432-0304

Heritage: Cultural Resources

The Heritage Program on the Nebraska National Forest provides services for a variety of internal and external customers. Our mission is to provide a range of opportunities for visitors to learn about and experience the history of the plains and manage heritage sites in an effective manner that is sensitive to the values and needs of a diverse constituency.

The Resource

Three percent of the lands managed by the Nebraska National Forest have been inventoried for the occurrence of cultural properties. Past projects have resulted in the recording of many sites, some of which are potentially eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. The Hudson-Meng Bison Kill, the Bessey Tree Nursery, and Warbonnet Battlefield are popular public Heritage sites.

Compliance Program

Each District has several paraprofessional archaeologists that help assure that proposed projects do not adversely affect cultural sites. For the next ten years, the staff will survey 9,600 acres annually to determine the effects that cattle grazing has on heritage resources.

Research Program

Research is integrated into all public and compliance projects. Questions asked are intended to develop our understanding of how people in the past interacted with and changed the landscape. As research questions develop, we will begin to solicit the ideas and participation of groups that traditionally have not been considered within the realm of research. These groups will include Native Americans and the regional ranching community. Their involvement will result in the development of research designs that are mutually beneficial.