The Blue River Cattle Trail was active between 1868 - 1871 and began at the end of the Chisolm Trail in Abilene, Kansas.

The trail's place in history was significant as it established the the Texas beef and cattle industry into Nebraska and the Midwest.

The 200-plus mile trail ran along the Big Blue River, for which it was named. It began where the Chisolm trail ended at Abilene, KS to the Stockyards in Schuyler, NE.

Schuyler was chosen by Union Pacific Railroad for its location along the Platte River as the “Bull Head” to ship cattle east to Chicago and St. Louis. Stockcars could hold 18-20 cattle, each weighing 1100 pounds!

The Blue River Cattle Trail was an integral part of the post-Civil War reunification efforts between North and South through its mutually benefitting promotion of economy and commerce.

Over 1.5 million Longhorn cattle traversed the Blue River Cattle Trail. Many were loaded and shipped by train eastward to Chicago and St. Louis from Schuyler, or they continued north to Indian territories.