Grand Island, NE
with others
In 1857, a group of 35 people—mainly German immigrants—left Davenport, Iowa, to settle an area in central Nebraska. French fur traders had identified a location they named "La Grande Island" on the Platte River and by July 1857 the settlers had arrived and soon were building log houses made from ash, elm and cottonwood timber.
Union Pacific arrived in July of 1866 and laid out an entirely new town slightly inland from the island. The railroad marked the new town as the end of the first division point on the fledgling railroad. From there, it built the first depot, and soon followed with a combination depot and hotel. Union Pacific and the new transcontinental route contributed significantly to the growth of Grand Island.
By 1880, Union Pacific had established machine shops and a roundhouse in Grand Island and provided the town with water piped in from wells it had dug along the tracks near the river. On June 4, 1980, Grand Island was struck by a massive tornado. Union Pacific came to the town's aid, sending more than 130 employees and 50 pieces of heavy equipment to help in the clean up. The railroad also provided bunk cars, dining cars and supplies to offer comfort to the survivors.