National Register of Historic Places

Miles Ranch

Dawson, Richardson County, Nebraska
Listed
December 19, 2012
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
12001075

About this property

Miles Ranch near Dawson, Nebraska was the first of the great ranches established west of the Missouri River. It was established by Stephen Boyd Miles in 1855 as part of “mail grant land” awarded by the United States Government in exchange for transporting mail, freight, and passengers between Independence, Missouri, and Salt Lake City, Utah. Strategically located along the Overland Trail, the Ranch became the headquarters of Miles’ stage line empire. Hundreds of horses and mules were recuperated at the Ranch to service the thriving stage line business. Hemp was the first crop and used to make rope. The Ranch was a city in and of itself covering as much as 42,000 acres of land between Nebraska and Kansas. At the Ranch, multiple buildings were erected, including several barns, a bunkhouse, silos, and numerous other houses. An elaborate water system was created to supply the needs of the Ranch. A post office was run out of the first, crude house. A general store, blacksmith shop, and sawmill were located on the property. As a stagecoach stop, the Miles Ranch also offered lodging for weary travelers. Long before Miles established the Miles Ranch, the land was home to various Native American tribes. First the Pawnee and the Otoe arrived in the area. There were subsequent arrivals of the Sauk and Meskwaki and the Iowa, followed by the Ho-Chunk and the Sioux.

Location

63795 638 Ave.
Dawson, Richardson County, Nebraska
40.09104, -95.86076

Categories

ARCHITECTUREEXPLORATION/SETTLEMENTCOMMERCEAGRICULTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Miles Ranch

This page lists Miles Ranch. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Miles Ranch report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Schmid, Alfred and Magdalena, Farmstead
Industrial
4.5 mi
Humboldt Commercial Historic District
Listed
6.8 mi
Holman, John, House
Industrial
7 mi
Clark, R.A., House
Industrial
11 mi
Cincinnati Bridge
Industrial
11.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was Miles Ranch listed on the National Register?

Miles Ranch was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 19, 2012.

What type of historic resource is Miles Ranch?

Miles Ranch is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Miles Ranch?

The period of significance for Miles Ranch is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Miles Ranch?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Miles Ranch will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Richardson County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Richardson County.

Explore RichardsonCounty ›

More historic places in Nebraska

Browse all historic places in Nebraska.

View Nebraskahistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Nebraska history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Nebraskahistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Miles Ranch will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report