Just west of Gering in western Nebraska, Scotts Bluff National Monument preserves more than 3,000 acres of bluffs, trail remnants, prairie, badlands, and river habitat along the North Platte Valley. First charted in 1812 and rediscovered in 1823, the landmark became a crucial guidepost for fur traders, missionaries, soldiers, and emigrants moving west. Between 1843 and 1869, more than 250,000 travelers passed by on major overland routes, and Mitchell Pass became a preferred crossing after about 1850. The monument also preserves notable rock formations and geologic layers, offering a clear view of how geography directed migration across the American interior.