Northport, Nebraska: Shoe Fence
The pole tops of fences along US Hwy 26 have been decorated, anonymously, for years, with inverted boots and shoes.
- Address:
- US Hwy 26, Northport, NE
- Directions:
- Shoe totals have decreased in recent years, but we spotted a stretch of pole-topping footwear on the south side of US Hwy 26 just south of Ash Hollow State Park, or 28 miles north of I-80 exit 126 in Ogallala.
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My wife and I drove down this highway on a recent road trip. We found that the shoe fence is not as extensive as reported (or maybe not as extensively populated as it used to be). The first shoes we spotted were slightly east of Oshkosh, NE -- there were only a dozen or so on the fence there. The shoe volume didn't pick up again until we passed the town of Lewellen. The highest volume of shoes was present near Ash Hollow State Park, and the number petered out quite rapidly thereafter. Still, if you're in the area, it's worth a quick drive ... and maybe leaving a contribution of your own!
[ej, 09/08/2008]I would just like to explain how shoe fences started. Before treated wood farmers would put cans, old pie plates, and yes, old boots on top of wood posts to keep them from rotting. The farm we purchased had old boots on the corner posts we replaced the posts with treated ones. So this fence was probably started that way and became a site to see with donated shoes. I will drop off a pair of old boots if I'm around.
[Anita, 10/15/2006]
Solo road trip of three weeks and seven thousand miles duration in July of 2005. I visited the shoe fence, loved it and left four offerings (two pair of soccer mom sneakers) "For the Gods and Goddesses of the Shoe Fence 07-25-05."
The shoe fence begins along Route 26 a few miles east of Northport, Nebraska and continues for a few miles. After that, the shoes become very spotty until Ogallala. Looks like they need some more contributions.
Great fun, pretty drive.
[Cheryl, 08/10/2006]Between Northport and Ogallala on Highway 26 in Nebraska there is a fenceline that runs for miles and miles -- footwear of all kinds are mounted upsidedown on the fenceposts on the right hand side of the road as you are travelling east/south. Cowboy boots, tennis shoes, all manner of foot gear...and it goes on for MILES. If this were done by a single individual, even at 50 cents a pair at a thrift store, this was an expensive project. Mystery?
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