Valentine

Valentine, a city of 2,737 people in North Central Nebraska, is the county seat of Cherry County, Nebraska.

Understand

Main Street

Valentine, founded in 1883 during construction of the Sioux City and Pacific Railroad, was named for Nebraska representative Edward K. Valentine. Immediately north of the Niobrara River, on the northern edge of the Sandhills physiographic region, Valentine was included by National Geographic Adventure magazine in its 2007 list of the best ten wilderness towns and cities. In the Lakota language, Valentine is known as Oínažiŋ or Mnináȟaȟa Otȟúŋwahe, meaning "station stopping place" or "water and waterfall city".

Get in

U.S. Highways 20 and 83.

See

• Bryan Bridge Scenic Overlook. 
• Sand Hills Museum, US-20, west of US-83. 

Do

• 1 Smith Falls State Park, 90165 Smith Falls Rd, ☏ +1 402 376-1306. Smith Falls, the tallest waterfall in Nebraska, is located on a small stream tributary to the Niobrara River about 15 miles (24 km) east of Valentine. Parking $8/day, Nebraska residents $6/day. (updated May 2020)

Eat

• Coachlight Cafe, 302 N Main St, ☏ +1 402 376-3145. (updated May 2021)

Sleep

• Harmony Inn, 304 E Hwy 20, ☏ +1 402 376-3131. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. 

Connect

• Valentine Post Office, 239 N. Hall St, ☏ +1 402 376-1540. Send "Love on Valentine’s Day from Valentine, Nebraska". A special seasonal postmark (available Feb. 2 to 15) has been hand-stamped annually with a verse “With Love from Valentine", the "Crossroads of the Sandhills”, since 1941. About five thousand lovers annually request the special Valentine postmark by mail by putting the stamped envelopes inside a larger envelope and mailing the bundle to: Valentine’s Day Postmark, Postmaster, Valentine Nebraska. (updated Apr 2017)

Go next

Routes through Valentine

Casper ← Chadron ←	W  E	→ O'Neill → Sioux City
Pierre ← Mission ←	N  S	→ North Platte → Oakley