Robidoux Pass

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox NRHP

| name = Robidoux Pass

| nrhp_type = nhl

| image = Robidoux Pass Spring 2021.jpg

| caption = Robidoux Pass from the east in Spring 2021

| nearest_city = Gering, Nebraska

| coordinates = {{Coord|41.8149688|-103.8538362|display=title,inline}}

| locmapin = Nebraska#USA

| area =

| built = 1848

| architect =

| architecture =

| designated_nrhp_type = January 20, 1961{{cite web|url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=315&ResourceType=Site|title=Robidoux Pass|accessdate=2008-05-06|work=National Historic Landmark summary listing|publisher=National Park Service|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090311015114/http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=315&ResourceType=Site|archivedate=2009-03-11}}

| added = October 15, 1966{{NRISref|2007a}}

| refnum = 66000450

}}

Robidoux Pass, also known as Roubadeau Pass, Roubedeau Pass, Roubideau Pass, Roubidoux Pass and Roubadeau Pass Gap, is a gap passing through the Wildcat Hills near Scottsbluff, Nebraska about {{convert|9|mi|km}} west of Gering, Nebraska. The gap was on the Great Platte River Road section of the historic Oregon or Emigrant Trail. It is at an elevation of {{convert|4554|ft|m}}.[http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=139:3:1360630581488258::NO::P3_FID,P3_TITLE:832735%2CRoubadeau%20Pass Information page, U.S. Board of Geographical Names] Used by thousands of immigrants to the west from 1843-1851, the pass is a National Historic Landmark.

The area was named for members of the Robideau family, either Antoine or Joseph E. Robideau (also spelled Robidoux), who in the 1840s maintained a trading post east of the gap and later one at Scottsbluff. It contained blacksmith and grog shops, as well as other goods.Page 147, Robidoux Chronicles: Ethnohistory of the French-American Fur Trade by Hugh M. Lewis, Trafford Publishing (July 6, 2006). trade paperback, 450 pages, {{ISBN|1412025702}} {{ISBN|978-1412025706}} The pass lies a few miles west southwest of Scottsbluff, Nebraska in broken country south of the North Platte River and the Wildcat Hills.

Scotts Bluff blocked wagon travel along the south bank of the North Platte River, forcing early travelers to swing south and go through Robidoux Pass, a natural gateway in the great bluffs. In 1850, a shorter route was opened through Mitchell Pass, just south of the monument itself and much closer to the Platte River and eliminated the eight-mile swing south.[https://web.archive.org/web/20070324011042/http://www.nps.gov/cali/planyourvisit/site3.htm "Scotts Bluff National Monument/Mitchell Pass"]

A local road, Robidoux Road, now passes through the gap. Robidoux Pass is located south of Scotts Bluff National Monument, {{convert|4.5|mi|km}} south and {{convert|8|mi|km}} west of Gering, Nebraska off Nebraska Highway 71 on Robidoux Road.[http://atlas.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?searchtype=address&formtype=address&latlongtype=degrees&latdeg=41&latmin=48&latsec=53&longdeg=-103&longmin=51&longsec=13&zoom=5&title=Roubadeau%20Pass Mapquest map][https://web.archive.org/web/20120426205034/http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/scotts_bluff/robidoux_pass.html Robidoux Pass"] National Park Service website

The site was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1961.