The city of alliance was founded soon after Box Butte county was formed from a part of Dawes county around 1888. In the Summer of 1887 the Burlington and Missouri River railroad, through its subsidiary Lincoln Land Company, bought the land where Alliance would later be built. However, only the right-of-way, shops and roundhouse areas were established without any further sale of land. When the railroad line was built the company proceeded to sell the land around the railroad lots and people began coming to the new town. The Sallows Military museum which displays military items, including firearms, flags, helmets, gas masks, medals, uniforms and accessories from the Indian Wars, WWI, WWII, the Alliance Air Base, Vietnam, Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom. Another interesting place to visit is the Knight museum and Sandhills center. The exhibits here represent five areas of local history: Life in the Sandhills, Native American life, Life in the Country, Life in the Town and The Railroad. Recreational venues in town include the Big Blue Bay Outdoor pool, Central park, Laing Lake park, ball fields, tennis courts and a bunch of neighborhood parks.