Over the last week or so, our water pressure has been dropping and this morning it was really bad! Andy and I have been tossing around what it could be and today he said, “let’s take out the inside filter and see what happens.” (On a side note…in the summer when I went to order more filters, I found out that they no longer make them but there was a substitute, which we purchased.) So we took it out and OMG.. the pressure is back. We still may have a problem with the pump but we will see what happens.
Here is little personal note. For years my favorite reading genre was apocalyptic fiction books. Well, as many of my friends will attest, when the pandemic hit, my books were no longer fiction and I truly panicked. (In fact, even today, seeing the news either TV, Radio, or online, I am still living my books. But that is a story for another time.) So I had to stop reading that genre and over the course of trying other types, I settled on historical fiction specifically the Oregon Trail and the Orphan Trains.
Talk about living your books, Kearney is the place. Did you know that the Oregon Trail, Mormon Trail, Pony Express, California Trail (49er Trail), all came thru Kearney. At one time, there were over 2000 people coming thru Fort Kearny EVERY DAY! Can you imagine! (By the way, the fort is spelled without the extra e.) Also, the Lincoln Highway and I-80, the first superhighway, comes thru here.
So this morning, off we went to the Archway Monument:
Outside there was an authentic wagon. Can you imagine traveling in this for over 1000 miles? Can you imaging walking beside this for over 1000 miles and having to do it before the winter? Our ancestors were very brave and strong.
He was huge and dedicated to all the buffalo that roamed the plains.
Interesting tidbit on the Lincoln Highway. I did not know that it was built seedling mile by mile.
As people used the highway, motels sprung up. This was the sign from the original motel in Kearney.
Inside we paid for our tickets, were given instructions on the audio part of the tour (I just love audio tours) and were directed to the escalator. The museum is on two floors above the highway. The first floor is dedicated to the emigrants and then to the railroad.
This sign was at the bottom of the escalator. Wow, 350,000 people in 25 years!
At the start of the timeline, Native American showing the Fur Trapper the ancient trail:
And our journey begins:
The museum was like a time line. From the start of the emigrant trains:
To the establishment of Fort Kearny:
And all those folks passing thru – on the Oregon Trail:
On the Mormon Trail:
Another tidbit on the Mormon Trail…the first group walked with handcarts… Oh my!
On the California Trail – in search of gold:
Going over the mountains:
The trails were scattered with belongings. When folks sold everything, many kept things that felt were important but were not good for the trail.
There were many interesting tidbits scattered throughout the museum:
Moving into the stagecoach and railroad era:
Check out the price of those tickets:
There was not a lot on the railroad. I did find this very interesting (sorry about the blur).
From that area, we moved to the second floor which was all about cars, transportation, highways, and how it changed the country.
Initially there were not many accommodations on the Lincoln Highway so folks just stopped along the road and camped in their cars, in tents, or in the open:
1733 Ranch marked midway across the country. We were told that there was a marker there so went to look for it after our tour but could not find it. The ranch is now a number of homes.
And then the superhighways:
And, of course, all the diners that popped up around the country. Isn’t she cute!:
No, she is not real.
From there we did more of the outside exhibits on the homesteaders.
I am fascinated with the faces of the sculptures, no matter where we go. They just capture so many emotions.
Right outside the museum was a bridge over the Platte River that joined with walking and biking trails all around Kearney.
If you look to the right of the river, there are wire buffalo statues.
The statues:
At the end of the tour, we stopped in the little travel shop there and had a great conversation with the travel advisor about Nebraska (He was so excited about his state). I know that we would love to spend a lot of time just following the old trails. Each little area has so much history. So yes, we got brochures.
After our adventure, we decided to get some supplies then back home. It is HOT! 101 degrees late afternoon.. Too hot for me and I will say that our AC is struggling to keep up. Cooler weather is on the way!
Tomorrow we will explore the Fort so stay tuned and enjoy today.
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