Nebraska for a couple of days

ahschneid
Sep 18, 2023
6 min read

We decided to go to Nebraska for a couple of days after leaving Kansas. Our first day, we checked out the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument over I-80 in Kearney, NE. We were staying at the Fort Kearney State Recreation Area campground, about a mile from the Fort Kearney Historical State park. It was an overcast day with light rain in the morning, so the indoor audio tour of the Archway Monument built around the year 2000 was perfect. It is extremely well done and we highly recommend it if you're ever near it.

The Great Platte River Road Archway 16 Sep 2023

(From our walk on the path near the visitor center)

The Great Platte River Road Archway 16 Sep 2023

The Great Platte River Road Archway 16 Sep 2023

The Great Platte River Road Archway 16 Sep 2023

Indoor Tour Experience at The Great Platte River Road Archway 16 Sep 2023

Indoor Tour Experience at The Great Platte River Road Archway 16 Sep 2023

(The Mormon Trail, California Trail, Oregon Trail and Santa Fe Trail all converged Fr. Kearney following the Platte River to Laramie, Wyoming)

Indoor Tour Experience at The Great Platte River Road Archway 16 Sep 2023

Indoor Tour Experience at The Great Platte River Road Archway 16 Sep 2023

Indoor Tour Experience at The Great Platte River Road Archway 16 Sep 2023

Indoor Tour Experience at The Great Platte River Road Archway 16 Sep 2023

Indoor Tour Experience at The Great Platte River Road Archway 16 Sep 2023

Indoor Tour Experience at The Great Platte River Road Archway 16 Sep 2023

Indoor Tour Experience at The Great Platte River Road Archway 16 Sep 2023

Indoor Tour Experience at The Great Platte River Road Archway 16 Sep 2023

Indoor Tour Experience at The Great Platte River Road Archway 16 Sep 2023

We had heard that Kearney had the point that is exactly equal distance from Boston and San Francisco. It turned out to be true, but only by train. The indoor tour gave a nod to the farm where that midway spot was said to be.

Indoor Tour Experience at The Great Platte River Road Archway 16 Sep 2023

(Chimney Rock - the landmark travelers looked for to confirm their route)

Indoor Tour Experience at The Great Platte River Road Archway 16 Sep 2023

Indoor Tour Experience at The Great Platte River Road Archway 16 Sep 2023

Indoor Tour Experience at The Great Platte River Road Archway 16 Sep 2023

Indoor Tour Experience at The Great Platte River Road Archway 16 Sep 2023

(Overlooking I-80)

Indoor Tour Experience at The Great Platte River Road Archway 16 Sep 2023

(Speed Radar over I-80)

Indoor Tour Experience at The Great Platte River Road Archway 16 Sep 2023

Fort Kearney Historical State Park is interesting, but most of the buildings are no longer standing. We watched a video inside and looked at the few items on display, then we walked around the grounds. We had arrived there about an hour before the indoor part was closing, so we sort rushed through it.

Fort Kearney State Historical Park afternoon of 16 Sep 2023

Fort Kearney State Historical Park afternoon of 16 Sep 2023

Inside Visitor Center at Fort Kearney State Historical Park afternoon of 16 Sep 2023

Inside Visitor Center at Fort Kearney State Historical Park afternoon of 16 Sep 2023

Inside Visitor Center at Fort Kearney State Historical Park afternoon of 16 Sep 2023

Inside Visitor Center at Fort Kearney State Historical Park afternoon of 16 Sep 2023

Inside Visitor Center at Fort Kearney State Historical Park afternoon of 16 Sep 2023

Fort Kearney State Historical Park afternoon of 16 Sep 2023

Sod house Fort Kearney State Historical Park afternoon of 16 Sep 2023

Fort Kearney State Historical Park afternoon of 16 Sep 2023

Fort Kearney State Historical Park afternoon of 16 Sep 2023

Fort Kearney State Historical Park afternoon of 16 Sep 2023

Fort Kearney State Historical Park afternoon of 16 Sep 2023

(Underground Powder Storage)

Fort Kearney State Historical Park afternoon of 16 Sep 2023

(Entrance to Underground Powder Storage)

On our second day, we were ambitious with quite a list of things to accomplish: wash our truck, go to a local farmers market, go to Pioneer Village and attend mass (it was Saturday and we were traveling Sunday). Well, we did it all! Pioneer Village is in Minden Nebraska and it's a must-see if you're ever near it. Harold Warp, the founder, came from a very poor farming childhood to being a successful and wealthy businessman in plastics. He noticed in his life that things were changing and advancing quickly, and he decided to capture what he could to show generations to come how it used to be. We don't know how he got the thousands of items in Pioneer Village, but he must have had a curator finding and acquiring on his behalf. There were things Anita nor Steve had ever seen or heard of. We spent about 6 hours there and I'm sure we missed quite a bit. There are so many things on display that one cannot look anywhere without seeing something. No bare wall space! There are 27 buildings chock full of era-appropriate items. The buildings all need maintenance, from paint to a new roof for some. We walked away not sure why there is such disrepair, but hope this treasure of a collection never closes.