Day 2
After one of those really good buffets for breakfast, the
kind with waffles, eggs, ham, rolls, cereal, etc., we went to a grocery store
and bought picnic lunch stuff. Then we got on the road.
We drove a ways to Hastings, NE where Roger checked out a private
college. Then we took a back road to Fort Kearny State
Historical Site.
At the Fort, we went through the museum, then walked the
outside area. We walked all around it and through the buildings,
even though it was quite chilly.
We picnicked in their park.
As we continued on, we stopped and read historical signs along the highway, but from the car. It rained and was chilly and windy.
Next we stopped at the Great Platte River Road Archway.
It spans Interstate 80 near Kearney, Nebraska. It was extremely interesting. Like their brochure states, they use film, computer graphics, light and sound to tell the story of our westward migration. You are taken back in time to an era when covered wagons, hand-pulled carts, and trains first criss-crossed the prairies. The Great Platte River Road Archway is an interactive adventure that pays tribute to the pioneers who passed through Nebraska on their way West. The buffalo herd stampeding was one of the best scenes. We spent 1 ½
hours there. It would be easy to spend a whole day if one had the time.
What did we witness in the Archway? "The thrill of an arriving Pony Exprss rider, the urgency of declaring war spreading over the telegraph wires, a buffalo stampede, the words and faces of those that lived and died on the route, the building of the railroad, the creation of the first transcontinental road (the Lincoln Highway), and today’s modern transportation system all becomes an adventure for you to share! "
We drove on to University of Nebraska-Kearney where Roger drove
along all their roads. Quite a big college. He will
go to a college football game there next year.
We started driving on I-80 (it is a lot faster than on the gravel roads
yesterday) to get to North Platte where we stopped for the night.
North Plattte, Nebraska is where east meets west on Union Pacific's rail line. We read about the Golden Spike Tower and since the Pughs were railroad people, we decided to go see it.
It was fantastic! It is an 8 story high structure overlooking Bailey Yard's, the world’s largest rail yards. We learned a lot of railroad history in that facility.
See you tomorrow.
