Chimney Rock and Scottsbluff Nebraska

We continued to follow the Lincoln Highway when we left Omaha. The drive to North Platte was full of small towns, farms harvesting their corn, and views of the North Platte River. Fall colors are showing more frequently as we head west and gain altitude.

We changed our plans a bit when we left North Platte and took the Oregon Trail route to two historical landmarks: Chimney Rock and Scottsbluff.  These two rock formations were important to the pioneers heading out on the California, Oregon and Mormon Trails because it meant that they had traveled about 1/3 of the way to their end destination from Independence, Kansas. Scottsbluff offered an opportunity to restock supplies, rest up and perhaps do a little touring (some left their signatures on the sandstone formations, although none remain because of erosion.) The strange formations, which could be seen for days before arriving, told the pioneers that they were moving from the "Great American Desert" into western lands. 

Nowadays, you can walk in the ruts left behind by the pioneers and their covered wagons. There is a narrow, twisting road that leads up to the top of Scottsbluff, offering some amazing views of the countryside. At Chimney Rock, you cannot get close to the formation but the visitor's center offers some great views of it.  Chimney Rock is eroding quite quickly -you can see the difference from the early 1800s to now.

I was thrilled to see Chimney Rock and Scottsbluff.  I remember, in fifth grade, studying about the western movement and how the pioneers looked forward to seeing the formations after many weeks of tough travel. I knew that I had ancestors who had traveled to their new home in a covered wagon (although not on these famous trails) and I felt a connection to those people.

We continue our exploration of pioneer and western days by heading to Cheyenne for a couple of days.

More trees are showing their autumn garb.

The farmers are working hard, but it will take awhile to mow most of Nebraska.

We found this veteran's memorial in Columbus, Nebraska.  It showcased the Higgins boat because Andrew Higgins, the inventor of the boat that won World War II was born in Columbus.

This is actually a replica of the Higgins boat. You could enter it and get some sense of what all those American soldiers were standing in as they waited to storm the Normandy coast.

The memorial has evolved. This is a memorial to the victims of 9/11. It consists of some of the building girders with an eagle perched on top. Always an emotional view.

I tell you, no one does county courthouses better than Midwest towns.

Pioneers could see Chimney Rock for days before their actual arrival. This helped motivate them on their very difficult journey.

Chimney Rock is a National Park Historical Site and is managed in conjunction with the Nebraska Historical Society.

This is a side view of the formation. The layers are being eaten away by winds and rain.

Scottsbluff was the next major landmark. Mitchell Pass is close by and was used by the Oregon and California Trails. Prior to the development of the pass, the pioneers avoided the area because of the rugged topography.

Replica wagons provide some sense of scale and the primitiveness of the situation for the pioneers.

The wagons were used for hauling supplies, not people.  Most people walked the entire trail.

Part of the Oregon Trail remains. You can see how deeply gouged the trail became because of the hundreds of wagons

The view from the top of Scottsbluff was beautiful. A town now exists nearby.

Part of the winding road up to the top of Scottsbluff. North Platte River is visible in the distance. You can see how folded the local terrain is and how it would discourage pioneers from following a path close to Scottsbluff. But the development of nearby Mitchell's pass shortened the trail by eight miles (about a day of travel.)

Headed down the road to Cheyenne.  Not seeing corn anymore, but more pronghorn antelope and cattle.