Nebraska Towns and Homesteads

After 5 years of traveling West on I-40 we were happy for a change of scenery across Kentucky horse country,  Indiana farms with great old barns and Missouri River cities (Kansas City was a new one for me!) and on to Nebraska where we left the interstate traffic behind.  Our first stop was a lovely town park in Falls City. The park adjoined an immaculate new neighborhood and there was a little lake with a walking trail around it.  Last summer our friends, Missie and Ken, told us they stay in town parks on the way to Montana.  Now we know why!  There will be more on this trip-- the price is right too!

We both wanted to explore more of Nebraska and had a few stops in mind mostly for Sandhill  Cranes and the Oregon Trail.  The fun of a trip with a distant deadline, however, is planning as you go.  Highway 136 seemed to call us as we looked at the map and I saw the Willa Cather State Historic Park at one end.  She is one of my all time favorite authors---so off we went.  We hadn't been 30 miles when we started seeing National Park signs.  So it was back to the map and only 5 miles away was the Homestead of America National Monument.  Never heard of that one!!  but there it was rising out of the prairie!

We braved the wind for a very informative museum tour and talk by the ranger.  We had not realized that the Homestead Act of 1862 was in effect until 1976 in the western states and until 1986 in Alaska.  The National Monument is on the land of the first homestead.  A log cabin from the area was moved there.  It's a beaut!!!

There were other buildings to visit and lots of great prairie hikes--just too cold and windy for us!  We learned from the Ranger that our Rt. 136 is the Heritage Highway and home to lots more places to see.

 Willa Cather, who was born in Winchester, VA, moved to the famous town of Red Cloud, NE at age 10.  The town was a crossroads and a cultural mix that greatly influenced her and her writing.  A new museum and bookstore has just opened there in a restored store front with Opera House above.  The building alone was worth the visit even if I hadn't purchased 2 books and soaked up all the quotes, words and stories shared there.

We are now in a Holdrege town campsite to visit a Prairie Museum tomorrow.  The town has a restored Amtrak Station and a very substantial Courthouse.

It is nice to be settled in one spot for a few days before we head for North Platte and the Buffalo Bill Ranch and downtown Quilt Shop with over 4000 bolts of quality quilt fabric!!!!  I like Nebraska!!!