Barb and Loren Ebke of Fairbury, NE have embarked on an interesting journey. They already have visited every town in Nebraska, photographed every courthouse, every post office and visited every state park. Now they are on a journey to drive every paved road in the state. This entry is in their honor. I will not be blogging about every park, town or courthouse, but will give a sampling of some geographic features which set Nebraska apart. We will take a virtual tour of this great state, stopping at ten sites of interest which are worth the drive.
We will begin on the Nemaha/Richardson County Line, in the South East corner of the state. Traveling North on NE 67, we come to Indian Cave State Park.. With just over 3,000 acres bordering the Missouri River, Indian Cave is a haven for hiking, backpacking and exploring. Indian Cave is a natural formation with ancient Indian pictures carved into the rock.
Continuing North, we drive along the mighty Missouri River. Many do not realize this, but according to traditional classification of rivers, the Mississippi river is actually a tributary to the Missouri, not the other way around. It truly is a mighty river, but like most things no longer is what it once was. The Missouri wass once characreized by several braided channels with barren sandbars lining the shores. Frequent flooding resulted in a large floodplain with varied habitats for wildlife. Since the 1800s, the river has been trained south of Sioux City, IA. How do you train a river? With a series of wingdikes and levees, directing the lower Missouri River into a single, deep channel, which marks the Eastern border of our state. Some of the habitat has been destroyed, but the Missouri is now a more reliable source for irrigation, recreation and now does not flood as readily. About 200 years ago, Lewis and Clark paddled these very waters, describing what they found. Here you can take part in a bit of this intriguing history. Tour companies dot both sides of the Missouri all along its shores. Here are some links...some trips might require crossing the bridge to one of our neighboring states. Just south of Omaha, we find where the Platte River empties into the Missouri, dumping the snow melt it has carried all the way from the Rocky Mountains. Part of this water came from Wyoming via the North Platte River and part from Colorado via the South Platte River. So important is this river to Nebraska history, that my first chapter on our state's history will deal exclusively with it. Check back next week!
The Platte River travels 310 miles across our state. In some ways, this may be the most important geographic structures in the state. Obviously, it supplies a great deal of water to an otherwise semi-arid landscape. But did you know Nebraska was named for this slow-moving, mud filled river? Our state's name comes from an Oto Indian word meaning "flat water." This critical water source is also important for Nebraska wildlife. Here is a photo tour of the Sandhill crane migration on the Platte River. This site contains a large listing of areas all along the Platte River where you can stop, enjoy some hiking, perhaps see some wildlife, camp or relive a bit of Nebraska history.
I-80 crosses the Platte River about halfway between Omaha and Lincoln, our capitol city. Together, these two cities form our state's "metro" area, giving us Easterners all the conveniences of city life, including pollution, traffic jams and crime. Interestingly, cougars have been sighted in Omaha...right in the city! Some may be false reports, but you cannot argue with the dead one found off I-80 near Gretna. Anyway, we'll be taking I-80 south towad Lincoln to our next destination...the salt marshes located in and around our capitol city. These occur only in Lancaster county and are a unique, but threatened, habitat. (scroll down the page for a map). Lincoln Saline Wetlands: (100 acres) this is an undeveloped area east of Capitol Beach Lake in northwest Lincoln. It has a wood-chipped loop trail around the salt marsh, where rails have been seen. From Sun Valley Blvd. (highway 6), go northwest on Westgate Blvd., then west on Industrial Drive, which winds around. Eventually youwill see a wooden blind on a mound on the south side of the water.
Not too far from this salt marsh, we find our very own Nine Mile Prairie. This 230 acre prairie is owned by the University of Nebraska and is used for research and educational purposes. It is one of the few expanses of land that has never been cultivated. It has been used for grazing, but then bison once grazed freely here as well. You can look out over this habitat, listen to the song birds and imagine what Nebraska looked like as Lewis and Clark travelled through. Controlled burning on a three year cycle help to keep this prairie free of trees, brush and invasive species. Driving directions may be found here.
Now we're going to take quite a leap to the North. Getting back on I-80, follow it to HWY 81, near York. Take this north to 14 and that East toward Royal. Here, we will visit the Ashfall Fossil Beds. Browse through the sight. It has a lot of interesting information, although it is definitely NOT written from a biblical worldview. I would suggest comparing their natural history with research such as that available from Answers in Genesis. This is a working archaelogical site. There is a interpretive display (good place to begin your tour) and hiking trails. Numerous skeletons are visible.
Traveling west, we enter the Nebraska sandhills. This sea of grass contains waterfalls, and river canyons. It has North America's largest hand-planted forest. There are so many sites of interest here, both historic and natural. Just driving through is of interest! Stop for a hike and a picnic. Here is a photo tour of the region, just to give you a taste of what is in store for you.
From the first photo on the website above, you might note the cattle. Ranching has always been a vital part of our states economy. In fact, 49% of our land is designated ranchland. To learn more about this part of our history (and present!), we'll drive into Merriman to visit the Arthur Bowring Sandhills Ranch State Historical Museum. This is a working ranch with displays honoring the extraordinary lives of Arthur and Eve Bowring as well as the history of ranching.
Continuing west into the panhandle region, we enter Nebraska's high country. Here we find 95,000 acres of prairie grasses known as the Oglala National Grasslands. The Oglala National Forest may also be found here. Here is a nice photo from the US Forest Service.
Our last stop takes us almost to the border. It is the most noted feature on the Oregon Trail and is one of the most famous landmarks of the American West. This, of course, is Chimney Rock. Breath taking views, hiking trails and a nature center make this destination worth not only the drive, but an entire vacation. Take a sneak peak at what may be seen with this photo tour. If you have high speed internet access, you might enjoy a video.
Hopefully you have enjoyed this tour of Nebraska. If you have any field trip ideas, or notes from field trips you have made in Nebraska, email me! I would love to include your submissions in future blogs. Also let me know of any events going on in your area so that we can make this the best resource possible for home schooling in Nebraska!
Updates for homeschoolers living in or moving to Nebraska.
Message Board
Do you have a question about homeschooling in Nebraska? Can't find what you are looking for? Leave your question here and I'll answer it as soon as possible!
I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness
--Ecclesisates 7:25
Recent Posts
And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
--Deu 11:19
Our e-Newsletters give you wonderful, informative information about homeschooling, news bits, contests and PRIZES for homeschoolers, articles to encourage you, calls for writers, free unit studies and lesson plans, and just a lot of FUN. Bring the community to your inbox – and no worries, we never sell, trade or give your email or any other information out to anyone.
Come join the homeschool party!
Subscribe to *FREE* newsletters offered by The Old Schoolhouse Magazine.
TOS Store
To see a close-up of the current cover, click here.
Do you have the whole set of back issues from The Old Schoolhouse
Magazine?
Click
here to view all back issues and read the themes - you
will want to collect the ones you've missed!!
At Bookstores NOW!!
eBooks to Help You!
Join Our Affiliate Program!
Earn Money Every Time
TOS Magazine is Sold in
Partnership with You.
more . . .
Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come
--Eph 1:21
But I have said unto you, Ye shall inherit their land, and I will give it unto you to possess it, a land that floweth with milk and honey: I am the LORD your God, which have separated you from other people.
--Leviticus 20:24
By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
--Heb 11:9-10
Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
--Luke 10:36-37
