Council Bluffs, NB - Kearny, NB - Ogallalo, Nebraska

August 15 - The plan today is to have breakfast at Cracker Barrel first, but I notice a big tour bus outside and then many Amish people inside.  I’m seated right behind a family group which immediately catches my eye, a man and woman and seven children all about one year apart in age.  Also all are beautiful blond haired, attractive children.  I don’t want to stare so I start looking at my phone when I feel something on my toe, I look down and it’s the baby crawling on the floor, she then sits up and looks at me.  The mother looks over and smiles then comes to get her, but this repeats a couple more times, the restaurant staff is getting a little nervous about this, but mom is not concerned at all, I suppose this is normal at home. As I checked out the cashier said that they have had other groups here and they come to visit the Zoo.  

The plan today is to take I-80 for a while and then get on secondary route 6 which runs parallel to I-80 through many small towns.  This worked out very well, I made several stops that were interesting, some not so much, but all okay.  

Seward, Nebraska

Seward was platted in 1868 and the railroad arrived in 1873.

Seward is known as "Americas 4th of July City" for its large celebration.  It has a vibrant town square, the world's biggest time capsule and home of Concordia University.

The Rivoli Theater

Check Anvil on peak of building

The auto shape on building top is great

Intersting mural

The Courthouse

Utica, Nebraska

Utica was established when the Burlington and Missouri Railroad was extended and named after Utica, NY.  It was promoted as the "Garden spot of the nation" to attract settlers.

Hampton, Nebraska

Hampton was founded by Joshua Cox in 1879 with the arrival of the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad.  In 1891, Cox and his brother James Cox became the first stockmen to ship cattle from the US to Liverpool, England.

Huge grain elevator and tanks

Aurora, Nebraska

Aurora was established in 1877, is a progressive community and is now the County Seat of Hamilton County.

Nice sign

The Hamilton County Court House

Dream designs

I then go to the amazing Plainsman Museum:

Deepwell Ranch painting

Old view of neighboring town Hampton

Hampton Milling bag

Old Drum from Stockman, Nebraska

This was all Pawnee tribe country 

The early European traders felt with the Indians for fur  

Coronado came through this area

Pawnee village scene

Aurora Mills flour

Underwood Typewriter

Steam Tractor

Old belt drive grain Threshing machine

Old Windmill

Old Maxwell Car

Love the original sign

Wood River, Nebraska

Wood River townsite was laid out in 1868, but when the railroad came in 1874, the townsite was relocated to it. 

Beautiful scene

Shelton, Nebraska

Shelton was settled by a Mormon by the name of Joseph Johnson in 1858.  He had a store and printing office which put out "The Huntsmen's Echo", the first newspaper west of Omaha. It was a stage stop prior to the railroad coming in 1866.

The best Bromo-Seltzer ?

Gibbon, Nebraska

Gibbon was established in 1871 by Civil War veturns and named after major general John Gibbons.  It has an attractive downtown.  

Old washer adds a nice touch

The Pop Inn has corn and more

Rise and Grind coffee shop

Kearney, Nebraska

I stop for the day in Kearney spelled similar to the city in New Jersey, I’m wondering if there is a connection and yes there is, although they are two different family members.

   

Kearney has a very nice downtown, many nice looking shops, restaurants, various businesses, bars and entertainment.  I stopped in one place for a while where live music was playing outside.  This is s a college town, University of Nebraska,  and seems to be a little more upscale than most in this area.

The World Theater

Exotic looking lounge

Interesting old coup with feathered out paint

A very clean mid 1930's Chevrolet 

The old Fort Theater has been turned into a dentistry ?

August 16 -  I leave Kearney in the morning traveling on route 30 west making stops at several interesting towns along the way to my destination in Ogallalo, Nebraska.  I will be on route 30 most of the day, it's  a secondary road running parallel to the railroad line.

Lexington, Nebraska

It was an odd downtown area hearing all kinds of languages being spoken and mostly ethnic stores.  As I rounded a corner I almost ran into two beautiful young white girls, very friendly, we had a conversation, they were Nebraska girls in town for a wedding, I regret not taking a photo, they looked so out of place.  

This town is known for having much diversity, may be something to do with the meat packing plant in town.

Court House

Lots of ethnic sores in the downtown

The downtown is no gem

Cozad, Nebraska

Founded along the Union Pacific Railroad by John Jackson Cozad.  The town is noted for art and history, especially their 100th Meridian Museum.

Considered taking a shower in the corn field

Gothenburg, Nebraska

Founded in 1882 by Swedish immigrant Olaf Bergstrom 

Daylight Donuts are something to crow about !

Sutherland, Nebraska

Sutherland is known for its historical significance along the Oregon and Mormon Trails.  It was platted in 1891 and named for Robert Sutherland, a Union Pacific Railroad official. It is also known for the site where the Oregon Trail climbs up and over the bluffs.

Classic old gas station

Rarin' To Go Gas

Lincoln Highway

Beautiful outside paint and artistry on the Longhorn Bar 

I suspect there have been wild times here

Very true !

I'm wondering if this these were local road sign

Ogallalo, Nebraska

I was a little worried about Ogallalo, thought it might be poor and trashy, I was dead wrong, it’s a very nice clean well to do looking town with a nice residential area.  You take the railroad overpass acrid the train tracks and you find a major shopping center area with restaurants, fast food, several motels, truck stops, a a large Walmart. 

I stopped at the post office and found another WPA era mural inside and the tourist center with a nice historic Lincoln Highway marker and old gas pumps.  There are many murals and historic signs around town about the  Transcontinental Railroad, the Mormon Trail, the Pony Express and the Texas cattle drives.  The towns name comes from the Oglala Sioux tribe.    

Ogallalo is famous as the "Nebraska Cowboy Capita" for its history as a major shipping point on the Texas Trail during the 19th century.   

I had a good meal here

Visitors Center

Post Office

I see and drive up this on my next day

These tracks remain a very busy freight line

Saw this old car on the side of a grain elevator

I'll be leaving in the morning headed into Colorado, my destination unknown.