Tuesday August 19th we left Douglas and traveled south to Cheyenne WY and the AB RV Park.
Wednesday we took a ride to Laramie and visited the old Territorial Prison which was the predecessor of the new prison in Rawlins. The state has made the old prison site into a park with a town site and other attractions. One of the most famous guests at the prison was Butch Cassidy.
From Laramie we drove west to the town of Centennial and the Snowy Range with elevations of nearly 11,000 feet and many beautiful mountain lakes and snow capped peaks. We also stopped at an old abandoned gold mine. This was another beautiful drive.
In the evening we went into Cheyenne to the capitol building which was designed to look like the US capitol in Washington DC. Cheyenne is also home of F.E. Warren Air Force Base.
Thursday August 21st we took a day trip down into Colorado and Estes Park and Rocky Mountain Nat’l Park. We traveled up through Thompson Canyon into the Park and traveled the scenic Trail Ridge Road which is the highest major highway in the U.S.
The highest point on the road is 12,183 feet and you are looking down on snow capped peaks. We have always wanted to see this part of the Colorado Rockies and it is as beautiful as we have always been told.
Friday we went to downtown Cheyenne and looked over the historic district and also went in the Nelson Museum of the West. This is one of the nicest small western museums we have visited. There is a really nice collection of cowboy and Indian, U.S. Calvary and some real nice Remington and Russell paintings and the owner of the museum is a dedicated big game hunter, so there is a large number of big game mounts from around the world.
Saturday August 23rd we left Cheyenne and moved east to Kimball, NE. This is near Sidney which is home and headquarters of Cabela’s Outfitters. We took a ride over to see the store and corporate offices etc. I thought this may still be the original store, but they are now in a modern building like all the other Cabela’s. The old store is still down town and is used for offices and storage.
Sunday we went up to Scotts Bluff at Gering, NE which is on the immigrants trail and you can still see the ruts here of the thousands of wagons that passed through on the journey west.
From Scotts Bluff we traveled east to Chimney Rock possibly the most famous of the landmarks on the immigrant trail. Chimney Rock is on the Nebraska state quarter minted in 2006. We then traveled on east to Bridgeport NE where we saw Courthouse and Jail Rocks, two more trail landmarks. Bridgeport got its name from Camp Clark Bridge where the Sidney-Deadwood trail crossed the North Platte River. We saw many fields of sunflowers growing in this area.
Monday August 25th we left Kimball and moved east to Ogallala NE where we picked up our mail and took a ride out to Lake McConaughy on the North Platte River. This is Nebraska’s largest reservoir.
Tuesday we left Ogallala and traveled east to North Platte, NE and the Holiday RV Park.
While in North Platte we went to Scout’s Rest, Buffalo Bills Nebraska ranch. He built this ranch during the heydays of his famous touring Wild West Show. The house was built in the 1880s for $3,900 on 4,000 acres. He then built the large horse barn that took seven train car loads of lumber to build. The house and barn have been restored and a wealth of Buffalo Bill memorabilia is on display.
Wednesday we went to the Union Pacific RR Bailey Railroad Yard and the new eight stories high Golden Spike Observation Tower. The Bailey Yard is the world’s largest classification (taking cars from one train and building new trains for various destinations.) yard handling 15,000 cars in a 24 hr period. There are 120 sets of tracks. Container trains and coal trains only stop to change crews and do not go through the classification process. We learned that 36 full coal trains and 36 empty coal trains pass thru each day moving to and from the Wyoming coal fields.
We also went to the Lincoln Co. Historical Museum, home of the famous WWII Canteen.
Women in the community worked hard to make soldiers passing through on the way to war feel welcome. They provided food, baked goods and hot coffee including birthday cakes.
There is also a Western Heritage Museum and village including a Sears Roebuck Catalog house costing $2,300. complete. There is also a section telling of the life and accomplishments of William Jeffers one time president of the Union Pacific Railroad. Mr. Jeffers also became known as the Rubber Czar for his work in developing the synthetic rubber program during WWII.
Thursday August 28th we left North Platte and traveled east to Minden NE and the Harold Warp Pioneer Village Museum and RV Park. Mr. Warp was a collector’s collector. He made his money by developing and manufacturing plastic film and related products.
Pioneer Village has more than 50,000 items covering just about everything you can think of concerning America progress since 1830 to the present. The exhibits are located in 28 buildings on twenty acres. This is nicely laid out in a village theme and also includes a 350 seat restaurant, motel and campground. We spent about seven hours over two days and could have spent longer, but we are about museumed out.
Friday we also went into Kearney and visited the Great Platte River Road Archway. This structure spans I-80 and is the only museum to be built across an interstate highway. Audio/visual effects trace the development of the American west exhibits of pioneers, the transcontinental railroad, the Lincoln Highway US-30 and finally I-80.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
Idaho Falls to Douglas, WY
Monday August 4th we left Idaho Falls and traveled west to the little town of Arco ID home of the first Atomic Power Plant in the US and also Craters of the Moon Natl. Park.
After getting set up at the KOA we went down to the Craters of the Moon. This is 750 acres of lava flow from a Volcano that last erupted 2000 years ago. It sure is a weird looking area. We drove a seven mile loop road through the lava flow. One place where there was a vent there was still snow down in the hole.
Tuesday we toured the EBR Atomic Power Plant which first generated usable electricity in 1951 and furnished electricity for the town of Arco. This facility known as the Idaho National Laboratory does a lot of experimental work for military and homeland security. They also operate one of the largest areas to dispose of nuclear waste. The waste from Three Mile Island was transported here.
Wednesday August 6th we left Arco and moved south to Twin Falls ID. We went in town to the visitor’s center located on the canyon rim of the Snake River. The bridge over the Canyon is 750 feet above the water and there were “Base Jumpers” parachuting off the bridge down onto the river bank below. We watched eight different jumpers while we were there. From the visitors center you can also see the ramp Evil Knievel used in his 1974 attempt to jump the canyon.
Thursday we went to the Twin Falls which are claimed to be 50 feet higher than Niagara Falls. They are nice, but not as impressive as Niagara.
Friday we took our bikes and rode the canyon rim trail. Later we went to the mall and checked out the Sportsman’s Warehouse.
Saturday August 9th we left Twin Falls and headed back to Wyoming with stops at Brigham City, UT and Rock Springs WY.
Monday we left Rock Springs and traveled east to Rawlins, WY and the Western Hills RV Park.
Tuesday we toured the Wyoming Frontier Prison in Rawlins. This prison was used from 1903 until 1982. The tour included the cell blocks, kitchen and dining area, gas chamber and gallows.
After the prison tour we took the car and went to Fort Fred Steele State Historic site.
This Fort was on the North Platte River and was built to protect the railroad from the Indians. The fort was in operation from 1868 thru 1886. This area is now used as cattle and sheep ranching.
On the way back to Rawlins we drove by a large Sinclair oil refinery in a town of the same name.
Wednesday August 13th we left Rawlins and traveled north to Casper, WY stopping on the way at Independence Rock which is located on the old Oregon, California and Mormon Trail. Here thousands of immigrants passed here and carved their names in the granite rock. This landmark marked one third of the way on their 2,000 mile trek to their destinations. You can still see wagon ruts near the base of the rock.
After arriving at Casper and getting set up we went to the Historic Trails Interpretive Center. This is a great center showing the history of the trials and tribulations of the emigrants traveling west to new lives. They had a movie and many nice displays showing the obstacles encountered on the way west.
We then went to Fort Caspar on the North Platte River where there is the reconstructed fort along with replicas of the old toll bridge and ferry emigrants used to cross the river.
Thursday August 14th we left Casper and moved east forty miles to Douglas, WY.
At Douglas we visited Ft. Fetterman which was one of the forts built to protect the Bozeman Trail which went up through the Powder River Basin. After the trail was closed in 1867 the forts were decommissioned.
We then went over to Ayers Natural Bridge State Park, which is a natural arch in the stone over LaPrele Creek. This is a beautiful park in a red rock canyon. This park is located just off I-25.
Friday August 15th we took a ride to the Oregon Trail Ruts National Historic site near Guernsey WY. These are the deepest wagon ruts of the trail system, cut into solid rock at a location to avoid fording the North Platte River. We also went to Register Cliff another site where many emigrants cut their names into the rock surface.
From Register Cliff we went to Fort Laramie Nat’l Historic Site. This fort served as a staging area for both peaceful and hostile dealings with the plains Indians including Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse.
Saturday we went into Douglas and the Railroad Interpretive Center located at the old, but nicely restored Railroad Depot. They have several restored rail cars plus a large steam locomotive on display. Douglas was once the end of the line on what is now the Casper spur.
Monday August 18th we visited the Pioneer Museum in Douglas. This is a very nice museum with an amazing amount of displays. In the afternoon we did laundry.
After getting set up at the KOA we went down to the Craters of the Moon. This is 750 acres of lava flow from a Volcano that last erupted 2000 years ago. It sure is a weird looking area. We drove a seven mile loop road through the lava flow. One place where there was a vent there was still snow down in the hole.
Tuesday we toured the EBR Atomic Power Plant which first generated usable electricity in 1951 and furnished electricity for the town of Arco. This facility known as the Idaho National Laboratory does a lot of experimental work for military and homeland security. They also operate one of the largest areas to dispose of nuclear waste. The waste from Three Mile Island was transported here.
Wednesday August 6th we left Arco and moved south to Twin Falls ID. We went in town to the visitor’s center located on the canyon rim of the Snake River. The bridge over the Canyon is 750 feet above the water and there were “Base Jumpers” parachuting off the bridge down onto the river bank below. We watched eight different jumpers while we were there. From the visitors center you can also see the ramp Evil Knievel used in his 1974 attempt to jump the canyon.
Thursday we went to the Twin Falls which are claimed to be 50 feet higher than Niagara Falls. They are nice, but not as impressive as Niagara.
Friday we took our bikes and rode the canyon rim trail. Later we went to the mall and checked out the Sportsman’s Warehouse.
Saturday August 9th we left Twin Falls and headed back to Wyoming with stops at Brigham City, UT and Rock Springs WY.
Monday we left Rock Springs and traveled east to Rawlins, WY and the Western Hills RV Park.
Tuesday we toured the Wyoming Frontier Prison in Rawlins. This prison was used from 1903 until 1982. The tour included the cell blocks, kitchen and dining area, gas chamber and gallows.
After the prison tour we took the car and went to Fort Fred Steele State Historic site.
This Fort was on the North Platte River and was built to protect the railroad from the Indians. The fort was in operation from 1868 thru 1886. This area is now used as cattle and sheep ranching.
On the way back to Rawlins we drove by a large Sinclair oil refinery in a town of the same name.
Wednesday August 13th we left Rawlins and traveled north to Casper, WY stopping on the way at Independence Rock which is located on the old Oregon, California and Mormon Trail. Here thousands of immigrants passed here and carved their names in the granite rock. This landmark marked one third of the way on their 2,000 mile trek to their destinations. You can still see wagon ruts near the base of the rock.
After arriving at Casper and getting set up we went to the Historic Trails Interpretive Center. This is a great center showing the history of the trials and tribulations of the emigrants traveling west to new lives. They had a movie and many nice displays showing the obstacles encountered on the way west.
We then went to Fort Caspar on the North Platte River where there is the reconstructed fort along with replicas of the old toll bridge and ferry emigrants used to cross the river.
Thursday August 14th we left Casper and moved east forty miles to Douglas, WY.
At Douglas we visited Ft. Fetterman which was one of the forts built to protect the Bozeman Trail which went up through the Powder River Basin. After the trail was closed in 1867 the forts were decommissioned.
We then went over to Ayers Natural Bridge State Park, which is a natural arch in the stone over LaPrele Creek. This is a beautiful park in a red rock canyon. This park is located just off I-25.
Friday August 15th we took a ride to the Oregon Trail Ruts National Historic site near Guernsey WY. These are the deepest wagon ruts of the trail system, cut into solid rock at a location to avoid fording the North Platte River. We also went to Register Cliff another site where many emigrants cut their names into the rock surface.
From Register Cliff we went to Fort Laramie Nat’l Historic Site. This fort served as a staging area for both peaceful and hostile dealings with the plains Indians including Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse.
Saturday we went into Douglas and the Railroad Interpretive Center located at the old, but nicely restored Railroad Depot. They have several restored rail cars plus a large steam locomotive on display. Douglas was once the end of the line on what is now the Casper spur.
Monday August 18th we visited the Pioneer Museum in Douglas. This is a very nice museum with an amazing amount of displays. In the afternoon we did laundry.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Fort Bridger to Idaho Falls
Saturday July 26th we went to the post office and got our mail. We then went back up on White Mt. to see the horses again. We didn’t see any this time and we continued on the mountain road and into Green River WY. Green River has a major Union Pacific RR switch yard. There is a walkway over the tracks where we watched them break down and make up trains.
Sunday we left Rock Springs and moved west to Lyman, WY near Ft. Bridger State Park which was established originally by mountain man Jim Bridger as a trading post and later as an Army fort to protect travelers on the California and Mormon trail. This is a real nice and informative site.
Monday we moved on west to Evanston, WY. where we stayed at Phillips RV Park. We visited a real nice museum and the train station and roundhouse that is being restored.
Tuesday July 29th we traveled on to Brigham City, UT and the Golden Spike RV Park. We arrived here early in the afternoon and took time to wash the car and look around town.
Wednesday we went to the Golden Spike National Monument where the first transcontinental railroad was completed. The Union Pacific was laying track from Omaha, NE and the Central Pacific was doing the same from Sacramento, CA. On May 10th 1869 the two Companies met at Promontory Summit, Utah. The Central Pacific laid 690 miles of track and the Union Pacific 1,086. They had crossed 1776 miles of desert, rivers and mountains to bind together East and West.
We also came upon a rocket assembly and test site near Promontory. It is an ATK facility, and they have number of different rockets on display.
This part of Utah is irrigated agriculture. There are many acres of hay, corn and wheat grown in this area.
Thursday July 31st we left Brigham City and moved north Pocatello ID. and the Cowboy RV Park. We took a ride to American Falls Dam on the Snake River and saw many acres of Idaho potatoes along the way.
Friday we left Pocatello and moved on north to Idaho Falls and the Snake River RV Park.
After getting set up we went down town and did some sightseeing and stopped at the Outback Steak House for an Onion Mum.
Saturday we took a ride up through Rexburg and over to the Tetons. We had never seen the west side of the Tetons. Since we were this close we decided to drive over to Jackson, WY for lunch. It’s a nice drive over Teton Pass with the car; it wouldn’t be as nice with the motor home. (ten percent grades). It was a great drive over and back. We saw miles and miles of potatoes, Barley and wheat along the way.
Sunday we went to Wal-Mart and Sandy got her hair cut and then we looked around town some more.
Sunday we left Rock Springs and moved west to Lyman, WY near Ft. Bridger State Park which was established originally by mountain man Jim Bridger as a trading post and later as an Army fort to protect travelers on the California and Mormon trail. This is a real nice and informative site.
Monday we moved on west to Evanston, WY. where we stayed at Phillips RV Park. We visited a real nice museum and the train station and roundhouse that is being restored.
Tuesday July 29th we traveled on to Brigham City, UT and the Golden Spike RV Park. We arrived here early in the afternoon and took time to wash the car and look around town.
Wednesday we went to the Golden Spike National Monument where the first transcontinental railroad was completed. The Union Pacific was laying track from Omaha, NE and the Central Pacific was doing the same from Sacramento, CA. On May 10th 1869 the two Companies met at Promontory Summit, Utah. The Central Pacific laid 690 miles of track and the Union Pacific 1,086. They had crossed 1776 miles of desert, rivers and mountains to bind together East and West.
We also came upon a rocket assembly and test site near Promontory. It is an ATK facility, and they have number of different rockets on display.
This part of Utah is irrigated agriculture. There are many acres of hay, corn and wheat grown in this area.
Thursday July 31st we left Brigham City and moved north Pocatello ID. and the Cowboy RV Park. We took a ride to American Falls Dam on the Snake River and saw many acres of Idaho potatoes along the way.
Friday we left Pocatello and moved on north to Idaho Falls and the Snake River RV Park.
After getting set up we went down town and did some sightseeing and stopped at the Outback Steak House for an Onion Mum.
Saturday we took a ride up through Rexburg and over to the Tetons. We had never seen the west side of the Tetons. Since we were this close we decided to drive over to Jackson, WY for lunch. It’s a nice drive over Teton Pass with the car; it wouldn’t be as nice with the motor home. (ten percent grades). It was a great drive over and back. We saw miles and miles of potatoes, Barley and wheat along the way.
Sunday we went to Wal-Mart and Sandy got her hair cut and then we looked around town some more.
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