Grand Island, Nebraska

As we drove north into Nebraska today, we passed fields of sorghum, soy beans and corn.  The rolling land stretched as far as we could see and the sky was a bowl above us.  There were more trees than I expected.  The day warmed up to 86 degrees by this afternoon.  The wind blew at 21 mph from the south.  I find it interesting to live in such a constant wind.  It is like living on a boat.


Out our windows, all we see is golden corn.

We ate a picnic lunch in the city park of Beatrice, Nebraska, and then drove on to Grand Island.  I have read many books about settlers crossing the plains and following the Oregon Trail to make new homes in the west.  Now I am here.  We visited the Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer in Grand Island.


One exhibit was quilt art by Nebraska quilters.
This is "Steps in Jerome" by Jo Drueke; Firth, Nebraska.

The real star of the Stuhr is their living history town, Railroad Town.  We were the only visitors to RR Town this afternoon, so we wandered the streets, looking into shops and houses from 1896.  There were several re-enactors present to share their trades and information.


The woodworker made these tiny rocking horses, which
make a clip clop sound when they rock.


The tinsmith sold George a tin mug and me a GA cookie cutter he had made.


There was a barn full of various types of buggies.
This is a stage coach.


There were several homes.  This is the house in which
Henry Fonda was born.  It was moved to RR Town.  He
only lived here as a baby.

There were many other crafts people working, so we had a full
stroll.  I kept thinking how cool this would be as a class field trip.
First, you play Oregon Trail, and then if you survive, you get to visit Railroad Town.