Scotts Bluff, NE and Area

Yes, the Ballards are still alive and traveling but I have gotten a bit behind in my blogging so will catch up a bit here by posting our travel to Albuquerque on two different days.

Friday, August 26, 2016

Our summer travels are quickly ending.  We left Rapid City this morning and are spending the night in Gering, NE at a lovely city campground we discovered several years ago.  Having made the trip to and from ABQ to Rapid City numerous, numerous times, we are always open to going a different way to see some different countryside which is what we did today.

Traveling from Rapid City we headed south to Hot Springs, SD and then on to Chadron, NE and continuing south and then west to Gering which is located next to Scotts Bluff which is the home of Scotts Bluff National Monument.  We only stayed in Gering one night, but since we had pictures from a previous visit, I thought my readers might enjoy seeing what there is to see in the Scotts Bluff area. 

Scotts Bluff Monument

The Monument is a majestic landmark used by Anerican Indians, fur trappers, pioneers and modern travelers.   The bluffs are named for trapper Hiram Scott who reputedly died in the vicinity around 1828.  Early pioneers abandoned the riverbank and cut through Mitchell Pass to avoid the rough terrain. 

The Visitor Center gives you information about the human and natural history of the area and contains a collection of paintings by William Henry Jackson as well as a video about the Oregon Trail and the Monument.   Outside is a display of various wagons used by the pioneers to cross the country including this wagon made by Studebaker,

Made by Studebaker

this overland wagon which was the most common one used by the pioneers

Overland Wagon

as well as this Conestoga Wagon used by freight companies and the military.

Conestoga Wagon

Gering is also the home of the North Platte Museum which has a beautiful display of artifacts which explore the valley’s history from nomadic Indian villages to the Oregon Trail travel and early settlement.  One of the things I found interesting was this boat called a “Bull Boat” which was about 4 feet round and made from buffalo skins.

Just a short distance from Scotts Bluff is the town of Minitare where you find Lake Minitare and this one of seven inland lighthouses found in our country.  The lighthouse was built during the Depression to be “a point of light and hope” for Panhandle residents.  It is four stories high and has a 360 degree view from the top.

Further east from Scotts Bluff is Chimney Rock National Historic Site which a pioneer  called “the most remarkable thing I ever saw.”   The Rock was visible to the emigrants for several days before they actually arrived at the site.  The Rock has a 120 foot span and stands 325 feet from tip to base.

 

Chimney Rock

At another point along the highway you can see Jail House and Courthouse Rocks.   Courthouse Rock rises 340 feet above the valley floor and gets its name because of its blocky shape.  Oregon emigrants thought the rock looked like a courthouse so the smaller rock was therefore the jail.  There is a story told about a band of Skidi Pawnees who fled their enemies, the Sioux by climbing Courthouse Rock.  With cliffs on three sides and only one difficult path to the top, the Pawnees were trapped.  The Sioux camped at the bottom and waited for their enemies to give up from thirst and hunger.  Late one night, the Pawnees made a long rope from their pony lariats, quietly descended the cliff one by one and escaped.  

More travel news tomorrow.