Miles:
698
Nebraska’s Cowboy Capital
While you are stopped, visit bees on a farm!
Ogallala, Nebraska; Keith County
Ogallala is a town on the Union Pacific Railroad that was named after the Oglala Lakota Nation. During the late 1800s, it was a “cowtown” of the Old West, filled with cowboys who enjoyed gambling, drinking, and fighting. The famous Chisholm Trail was destroyed by farmers who settled in eastern Oklahoma and Kansas, leading to the establishment of the Western or Texas Trail through Dodge City to Ogallala. Texas cattle were shipped east from Ogallala or sold to ranchers from Nebraska, Montana, Wyoming, Dakota, and Colorado. Indian agencies and mining camps were also early markets for Ogallala beef. It was a lively and colorful segment of the American West and the chief gateway to the newly opened ranges of the northern plains. However, by 1884, the trail driving days were virtually over, and the Old West and Ogallala turned to other ways of life. Cattle still remains an important industry in the area, along with farming, hydro-electric power, and other industries.
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While you are stopped, visit bees on a farm!
Do you need a sweet bee-ginning to your day? Catch the buzz on a treat from Nebraska’s newest addition to the farm and learn from Caleb about the honeybees on his family’s farm. His bees make honey for families just like yours!
Did You Know?
- Bees pollinate 95 different crops, helping to create nearly one-third of the world’s food supply.
- Honey bees gather 10 pounds of nectar to make one pound of honey.
- Honey is the only food produced by insects that is eaten by humans on a wide scale.
- A queen bee lays between 1,000-3,000 eggs per day which is over one million eggs in her lifetime!
- Worker bees’ wings can beat 250 times per second allowing the bee to fly at speeds of up to 15 miles per hour.
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Coming up next:
Around the World on Wheels
In April of 1895 Mr. and Mrs. H. Darwin McIlrath pedaled west from Chicago, determined to circle the world on bicycles. During their journey, sponsored by the Chicago Inter Ocean newspaper, Mr. McIlrath contributed letters to the Inter Ocean describing the couple’s experiences and the sights they saw along the way. A travel book compiled from these letters, titled Around the World on Wheels for the Inter Ocean: The Travels and Adventures in Foreign Lands of Mr. and Mrs. H.... Read more
Visit a Wheat Farm
Sidney, Nebraska; Cheyenne County
A pinch of patience. A dash of vanilla. A spoonful of sugar. And a heap of chocolate. What could we be baking? Cookies! But we’re missing one important ingredient to make this sweet treat. What could it be? Wheat! Visit Clara’s farm in Sidney, NE to learn more about how wheat is grown and harvested in Nebraska.
Courthouse & Jail Rocks
Bridgeport, Nebraska; Morrill County
Courthouse and Jail Rocks are massive monoliths made of Brule clay and Gering sandstone. Over time, wind and water erosion slowly sculpted the rocks into their current courthouse or castle shapes. The rocks became well-known milestones for settlers traveling northwest from Ash Hollow and were popular subjects in diary entries and sketches.
The rocks are well known for their many layers made... Read more
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