Chimney Rock National Historic Site

On our way back across the plains we decided to make a few pitstops to break things up a bit. First we detoured up to Chimney Rock, a famous landmark for the pioneers travelling the Oregon Trail. Next we stopped briefly at the Pony Express Station in Gothenburg, NE. The station is one of a very few that remain today. Finally, on our last day of the trip, we drove over to the Lewis & Clark Memorial in Council Bluffs, Iowa. It was interesting to be standing atop the same bluffs they had back when this was still unknown territory. Overall it was a nice, brief look at the history of the plains...

Chimney Rock, Pony Express Museum, Lewis & Clark Memorial - NE & IA (7-6-08)

Chimney Rock National Historic Site
Chimney Rock, Nebraska
Chimney Rock National Historic Site
Chimney Rock National Historic Site...it was a bit smaller than I imagined it.
Chimney Rock National Historic Site
The visitors center with Chimney Rock in the background...
Chimney Rock National Historic Site
This is as close as you can get to Chimney Rock. It actually sits on private property and is off-limits to the public...
Chimney Rock National Historic Site
Chimney Rock sits just north of the cliffs that mark the southern edge of the Platte River Valley...
Pony Express Station
As we continued east we stopped for a couple minutes in Gothenburg, Nebraska for a look at an original Pony Express station...
Pony Express Station
The Pony Express Station in Gothenburg, Nebraska. This cabin was reclocated to this spot from a location to the south along the Oregon Trail. Very few structures remain from the short-lived pony express so this little structure is quite special...
Lewis & Clark Memorial
One of our last stops was in Council Bluffs, Iowa at the Lewis & Clark Memorial...
Lewis & Clark Memorial
The small memorial sits in a pleasant little park with a commanding view of the Missouri River...
Lewis & Clark Memorial
The monument depicting the meeting of Lewis and Clark with the Oto Indians on their way west...
Lewis & Clark Memorial
On the back of the monument you get a bit of background info about the spot...
Lewis & Clark Memorial
Overlooking the Missouri River plain from the momument in Council Bluffs...
Lewis & Clark Memorial
The panorama from the Lewis and Clark Monument. Omaha, Nebraska can be seen in the distance through the haze...