A transmission tower stands beside trees planted as windbreak near an Iowa farmhouse. Shot from I-80 in January 2021, the scene appears calm—ice, fence, gray sky—but everything here works: the tower collecting data, the trees blocking wind, even my passing camera recording. What looks like stillness is actually a landscape of hidden labor.

#photography #WinterPhotography #IowaWinter #LandscapePhotography #I80 #InfrastructurePhotography #RuralAmerica

do we care if the dems cave on the #shutdown?

yes, actually. I think they should have held out until the gop removed the #filibuster at trumpets insistence.

temporary inconvenience, permanent improvement.

i saw that on #I80 about 30 years ago. I80 has never been without construction over the last 30 years, but I still concur.

roads are different from senate rules. this particular improvement will have PERMANENT repercussions.

hoist trump on his own picard.

Front Street Cowboy Museum: Ogallala, Nebraska

The Front Street Cowboy Museum is all about the wild, wild west and driving Texas Longhorn cattle. Located in Ogallala, Nebraska, this visitor attraction brings the town’s rich Old West history to life.

Linda’s Pick of the Exhibits

Like most people, I enjoy a good story. And there are no better stories than the myths of supernatural creatures. In Nebraska, that creature is the Sandhills Warrior Rabbit. The museum even has one in its collection!

The warrior rabbit draws on the the American traditional tale of the Jackalope. These Jackalope tales originate from hybrid animal stories around the world.

One of the earliest stories of a horned rabbit is from 13th-century Persia. The jackalope legend stems from a rare virus called Shope papilloma virus that infects rabbits and causes horn-like keratin tumors to grow. It’s believed that these tumors inspired folklore about horned or “warrior” rabbits.

Scientific research shows that rabbits with these horn-like growths are real but rare. They’re not a distinct species. 

But back to the midwest. In 1932 two brothers in Douglas, Wyoming, studied taxidermy by mail order. One day, one of them tossed a rabbit carcass they planned to work on into their taxidermy collection where it came to rest beside a pair of deer antlers. That gave young Douglas Herrick an idea.

Doug and his brother mounted the rabbit with horns and sold it to a local hotel owner. From there, the story grew and grew and grew with the brothers’ taxidermy sales. Other taxidermists manufactured the rabbits right into the 21st century.

The jackalope has appeared in books, poems, television shows video games and mokumentaries.

Today, tourists can even buy a Jackalope Hunting License in Douglas.

So, the Nebraska Sandhills Warrior Rabbit is one of a group of tall tale animals. This type of tall tale is known as “fearsome critters” and is common to North American culture since the early 1900s.

Indeed, the warrior rabbit has supernatural powers making it a fierce, resilient animal able to survive in the Sandhills.

If you enjoy fearsome critter tales, The National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum in Hayward, Wisconsin, is home to another fearsome critter — the hodag.

What’s in the Front Street Cowboy Museum?

Front Street in Ogallala, Nebraska, is a replica town of the 1880s old west cowboy town. At the time, Ogallala was a major cattle-driving and cattle-shipping hub.

Early in U.S. history, the Chisholm Trail was the trail of choice for driving cattle to the northern states looking for higher prices. The Chisholm Trail ran from the Rio Grande or San Antonio to the railhead of the Kansas Pacific Railway in Abilene. From there, the cattle were shipped to the more populated states in the East.

However, the Chisholm Trail was cut off when farmers began settling and fencing eastern Oklahoma and Kansas. The new Texas Trail (also called Western Trail) grew up from Dodge City to the Union Pacific railhead in Ogallala.

While Dodge City was the end of the trail for some outfits, others with younger stock pushed north to Ogallala. These were sold to ranchers in the area to fatten over the summer and ship out in the fall.

Ogallala became a seasonal gathering place. Saloons were hopping in the spring with Texas cattle bosses selling cattle to local cattlemen. In the fall, action stepped up again as the ranchers brought their steers off the grass to ship east.

As many as 125,000 head of cattle were brought to Ogallala each year.

Ogallala’s heyday as a cow town ended in 1884, when an epidemic of Texas fever caused heavy losses of cattle in Nebraska. States began to enact quarantine laws to protect their livestock. While a few cattle still trickled into Ogallala, the town soon settled into a farming community.

These connected building fronts are filled with memorabilia and cowboy artifacts from the era. Building fronts include:

• Livery Barn Cafe (Restaurant)
• Crystal Palace Saloon (Cold Beer in Ogallala’s famed saloon that saw many gunfights in its hey-day)
• Front Street Cowboys Rest (Buffalo burgers, mountain oysters (bull testicles), steaks, and more)
• Undertaker (Death by gunfights happened on a regular basis to the undertaker’s shop and hearse were important)
• Tonsorial Palace (1870s style barber shop)
• Jail (includes the Sheriff’s office)
• General Store

Front Street is listed on Wikipedia as being on the National Register of Historic Places listings in Keith County, Nebraska.

Some Front Street Displays

Front Street is all about the stories of cowboys, cattle drives, and outlaws. There are lots of different artifacts and photos to bring the stories to life.

Here are some displays I particularly enjoyed.

• Soiled Doves – Saloon Women in Ogallala during the Texas Cattle Drive Days. Photos and displays show their costumes, lifestyles, and challenges working for Madams like “Big Alice.”
• Cowboy gear from boots and spurs to holsters and revolvers.
• Sheriffs who served the town. One display honors Martin DePriest, a Texan who came up the trail in 1877. He served for 11 years and was injured a number of times. He was known for his deliberate coolness in the face of danger, rather than relying on punches or his guns.
• Information about Buffalo Bill Cody.
• Native Americans of Ogallala. Various displays provide the history of the local Sioux people.
• Trails West features paintings, artifacts, and books written about life on a cattle drive.

You can also relive the Old West watching the Front Street Crystal Palace Revue. With 60+ seasons, it’s the longest-running summer stock theatre in Nebraska.

Linda’s Road Trip Tips

Ogallala is a great destination for those who love the old west. Geographically, it’s also in a fascinating area. Indeed, Nebraska’s sandhill dunes cover about 20,000 square miles and are believed to be the largest dune field in the Western hemisphere. They were formed about 8,000 years ago and designated a National Natural Landmark in 1984.

Be sure to visit Boot Hill while you’re in Ogallala. It was established during the Texas Trail era of the late 1800s.

Some buried there met their end in saloons and gambling halls.

Rattlesnake Ed, who was shot over a card game at the Cowboys Rest Saloon, was one of them.

In direct contrast, you can also visit Mansion on the Hill. This Victorian style home was completed in 1887 — Ogallala’s finest home at the time. It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places and worth the visit.

Also, I recommend a stop at the Petrified Wood Gallery while you’re in Ogallala. The gallery includes a collection of fossils and hand-crafted petrified wood figures made by Harvey and Howard Kenfieldin. I also found the 92 pewter figures of Native Americans, cowboys, and cavalry soldiers impressive.

Who Should Visit Front Street Cowboy Museum?

Front Street Cowboy Museum is a great stop for anyone interested in the wild and rugged days of the old west and cattle drives.

Indeed, the town was integral to the Lonesome Dove tv miniseries.

It takes a couple of hours to go through the exhibits, although you can spend more time stopping for a meal or drink.

The museum is family-friendly. It also has ramps and flat walkways in the replica 1880s street to aid those using strollers or who have mobility issues.

How Do You Visit Front Street Cowboy Museum?

Front Street Cowboy Museum is located at the intersection of Interstate 80 (I-80), US-26, and Nebraska Highway N-61.

Location: 519 East 1st St Ogallala, Nebraska.

The museum has free / donations only admission and is open year-round. Check for hours on the Front Street Cowboy Museum website.

Take a virtual tour of the museum with Backroads Tourist on YouTube.

Plan your visit with Google Maps.

Acknowledgments

These stops were all part of a Fam tour hosted by the Gering Convention and Visitors Bureau, Scotts Bluff Area Visitors Bureau, and Nebraska Tourism Commission.

More Places to See in Nebraska

Check out all of guide2museum.com’s reviews of museums in Nebraska.

Read More Reviews of Heritage Museums

• Front Street Cowboy Museum: Ogallala, Nebraska

• Discover the Mormon Handcart Historic Site & Devil’s Gate in Wyoming

• See 100 Miles Across Nebraska From Scotts Bluff National Monument

• Standout Ranching History at the MonDak Heritage Center: Sidney, Montana

• New Iceland Heritage Museum: Gimli, Manitoba, Canada

• Crazy Horse Memorial & Museums: South Dakota’s Black Hills

• Myra Museum: Lustron House & More in Grand Forks, North Dakota

• Fort Cody Trading Post: Miniature Wild West Show in North Platte, Nebraska

• Miracle of America Museum: 40+ Buildings in Polson, Montana

• Sukanen Ship Pioneer Village & Museum: Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan

• Museum of Northern British Columbia: Indigenous Art & History in Prince Rupert, British Columbia

• Heritage Village: Museum in Weyburn, Saskatchewan

• Vermilionville: Living History Open Air Village in Lafayette, Louisiana

• Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience: New Orleans, Louisiana

• National Doukhobor Heritage Village: Veregin, Saskatchewan

• Bonanzaville: Open Air Pioneer Village Museum in Fargo, North Dakota

#cowboys #history #I80 #museums #travel #US_

Light tunneling and squiggles.

#PhotoHour #abstract #AbstractPhotography #improvisation #night #nightphotography #street #interstate #I80 #icm #ics #photography #AltText

HJC i80, RPHA60 und F100 – Drei neue Helme auf der EICMA 2024
https://themotorbikechannel.com/hjc-i80-rpha60-und-f100-drei-neue-helme-auf-der-eicma-2024/?feed_id=22687&_unique_id=674412c4221dc
Source: HJC i80, RPHA60 und F100 – Drei ...

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Fort Cody Trading Post: Miniature Wild West Show in North Platte, Nebraska

North Platte, Nebraska, was the primary home of Buffalo Bill otherwise known as William Cody. Indeed, you can even visit the Buffalo Bill State Historical Park to see his ranch. However, if you have limited time, the Fort Cody Trading Post is your best option to learn more about Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show!

Linda’s Pick of the Exhibits

While the Fort Cody Trading Post has lots of neat stuff to see, the miniature Wild West Show stands out above everything else.

What’s the miniature Wild West Show?

The miniature Wild West Show is a collection of 20,000 hand-carved figures powered by 20 motors. There are cowboys. There are Native Americans. There are cannons. There are tents. There’s all kinds of action in this animated, to-scale re-creation.

Imagine, if you can, going back to the late 1800s to watch one of the greatest travelling shows to ever be produced. The performance was — of course — Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. However, you don’t need an imagination to see the Fort Cody show.

For me, one of the neatest things is that Ernie actually saw the Wild West Show as a child. He even met Buffalo Bill!

As well as the carvings for the Buffalo Bill Show, Ernie also created a traveling replica of the Ringling Bros., Barnum & Bailey Show circus. The 50,000-piece collection of carvings was a big attraction at the Brussels World’s Fair in 1958 (from the Journal, August 29, 1962). Plus, it was featured across the U.S. in various locations.

This miniature show had a sideshow, circus parade, 30 tents, more than 20,000 circus performers including an Emmett Kelly figure wearing a wig of the famous clown’s own hair! There were tumblers. There were clowns. There were aerialists.

All of this combined into a 40-foot circus parade!

Ernie’s chief assistant was his wife, Virginia. She was a former Ziegfeld Follies dancer who sewed all the clothes for the circus people, as well as creating the tents.

Watch a video of the Miniature Circus Exhibition of 1979 here.

Today, Ernie’s miniature circus is owned by the Smithsonian.

The carvings are amazing pieces of art! Indeed, wood carving is a traditional art form that’s been around since ancient times.

While the craftsmanship of the wild west show is amazing, watching it come to life is even better (show starts every half hour). A cowboy twirls a lariat. Horses and riders go on parade. Annie Oakley shoots a target. A Native American performs a traditional war dance. Players show their cards and more.

Station No. 1 on the Outlaw Trail: Old West Outlaws

https://www.amazon.com/Station-No-Outlaw-Trail-Outlaws-ebook/dp/B08G6J9V7W?pd_rd_w=OyVdQ&content-id=amzn1.sym.081392b0-c07f-4fc2-8965-84d15d431f0d&pf_rd_p=081392b0-c07f-4fc2-8965-84d15d431f0d&pf_rd_r=722328Y76ZQ717BN5YYV&pd_rd_wg=aPO2M&pd_rd_r=b48f9a1f-927a-4e65-8670-2b4082585c60&pd_rd_i=B08G6J9V7W&psc=1&linkCode=ll1&tag=snowmaga-20&linkId=f67d95ec46424f68fd2f70cf82f5e019&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

Badlands and Outlaws

Kidnapped by Outlaws (Sequel to Badlands and Outlaws)

https://www.amazon.com/Kidnapped-Outlaws-Old-West-Book-ebook/dp/B00OADBFKW?crid=31XORBCADL2ZO&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Nk7aWaXVlsbODSHzhcgNGr0Gfqz0HyLSrsvDymhxzqjGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.6ySDjTxE_BWAXUPXubbSMOhsnjgX_Eqp6WimLnjvKrw&dib_tag=se&keywords=AKSOMITIS&qid=1726088282&s=digital-text&sprefix=aksomitis%2Cdigital-text%2C129&sr=1-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=snowmaga-20&linkId=45623d051ca1f88dea77456687cef5fa&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

What’s at the Fort Cody Trading Post Museum?

The Fort Cody Trading Post is what the name implies – a trading post. Situated on one of the U.S.’s first cross-country roads, the Lincoln Highway, it carries on the tradition of roadside souvenir stands.

Created in the traditional style of an old west trading post, it’s a stop that’s impossible to miss!

Outside, you’ll find a 30-foot-tall information sign with a drawing of Buffalo Bill Cody.

It includes information about Cody and the Wild West Show, which started in North Platte in 1883.

You enter the trading post through a door in the log stockade walls.

In addition to the feature art carving attraction of the miniature Wild West Show, there are six murals by artist Gene McConnell. The murals depict important moments in the life of Buffalo Bill.

What artifacts are in the Fort Cody Trading Post museum collection?

Throughout the trading post, you’ll find various relics along with souvenirs you can buy. The museum artifacts date back as far as 150 years and are from the manager’s personal collection.

Some of the things you’ll see include:

• McClellan saddle from the U.S. Cavalry
• Shotgun chaps from the 1880s
• Angora wool chaps from 1915
• Colt single action army pistol from 1874
• Winchester 73 rifle from 1879
• Photo of Buffalo Bill (age 22) from 1868 holding his favorite rifle, “Lucretia Borgia”
• Cheyenne Parfleche (painted buffalo rawhide case used to store dried buffalo mea) from 1870

• Coffeyville boots from the late 1870s – similar to cavalry-style boots with higher heels, more pointed toes, fitted tops, and made for right and left feet!
• Hand-forged cowboy spurs with silver inlaid wire from 1877
• John B. Stetson first cowboy hat from 1870

Outside in the stockade, the key attraction is a Native American Muffler Man.

You’ll also see a buffalo statue, various historic wagons, the Fort Cody Jail building, and picnic tables to relax and enjoy the afternoon.

Linda’s Road Trip Tips

We were traveling the US-83 Road to Nowhere through Nebraska when we stopped in North Platte. Unfortunately, it was late in the day, so we didn’t have time to check out some of the other attractions. However, I really missed not making it to the Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park!

After our stop, we continued on US-83 for another hour into McCook for the night. Our favorite thing in McCook? The Taste of Texas BBQ restaurant where we had supper. The brisket was delicious!

We spent the night at the Cedar Inn, which was good value for the price.

Who Should Visit the Fort Cody Trading Post?

The Fort Cody Trading Post is a great, quick stop whether you’re traveling on I-80 or US-83. While combining a museum with a souvenir store may seem like a tourist trap — it’s not.

If you’re interested in the old west and the Wild West Show, this is the perfect stop.

Indoor artifacts likely won’t appeal to small children, but the stockade will give them plenty of space to charge around outside. The picnic area under Nebraska’s bright blue skies begs to be used.

Plan on an hour or less for your visit (unless you’re shopping and then it may take you much longer!), as the miniature wild west show runs every half-hour. The trading post is wheelchair accessible.

Admission, of course, is free.

How Do You Visit the Fort Cody Trading Post?

The Fort Cody Trading Post combines opportunities for buying some Nebraska souvenirs with a quick museum visit focused on Buffalo Bill Cody and his wild west show.

Location: The Fort Cody Trading Post is located at 221 Halligan Drive, North Platte, Nebraska.

It’s right off of I-80 and US-83.

Visit online at the Fort Cody website.

Keep up to date with what’s happening at the Fort Cody Trading Post Facebook page.

Take a virtual tour with the YouTube video, Welcome to Fort Cody Trading Post.

Plan your visit with Google maps.

More Places to See in Nebraska

Check out all of guide2museum.com’s reviews of museums in Nebraska.

Read More Reviews of Art Museums

• TD Gallery of Indigenous Art: Free Toronto Museum

• Maple Creek’s Intriguing Jasper Cultural & Historical Centre

• See 100 Miles Across Nebraska From Scotts Bluff National Monument

• Art Gallery of Ontario: Art Museum in Toronto, Ontario

• Fort Cody Trading Post: Miniature Wild West Show in North Platte, Nebraska

• Museum of Northern British Columbia: Indigenous Art & History in Prince Rupert, British Columbia

• The Enchanted Highway: Giant Metal Sculptures in North Dakota

#carvings #cowboys #I80 #museums #Nebraska #oldWest #travel #US