On Saturday, we stopped in North Platte to visit the Nebraska home of Buffalo Bill Cody. We lucked out in that it was the end of season weekend and they had demonstrators and crafts and activities going on. We rode in a wagon with Buffalo Bill, met a mountain man, and made dolls and quilt squares.
This was the spring house - it was a cellar that had a spring running into it so that stored items would be kept cold. It also served as a storm cellar.
The mountain man demonstrated a flint lock rifle (very loud) and a trap. He allowed Z the opportunity to try and open the trap. He couldn't do it. The mountain man said that it was a two handed job and that any one armed man couldn't operate. He said it wasn't uncommon for men to lose a limb from the traps.
Looking out from the barn toward the house and toward the pasture/windmill
There was also a tractor display. I'm pretty sure I know where the inspiration for my current cross-stitch project came from. The picture of all the tractors look almost exactly like the pattern.
We even found a chariot like Pharaoh would have ridden in and a peddlers cart like Almanzo drove in the 4th of July races.
We also were treated to a trick roping demonstration and Z was brave enough to volunteer to learn how. The next item to purchase? a rope for learning how to trick rope for both Z and N.
We also rode a wagon with Buffalo Bill and heard stories about why he was called Buffalo Bill (because he rounded up buffalo for the army) and how he liked to name everything - Lucretia is the rifle's name - and how he pulled the teeth out of his favorite horses mouth when it died (saw those on display in the house). He also told them how clay birdies got their name - from Annie Oakley and her shooting ability. They didn't want shards of glass falling on people and real birds falling dead on the audience didn't go over well either. So, they made clay "balls" to shoot and they called them clay birdies.
A beautiful little waterfall that goes under the bridge between the house and the barns.
Then, we headed toward Alliance, NE, where we intended to view the eclipse from. We stayed at J&C RV park. It was very nice. They had 12 spots and only accepted 12 RVers. They were pretty sites and well taken care of. The only thing we missed was an outdoor table. They had a playground for the kids.
Views of the Nebraska prairie as we drove to an elevation of approximately 4200 ft.
Also in Alliance, NE, is a little thing called Carhenge. We drove by it. It was being used as a primitive campground for eclipse viewers. It's suppose just like Stonehenge except made with cars painted gray.
The area is also a switch station for a major railroad. In the middle of town, there is a steam engine with a caboose. Very cool!!!
This was the spring house - it was a cellar that had a spring running into it so that stored items would be kept cold. It also served as a storm cellar.
The mountain man demonstrated a flint lock rifle (very loud) and a trap. He allowed Z the opportunity to try and open the trap. He couldn't do it. The mountain man said that it was a two handed job and that any one armed man couldn't operate. He said it wasn't uncommon for men to lose a limb from the traps.
Looking out from the barn toward the house and toward the pasture/windmill
There was also a tractor display. I'm pretty sure I know where the inspiration for my current cross-stitch project came from. The picture of all the tractors look almost exactly like the pattern.
In the barn, there are numerous carriage/wagons/carts that were used by Buffalo Bill and some by the Wild West Show. Very interesting to see the different types of carriages for different occasions.
We even found a chariot like Pharaoh would have ridden in and a peddlers cart like Almanzo drove in the 4th of July races.
The roof rafters are in the shape of Buffalo Bill's favorite rifle and the heart at the peak of the roof is in honor of Annie Oakley.
We also were treated to a trick roping demonstration and Z was brave enough to volunteer to learn how. The next item to purchase? a rope for learning how to trick rope for both Z and N.
We also rode a wagon with Buffalo Bill and heard stories about why he was called Buffalo Bill (because he rounded up buffalo for the army) and how he liked to name everything - Lucretia is the rifle's name - and how he pulled the teeth out of his favorite horses mouth when it died (saw those on display in the house). He also told them how clay birdies got their name - from Annie Oakley and her shooting ability. They didn't want shards of glass falling on people and real birds falling dead on the audience didn't go over well either. So, they made clay "balls" to shoot and they called them clay birdies.
A beautiful little waterfall that goes under the bridge between the house and the barns.
Then, we headed toward Alliance, NE, where we intended to view the eclipse from. We stayed at J&C RV park. It was very nice. They had 12 spots and only accepted 12 RVers. They were pretty sites and well taken care of. The only thing we missed was an outdoor table. They had a playground for the kids.
Views of the Nebraska prairie as we drove to an elevation of approximately 4200 ft.
Also in Alliance, NE, is a little thing called Carhenge. We drove by it. It was being used as a primitive campground for eclipse viewers. It's suppose just like Stonehenge except made with cars painted gray.
The area is also a switch station for a major railroad. In the middle of town, there is a steam engine with a caboose. Very cool!!!
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