Leaving Omaha and On Our Way to Nebraska City 8/20/2010

Well it's on the road again and we are on our way to Nebraska City, NE one of 3 stops before we get to Branson, MO. It was only a 55 mile drive but originally we were going to be coming from Milford, NE but Dave's plans changed and we didn't make it there. So it was a nice easy drive down the back roads of Nebraska where there was hardly any traffic at all. We got there about noon, registered, set up and had lunch. Then we took a drive into the city to see what there might be to see. It is quite an old city with a population of about 8000. Early exploration was reported in 1804 by Lewis and Clark as they journeyed west along the Missouri River. Nebraska City was the original site of Old Fort Kearny, a military post used by the government in 1846. It was abandoned several years later and relocated to central Nebraska, now south of present day Kearney, Nebraska.
Shortly after the post was vacated, John Boulware developed an important river-crossing and ferry service from Iowa across to present day Nebraska City. He and his father grew their business and built a ferry house, the first residence in Nebraska City in 1852 or 1853. Slaves were first bought and sold in the 1850s in Nebraska City.
In 1854 the Kansas-Nebraska Act allowed legal settlement in the regional area. Three townships were incorporated by settlers: Nebraska City and Kearney City were incorporated in 1855, and South Nebraska City was incorporated in 1856. During those years Nebraska City competed fiercely to become the Nebraska Territory capital. On December 31, 1857, these three town sites along with Prairie City joined, incorporating as present day Nebraska City. Before the Civil War, Nebraska City was also noted as having the Territory's largest population of slaves.
In the mid 1800s, steamboats were the vitalizing force behind Nebraska City’s growth in bringing commerce, people and freight to the west. In the spring of 1858 Russell, Majors and Waddell started freighting from Nebraska City on a government contract to transport all provisions for all western forts. The supplies were brought up the Missouri River by steamboat and then taken out by wagon train. Nebraska City's favorable position (with a gradual slope from the river to the table land above) and good trail made it an important link to the west.
Since that beginning, the city was established as a regional transportation, economic, and agriculture hub for the three state area. Additional forms of transportation were important including the steam wagon and the first locomotive engine of the Midland Pacific.
J. Sterling Morton came to Nebraska City in 1855 to edit the Nebraska City News. He and his wife Caroline were originally from Michigan and they were lovers of nature. Morton served as Secretary of Agriculture under President Grover Cleveland’s administration and he was instrumental in establishing the annual tree planting day, Arbor Day in 1872. Governor Robert Furnas issued the first Arbor Day Proclamation on March 31, 1874. The holiday is celebrated around the world.
There were a lot of old buildings and houses and the downtown area looked quite old also. After we were done driving around it was back to the coach for the day. By the way take a look at the pictures as we didn't know we were that close to Syracuse......Syracuse, NE that is. Well that's it for today so until tomorrow we love and miss you all. Mom & Dad Dori & Dick