The Platte River Basin was the “road” for 250,000+ emmigrants to settle the Western United States. Even today, highways and trains follow the same route up the Platte that the pioneers took in the 1840’s and 50’s.

Categories: Missouri & Kansas, Nebraska, On the Trail | Leave a comment

Huge Tumbleweeds!

Posted on June 13, 2013 by Mr. Haertling

Error

This video doesn’t exist

Why do they call these things “TUMBLE Weeds”?

Categories: Missouri & Kansas, Nebraska, On the Trail | Leave a comment

Pony Express stations, equipment, and a word from our sponsor!

Posted on June 13, 2013 by Mr. Haertling

Lasting only 18 months, the Pony Express has left us with a memory of the Wild West……

Error

This video doesn’t exist

An “old timer” just told me that the horses for the Pony Express were so wild that the Pony Express Station fences were shaped like a triangle instead of a square, so that they could catch the ponies in the corners more easily!

Categories: Missouri & Kansas, Nebraska, On the Trail | Leave a comment

Sod house inside and out!

Posted on June 12, 2013 by Mr. Haertling

Taylor at the Kearney Sod House display walks us through the “ins” and “outs” of the Sod House.

Categories: Missouri & Kansas, Nebraska | Leave a comment

Sod Houses are COOL….. Really, they are Cool!

Posted on June 12, 2013 by Mr. Haertling

This is video shot over the course of my travels through Kansas and Nebraska. This is an example of how people adapt to their environments…… no wood, no problem!

A link to information and pictures on how a sod house was built, decorated, and heated. Lots of other info, documents, pictures, and even lessons from the “Women of the West Museum” / Autry (Gene Autry) National Center of the American West: Click Here

Categories: Missouri & Kansas, Nebraska | Leave a comment

Pony Express Home Station and wildlife on the Oregon Trail.

Posted on June 7, 2013 by Mr. Haertling

Error

This video doesn’t exist

Learn about the Pony Express from “This day in History” from the History Channel. On the 3rd of April 1860, the first Pony Express mail, traveling by horse and rider relay teams, simultaneously leaves St. Joseph, Missouri, and Sacramento, California.

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/pony-express-debuts

Check out the Pony Express National Museum in St. Joseph, MO. Be sure to check out the info under the “About” tab: http://ponyexpress.org/?page_id=8

Categories: Missouri & Kansas, On the Trail | Leave a comment

Hollenberg Pony Express Station

Posted on June 6, 2013 by Mr. Haertling

Error

This video doesn’t exist

Learn more about the Station: http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=237&ResourceType=Building

Categories: Missouri & Kansas, On the Trail | Leave a comment

Rope Ferry

Posted on June 3, 2013 by Mr. Haertling

I demonstrate how a human powered rope ferry would transport pioneers across rivers. Currenlty many of these rivers are in full flood, quiet a sight to see!

Error

This video doesn’t exist

Categories: Missouri & Kansas, On the Trail | Leave a comment