Archway Monument
Today we walked in Jack Nicholson's footsteps when we stopped at the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument in Kearney, NE. It spans Interstate 80 and commemorates the journeys of travelers along the river. Three pioneer trails follow this route. If you look at a map you'll see the Platte River, Route 30 (Lincoln Highway), Interstate 80 and railroad tracks running side by side through Nebraska. In 1869 the golden spike was driven in to link the coasts by rail and soon after the covered wagon travel stopped...now it only took a week to make the trip. Check out the website link above for more info.
The Archway houses a display/museum of pioneer life and the everchanging travels over this route. In 1956 President Eisenhower launched the Interstate system and I-80 was the first to be completed. It changed the way people and materials moved.
The lifesize scenes depicting pioneer travel are pretty awesome. You listen to recorded letters of pioneers as you walk through the scenes. How strong and brave they were. Can you imagine doing this?...for gold, for land, for freedom?
If you look closely at the picture you may see blotches which are actually bug guts. Once you hit the plains states you need to get out the squeegee every few hours and clean off the splatters so you can see the road ahead. Today it was yellow butterflies. And why did I say Jack Nicholson?....check out the movie, ABOUT SCHMIDT, and you'll see the Archway.