Main Public Library.
In short, let me say we loved Kansas City. Even in the rain. I could live here (except would probably have to leave in the winter).
I have only a few lousy photos. We had some rain and I didn’t even take my camera out much of the time. Since we knew it was going to rain, we decided to take the “Fun Trolley” tour of the city. At a short 75 minutes, it was a good orientation and provided us a lot of interesting and colorful background. It also meant we started our day at, you guessed it – Union Train Station.
Union Station.
The Station is a wonderful example of what can be done to rehabilitate an older facility and reinvent its purpose to include facilities for children, like the Planetarium and movie theaters. We watched trains from a special bridge they have added, and found the model train display tucked away at the end of the building.
The Station is a great example of how two states worked together to raise the funding to get the job done. This city is split between two states and several counties, and still manages to present itself in a seamlessly livable fashion. I’m sure there must be interesting political battles, but they sure seemed to have reached frequent consensus. If there is a split personality, we didn’t see it.
I certainly did not know it was the City of Fountains, and has more fountains than any other city outside of Rome. I loved the green spaces, and the way so many neighborhoods highlighted their entrances with landscaping and statues on the corners. Speaking of the neighborhoods, they are absolutely beautiful, and have a huge variety of home styles that exist in harmony.
There is a lot of interesting history here, more than I realized. History is celebrated and nurtured. The latest project expected to be completed later this year is to re-install the original street cars with service from Union Station to the Missouri River. I won’t bore everyone with more historical background, but let me just say there is an awful lot of cement poured in this city. The old airport has runways that are more than 30 feet deep-you can draw your own conclusions.
This is a livable, walkable city, filled with many green spaces and nice people, enough professional sport teams to root for, and terrific BBQ – what more could you want.
Out here in the middle of Nebraska, you really are at the crossroads of America. Many historic trails crossed through here: the Oregon and California Trails, where several hundred thousand pioneers traveled west; the Mormon Trail, marking the trek to Utah; and the Pony Express. And then, there are the trains . . .
We started the day with a visit to the Union Pacific Museum and Depot Display in the center of North Platte. It was great fun to get to climb up on the humongous black Challenger Steam locomotive with its 6’ high wheels, and the more colorful, sleek #6922 bright yellow and blue Union Pacific diesel locomotive. This site was the original location of the famous North Platte WW II Canteen. The women of North Platte operated the Canteen, throughout more than four years of the war, providing up to 5,000 soldiers a day a brief respite and slice of home with fresh coffee, homemade treats and lively conversation. All food, supplies and volunteer time were provided by the local women and residents of Nebraska. It’s no wonder the WW II museum in New Orleans prominently used a train car from North Platte in their entrance hall exhibit!
Sadly, the original depot was torn down in 1972, and the current depot was moved in from nearby Hershey.
Note Buffalo Bill’s “cage”
These are also the former stomping grounds of Buffalo Bill Cody, and the launching pad of his famous Wild West show. The trains are located in Cody Park. Oddly, the bronze statue of Buffalo Bill is surrounded by Plexiglas, and then encased in a metal cage . . . . Likewise, the park’s duck pond is fenced with a chain-link, barbed wire-topped fence. So you can sit on the benches lining the pond, and feed the ducks from the machine provided – through the fence. Or you can cozy-up to Buffalo Bill’s cage for a photo-op.
With that done, we got back on a rural road and followed a 137 car (+ two engine) coal train eastbound.
Next stop, historic Gothenburg to see the site of the original Pony Express outpost. Moved from nearby private land, the former fur trading post was used as a station for the full 18-month run of the Pony Express from 1860-61. The telegraph put the Pony Express out of business. The Pony Express is so much a part of our American history, I never realized it was so short-lived.
Then, we were back on our own trail through Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri to Kansas City. First stop, dinner at a gas station – the iconic and famous Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que.
Just a few of the BBQ sauces for sale at Joe’s Kansas City BBQ
First a Sidebar: Studying the map on our approach to Wichita, I realized we were within about 30 miles from the 1888 birthplace of my paternal Grandfather. And so, we began our day by heading southeast of Wichita to the once thriving settlement of Rosalia, Kansas.
There isn’t much left of this unincorporated town, mostly a few dirt streets and ramshackle and/or closed-up buildings. But there was a school and a post office. I decided to try my luck in the post office to see what I might learn. And I did have luck. The post office is only open two hours each morning, the woman working was also named Karen, and the single customer was very helpful. In the end, I had learned about the town’s oil boom days, and how it became a mecca for two physicians competing for male patients with their revolutionary goat “gland” treatment (an early “Viagra”, some things never change). The woman I met took me to her sister’s home across the street and they rounded-up, and presented me with, an extra copy of a book about the town’s history! Amazing.
After our farewells to our new friends in Rosalia, we headed northwest through Kansas to North Platte, Nebraska. The drive was straight and uncrowded, the scenery rural with green low-rising hills dotted with oil rigs, cattle ranches and wind farms. For hours it was just us and the farm equipment on the road. We saw trucks ferrying the incredibly long blades for the wind turbines, and others with huge replacement wheels for trains.
The occasional road kill (armadillos won the count) was no hunger deterrent, and we made a quick stop for lunch in Bob Dole’s hometown of Russell. After Stockton, KS when you came over a rise you could see ahead for miles and miles and the rusty soil color gave way to a sandy-color.
Although you couldn’t tell, altitude was slightly increasing all along, and North Platte was at 2800’. We went directly to the Golden Spike Tower for a view of the world’s largest railroad yard which primarily services the Union Pacific railroad. The TV show “Hell on Wheels” was based on the construction of this site in the 1860’s as the center of the railroad world. All trains heading east/west and north/south went through North Platte. The eight story Tower has two observation decks, one inside and one open-air, as well as displays and videos about rail history. Check it out at: www.GoldenSpikeTower.com
Union Pacific Railroad’s massive Bailey Yard covers 2,850 acres and is eight miles long and over one mile wide. The yard operates 24 hours a day and handles 10,000 railroad cars and about 150 trains every day with an average length of 137 cars. Locomotives are also overhauled and maintained.
Retired railroad workers are on hand to answer questions and fill in details. My husband was in heaven, as he learned about what it was like to work for the railroad, details of the yard’s operations and even facts behind the hobos who still travel the rails.
Last trivia answers:
Which capitol building is taller, the US or Texas? TEXAS
How high is the star at the center of the rotunda in the Texas capitol building? 218’
At the Oklahoma City National Memorial, two large “gates” frame the reflecting pool. The one shown here says 9:01 and it’s twin, 9:03. the bomb was at 9:02, at the location of the pool.
“Chairs” represent the 168 lives lost. Their placement on the site of the Federal Building, represents its nine floors and where each victim was located.
Today was the longest drive of our trip. It actually wasn’t bad. We headed north out of Austin, glad to be ahead of their next wave of expected rain, towards a foggy Dallas.
In Dallas we saw the site of the JFK assassination. We couldn’t remember seeing it before (so that’s just the same as never doing it) and it was another sobering moment on what is turning into an appropriate Memorial week tour.
On the road in Oklahoma.
The landscape in north Texas was pretty, with gently rolling hills. Since the official speed limit is 70 and the traffic light, we made good time.
Crossing the Red River into Oklahoma, I learned it really is red. In contrast, the hills were even greener as we passed ranch after farm, etc. We ventured off the interstate and took a more rural route into Norman, home of the University of Oklahoma. It’s a very pretty, clean, organized campus. The blue skies were glorious and the temps in perfect 70s. These photos of OU are for you, Linda.
In Oklahoma City we visited the Memorial of the Alfred Murrah Federal Building bombing. This tragedy seems even more unbelievable because it happened in this place – seemingly so perfectly, and safely, middle-American.
After passing more ranches and dozens of pumping oil rigs, we reached our destination of Wichita, Kansas.
Tonight, I won’t end with any trivia, just a few photos and these words from the Oklahoma City National Memorial:
We come here to remember
Those who were killed, those who survived and those changed forever.
May all who leave here know the impact of violence.
May this memorial offer comfort, strength, peace, hope and serenity.
