Traveling (Geocaching) Across Nebraska

We are spending two nights in Nebraska before we get to South Dakota, not that the state is THAT big...it just has LOTS of geocaches. Tuesday was truly a Nebraska history lesson kind of day. Some things I knew, many I did not, some were REAL surprises and all were interesting. 

We traveled from McCook to Norfolk using very good and less traveled state highways. Most of them were roads we had not used before as we almost always drive through Nebraska going and coming on our winter and spring migration. 

Our first history lesson of the day.

I have no idea how many children attended the school

at any one time. 14x16 is small.

(We did not find the cache.)

(We were more successful on all the other stops.)

I am so hoping to find a POW camp

from WWII with buildings, photos, personal stories...

anything that is more than just the sign.

I believe there is one farther east in NE or possibly 

northern KS. We stopped in the community last spring,

but did not have the time to play tourist. I also believe WY 

is trying to recreate one of the POW Camps.

The information on the sign is very interesting.

Having heard a lecture this winter on the Orphan Train,

this stop was also of personal interest. Its history is

NOT related to the Orphan Train which was based in

New York City.

The Christian Orphan's Home in Holdrege was established

in 1889 by the Evangelical Free Church. 

Records show that

1,100 children lived, worked and attended school at the 

institution between 1889 and it's closing in 1954.

Although the building is unoccupied today, it is the 

focus of buildings on a campus for retirement living,

including independent, assisted, and full-term care

on the outskirts of the community.

Curt took some time to play with some toys.

He was looking for a special blue one.

He found it.

We knew the Oregon Trail passed through Nebraska.

We also had an idea of the info shared on the historical 

marker.

What really make me proud was the way the state 

proudly shared the information along

a 'lowly' state highway.

Cool.

Speaking of Kool...

This mural was on the wall of a chain restaurant 

in Hastings

Why?

 Kool-Aid started in Hastings NE

A very abbreviated history of Kool-Aid from Wikipedia

 More about Edwin Perkins 

and his significance to Hastings

And the final Nebraska history lesson for today

I stood on the corner looking in every direction for the 

Liederkranz and FINALLY the fluttering

banner got my attention.

It is NOT a small building.

Currently unoccupied, but still standing.

The building housing the POWs is not.

Grand Island, Nebraska