Wednesday (6/24)  We went to the Harold Warp Pioneer Village in Minden, NE.  I don't know how to describe this museum  that was founded in 1953 except to say  they have a collection of everything - it was amazing.  The museum shows the progress in the Plains since 1830.  There were more than 50,000 items from every field of human endeavor in 28 buildings on 20 acres.   All of these items are placed in chronological order of development.   There were room settings from the 1830s, 1860s, 1890s, 1910s, 1930s, and 1950s showing the progress made in those time periods.  There were collections of everything from cars to pencils.  We could have spent all day there seeing it all.

Then on to the Great Platte River Road Archway and Monument.  This is an archway that is build over Route 80 near Kearney, NE.   Inside they show eight stories that span the distance where trappers, pioneers, the 49ers and the Pony Express once passed through.  It is a unique monument that brings to life the difficulties encountered by the pioneers.

Our last stop of the day was the Stuhr Museum in Grand Island, NE.  This museum also shows the life of the pioneer but through the recreation of an 1899 railroad town containing 24 buildings.  You can see interpreters in 1890's attire and performing daily duties in the 1890s way.  Along with the town there are many other buildings including a Pawnee Earth Lodge, the Taylor Ranch and an 1893 Farmstead.   This is a very nice museum that cover a wide spectrum of learning opportunities.