We will meet in the parking lot of the Prairie Winds Community Center in Bridgeport (424 N. Main) at 8:30 on March 27th. We will travel as a caravan to Court House & Jail Rocks and then have a short talk at Mud Springs (photo). We will then stop at the Henderson Marker at the Bridgeport Cemetery and have a short talk at the Camp Clarke marker at the Sidney-Deadwood Trail swales. We wil then continue to the Chimney Rock Cemetery to see the Mary Murray Murdoch marker.
We will then have lunch at Sweet Basil in Bayard. This is Nebraska's hottest new restaurant. It will be open to us by special appointment so we will have the time and place for a short business meeting.
From Bayard, we will closely follow the Mormon Trail to Morrill. Local Historian Ron Kuncl will show us a Fort Laramie Officer's Quarters that was moved after the fort was abandoned. He will show us a few more sites and markers and conclude with a short talk at the Horse Creek Treaty Marker. We will then follow the Oregon Trail back to Fort Mitchell where we will have another short talk. We will then drive through Mitchell Pass (photo) to the North Plate Valley Museum. There we will have supper brought in and have an introduction into the Henderson Collection and look around their recently remodeled museum.
Registration fee is $15.00. You get:
1. Both meals, lunch and supper.
2. Short talks at several of the sites by local historians.
3. Entry fees are waived or included.
4. Special edition booklet with maps and site histories.
5. Commemorative badge.
6. Surprise Platte River Road souvenir.
Some of these sites or markers are new. We will try to follow back roads as close to the trails as possible. If you have never been on a caravan tour before, it is a lot of fun. You drive in your own vehicle from site to site and get out for pics and discussion. It is even more fun if you car-pool. A booklet will be provided so you can see where the trail was as you go by. Much of the trail is going to be within a half-mile or so of the road. Be prepared for gravel roads and bring an extra roll of film.
NOTE: BECAUSE THE MEALS WILL BE CATERED, PARTICIPANTS MUST R.S.V.P BY TUESDAY MARCH 23RD.
To make reservations or for more information, you may call or email:
Loren Pospisil Chimney Rock Visitor Center (308) 586-2581 chimrock@scottsbluff.net
Barb Netherland North Platte Valley Museum (308) 436-5411 npvm@actcom.net
If you email, please use the word "OCTA" in the subject line.
We hope you can attend, March 27th in Bridgeport. See you then. Making this page (a screen shot)
