National Monuments - Nebraska

Agate Fossil Beds National Monument

9/5/1992 Continued to Agate Fossil Beds National Monument. Saw visitor center, then 2 mile trail up to fossil beds - very interesting.

The park sign

Maureen on the long trail

Not sure what that is ...

... but this is more obvious

Scotts Bluff National Monument

9/5/1992 ... continued to Scott's Bluff National Monument. ... At Scott's Bluff went to visitor center, saw restored Conestogas, part of Oregon Trail [NHT in NE]. Drove up bluff for magnificent views of local area.

The park sign

A nice view of the bluff

A restored Conestoga ...

... and its load

A detail shot

Great view of the VC area

Me on the bluff

9/24/2004 ... then a bit more to Scotts Bluff NM. Repeated doing the same stuff as last time, including driving up the bluff for excellent views including Chimney Rock off in the distance [on the Oregon NHT in NE].

The park sign (again)

Back towards the VC

A cool panorama

A pretty shot

Conestoga on the trail

5/26/2012 We entered the park [Scotts Bluff NM] and immediately drove up the switchback road to the top. It was a beautiful day, albeit with high winds, but there was just enough haze in the distance to frustrate our hopes of seeing Chimney Rock – oh well. The closer-in views were fantastic, however, including right down to the Mitchell Pass, blasted by the Army in 1850 to make the overland trail route just a little easier. We could also see parts of the original trail route to the south, our next destination. We drove back down, checked out the VC ...

Me getting a shot as we approach

The park sign

Me with a view east ...

... and Ken south

A good panorama towards the VC