I cracked up when I read that this line is one of Nebraska's more recent tourism pitches! Apparently, marketing campaigns - with an edge - in Nebraska have been used with a great deal of success. In 2001, the then-struggling Nebraska State Fair came up with a group of ads including one that stated: “See bands you thought were dead.” While the ads drew criticism - and offense from some bands that performed - they also won a top statewide advertising award.
How I love a state that can laugh at itself!
Moving on to our day...
There are a number of reasons why I love the midwest, and not just because most of these states are extremely easy to draw! You can see for miles. That horizontal line where land meets sky is mesmerizing. And the vastness of that blue sky can be overwhelming!
We left Cheyenne, Wyoming this morning and it wasn't long before we were in Nebraska. When I think of Nebraska, three things come to mind - and please understand I am not trying to be ignorant; I am, indeed, ignorant! The three things are: corn, Bruce Springsteen's album of the same name, and the movie "Children of the Corn" that I saw as a teenager at a slumber party and has freaked me out ever since.
First off, there was corn. Everywhere.
Second, we listened to some of Bruce Springsteen's album "Nebraska", as it just seemed like the right thing to do. I can't say it's my favourite of his, but when in Rome...
Third, I did not meet anyone named Malachi nor did I see any scary children near the plethora of cornfields we passed by.
So, we're good!
And, today, I did learn a bit more about Nebraska so I can happily share that I am not nearly as ignorant as I was this morning:
1. Almost two million people live in Nebraska.
2. While corn is a major player in Nebraskan agriculture, beef (we saw a few HUGE feedlots today), pork, soybeans and sorghum are also of great significance.
3. Kool-aid is the official soft drink of Nebraska, as it was invented here in 1927.
4. Fred Astaire, Warren Buffett, Marlon Brando, Larry the Cable Guy, Marg Helgenberger, Dick Cheney and Hilary Swank are all Nebraskans.
We decided to stop at Gothenburg, as we saw a couple of signs on the I-80 about it and the Pony Express Station Museum. Gothenburg gets its name from the Swedish city of the same name. Olof Bergstrom, a Swedish worker with the Union Pacific Railroad, conceived the idea in 1882 that a town was needed where the current one is situated today. He travelled back to Sweden and convinced his fellow countrymen to migrate to Nebraska to build a new town in the west.
Gothenburg is the Pony Express capital of Nebraska. It is home to two Pony Express Stations, and we saw one of them. The Pony Express consisted of brave riders who, in the early 1860s, carried mail 2,000 miles between St. Joseph, Missouri, and Sacramento, California. As Mark Twain wrote, "The pony-rider was usually a little bit of a man, brimful of spirit and endurance." Rider William Campbell shared that, "One of the hardest rides I ever had made was when I carried President Lincoln's inaugural address from the telegraph station at Fort Kearney. Such things....made every Pony Express rider feel that he was helping to make history." History they were making, indeed!
As we were looking at the Pony Express Museum, a kind, elderly man approached. Mr. Larson told us about the history of the Pony Express, and then asked us if we would like to look at the Gothenburg Museum, which was steps away but closed. He happily jingled the keys in front of us and we quickly agreed that a little tour would be a great idea. He was a wealth of information, telling us about Gothenburg and area history, culture, agriculture, and geography. He seemed to have all the time in the world for us, and was proud to share his love of his town and state.
It was a great break for us from the drive. But when we got back in Roberto and hit the road, we had one goal in mind. We had to get to Lincoln before 10 pm tonight.
Why?
Because that's where the closest Cracker Barrel was! And we got there at about 7:45, with plenty of time to spare! That lemonade, those chicken and dumplings, that hash brown casserole, and more...
Oh and pecan and praline bread pudding with vanilla ice cream!
It's a good thing we didn't eat much earlier today!
We are even "boondocking" tonight at Cracker Barrel, as they welcome RVers who need a place to park for the night! I've never had a Cracker Barrel breakfast before... :)
Oh, and Nebraska, you might not be for everyone, but you are for us. Honestly!
Blessings and love to all,
Carolyn in the Cornhusker State xoxo
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