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August 2, 2014
Today we drove to Ogallala, NE – Nebraska’s ‘Cowboy Capital’. The town was named for the Oglala band of Dakota Sioux and was located on the Union Pacific Railroad. Ogallala was a lusty cowtown of the Old West. From 1875 to 1888, Texas drovers delivered their trail herds of longhorn cattle by the thousands. During this period, 100,000 to 125,000 cattle each year were trailed to this area. The trail driving days ended by 1884, but cattle remain the area’s number one industry today.
In town we located the Boot Hill Cemetery, the final resting place for cowboys, drifters, and settlers, who helped make Ogallala a booming cow town on the Western/Texas Trail. Most were buried with their boots on, thus the name Boot Hill. At the foot of the Boot Hill stairs is the ‘Great Western Trail’ marker. The marker was used to mark the cattle trail to Ogallala. At the top of the hill is a statue of a horse and rider representing a Western/Texas Trail cattle drover who appears to be looking over the graves and town – The Trail Boss.
Lake McConaughy is located aprox. 8 miles outside of Ogallala. It has 35,ooo surface acres, 105 miles of shoreline, and offers year-round fun; fishing, sailing, camping, windsurfing, scuba diving, water skiing, and picnicking.
East of Lake McConaughy, is the town of Keystone. Here we found a very unique church! The town was too small for two churches so the the little chuch was built in 1908 as a combined Catholic/Protestant church. It has a Catholic altar at one end and a Protestant altar at the other with reversible pews. The church had a seating capacity of 70-75 people and remained in use until 1949.
We were hoping to be able to find a farmer’s market with some fresh picked corn, but, we were told that the local corn was not ready. Apparently, the area had not had any rain for 2 months…until tonight…it started pouring rain soon after we returned to our campground. I am sure the farmers are Happy!
Tomorrow…Rawlins, WY