We all know Nebraska is flat as a pancake. That was no surprise. However, no one told me about the beautiful farms and fields. Fields, newly planted with corn, floating on and on like the sea. Memorial weekend we visited Winter Quarters Memorial site in Omaha, Nebraska, and the beautiful temple across the street. When the Saints were driven out of Nauvoo, Illinois, it was during a severe January winter. The Mississippi was frozen over, and they were unprepared to travel. It took so long for the Saints to cross Iowa, Brigham Young said they must find a place to stay for the winter. Thousands of pioneers stayed in Omaha, making temporary housing while they made preparations to move further west. | Flat farmland, clean white homes and out-buildings, with acres and acres of bright green grass. The expanse of the prairie was so great I could feel the curvature of the earth. One thought I had, I think I'm going to buy stock in a riding lawn mower manufacturer.. |
After the first groups of pioneers left Winter Quarters, Kanesville became the headquarters of the LDS Church in the Midwest. This building, known as the Kanesville Tabernacle, located at Council Bluffs, was built in three weeks to accommodate 1,000 Saints in order to sustain Brigham Young as the second President of the Church on 27 December 1847. |
We stumbled across this treasure in Iowa. We were looking for an RV spot, and found Amana Colonies. About the same time as the Mormons went west, a German religious group formed 3-4 colonies in the fertile farmlands of Iowa. They soon gave up their communal life and individually prospered. Amana appliances, known today, came from this colony.
Here's the red Ford, resting in camp after pulling 12,500 pounds for several weeks!. If the Ford could talk I'm sure it would wonder How much longer can I keep up this pace?