Fort Robinson, NE

Sep 11     Scottsbluff - Fort Robinson State Park   120 miles   4 hours

On the way to Fort Robinson, we did a little detour and made a stop at Carhenge in Alliance, NE. It's a replica of Stonehenge, England's ancient alignment of stones that chart the phases of the sun and the moon. Created from vintage automobiles, the dimensions of Carhenge replicate Stonehenge.  The cars are primarily from the 1950's and 1960's. They are planted trunk down and rise 15 to 17 feet. The cars are approximately 7 feet wide, the same size as the standing stones of Stonehenge. There are other artwork around the grounds, everything made out of car parts. We enjoyed our visit. 

Spawning Salmon

Dinosaur

We had lunch in the parking lot and continued our journey to Fort Robinson.

 

Fort Robinson State Park was one of the highlights of this trip but our plans got messed up when our radiator decided to take a crap on us. Our original plan was to stay at Fort Robinson from Sep 1-7th. It's a historical park with lots of activities. Unfortunately for us, most of the activities close down after Labor Day. 

We got some interesting literature about the campground that we're staying in for 2 nights......

"You'll be surrounded by history as you set up camp at Fort Robinson State Park. These very grounds once held the quartermaster corrals and stables, cavalry stables, butcher shop, and lumber stores. In 1876, Moses Milner, General Custer's favorite scout, was shot and killed under the cottonwoods in the center of the campground. One of the most tragic events in the history of Ft Robinson occurred right here...the Cheyenne Outbreak. Forcibly sent to Indian Territory in Oklahoma, a band of Northern Cheyenne, under Dull Knife, escaped and fled across the plains of Kansas and Nebraska, pursued by thousands of soldiers. Captured finally by troops from Ft Robinson the 149 men, women, and children, who had survived the ordeal, were imprisoned in a log barracks on the grounds. Told they would have to return to Indian Territory, Dull Knife said they would rather die here in their old hunting grounds. The Army attempted to starve them into submission, and on the bitter cold night of January 9, 1879, they tried to escape. With the few guns they had managed to hide, the braves opened fire on the guards. As the women and children ran toward the White River, the men fought a running battle with the hastily  awakened garrison. Many Cheyenne fell between the parade ground and the river, where the campground is located today. It was one of the last battles of the Indian War. As you turn in tonight, don't be spooked by unfamiliar sounds. It's only the breeze rustling through the trees or a coyote on a distant butte, or is it?"

Joe fixing the vent on the roof

Nice site

Cooking dinner and enjoying some wine

Sep 12

So much history here at Fort Robinson State Park. We spent the morning walking all over the grounds. We really should buy bicycles, we walked a lot. All the officers houses and soldiers barracks can be rented out. Lots of people have family reunions here because the houses can sleep a lot.

The light poles are still being used

Officers houses

Fire Station

Soldiers Barracks

A woodpecker

A dead snake on the road

Sep 13     Ft. Robinson - Chadron State Park     36 miles      1 hour 30 min

We decided to move a little ways down the road to Chadron State Park.

Just taking it easy for the next couple of days. It's nice here, electric sites for $20, then another $5 for the Nebraska Park pass.


Sep 14

We took a long walk this morning around the campground and office area. Then we washed the Kia, it got hit with some bad stuff on the drive over. We took a drive on the scenic byway around the park, pretty nice. When we got back, 3 motorhomes were pulled in around us. They have a big group coming in this week. Had a nice visit with them.

Joe and his new friends