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On the Oregon Trail on the National Park Road Trip, 2010
Greetings from Fort Kearny (pronounced as Carney), the first and considered one of the most important military posts on the Oregon Trail. Following our stay at Rock Creek Station, we zigzagged 125 miles to the northwest following as closely as possible the Oregon Trail that itself traced a stretch of the Little Blue River.
Our goal was to spend time at Fort Kearny before following the Platte River to the town of North Platte, Nebraska, where we would stay for the night. Due to the time consumed in examining numerous historical markers, accompanied by blistering heat and a forecast for strong evening storms, we decided to skip tenting and spend the night in a motel in the town of Kearney.
Oddly, the town name is spelled differently than the fort. According to Alicia at the Fort Kearny State Historical Park visitor center, the difference stems from a mistake by the U.S. Post Office in naming the town.
Fort Kearny was initially built beside the Missouri River at what is now Nebraska City, but was moved west to offer better protection to the pioneers that by then were streaming west along the banks of the Platte River. Construction commenced in 1848 on the new Fort Kearny that became functional a year later. To view our video of Fort Kearny, visit this site:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tij3j41nc5U
more info at:
http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com...-trip-20106126
the oregon trail: http://www.nps.gov/oreg/index.htm
Rock Creek Station: http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com...egon-trail6113
Our goal was to spend time at Fort Kearny before following the Platte River to the town of North Platte, Nebraska, where we would stay for the night. Due to the time consumed in examining numerous historical markers, accompanied by blistering heat and a forecast for strong evening storms, we decided to skip tenting and spend the night in a motel in the town of Kearney.
Oddly, the town name is spelled differently than the fort. According to Alicia at the Fort Kearny State Historical Park visitor center, the difference stems from a mistake by the U.S. Post Office in naming the town.
Fort Kearny was initially built beside the Missouri River at what is now Nebraska City, but was moved west to offer better protection to the pioneers that by then were streaming west along the banks of the Platte River. Construction commenced in 1848 on the new Fort Kearny that became functional a year later. To view our video of Fort Kearny, visit this site:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tij3j41nc5U
more info at:
http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com...-trip-20106126
the oregon trail: http://www.nps.gov/oreg/index.htm
Rock Creek Station: http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com...egon-trail6113
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