In 2002 our horse back riding instructor got married and moved to North Platte, Nebraska. My family decided to plan a trip out that way to visit her and see her new farm. Melissa and my new nephew Austin were going to drive with us to Nebraska and then fly home as the rest of us went on to Yellowstone National Park. We packed up the rental car crammed us all into the car and were off. On the way out of town we stopped at the farm to say hi to our horse Baby. Then were off to Iowa. However near Ridgeway (30 mins outside of Fitchburg)my dad noticed our rental car was over heating. We pulled over on a side highway, called the Rental company who said they would be sending a tow truck. We also called Melissa Boyfriend at the time who came and picked us up after what seemed like forever. My dad accompanied the car back to the rental area and the rest of us got dropped off at home. After this unwanted ‘Adventure’ Melissa decided she didn’t want to travel with a 5 month old in case anything similar happened again. So after Dad got a new car only my parents and me left for Iowa.
On the way we stopped at the Amana Colonies most of the places were closed so we only looked in a few places and I of course got a postcard.
August 18, 2002
The Amana Woolen Mille, Amana IA
-Quality products since 1855-
The warping creel is the first step in producing quality Amana blankets 240 cones of yarn are meticulously set up on the creel depending on the style of blanket. The threads are then drawn together to check the pattern. Since each blanket has from 1160 to 1560 warp threads, one section of yarn is put on the creel at a time and wound into the warping wheel.
When we got to Nebraska we decided to go to the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha. We found out that it was a pretty fabulous zoo! They have the Desert Dome or the worlds largest indoor desert, they had jungles and aquariums and they add new things all the time it was a fantastic zoo to stumble upon!
August 19, 2002
Doorly’s Pride
Standing just inside the main zoo entrance, a bronze replica of a lion pride welcomes visitor and offers some unusual photo opportunities
The worlds largest glazed geodesic dome at the time of its construction. The Henry Doorly Zoo’s Desert Dome opened in the Spring of 2002. It houses exhibits of deserts from all over the world and is home to several species of desert plants and animals.
Now Nebraska is not the mos interesting state to drive though so we stopped at the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument which is basically an arch like thing that goes over the highway. It is a museum about westward expansion pioneers, first railroad, first interstate it was an interesting unexpected stop.
August 19, 2002
Kearney, Nebraska
The Great Platte River Road Archway Monument is the only historic attraction spanning a US interstate highway. The immersive exhibit traces the history of the Great Platte River from the Pony Express to the first fiber-optic cable.
We finally made it to North Platte Nebraska. They made us beer butt chicken the first night. We were there for a few days and while we were there I helped with the horse chores, we went trail riding and jumped the horses and had fun around the farm. We did go and toured Buffalo Bills Ranch House and Barn.
Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park
North Platte, Nebraska
In 1886 Cody contracted Patrick Walsh to build the two story, nine room house at a cost of $3,900. In 1990 the Cody’s remodeled the house, adding 9 rooms, electric lights,indoor plumbing and a furnace. Cody entertained friends from all across America at his ranch house.
Buffalo Bill’s Scout’s Rest Ranch Stat Historical Park
This barn on Buffalo Bill’s Scout Rest Ranch is 148 feet long and 70 feet wide, 40 feet high. It was built in 1887 and was used to winter the animals from Buffalo Bills World Famous Wild West Show. Posters from the show are still to be seen on the walls of the barn. The famous “gunstock” rafters are still under the eaves.
She also took us to the largest Cabelas in the country (at the time). Now no one in my family hunts so I had no idea we were going to a hunting store. I honestly thought it was a tourist type trap of some sort. In fact I continued to to think this until college when I realized it was a hunting store chain. Probley why my parents thought it was weird that i got postcards from here. But to be fair this Cabelas had two huge mountains of dead animals over taking the whole store, Or we can just chop it up to me being blonde I will only post two of the postcards from here HAHA.
The last place the took us was to her husbands train. He was an engineer so he took us to the largest train transfer in Nebraska and showed us his train and told us about being an engineer. Afterwards we continued west and ended up in Yellowstone National Park. We stayed at Mammoth springs lodge we saw lots of Elk and Buffalo. We hiked to the springs and saw Old Faithful then waited around for other geysers. It was a pretty nice park. Nothing much happened the rest of the trip cause I have no other postcards 
Old Faithful Geyser and People
The spectacular eruption of the parks most famous geyser, Old Faithful, had always thrilled Yellowstone visitors. The geyser was named for its consistency of eruption by member of the Washburn Expedition in 1870. Its pattern of eruption is as predictable now as it was a century ago.
Before
After
Minerva Terrace was one of the most beautiful terraces in the early 1800’s, until it dried up in the 1960’s, It has recently started to regained its original color and form.
Julie O Postcard Collection 