Slogan: Nebraska, possibilities...endless
Bird: Western meadowlark
Animal: White-tailed deer
Fish: Channel catfish
Insect: European honey bee
Flower: Goldenrod
Tree: Cottonwood
Song "Beautiful Nebraska" Quarter
Released April 7, 2006
Grass: Little bluestem
Beverage: Milk
Fossil: Mammoth
Gemstone: Blue agate
Soil: Holdrege series
I love Nebraska! My father grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska and received his undergraduate degree from the University of Nebraska. I made my first journey to Nebraska when I was only a few months old; I have been back every Christmas since then. I have been fortunate enough to spend some summers there as well. My grandparents spent most of their adult lives in Lincoln, Nebraska. And, my Aunt Jane lives on a gorgeous farm in Ponca, Nebraska on land that her husband's family has farmed for over 100 years! One of the qualities I find to be the most endearing and alluring about the state is the fierce Nebraskan Pride! It seems as though all Nebraskans hold a solemn reverence for their beautiful state. This passion and loyalty is extended to anything and everything connected with the state especially football and Nebraskan beef and crops! I found this pride to be absolutely infectious and have always been interested in my Nebraskan roots. Last week I traveled to Nebraska to visit with my family. Below are some of my favorite photos from the trip.
My father, Joel, and my son, Caden, at the Denver airport during our layover. Most flights to Nebraska come through the Denver airport
The beautiful Missouri River. The sky is so big out here in Nebraska; it meets the horizon in every direction. There is something almost spiritual about such a tremendously large sky. The clouds are just breathtaking.
This is the wonderful sign that greets travelers as they cross the South Dakota/Nebraska border
This is one of the many small churches that dot the Nebraska landscape. In this small town that we passed through there seemed to be four or five churches all within a mile or so of eachother.
My dad and Caden at the Ponca State Park museum. Caden is at the wheel of a steamboat that travelers used to navigate the big Missouri River
A display of a log cabin that early settlers built
Wild Turkeys at Ponca State Park. These surprisingly large and noisy birds are common throughout rural Nebraska. We also saw a bunch of wild ones on my Aunt Jane's farm a couple of miles away
Missouri River peeking through dense green foilage
Missouri and its banks
Another shot of the park grounds. Everything is so green. The air was pretty humid and the bugs were buzzing so loudly
Nebraska's number one resident and fan, my grandmother, Ruth, with Caden![]()
The different displays within the park
The different displays within the park
A canoe that Native Americans typically would have used to navigate the Missouri
The Park aims at providing educational and recreational resources in order to support conservation of the great river
On the Road again
Typical downtown of a small town, looks so deserted compared to busy SoCal
I love the architecture of these old store fronts. The buildings seem so grand and classic
The motel in Ponca where we stayed seven years ago for my Aunt's wedding. The parking lot seems completely empty with not a single visitor but it is still up and running!![]()
Old deserted buildings are common throughout the Nebraska landscape. They are too costly to renovate or tear down so they just remain. I think their weathered beauty is so remarkable
Cows! Nebraska Beef
A house on a farm with a gorgeous old tree
Cows and crops
Grain silos and farm equipment
The Lewis and Clark expedition passed through Nebraska. This area was one of the expedition's campsites
Mulberry Bend is a scenic overlook with views of the Missouri
Again the sky is so splendidly large
Baby Caden and Momma enjoying an indoor pool in our hotel in Nebraska. Unlike SoCal most of the pool's here are INDOORS
Nebraska's Greatest Resident--my grandmother, my dad, my baby, and my aunt
Go Big Red
