Traveling Through Nebraska: Lincoln Highway Landmarks
The Lincoln Highway, established in 1913, was the first transcontinental highway in the United States, stretching 3,389 miles from Times Square in New York City to Lincoln Park in San Francisco. As travelers cross through the Great Plains, particularly Nebraska, numerous landmarks serve as testaments to the state's rich history and charming roadside attractions. This article delves into the notable landmarks that dot the route as it traverses Nebraska.
One notable attraction is the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument, located in Kearney, a city situated along Interstate 80 and the Lincoln Highway. This unique arch, constructed in 2000, features an interactive museum and educational exhibits that highlight the Lincoln Highway's significance in American history, including its role in shaping westward expansion and connecting cities across the continent.
Another notable landmark is the Sutherland Reservoir, situated in Lincoln County, which played a significant role in Nebraska's early history as a vital stopping point for travelers traversing the Lincoln Highway. The reservoir offered essential water supply services for both tourists and early settlers, eventually aiding in the establishment of nearby towns.
To the southeast, the historic city of Omaha plays host to various attractions, such as the famous Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge. However, of particular interest to those exploring Lincoln Highway landmarks is the town's iconic J. Coco's restaurant, previously the historic Lincoln Highway Garage, constructed in the early 20th century to cater specifically to travelers using the transcontinental route.
Omaha also boasts the College World Series' site, Rosenblatt Stadium's predecessor, Vinton Street, a location that was an important Lincoln Highway landmark for almost five decades. During its heyday, the location housed a drive-in theater and service station, eventually hosting baseball games as far back as 1900, though the stadium itself was later dismantled and made way for residential developments.
A few miles north of North Platte, the charming town of Hershey features small-town America. Founded in 1893 by C.C. Hershey, a Lincoln Highway surveyor who built his namesake town as its own railroad junction, this tiny settlement started out as a booming boomtown fueled by rail and travel growth. This early infrastructure legacy led to its modern-day emergence as a historic railroad city.
Those seeking to experience Nebraska's authentic past through roadside landmarks are not short on options, ranging from roadside service stations to colossal gateway arches. Nebraska is one of the many states that remain intertwined in the narrative of this enduring American symbol of exploration and adventure.
Ultimately, exploring Lincoln Highway Landmarks in Nebraska affords countless memories and observations of historical development and early societal interaction – observations enriched by learning about unique monuments such as those just mentioned.
While the route, especially sections in the Great Plains, has long been heavily commercialized, several artifacts of Nebraska roadside architectural ingenuity have remained significant relics on account of the inroads these have had on shaping that era's early American spirit.
One notable attraction is the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument, located in Kearney, a city situated along Interstate 80 and the Lincoln Highway. This unique arch, constructed in 2000, features an interactive museum and educational exhibits that highlight the Lincoln Highway's significance in American history, including its role in shaping westward expansion and connecting cities across the continent.
Another notable landmark is the Sutherland Reservoir, situated in Lincoln County, which played a significant role in Nebraska's early history as a vital stopping point for travelers traversing the Lincoln Highway. The reservoir offered essential water supply services for both tourists and early settlers, eventually aiding in the establishment of nearby towns.
To the southeast, the historic city of Omaha plays host to various attractions, such as the famous Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge. However, of particular interest to those exploring Lincoln Highway landmarks is the town's iconic J. Coco's restaurant, previously the historic Lincoln Highway Garage, constructed in the early 20th century to cater specifically to travelers using the transcontinental route.
Omaha also boasts the College World Series' site, Rosenblatt Stadium's predecessor, Vinton Street, a location that was an important Lincoln Highway landmark for almost five decades. During its heyday, the location housed a drive-in theater and service station, eventually hosting baseball games as far back as 1900, though the stadium itself was later dismantled and made way for residential developments.
A few miles north of North Platte, the charming town of Hershey features small-town America. Founded in 1893 by C.C. Hershey, a Lincoln Highway surveyor who built his namesake town as its own railroad junction, this tiny settlement started out as a booming boomtown fueled by rail and travel growth. This early infrastructure legacy led to its modern-day emergence as a historic railroad city.
Those seeking to experience Nebraska's authentic past through roadside landmarks are not short on options, ranging from roadside service stations to colossal gateway arches. Nebraska is one of the many states that remain intertwined in the narrative of this enduring American symbol of exploration and adventure.
Ultimately, exploring Lincoln Highway Landmarks in Nebraska affords countless memories and observations of historical development and early societal interaction – observations enriched by learning about unique monuments such as those just mentioned.
While the route, especially sections in the Great Plains, has long been heavily commercialized, several artifacts of Nebraska roadside architectural ingenuity have remained significant relics on account of the inroads these have had on shaping that era's early American spirit.
