Welcome to Omaha/Bellevue: Bellevue Trail: Fontenelle Forest History Trail

 Sheri and I on a Tuesday after it had been raining for a few days took the history trail.  This trail starts at Wakonda and makes a loop, passing close to the railroad tracks which marks where the Missouri ran during the time of the trading posts/ Indian agency and Indian lodges in the area.  The Indian agency took the place of the trading post. The hike for us was very slippery with mud, especially the closer we got to the tracks as it was mostly down hill until then.  Sometimes we would slide on the mud, but mostly kept to the leaves which provided some traction.  It was actually a fun trail.  We saw four deer as they bounded away.  We saw birds and plants, but being winter the foliage didn't have leaves.

Mushroom

not sure

This flattened are was close to the gravesites and likely where the trading post was located.

The base is made with the foundation stones from the trading post

map of the Fontenelle trails.  The history trail is G, at the bottom of the map

looking toward Iowa

some abandoned construction

train track is former riverbank

look at Missouri River

This trail warrants another hike when the conditions are better.  A sign said there are old earth lodges in the area which we did not notice.

Lewis and Clark Landing in Omaha Memorial

 When Captain William Clark and Sergeant Reuben Field climbed the hill in what is now Omaha, they found Indian mounds, many of them.  Located between Farnam and Davenport over an area described as 200 acres.  They were not sure what they were, possibly earth lodges of the Oto who lived there earlier, or natural made.  They were made of earth and sand.  They were of different shapes and sizes.  I wonder if they may have been from more ancient times.

This was done in metal and harder to see

Kanesville Visitors Center: Brigham Young Sustained as Prophet

 In the winter of 1847, three years after the death of Joseph Smith, Brigham Young was impressed that it was time to reorganize the first presidency.  This was after he had been to Utah and back ith the first emigration company.  Kanesville was in essence the headquarters of the church during this time.  Not all the apostles were present, but they did have a majority and a quorum.  On December 5 they determined it was proper to reorganize the first presidency.  They hastily constructed a tabernacle in which to do this.  It held 1000 people.  On December 27 the members met in Kanesville Tabernacle and sustained Brigham Young as Prophet with Heber C. Kimball as first counsellor and Willard Richards as second counsellor.  The Kanesville Tabernacle did not survive.  It was hastily constructed, over a natural spring.  The wood was green and warped over time so it soon was not safe.  A replica was built in 1996 but it too was torn down in 2022 as deemed unsafe.  There is now a memorial, visitor center there.  Kanesville is now Council Bluffs.  The memorial is located off of E. Kanesville Blvd at Benton St.  

Heber C. Kimball, Brigham Young and Willard Richards

Where the tabernacle was located in 1847

An artistic rendering of the original tabernacle

Nampeyo, Pottery, Hopi-Tewa

 Nampeyo aka Numpayu was known for creating pottery in the old ways, and using old designs for pottery shards.  At one point one of her pots sold for $350,000 setting a record for pottery.  Her pottery is in museums all over the world.  She used ancient methods for creating the pottery as well as firing the pottery.  Her mother was Tewa and her father Hopi.  According to tradition she belonging with the Tewa Tribe.  She made a living selling pottery at a local trading post.  She talked of the evolution of her pottery.  "When I first began to paint, I used to go to the ancient village and pick up pieces of pottery and copy the designs. That is how I learned to paint. But now, I just close my eyes and see designs and I paint them."— Nampeyo, 1920s^[

She passed away in 1942.  However she inspired others to become potters, including her daughter.

Nampeyo displaying pottery

Nampeyo firing pottery

Native American Biography: Maquinna, Nootka

 Maquinna was a Native American Chief living on Vancouver Island in Canada.  When ships showed up, he was appointed by the tribe to be the person to deal with the newcomers.  First visit was two ships captained by James Cook and George Bly.  From this first visit came many subsequent visits with people wanting to trade with the Indians.  There were two rival grous, the Spanish and the English.  After the Spanish attacked a group of British, taking some of them as prisoners.  Maquinna's brother objected.  However he was killed by the Spanish when he approached their ship.  Maquinna destroyed the village of the Spanish on the island.  Later they Spanish appeased Maquinna with gifts and praise.  Maquinna became ill and passed away.  

Lewis and Clark Display at NP Dodge Memorial Park

 N.P. Dodge Memorial Park is in the north Omaha area off of John J. Pershing Drive north of the 680.  Close to the road is a Lewis and Clark statue taling of the first meating with Native American, the Oto a few miles north of the park.  

Firefighter History in Omaha as per Fireman Memorial Statue

 AFter five volunteer firemen perished in the Grand Central Hotel fire of 1878 it was determined the City of Omaha needed to go another way with regards to fighting fire.  In 1887 a full time paid fire department was begun.  Many have served with distinction.  Over the years 59 firemen have perished in the line of duty.  The firemen unionized in 1902 and joined the International Association of Firefighters in 1934.