Lewis and Clark Landing in Omaha Memorial

 

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.

Documentary Review: DVD: Prophecies

 This is the second part of two DVDs by Shane Kester.  In this documentary Kester explains how the coming of the Book of Mormon and the Latter-day Saint movement are fulfillment of prophecies.  I was especially intrigued by the story of the Native Americans, as well as the Mormons who were both evicted from their homes, from the East and forced to move out of the country, to Indian Territory for the Native Americans, and to Utah for the Mormons.  It is after this that the Gentiles incurred the wrath of God in the form of the Civil War, and then in other wars.  The South would seek the help of Great Britain.  Great Britain would seek the help of other nations (as in the fist and second world wars).  (See section 87 of the Doctrine and Covenants). Kester tells how Jackson County, Missouri was laid waste during the Civil War.  This was in fulfillment of prophecy from Joseph Smith.  He also explains how the westward migration of the Mormons was also fulfillment of prophecy, including the miraculous crossing of the Mississippi.

Kester has lots of knowledge and shares it here.  Many intriguing stories.  

Book Review: The 50 States

 The 50 States by Gabrielle Balkan, illustrated by Sol Linero, Wide Eyed Editions,Quarto Publishing, London, 2015.

This is a good reference book for information about the 50 states and District of Columbia.  Each state gets two pages.  One page is a map with pictures on the map of things in that state, historical and interesting.  There are also many blurbs about people from the state and what they may have done.  There is a brief history outline, and an introduction to each state.  There are also blurbs on the map about interesting things in the state.  For example Mammoth Cave in Kentucky has 400 miles of passages and caverns making it the longest cave in the world.  Stevie Wonder is from Michigan.  He signed with Detroit's Motown Records when he was eleven.  Wyoming is the first territory to provide women's suffrage and have a woman governor.  Finally a chart for each state with the state flower, tree and admission date.

Women of the Mormon Battalion and Two-dimensional Statues: Kanesville Visitors Center

This statues and informational bulletins are presented outside the visitors center.  Some women stayed in Kanesville, while some went with as laundresses.  One woman would not see her husband alive again as he was murdered in California.

Fort Lisa in North Omaha

Fort Lisa was located where Ponca Creek meets the Missouri River.  It was established by Manuel Lisa as president of the Missouri Fur Company.  There is a plaque off of John Pershing Drive at Hummel Park which commemorates this.  It was built in 1807 and was more a trading post than a fort.  Manuel Lisa was instrumental in keeping the local Native Americans loyal to the United Sates during the war of 1812.  The fort was located within a mile of Cabanné's post of the American Fur Company, which was built in 1820.  Manuel Lisa ran the fort until 1820 when he passed away.   Then Joshua Pilcher ran the fort, but moved south to the Bellevue area in 1823 and the fort was abandoned.  Although the plaque is a ways from the river, the river could have had a different route 200 years ago.  However the exact location is not known.

The fort has several distinctions.  First crops grown by a white man in Nebraska, first white woman to visit Nebraska, the wife of Manuel Lisa.  And the first steam powered ship to come up the Missouri stopped at Fort Lisa.  

Manuel Lisa

Native American Biography: Hiawatha

 At the time of his birth Hiawatha was either Mohawk or Onondaga.  Little is known of his early life.  However when he became an adult the Iroquois Nations were constantly at war.  Hiawatha helped to organize five competing tribes into the Five Nations which initiated a time of peace, The Great Peace.  Hiawatha was opposed by Atotarho of the Onondaga.  He killed Hiawatha's daughters, so Hiawatha eventually left the Onondaga and visited the other tribes.  He convinced the leaders of the Mohawks, Oneidas and Cayugas to give up their warring ways if the Onondaga would join as well in giving up their evil ways.  They all visited him and with the help of the peace god, Daganidah, they were able to restore Atotarho and redeem him.  

The life of Hiawatha is surrounded by myth and legend.  Who knows how much of it is factual.

Book Review: Nebraska

 Nebraska: This and is Your Land by Ann Heinrichs, Compass Point Books, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2004.

This is a very general introductory book to Nebraska.  Chapters include: Welcome to Nebraska, Prairies, Rivers and Plains, A Trip through Time, Government by the People, Nebraskans at Work, Getting to Know Nebraskans and Lets Explore Nebraska.  Nebraska was known for the Oregon Trail which passed through the state following the Platte River.  It then established itself as a farming state.  

Traditionally many Native American groups used Nebraska as a hunting ground, especially for buffalo.  this included Brulé, Oglala Sioux, Arapahoe, Comanche and Cheyenne.  They often had conflicts with the Pawnee.  Settling along the Missouri River were the Omaha, Ponca and Oto.  This area was claimed by the French in 1700s.  However with the Louisiana Purchase it became part of the United States.  Lewis and Clark traveled the eastern part of the state.  Following this were fur traders and trading posts.  The Homestead Act of 1862 lead to settling of the plains, and conflicts with Native Americans.

Nebraska is known for corn and cattle.  Farming is a big part of the economy.  During WWII plane manufacture south of Omaha in Bellevue was important.  This was at Offutt Air Base which became Strategic Air Command during the Cold War.  

Book Review: Vintage Omaha

 Vintage Omaha, editor Kristine Gerber, Omaha World Herald, Omaha Nebraska, 2019.

This is a collection of old photographs from the Omaha World Herald.  Each photograph contains a blurp about what is happenning.  The photographs are in no ordered fashion, and they are not chronological.  There are hundreds of photographs spanning several decades.  

Some photographs that caught my eye, line for the flu shot, a kissing marathon with a young kisser standing on a box of books, Inside Rosenblatt Stadium, Inside SACS headquarters when President Jimmy Carter visited, several of Peony Park, including one of a lifeguard, The end of WWII, Martin Bomber Plant at Offutt with women workers, Aksarben race track and livestock show, a young girl emulating a baton club member.  I enjoyed looking through the pictures and there are many stories.

There is a nice pictur of Fred W. Buffett inside his store.  There are many pictures of old business districts which are no more.  These sometimes didn't mean much to me.

Cabanné's Trading Post

 North of Omaha and close to the Missouri River, Joseph Robidoux established a trading post, originally called Fort Robidoux but then called Cabanné's Trading Post based on the person, Jean Pierre Cabanné, who ran the post.  It was part of the American Fur Company.  In a corner of Hummel Park is a plaque commemorating this.  The trading post was significant in that it help supply Fort Atkinson which was a few miles farther north on the Missouri River.  Cabanné ran the post from 1822 until 1933.  Then Joshua Pilcher took over until 1840 at which time the American Fur Company folded their operations north of Omaha into Fantenelle Trading Post in Bellevue.  Peter Sarpy ran the post at that time.

Looking towards where the trading post was located

Kanesville Visitors Center: Oliver Cowdery Reunites with the Church of Jesus Christ

 Information about Oliver Cowdery is found outside the Visitors Center.  He had left the church but reunited in 1852 in Kanesville.  

Kanesville Visitors Center

Oliver Cowdery Reunites with the Church of Jesus Christ

The First Presidency is Ordained

A Thriving Commerce, 1846-1853

The Mormon Battalion is Recruited

Wives of the Mormon Battalion are depicted

History of Bellevue/Fontenelle as per Fontenelle Forest Center

 This displays tells the history of the Bdellevue area from 1000 through 1851.  It describes the Native Americans, and the trading and fur period.  It includes the esta blishment of an Indian agency in Bellevue.