History Trail at American Heroes Park.

 The start of this trail is not very well marked.  It is off the last parking area about halfway from the end.  There is a creek and the trail is where the creek is going through a culvert.  After getting into the woods it is marked; History and nature trail l.2 miles.  I just walked to the first. ben where thee is a history informational display.  It talks about life along the Missouri.

pioneer

Sarpy, Fontenelle and Audubon

Lewis and Clark

fur trapper

native americans

barge

steam boat

river boat

canoe

Missouri, looks peaceful but it was runniung fast

graffiti says Sarpy

culvert,  Go over this to get to trail

Andy Devine at Kingman History Museum, Visitors Center

 At the Kingman History Museum the display for Andy Devine has been moved.  There is no longer an Andy Devine theater and the items are pushed to the front of the museum instead of in the back by the theater.  Even so there is a representation of several Andy Devine movies and t.v. shows.  

As Jingles

His saddle is large and elaborate

With his boys

from Flipper

Visitors Center picture of Andy Devine

Book Review: Newspapers and Butter Pecan Ice Ice Cream: Mrs. Mildred Brown and the Omaha Star

 Newspapers and Butter Pecan Ice Ice Cream: Mrs. Mildred Brown and the Omaha Star, by Amy Helene Forss, illustrated by Gina Tolstedt, United States, 2017.

This is a children's story but tells and important story.  Mildred Brown founded the Black newspaper in Omaha, the Omaha Star.  She was also a supporter of civil rights.  She used the newspaper to hold accountable businesses that would not hire African Americans.  This included the bus company, and an ice cream parlor.  She was also a mentor to young people who later became activists in their own right.  This included Rudy Smith, John Pierce, Cathy Hughes, Preston Love Jr. and Michael Adams.  These people became successful and social activists in their own right.

Other Exhibits at the Great Plains History Museum

 Elsewhere I have posted about the art at the museum and the "Green Book."  I also wrote about Will Brown who was lynched and shared pictures from the museum.  I also shared a post about North Omaha sports stars as presented at the museum.  

This museum also deals with other themes.  This includes stereotyping of African Americans, the Klu Klux Klan, Buffalo Soldiers, Malcolm X, Mildred Brown and the Omaha Star, the naval war hero Charles Jackson French and Guitarist, George Walker.

Native American Artifacts at Fontenelle Forest Lodge

 In addition to the earth lodge outside of the Fontenelle lodge, there is a display case of Native American artifacts in the lodge.  I especially like the awl and fish hook made of bone.

History of Kingman as per the Route 66 Museum

The Kingman area was part of a series of Native American Trails which facilitated travel and trade.  

The Beale Trail ran through the Kingman area as a route traveling east to west to California.  The city of Kingman came into existence after Lewis Kingman, working for the railroad, established a station in Kingman.  

With the coming of the railroad came a train station and a Harvey Restaurant with Harvey Girls.

Route 66 was established in 1926.  The route extended from Chicago to Los Angeles.  It was important in the transoort of thousands during the depression who fled land devastated by dust storms.  

 Charles Lindbergh about this time came to Kingman, establishing a string of airports across the United States.  This was part of Trans World Airlines as well as setting up mail service.  

How Kingman may have looked at this time.

During WWII Kingman and the Army Air Field were central to the war effort.

A tragic even in the 1970s was a fire in Kingman which killed twelve people.

More recently another fire took lives in Arizona.