Pawnee Rock, Kansas on the Santa Fe Trail

 Pawnee Rock traditionally provided a great view of the surrounding area along the Santa Fe Trail.  The rock was a well known landmark along the trail.  However over the years the upper layers of the rock were removed and the rock used in the building of homes.  Today there is a platform on top of the rock to give an idea of the original height of the rock as the height was lowered at least twelve feet.  

From below looking up

Santa Fe Trail Marker

Native American lived close to the rock; battles with other trib es took place near hear, and seasonally the Pawnee would come here to hunt buffalo.  

This mural is from city park in town

Buffalo Bill Cultural Center in Oakley, Kansas

 Traveling between Kingman and Omaha I came upon this Buffalo Bill statue in Oakley Kansas.  The cultural center was closed this particular day but the statue was worth the stop.  The statue is twice life size.

It commemorates the time when Buffalo Bill killed over 4000 buffalo to supple food for the workers of the Kansas Pacific Railroad.  During this time there was a contest between he and Bill Comstock over who could carry the moniker Buffalo Bill.  Buffalo Bill won the contest by downing 68 Buffalo in eight hours to 48 for Comstock.  Born William Frederick Cody, he founded the town of Cody, Wyoming.  He is most famous for his wild west show which toured throughout the U.S. and across Europe.  

Crossing the Plains in a Wind Wagon

Kansas was actually know to have wind wagons; although of course horse drawn animals were always more popular.  However, Kansas has an over abundance, and it was determined to take advantage of this.  Samual Peppard probably had the most success.  He was able to utilize the wind to travel.  He was headed to the Colorado gold mines, and made it at least as far as Fort Kearney, perhaps to Denver.  Another wind wagon arrived in Kansas from Westport, Missouri, traveling the Santa Fe trail.
This contraptions were usually small wagons, with a sail over the front axle.  However, some inventors also had the idea of arming the wagons with larger wheels, to better take advantage of the wind.
These wagons first arrived in Denver in 1860.  They really weren't practical  because they had difficulty getting through obstacles, as the tried to follow the wind.
http://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/wind-wagons/12239
http://www.explore-old-west-colorado.com/Colorado-wind-wagon.html

Disney classic
http://mmboebillywardle.blogspot.com/2014/05/disney-animation-classics-volume-4.html