Yellowstone Day 13

 Sunday Sept. 19

I slept in a little bit later today and didn’t get out and on the road until about 8:30.   I had plans to stop outside Nebraska City and see the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Trail and Visitor Center and according to their website they didn’t open up until noon on Sundays so I was stalling for time.   I stopped, got gas and drove an hour and a half east to get there.  I had looked and there were two geocaches hidden nearby the museum so I stopped and grabbed the geocaches first.  One geocache was just located just outside the Lewis and Clark Center, near a picnic table...

When I arrived at the museum I was pleasantly surprised to find out that they had opened at 9 o’clock.  I hurried inside and with my senior discount it was only six dollars.  Oh my goodness - it was six very well spent dollars!  The museum itself is laid out over three floors. 

Outside there’s an Indian Earth Lodge/Hut that you can go in.  I was surprised at the size of it - 48 ft. diameter and they were built to house up to 30 people....

The Center also has several hiking trails on the property.   One of the trails lead down to the Missouri River, the very river that Lewis and Clark and their Corp of Discovery travelled on over 200 years ago.  

I was there for over two hours and I could’ve easily spent several more because there was so much to see and do.  It was honestly one of the best museums I’ve ever been in and by far the best presentation on Lewis and Clark history that I’ve ever seen.

After that I jumped in the car and drove 2 1/2 hours to my KOA campsite for the night     Before I pulled into the KOA I stopped at the gas station and filled up my tank for the next morning and ran into Popeyes to get myself some chicken strips for dinner.  Then I headed over to the KOA which coincidentally was also the same campground I stayed at for my very first night on this trip.   This is a nice campground with easy expressway on and off and the bathrooms are clean.  My tent site was actually next to the site I had the last time so I parked the car, ate my chicken strips and then went and took a shower.      

I still had about three hours until dark so I just sat and read a book for a while, cleaned out my car, and reflected on the amazing trip I had just taken.  I couldn’t believe all the places I had been and the unbelievable number of things I had done in two weeks.  What an experience!  Tomorrow I’ve got about 6 ½ hours left to drive and then I’m home.  Is it too early to start planning my next trip??

For those of you who followed along on 13 separate posts about my Yellowstone trip - THANK YOU!   I've gotten so many wonderful comments and notes from people who enjoyed the posts and photos.  I'll be back in a few days with a trip "wrap up" that will include mileage driven, money spent on gas, favorite stops along the way and some helpful tips.  I hope you've seen something here that you'd like to see yourself.  And if I've inspired you to get out your tent and do some travelling, well, that's even better.  Safe travels!!

Fort Donelson, Tennessee

If you're visiting Tennessee, try to make a stop at Fort Donelson National Battlefield, which is located just northwest of Nashville.  Ft. Donelson was the location of the North's first key victory of the Civil War and the place where Ulysses S. Grant earned his famous nickname "Unconditional Surrender" Grant.

The battle took place on February 14-16, 1862.  Prior to that, over 400 small huts were constructed for the soldiers and slaves to live in.  Those not lucky enough to be granted a hut had to endure the elements in the cold February environment.

The Cumberland river played a major role in the battle by supplying a way for the Federal troops to descend on the Confederate controlled Ft. Donelson. Gradually encircling the Fort, Grant finally closed all escape routes, forcing General Buckner to ask Grant for his terms of surrender.

Located nearby is the Fort Donelson National Cemetery.  It contains the remains of 670 Civil War burials as well as veterans from all other American Wars.

Several blocks away is the Dover Hotel.  During the battle the South used it as their headquarters, but once General Buckner accepted General Grants surrender terms, the two met there to work out all the details....

A record setting 13,000 Confederate prisoners were amassed here and eventually shipped northward to prison camps located in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Massachusetts.

Today the Dover Hotel sits on the banks of the Cumberland River, a tranquil reminder of the horrors of war that took place over 150 years ago...

For those of you interested in geocaching, there is an Adventure Lab called "Fort Donelson" located here.   It will take you to key locations inside the battlefield, as well as The National Cemetery and then on to the Dover House. 

For more information concerning the battles of Fort Donelson and nearby Fort Henry, pick up a copy of:  

Grant Invades Tennessee: The 1862 Battles for Forts Henry and Donelson

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