Nebraska. Flat. Plains. Farms. Fences. And then you get to the western side and seemingly out of nowhere — because it is out of nowhere and nothing — eroded buttes and features arise from the grasses.

The Oregon Trail ran through this area and the prominent features are the Courthouse and Jail Rock, Chimney Rock and Scottsbluff. The stories I heard when I visited described the European settlers traveling in their wagons across a flat, grassy plain for a month and then they saw the Courthouse, Jail Rock and Chimney Rock. They rejoiced as the plains part of their journey was over.

In the northern part of western Nebraska, badlands formation rise out of the plains at Toadstool Geologic Park.

“It was the first time we had ever seen a man’s front yard on top of his house.” – Mark Twain

And in the flats, they make sculptures!

 

“I still can’t shake the Nebraska off of me.” –

– Andrew Rannells