GC42H78 Road to Somewhere, 1860 (Traditional Cache) in Nebraska, United States created by The WBs

This cache has been archived.

The WBs: I was considering re-deployment or transferring ownership on my caches, as circumstances are unfortunately preventing the maintenance I should be providing. Archiving is the best option, based on the tone of some DNF logs and dwindling interest in caches in the "unknown" category that are not challenge caches. Thanks for playing!

GC42H78 ▼

A cache by The WBs Message this owner

Hidden : 12/7/2012

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:

There is no surrounding on-street parking, so you’ll have to park nearby and walk or bike in. You’re looking for a small circular lock & lock. The WBs’ MineLab coin is getting its start here.

This strangely shaped, public, county-owned 2.78 acres is undeveloped, and likely to remain so. What looks at first glance to be a vacant lot was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.

When you arrive you’ll find some remnants of Old Military Road, but you’re really walking along the Overland Trail. Captain Edward Beckwith, US Army, was responsible for creating Military Road in 1857. What was designed to be a military supply road was also used by many travelers to the West.

The ruts and furrows tracing through the entire plot of set-aside land have been identified and preserved as evidence of wagon train and stagecoach use from the 19th century.

Online you can read the entire application the Nebraska State Historical Society made to the Department of the Interior for historic designation. Old survey maps and historical information may be found there. From the document:
Even though the history of these particular ruts cannot be traced with precision, there is no doubt they are part of the old Military Road that originally went from Omaha to Fort Kearny. As such, they are eligible at the state level under Criterion A for their association with the military and westward expansion. The establishment of this road also helped ensure that Omaha continued as an important freighting station and a jumping-off point for travellers going west. Finally, these ruts are an incredibly rare resource given their location in a highly developed urban area

UPDATE: Cache owner returned in April 2013 to take pictures and hike around, looking for evidence of the Overland Trail. My untrained eyes saw several areas that looked like they could be wagon wheel ruts, and the area pictured in the gallery (just north of the power station) has the feel of an old thoroughfare. But I could be all wrong. I'm going to contact the historical societies at the county and state level and see if we could have a CITO here. Stay tuned!

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This cache has been archived.

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Road to Somewhere, 1860 Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

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