To the pioneers who traveled the Oregon Trail in the 19th century, Chimney Rock was a very welcome sight and a cause for celebration because it marked a transition point in the long, difficult journey to a better life in the Oregon Territory. Chimney Rock is located just about 1/3 of the way between the trail's starting and ending points, so the travelers knew when they saw it that a third of their journey was now behind them. It also marks the start of a change of landscape on the trail - they would soon be leaving the open plains and moving into the more rugged lands leading into the Rocky Mountains. It's also highly visible; its distinctive shape can be seen from many miles away to the east. Imagine their feeling, after traveling across seemingly endless prairies for weeks and weeks, of seeing this famous milepost and realizing how far they've already come on their journey.
Chimney Rock is located just off Nebraska's scenic Highway 92, a few miles south of the town of Bayard. It is visible for miles around, but there are a couple of nice viewpoints. If you travel west from the junction of highways 92 and 26, there will be a pulloff on the side of the highway with a historical marker that gives a really nice view (as well as a bit of history).
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From here, you can see the geologic relationship between Chimney Rock and the bluffs to the south. The rocks that form both are layers of sandstone, clay, and volcanic ash, that were originally deposited as one vast, flat layer of sediment after another. Over time, erosion has shaped the rock into the forms you can see today. The harder bits of sandstone in the spire of the "chimney" have protected the lower rocks and preserved the distinctive columnar shape.
Travel about a mile south of the highway on a little side road to get to the small but informative Visitor's Center. Admission to the Visitor's Center is $3, but the views from the parking lot are free. The spire looks a bit more impressive from this angle.
Travel about a mile south of the highway on a little side road to get to the small but informative Visitor's Center. Admission to the Visitor's Center is $3, but the views from the parking lot are free. The spire looks a bit more impressive from this angle.
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Inside the Visitor's Center, you can see a nice film about the Rock, and tour two rooms of exhibits about its geology and history.
There are also plenty of historical sketches and photos of Chimney Rock over the years, and you can see how much (and how quickly) it has actually changed! When white traders and pioneers first came to this area, Chimney Rock was much taller and much more cylindrical than it is today. Erosion in the form of rain and the occasional lightning strike continually eat away at the monument, and it looks quite different today than it did 175 years ago.
There are also plenty of historical sketches and photos of Chimney Rock over the years, and you can see how much (and how quickly) it has actually changed! When white traders and pioneers first came to this area, Chimney Rock was much taller and much more cylindrical than it is today. Erosion in the form of rain and the occasional lightning strike continually eat away at the monument, and it looks quite different today than it did 175 years ago.
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Chimney Rock over the years. Clockwise from lower left: 1853, 1908, 1930's, and 1929
The first people to encounter the Rock, of course, were Native Americans, and the museum has a few artifacts on display including this rather impressive feather headdress. Not being familiar with Anglo-American architectural features, they obviously didn't call it Chimney Rock. They instead referred to it as Elk Penis Rock, a more vividly descriptive name that, sadly, white travelers and settlers chose not to adopt.
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The museum also has a timeline that wraps around the exhibits showing notable historical dates and events that impacted Chimney Rock, often with supporting photos, drawings, or letters. One interesting tale from 1865 tells of the only person to ever climb to the top of Chimney Rock. An unnamed Indian did so to win a bet, but then fell to his death. Which is perhaps why there has not been a second person to climb to the top.
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There are also plenty of pioneer artifacts in the museum like yokes, bootjacks, and other quaint everyday items from pioneer life. Another fun display if you're traveling with kids (or, hey, even if you're not. I won't judge) is this model wagon. There are various supplies on the shelves, and kids have to decide what to pack in the wagon for their journey across the Oregon Trail. Green, yellow, or red lights will tell them whether or not the load is too heavy for the wagon, so they will have to prioritize which supplies are the most essential and which items they can do without. Makes you appreciate how much these families had to leave behind. Just don't forget the whiskey - for medicinal purposes!
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