Annihilation in the Badlands, Actual and Potential

In addition to being completely blown away by the scenery in the Badlands, we also visited several sites that reminded us of the grim history of this wild and unpredictable place. One preserves the history of a massacre that actually occurred, while the other tells the story of the destruction of the human race that … Read more

Awed by the Rugged Grandeur of the Badlands

After our stop in Sioux City, we took two days to travel across southern South Dakota in search of the Badlands. The first day fulfilled every stereotype of South Dakota — long, straight roads shooting through massive, perfectly level fields in various stages of cultivation. The land seemed to be without end, and the tasks … Read more

Memorializing Sergeant Floyd in Sioux City, Iowa

There are so many incredible accomplishments and “firsts” of the Lewis & Clark expedition. Over 28 months, the group traveled through 8,000 miles of unknown territory by water and by land. Captain Lewis recorded detailed descriptions in his journals of at least 120 mammals, birds, reptiles and fish, as well as at least 182 plant … Read more

Turning Toward the Frontier in Northeastern Kansas

Our relatively brief stop in the northeastern corner of Kansas was full of unexpectedly interesting things, and did a lot to change our preconceived ideas about the Sunflower State. This visit included the last African American civil rights landmark we expect to see for some time, and started us thinking about the great western expanse … Read more