Herb Mignery Biography

Photos of the Sculptures

Visit the Garden

 Sod House at the Bowring Ranch - The sod house was the first home of many pioneers in Nebraska.  The ideal time to build these homes was during the spring and summer when the ground was softened by melting snow or rain.  The moistened sod was cut into “bricks” to form the stacked walls of the home.  The roof was made from twigs or hay with an insulating layer of sod on top.  Many pioneers chose to build their new homes into the side of a hill because fewer walls would need to be built.  The thick walls helped to cool them in summer months and retain heat throughout the winter.  They were also cost effective.  One settler even bragged that he spent less than $3 on the entire construction of his home.  Unfortunately, there were many drawbacks.  Snakes, bugs, and mice loved to visit these homes of dirt and grass, and even the best sod house roofs were prone to leaking.

Sod House Replica at Bowring Ranch

Sod House Images

The Sandhills - Since the 1870s, the Nebraska Sandhills region has been perfect for ranching and raising cattle.  The Sandhills spans over one-fourth of the entire state of Nebraska and is the largest arrangement of sand dunes in the Western Hemisphere.  These dunes were born after the last Ice Age.  When the glaciers retreated, wind deposited the remaining loose sand into enormous dunes.  Some of these dunes reach 400 feet in height (as long as a baseball field or ten school buses).  Others reach over twenty miles in length and span as far as the eye can see. 

Map And Photos of The Sandhills

"So This Is Nebraska" by Ted Kooser

The Cowboy Trail - The Cowboy Trail is a beautiful escape for hikers, cyclists, runners, and horseback riders.  The trail spans from Norfolk, Nebraska, through the Sandhills and all the way to Chadron, Nebraska.  The trail is the country’s lengthiest “rail-to-trail” conversion.  What was once the rail lines of the historic Chicago and Northwestern Railroad became Nebraska’s first recreational trail.  The iron rails and wooden railroad ties have been removed along most of the trail to help fund its construction and maintenance, but travelers can still see remnants of the past along the way through Neligh Mills (a water-powered grist mill with original 1880s equipment), the historic brick depot at O’Neill, and mileposts that initially served as telegraph poles.  Another highlight is the former railroad bridge near Valentine.  It is nearly a quarter mile in length and offers breathtaking views 148 feet above the Niobrara River. 

Cowboy Trail Brochure

Visit the Cowboy Trail

Photo Gallery

"Walk on the Prairie" by Twyla Hansen

https://www.unl.edu/newp/