As US Route 20 heads westward in Nebraska, there is a 197-mile stretch between Valentine Nebraska and the border of Wyoming that is called the “Bridges to Buttes Byway.” This drive includes various terrains, from rolling sand hills, prairies, pine bluffs, and plateaus.
The Sandhills are on the eastern end, and this is the largest grass-covered stabilized sand dune formation in the Western Hemisphere. The area is ideal for ranching. As US 20 moves west, the topography changes to valleys and pine bluffs and buttes, which includes the Nebraska National Forest. Farther west is a large prairie at the Oglala National Grassland, and the Agate Fossil Beds National Monument.
There is so much to see and experience in this stretch of US Route 20. Here are two short videos that highlight some of the beauty of the Nebraska’s Bridges to Buttes Byway.
Bridges to Buttes By Way 2009 Podcast
Bridges and Buttes Byway Info Video
All Original Text Content © usroutetwenty.blogspot.com unless otherwise noted
The US Route 20 Blog homepage can be found at usroutetwenty.blogspot.com, here.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
US20 In Ohio: Fremont, Home Of A President
In the north western area of Ohio, US Route 20 runs through the city of Fremont, the county seat for Sandusky County. As US 20 approaches from the east, it circles the city on the northern side via a bypass; however, it still technically runs through town as State Route 20 (State Street). The bypass is also named the “Grand Army of the Republic Highway), and it crosses the Sandusky River.
Not too far from where US20 runs through and around downtown Fremont is The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center. Hayes was the 19th President of the United States. The Center is on 25 acres of wooded land that was originally a part of Hayes’ estate; Hayes named the area Spiegel Grove. The 31 room Victorian home of Hayes and his wife Lucy Webb Hayes which is on the property is open to visitors. This is where they retired after Hayes’ presidency concluded. The house still contains much of the family’s original furnishings from that era. Hayes and his wife are buried at a memorial on the property.
Also part of the The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center is the Hayes’ Presidential Library. This was created and opened in 1916, long before President Franklin Delano Roosevelt established a formal system for presidential libraries, but Hayes’ library is considered the first.
The site was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1964, and in 1966 was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Not too far from where US20 runs through and around downtown Fremont is The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center. Hayes was the 19th President of the United States. The Center is on 25 acres of wooded land that was originally a part of Hayes’ estate; Hayes named the area Spiegel Grove. The 31 room Victorian home of Hayes and his wife Lucy Webb Hayes which is on the property is open to visitors. This is where they retired after Hayes’ presidency concluded. The house still contains much of the family’s original furnishings from that era. Hayes and his wife are buried at a memorial on the property.Also part of the The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center is the Hayes’ Presidential Library. This was created and opened in 1916, long before President Franklin Delano Roosevelt established a formal system for presidential libraries, but Hayes’ library is considered the first.
The site was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1964, and in 1966 was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
All Original Text Content © usroutetwenty.blogspot.com unless otherwise noted
The US Route 20 Blog homepage can be found usroutetwenty.blogspot.com, here.
Monday, March 16, 2009
US20: Travel Via YouTube
I compiled a list of all the videos I could find on YouTube that feature US Route 20. I found several, some professionally done, some very amateur (with lots of shaky cam). The videos from Mohawk Valley (NY) Living are very well done and they really make me want to check out that area. Enjoy!
Mohawk Valley Living #170 Route 20 (part 1 of 2)
Mohawk Valley Living #170 Route 20 (part 2 of 2)
Mohawk Valley Living #118 Road Trip along Route 20
Mohawk Valley Living #120 Route 20, Cherry Valley (1 of 2)
US 20 - Schoharie County, NY
US Route 20 - Charlton, Massachusetts
US Route 20 West to Westfield, MA
US 20 Dubuque – Over the Mississippi
The US Route 20 Blog homepage can be found at usroutetwenty.blogspot.com, here.
Mohawk Valley Living #170 Route 20 (part 1 of 2)
Mohawk Valley Living #170 Route 20 (part 2 of 2)
Mohawk Valley Living #118 Road Trip along Route 20
Mohawk Valley Living #120 Route 20, Cherry Valley (1 of 2)
US 20 - Schoharie County, NY
US Route 20 - Charlton, Massachusetts
US Route 20 West to Westfield, MA
US 20 Dubuque – Over the Mississippi
The US Route 20 Blog homepage can be found at usroutetwenty.blogspot.com, here.
Monday, March 9, 2009
US20 In Oregon: Road Improvements
The Oregonian says that a stalled project for improvements to a stretch of US Route 20 in Oregon is now moving forward. In an article titled ” U.S. 20 gets a boost” they give some details:
The project: In 2006, the Oregon Department of Transportation and contractor Granite Construction began a $150 million project to straighten a treacherous 10-mile section of U.S. 20 between Pioneer Mountain and Eddyville, a popular route to the coast.
The new stretch would shave four miles off the current drive, open the road to 53-foot semitrailers -- currently not permitted on the tight curves -- and be expected to reduce the accident rate.
What happened: In 2007, the project came to a halt after the state Department of Environmental Quality fined ODOT $90,000 and Granite Construction, doing business as Yaquina River Constructors, $240,000 for water quality violations involving erosion that damaged salmon spawning grounds in the Yaquina River and its tributaries.
After nearly a year of negotiations, ODOT and Granite agreed on a plan to stabilize ancient landslides. Workers returned to the job last spring, setting a new completion date of late 2011.
What's new: The Oregon State Transportation Commission added $13.8 million in federal stimulus money to the project. The extra cash will allow ODOT to make improvements on curves at the west end of the project that it originally had tabled because the repairs were too expensive.
"It would not have been fully up to standard," said Vivian Payne, ODOT Area 4 manager. "This additional money allows us to make those curve improvements the right way."
It is also more environmentally friendly, Payne said, because they will replace a culvert with a bridge. "In the long run, it will be a better highway for users as well as a better environmental solution for fish and other resources."
The full article, ” U.S. 20 gets a boost” can be found here.
The US Route 20 Blog homepage can be found at usroutetwenty.blogspot.com, here.
The project: In 2006, the Oregon Department of Transportation and contractor Granite Construction began a $150 million project to straighten a treacherous 10-mile section of U.S. 20 between Pioneer Mountain and Eddyville, a popular route to the coast.
The new stretch would shave four miles off the current drive, open the road to 53-foot semitrailers -- currently not permitted on the tight curves -- and be expected to reduce the accident rate.
What happened: In 2007, the project came to a halt after the state Department of Environmental Quality fined ODOT $90,000 and Granite Construction, doing business as Yaquina River Constructors, $240,000 for water quality violations involving erosion that damaged salmon spawning grounds in the Yaquina River and its tributaries.
After nearly a year of negotiations, ODOT and Granite agreed on a plan to stabilize ancient landslides. Workers returned to the job last spring, setting a new completion date of late 2011.
What's new: The Oregon State Transportation Commission added $13.8 million in federal stimulus money to the project. The extra cash will allow ODOT to make improvements on curves at the west end of the project that it originally had tabled because the repairs were too expensive.
"It would not have been fully up to standard," said Vivian Payne, ODOT Area 4 manager. "This additional money allows us to make those curve improvements the right way."
It is also more environmentally friendly, Payne said, because they will replace a culvert with a bridge. "In the long run, it will be a better highway for users as well as a better environmental solution for fish and other resources."
The full article, ” U.S. 20 gets a boost” can be found here.
The US Route 20 Blog homepage can be found at usroutetwenty.blogspot.com, here.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
US 20 Cross Country Motorcycle Trip
I stumbled upon a blog, called "Jim and Nate Do America" which outlines a motorcycle cross-country trip on US Route 20 in the summer of 2008. They provide a detailed map of their trip (embedded below) and also include a photo slideshow on their blog of pictures taken on their trip, with a day by day accounting of their experiences.
If you’re looking for something to read about the country’s longest road from the perspective of someone who took the long drive all the way from end to end on a motorcycle, "Jim and Nate Do America" is an entertaining read.
View Larger Map
The US Route 20 Blog homepage can be found here.
If you’re looking for something to read about the country’s longest road from the perspective of someone who took the long drive all the way from end to end on a motorcycle, "Jim and Nate Do America" is an entertaining read.
View Larger Map
The US Route 20 Blog homepage can be found here.
Monday, February 9, 2009
US20 in New York: Promoting Travel on Scenic US20
If you plan on traveling on US Route 20 in New York State, you may want to check out NYroute20.com.The web site is maintained by the Route 20 Association of New York State, and highlights the Scenic Byway stretch of US20 between Duanesburg in the east, to LaFayette in the west.
The web site offers a brief history of the roadway in the state, and it also includes information on all kinds of activities along the way, like places to eat, lodging, attractions and special events. The site also includes a detailed map of the area .
If you are planning a trip on US20 in this area, NYroute20.com would be a great resource to help plan your trip. It’s nice to see an area take such an interest in promoting their section of the longest road in the United States!
The US Route 20 Blog homepage can be found here.
The web site offers a brief history of the roadway in the state, and it also includes information on all kinds of activities along the way, like places to eat, lodging, attractions and special events. The site also includes a detailed map of the area .
If you are planning a trip on US20 in this area, NYroute20.com would be a great resource to help plan your trip. It’s nice to see an area take such an interest in promoting their section of the longest road in the United States!
The US Route 20 Blog homepage can be found here.
Monday, January 26, 2009
US 20 In Nebraska: Fort Robinson State Park
Sitting in the northwest corner of Nebraska, about three miles west of Crawford Nebraska along US Route 20 is Fort Robinson State Park. It began in 1874 as a military outpost, serving as a temporary cantonment during the turmoil of the frontier Indian Wars, and continued to serve as an outpost until shortly after World War II. During this time and afterwards, it continued to expand in area, eventually becoming one of the largest military installations on the northern Plains. It is known for being the site of the 1879 Cheyenne Outbreak, and for the death of famed Sioux Chief Crazy Horse.
The area now serves as one of Nebraska’s best state parks, covering 22,00 acres. There are plenty of outdoor activities for everyone to enjoy: hiking, camping, horseback riding, train and stagecoach rides, and fishing, plus many other outdoor activities. There is also a lodge, along with some cabins, for those not wanting to “rough it” outdoors.
The park also includes the Fort Robinson Museum which is operated by the State Historical Society which covers the rich history of the fort. The Trailside Museum of Natural History,which is operated by the University of Nebraska, explains the geology and natural history of the region.
Links for Further Information:
Fort Robinson State Park
The Trailside Museum of Natural History
The Fort Robinson Museum
The US Route 20 Blog homepage can be found here.
The area now serves as one of Nebraska’s best state parks, covering 22,00 acres. There are plenty of outdoor activities for everyone to enjoy: hiking, camping, horseback riding, train and stagecoach rides, and fishing, plus many other outdoor activities. There is also a lodge, along with some cabins, for those not wanting to “rough it” outdoors.
The park also includes the Fort Robinson Museum which is operated by the State Historical Society which covers the rich history of the fort. The Trailside Museum of Natural History,which is operated by the University of Nebraska, explains the geology and natural history of the region.
Links for Further Information:
Fort Robinson State Park
The Trailside Museum of Natural History
The Fort Robinson Museum
The US Route 20 Blog homepage can be found here.
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