The Grave and More

The Grave For decades, residents of small-town Ravenna have whispered legends of a pioneer grave just north of town. Marked by a plot of 19th-century perennial irises, the burial site is said to be the final resting place of a pair of infant twins. Though the children passed away more than a century ago, their story continues to resonate with their descendants and the community. Chimney Rock Chimney Rock, a towering sandstone spire rising 470 feet above the North Platte River Valley, has long been an iconic landmark for travelers and Indigenous Peoples alike, guiding Native Americans and over half a million emigrants heading westward in the 19th century. Although erosion has reduced its height by 80 feet, Chimney Rock remains an enduring symbol of the American West. Though now 80 feet shorter due to erosion, it remains a vital part of the landscape. Frequently mentioned in emigrant diaries, it stood as a beacon of progress and hope. Today, as a National Historic Landmark, it draws visitors worldwide, offering new walking trails across its protected site, allowing a closer connection to this natural and historical wonder. A Model to Remember Larry Bower's current model building project is extra-special to him because it's a memorial to his dad. Larry's father was as a fireman who served on the Ralph J. Scott fireboat that was attached to the Los Angeles Fire Department. The historic fireboat was retired in 2003, but is undergoing restoration due to its storied past. When completed, Larry's model will have a permanent home with the Los Angeles Fire Department Historical Society. Willa Goes to Washington A 7-foot bronze statue of writer Willa Cather is now on display at the US Capitol, one of two statues representing Nebraska in the National Statuary Hall collection. We see the dramatic unveiling, speak with sculptor Littleton Alston, who created the work, and explore Cather’s long journey from a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer who created a new vision of the American frontier to a towering statue on display for the world to see at the US Capitol.