Side Dish - The Kearney Gateway Arch

During the drive on I-70, which can be oppressive due to the lack of scenery (although - in summer, it is lovely. November? Not so much..), one drives looking at the expanses of farmland, grain silos, roadkill and the endless Nebraska Cornhusker roadside signs. We had passed the Kearney Gateway a few times and never stopped, and with no destination or stamp to get for the day, it seemed the perfect side jaunt.

The Kearney Gateway Arch most likely brings in 99.0% of Kearney, Nebraska's GDP for the year (The other 1% - Cornhusker Lottery Tickets - to which we did our part contributing to the local economy). At first glance, the bridge looks an odd arch crossing I-70, but at night....truck drivers must apparently believe Norma Jean slipped them a tab of LSD in the truck stop before, as the bridge is alight with neon colors and flashing lights. We however, visited in the day.

We were one of 3 others entering this palace of wonderment. An old, grizzled Buffalo Bill lookalike grabbed us immediately upon entering asking (more like hoping) we were interested in making the trip through the arch.

Kind sir - this is the CALE'S you are talking to....We LIVE for this stuff. World's largest ball of twine? Front Row Seat. U.S.' Largest Stuffed Grasshopper?? Where do we buy tickets? We gladly paid our $10 each and headed up the escalator to see what cheesy goodness lie ahead.

Up the stairs we were provided with headphones which changed frequencies each time you left a room, so if you lost track of where you were, there was a chance you would have thought you were back in your Dad's Chevy Vega in the 1970's.

Ma'am Do you need help?? These Nebraska winters inside can be tough....

That's better...but please don't step on my shoes.

Wait....What??? Did the Donner Party decide all of a sudden that a T-Bird was the better mode of transport? Where are we??

All in all, the Kearney Gateway Arch was a good way to spend a half hour on the road.....Cheese abounds, but what else is the wondrous country for?? No answer???..........we didn't think so.