Right before Thanksgiving, Gerrit's sister had a baby boy. We were really excited to meet him, and see our family, so we decided to go visit the week after Christmas. The catch, they live in Bismarck, ND. Since it is so expensive to fly there, we loaded up the car and set off on a road trip. We wanted to do something along the way so we decided to go to Winter Quarters. It was a little out of the way but we decided it was worth it. After stopping in Wichita, KS for the first night, we set off for the Nebraska/Iowa border.
For those not familiar with Winter Quarters, it is a place the Mormon's had to stop for winter on their trek west from Nauvoo, Illinois. A lot of people, mostly children, died during the winter before they could start their trek again.
We learned a lot here and the kids really enjoyed it.
A model of the Nauvoo Temple. The Saints had to leave their community and brand new temple in Nauvoo because of persecutions and mobs.
Winter Quarters Temple from a glass room in the visitor's center. When this temple was dedicated, the cemetary on the temple grounds was also dedicated as sacred ground. It is the only cemetary dedicated with a temple.
A model of the cabins they built in the Winter Quarter's settlement. They were really tiny. Two beds divided by a curtain and two bunk areas on top. Two families would share the cabin. It had a fireplace and a little table. The whole thing was about the size of a modern day bedroom.
The Wagon Wheel.
The kids learned it was pretty hard to push a handcart. Easy on the smooth surface but not so easy when you have to get it over a tiny pebble.
A monument to all those who died in the cemetary. All the names are listed and they have maps if you want to find your own ancestors.
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