Follow Mormons' footsteps at Scotts Bluff

Towering 800 feet over the plains, Scotts Bluff, Neb., has been a landmark for travelers for thousands of years.

Modern-day tourists can now easily follow the footsteps of American Indians, fur trappers, missionaries, soldiers and homesteaders and explore the area with the help of the National Park Service's new Discover Our Shared Heritage travel itinerary, found at www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/scotts_bluff/.

"People on the Oregon Trail, California Trail, Mormon Trail and with the Pony Express all passed through the Scotts Bluff region," said National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis. "This part of Nebraska's North Platte River Valley tells an important part of the story of Western expansion and the settlement of the Midwest. This itinerary highlights places that trace the history of the area from its earliest settlement to modern times."

The itinerary has information about 27 local sites listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Descriptions, maps and photographs of each place highlight their significance, and thematic essays provide additional context.

The Scotts Bluff itinerary is the 51st in the National Park Service's ongoing Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary Series. The series promotes public awareness of history and encourages visits to historic places throughout the country.

— Amy Joi O'Donoghue