Pioneer Country

Pioneer Country covers the southeastern quarter of Nebraska, the agricultural country running from Omaha south to the Kansas line and west to the Platte River. The terrain is gently rolling — drift-and-loess hills cut by the Big Blue, Nemaha, and Platte rivers, agricultural land stretching across most of the region, and the Missouri River bluff country at Omaha and the eastern edge. Fifteen counties cover the region. Douglas holds Omaha (the largest city in Nebraska); Otoe holds Nebraska City and the Arbor Day Farm (J. Sterling Morton’s homestead, where Arbor Day was founded in 1872); Cass holds Plattsmouth; Gage holds Beatrice and the Homestead National Historical Park (the first homestead claim in the country); Saunders holds Wahoo. Mahoney State Park (between Omaha and Lincoln) and Platte River State Park concentrate public-land scenery near the metro; Indian Cave State Park covers the southern Missouri bluffs. Most trips here run urban and historical. Omaha handles the urban itinerary — the Henry Doorly Zoo (one of the world’s largest), the Old Market, the Joslyn Art Museum; Nebraska City runs the Arbor Day Farm and the Lewis and Clark Visitor Center; Homestead National Historical Park anchors the homesteading history.