Along the Platte River

The Platte River in eastern Nebraska

railroad along the Lincoln Highway and Platte River

The Lincoln Highway, following the Platte River

Leaving Omaha, our route followed the Platte River west into Nebraska. One of the Plains' major rivers, it guided European settlement westward across the continent starting with fur traders and explorers, continuing with the main migration trails, the first road across the country and eventually, the interstate highway system. While the interstate was routed further from the river, trains, tiny farm towns and local highways still keep the Platte at arm's length.

Great Plains scavenger hunt item #5: the Platte River

The Platte River is a river in the Western United States, approximately 310 mi (500 km) long. It is a tributary of the Missouri River, which in turn is a tributary of the Mississippi River. The Platte is one of the most significant river systems in the watershed of the Missouri, draining a large portion of the central Great Plains in Nebraska and the eastern Rocky Mountains in Colorado and Wyoming. The river played an important role in the westward expansion of the United States, providing the route for several major westward trails, including the Oregon Trail and the Mormon Trail.

-Wikipedia