Day 1 – Along the Route Hitchcock County (00 miles) – This County was named for Phineas Warrener Hitchcock (1831-1881), United States Senator from Nebraska at the time of the county’s organization in 1873. Swanson Lake (4.2 Miles) – Beware landlubbers, the look out has spotted a body of water from the crow’s nest. Keep your cutlasses and boarding axes handy. This is the first pirates cove that we will go by. Look for a Bilander or Brigantine on the water. (6.2 miles) – Gear drop only. If you want, turn left (west) for one quarter mile and visit the North Shore Marina. It is sure to have a pint of grog or Captain Morgan’s to get you through our first day’s voyage. O6.2 Miles - Turn right (east) on Highway 34 mateys!. Massacre Canyon (12.2 miles) – This narrow canyon, feeding into the Republican River valley, was the location of the final inter- tribal battle in Nebraska. It also includes the remains of an important prehistoric archeological site. On the annual summer bison hunt to the Republican valley in early August 1873, the Pawnee (traveling from the Genoa area) established a camp near present-day Trenton. On August 5, the Pawnee broke camp, traveled down river several miles, and then turned north up a canyon. During the bison hunt the Pawnee were attacked by over 1,000 Brule and Oglala Sioux warriors. Roughly 70-100 Pawnee were killed or wounded compared to only six Sioux casualties. Cavalry, while patrolling from Fort McPherson, kept the death toll from being greater. The Massacre Canyon incident was the final communal bison hunt for the Pawnee, and within three years, the entire tribe moved to a permanent reservation in Oklahoma. A 35 foot granite monument commemorates the site. On the monument are the faces of John Grass (Sioux) and Ruling-His-Son (Pawnee). Psychologists have a word for the symbolism of this monument. The archeological site is a notable example of Woodland Tradition, which flourished along the Republican River and its tributaries from approximately A.D. 500-1000. This site appears to be the remains of a small village containing hearths, storage or refuse pits, and a burial area. Obviously the inhabitant’s did not send their dead to Davey Jones’ Locker! Why doesn’t Nebraska have one Historical Site to honor its pirates? (12.2 Miles) – Full SAG stop will be at Massacre Canyon Visitors Center. Restrooms are available. Watch when walking in the grass, there are rattlesnakes about! Culbertson (Pop. 594 – 19.5 miles) – This town was founded as a trading post during the summer of 1873 by W. F. Taylor. He named it for a famous Indian agent and fur trader, Major Alexander Culbertson. Culbertson became one of Nebraska’s first pioneer irrigation centers. Speaking of irrigation, Culbertson has the most bars per capita of any town along the route. Irrigate yourself! Pirate’s rum was made from fermented molasses or cane sugar. The first death in Culbertson occurred in 1874, when a skunk bit a traveler on the nose. The closest doctor was in Indianola and could offer little help. The man soon went mad and had to be tied to a tree where he finally died of hydrophobia. Don’t go nosing around for skunks or we could have one sick pirate! If so, like Black Bart, the BRAN Crew will tie you to the yardarm! The second postmaster in town was Mrs. Kelly. She went by the name “Old Ironsides” and delivered the mail on horseback. Do you think back then they knew pirates would eventually come to this area? South of town on Highway 17, is the Stone Church that is a state historical site. The building was first built of sod in 1892. In 1900, stones replaced the sod. Services discontinued in 1957 and the Stone Church Community Association restored the building in 1975. (19.5 Miles) – The SAG stop will be set up in town. Red Willow County (25.6 miles) – This County, named for the Red Willow Creek is really a mistranslation of the Sioux word Chanshasha Walpala, literally Red Dogwood Creek. The shrub was abundant along the creek banks. (30.0 Miles) – SAG will be set up by Fastenal Distribution or Southwest Implement in McCook. Plan on lunch at any of McCook’s many fine establishments. McCook (Pop. 8,112 – 30.00 miles)- McCook was named in honor of Alexander McDowell McCook, a major in the Civil War. McCook had a very unusual family. His father and eight brothers all served as officers in the Civil War. On your port side is one ot the nation’s top 75 public golf courses according to Golf Digest, Heritage Hills Golf Course. Does a peg leg work for a woodie? Every pirate has irons. Captain Hook was a golfer. Enjoy McCook’s beautiful architecture: McCook Carnegie Library (423 Norris Ave.) –Designed by Willis A. Maren, from Denver, the library is a turn-of-the-century Spanish Revival style. Andrew Carnegie provided the funds for the library in December 1905, but the library was not dedicated until February 1908. H. P. Sutton House (602 Norris Ave.) – Frank Lloyd Wright designed this house. This is the only building designed by Wright in Nebraska and the first Frank Lloyd Wright home built west of the Mississippi River. Wright started designing it in 1905, but it was not completed until 1908. The “prairie style” design took open space inside the home and expanded it outdoors through porches and terraces. Senator George W. Norris House (706 Norris Ave) – Norris was one of America’s most prominent statesmen. He helped establish Nebraska’s unicameral government. His efforts resulted in legislation that brought about the Tennessee Valley Authority and the Rural Electrification Act. His home has been restored and is a state and national historical site. Kelly Park –(1205 East 3rd) The park is the home of McCook Community College. It is a picturesque setting with tennis courts and pools. Nearby is a nine-hole golf course. (37.7 Miles) – Look for the SAG across from Southwest High School (on Road 718). Located in the City Park of Indianola is the grave of a Pawnee Indian woman who died of wounds received at the battle between the Sioux and Pawnee tribes at Massacre Canyon just east of Trenton. Originally, she was buried northwest of town on a bluff overlook- ing Coon Creek. In the 1970s, it became obvious that erosion would eventually destroy her gravesite and the citizens of Indianola financed the reburial of her remains in the City Park. On March 27, 2004, a fire that started in the town’s only grocery store destroyed the store and the city offices. (48.0 Miles) – Look for the SAG stop by the three oil tanks. Bartley (Pop 355 – 49.1 Miles) – This town was named for Reverend Allen Bartley, a Methodist Episcopal minister who founded Mallalieu University here. In its third year of operation, the University’s Governing Board met and voted to direct funding to another Methodist University also in its infancy, called “Wesleyan” in Lincoln. The rest is history. Did you know that early property owners had to sign a statement agreeing to neither make nor sell liquor? They were down right inhospitable to pirates! Medicine Creek Reservoir (54.7 Miles) – Ten miles north is Medicine Creek Reservoir and Harry Strunk Lake. The lake has 2,000 acres sur- rounded by 6,000 acres of wildlife habitat. Rumor has it Capitan Kidd buried his booty there. Treasure maps are available for sale at the BRAN Pirate Headquarters. Camping at the lake is available for Pirates with RVs. Furnas County (54.2 miles) - This County was named for Robert W. Furnas (1824-1905). He was the Gover- nor of Nebraska when the County was established in 1873. Laddies and lassies, it is a short voyage into Cam- bridge. It’s time to break out the Jolly Roger! Day 2 – Along the Route Holbrook (Pop. 225 – 8.7 Miles) – Formerly known as “Burton’s Bend,” the town was founded in 1870 by Issac “Ben” Burton who was an Indian trader and hide dealer. The great herds of buffalo that roamed the area provided for the local economy. The town’s name was changed after the railway came. (8.8 Miles) – SAG Stop set up one block east of D & D repair. Restrooms and water are available in town. Arapahoe (Pop. 1,028 – 14.4 Miles) - Welcome to the home of “Cowboy” Ron Ems. Arapahoe has been the start point for two BRAN rides. It is a town with a rich history. On May 19, 1871 a party of men known as the “Arapahoe Town Company” led by Captain E. B. Murphy, an ex-Army officer and pioneer of the prairies, left Plattsmouth, Nebraska with a dream in their heart. — they were going to establish a town in the Repub- lican River Valley. The name had already been chosen, Arapahoe, as a small band of that Indian tribe had wintered in the valley. The Arapahoe House, operated by Louis Clute, was situated on the intersection of the east-west and north-south wagon roads. It prospered from a large stagecoach trade and was the biggest and best hotel in the Republican River Valley. Many celebrities including Buffalo Bill Cody were among its patrons. The hotel burned in 1899. In Arapahoe try visiting: Lady of Fatima (West Hwy 6 & 34) - At St. Germanus Catholic Church is this famous grotto built by Father Henry Denis, a Polish Priest who, as a prisoner of war in the Dachau Nazi concentration camp, promised to erect a monument in thanksgiving of being liberated.