The two-lane caravan was connected to participate in the construction of what most motorists now know as Nebraska Highway 30. Drivers driving through central Nebraska discovered that the destination city was as much a tourist attraction as a daily attraction.

Here, too, is the nation's only highway - the bridge over the highway, which is also a museum, and it contains exhibits that trace the history of Nebraska Highway 30 and its construction from its beginnings to the present day.

This museum, part of the University of Nebraska - Kearney, displays art depicting Nebraska and created by Nebraska artists. It is an active elementary school located just blocks from the Nebraska State University campus, offering happy students a glimpse of music and theater. The University's Centre for Performing Arts houses courses in performing and visual arts and a variety of exhibitions.

If you're tall, Kearney offers plenty of space, with the Buffalo County Fairgrounds and Expo Center completing. The park also has a variety of inhabitants, including white mullets, bluefish and pike. A spectacular stage is available for dancing and watching weddings, some of which have almost 400 guests.

Many stars were in town last year, including the school's spectacular, unbeaten season that ended with winning the first ever state championship in high school baseball. Then there were the Kearney Boys of the Summer, who won the Midwest baseball crown and became the first Nebraska team in the 66-year history of the international tournament to ever enter the Little League World Series.

Nebraska State Normal School in Kearney was founded in 1905 and became the State Teachers College of Nebraska in 1921. When the college joined the University of Nebraska system in 1991, its name was changed to the University of Omaha Kearny.

The 975 square kilometers of the district were called Buffalo County, after the common name of the animal, and the bison herd, still named in 1855, was lured to the fort, which got its name because of its location at the mouth of the Platte River near the present town of Kearney. Later, the city was renamed and given an additional "e" (pronounced the same as "a"), and was built on the site of a fortress named after John Kearny, the first governor of Nebraska from 1851 to 1853. The present location of this town has grown steadily due to the influence of the railroad, but it was formerly located on the north side or near the Platte river.

On December 8, 2000, President Bill Clinton visited the historic Fort Kearney National Historic Site and the Nebraska State Capitol during a visit to Kearny. Nostalgia for the old stages motivated him to donate $2 million to renovations. Three roads lead through the city, making it one of the state's most popular tourist attractions. Named after John Kearne, the first governor of Nebraska from 1851 to 1853, it is Nebraska's second largest city after Omaha and features a number of historic sites including the fortress, museum, amphitheater and concert hall.

He soon lost everything in the Great Depression, went bankrupt and had to sell the property, but his power plant is still alive.

Other community activities include the Kearney Noon Kiwanis, where he was president, and the American Legion in Kearne, Nebraska, for which he is treasurer. He is a member of the Nebraska State Board of Education and served as a former president and officer of both.

He is a member of the Buffalo County Meats Skillathon team and has coached them for the past two years, leading eight teams to the competition at the International Livestock Show. He started the Animal Science Skillathons program in the county and is co-founder and director of the Kearne County Farm Bureau and the Nebraska State Department of Education. Dean was a volunteer with the American Legion, the Kearney Noon Kiwanis and Kearny High School.

Whether you're buying souvenirs at the Stagecoach gift shop or exploring the shops and boutiques in the city centre, you'll find plenty of local treasures. You will find the perfect spot to remember all the Sandhill Cranes you have seen in the Kearney area. If you think you are running out of time when you visit Kearny, the friendly people at the Visitor Centre will help you.

Researchers, photographers, artists and naturalists come from all over the world to experience the spectacle of the Sandhill Crane Migration. For many Kearney residents, the best way to get there is to take the tree-lined trail to hike or run along the scenic Turkey Creek Trail, a 1.5-mile loop through Kearny National Park. Rowh is planning a two-mile course that starts at the Kearney Canal Tailrace dam near UNK and flows east through the park into Turkey Creek.

Take a moment to get off the main road on the way and be sure to see the speed of cars and trucks passing under I-80. You can also drive along the creek to watch the cranes feeding and dancing in the fields. Nebraska tax records supplement this year's census and complement land registry records and can be used instead of the 1820 census.