Winter Quarters

We traveled from Missouri to Winter Quarters Nebraska, just outside of Omaha. We were welcomed into the visitor center, where we learned about the harsh winter of 1846 to 1847 during which the Mormon Pioneers spent several months waiting to begin their journey across the plains. They had abruptly left Nauvoo and had few supplies or adequate clothing. When they arrived in Nebraska, they quickly set up a camp that consisted of sod huts and log cabins. While waiting, about 400 of the 2,500 Saints died of Tuberculosis, Scurvy and Malaria. We spent the morning in the visitor center, playing games and learning about the pioneer's way of life.

We then walked across the street to the pioneer cemetery. The only remaining head stone from the pioneers is marked with the name of Amy. She was a young mother who died here.

We visited the Winter Quarter's Temple, and took pictures outside. It is the only temple that has a name of historical significance rather than of geographic location.

We stopped at Council Bluffs to see the Kanesville Tabernacle, which is where the Mormon Battalion departed from and where Brigham Young was sustained as the second president and prophet of our church. Council Bluffs is also where the Mormon Trail begins.

Our last stop of the day was in Omaha for dinner. We walked around the larger than life bronze statues of the wagon trains beginning their journeys.