Wyoming Rest Areas

 Bear River Rest Area, Lyman Wyoming I80

Lyman Rest Area I80: pioneer memorial

Bitter Creek Rest Area, east of Rock Springs, does not have access from both directions.  westbound is currently open and eastbound closed for construction.

Fort Steele Rest Area: east of Rawlins and close to the actual Fort Fred Steele

Wagonhound Rest Area: west of Laramie, Tipi rings

Summit Rest Area: Lincoln statue and visitor information, East of Laramie,

Point of Interest:  Lonetree or Tree Rock  An interesting and historical feature as was along the railroad, then Lincoln Highway and now i80

Pine Bluffs: Pine Bluffs at the Nebraska/Wyoming border.  Short hike to archeological site.

Fort Steele Rest Area, Wyoming I80

Fort Steele was a military fort to guard the railroad workers while they built a bridge over the North Platte River.  It also guarded the bridge after it was done as well as the local communities.  I thought the fort was at the rest area but actually it is a couple miles north.  Rest area is again accessed from both directions and is north of the freeway. 

 

Wagonhound Rest Area, Wyoming I80

Wagonhound Rest Area is accessed from both east and west directions via an exit.  It is west of Laramie.

Wind and grass sustain wildlife,

Tipi rings

Platte River Rest Area, Ashland, NE

 Platte River Rest Area is close to where the I80 crosses over the Platte between Lincoln and Omaha in Ashland, NE.  It has a sculpture honoring the Big Band era from the bicentennial of the United States.  This is one of eight sculptures created for that celebration.  Informational plaques talk about the process of creating the sculpture.  There is another talking of the Native Americans who lived in Nebraska before the coming of the Omaha and the Ponca.  

Nebraska Rest Areas

 York Rest Area Eastbound: Nebraska Native Americans

York Rest Area Westbound: Nebraska pioneer transportation, sculpture, Nebraska City-Fort Kearney Cut-off

Platte River Rest Area Eastbound:  Sculpture to big band as part of bicentennial.  

Ogallala Rest Area Eastbound: Chain of Lakes

Kearney Rest Area EastBound, Military forts in Nebraska

Summit Rest Area, aka Lincoln Rest Area, Wyoming

 The Summit Rest Area includes the Lincoln monument commemorating the highest point on the Lincoln Highway.  The monument was sculpted by Robert I Russin.  The rest area also has a great deal of information about other attractions in Wyoming as well as close to the rest area.  A plaque for the first phone conversation through a canyon.  There is also a plaque for George A. Wyman, first bike ride across America and a Purple Heart Highway Trail.  The rest area is accessed from both directions of travel on I80.

Ohio Turnpike Service Plaza: Underground Railroad

 Ohio has service plaza instead of rest area along the I 80 turnpike.  These are places you can pull in while staying on the turnpike.  The service centers have gas and a few restaurants.  They usually don't say much  about local history but I found this plaque at one of them about the Underground Railroad.  The turnpike is not too far from Canada and freedom for fleeing slaves.  

I80 Westbound Rest Area, Grinnell

 The theme of the Grinnell Westbound rest area is the family farm.  The Grinnell Eastbound focuses on Grinnell University.

Tiffin I80 Rest Area West Bound

 The east bound I80 rest area is one of letters, where authors with local ties are highlighted.  The westbound Tiffin rest area focuses on education, including agricultural education.  There are also some letter blocks.