The pioneers spent the last day of May in 1847 crossing what they described as 'barren land' with a monotonous landscape. Prickly Pears abound. And for the first time in weeks, they saw a few cottonwood trees.

William Clayton:

". . .BEING A DISTANCE OF 215 MILES WITHOUT WOOD FOR FIRE, EXCEPT DRIFTWOOD AND MUCH OF THE TIME NOTHING BUT BUFFALO CHIPS."

Nebraska and Wyoming didn't exist back in 1847, but if they had, the pioneers this day would have crossed the boundary of the two states.

They made almost 17-miles, part of it on a crude wagon trail leading to Fort Laramie. They camped beside Rawhide Creek, just a mile from today's Wyoming town of Lingle.