The fog dispersed and clouds disappeared on Monday and left eclipse enthusiasts with a beautiful blue sky on a warm August afternoon. The
Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway Interpretive Center also known as the Red Barn in Broken Bow was bustling with people from all over the state, country, and the world who decided Custer County was the prime viewing spot, and they were right.
The first contact of the partial eclipse began at 11:32am and less than an hour an a half later, the sky darkened for just over two minutes except for the awe-inspiring corona shining brightly behind the moon's shadow during the 2017 total solar eclipse.
Not only was the view in the sky spectacular, but the day also consisted of local residents, tourists, and vendors helping celebrate the day. Thomas Livestock and the Nebraska Pork Producers provided bacon-wrapped pork kabobs, and other vendors sold homemade goods such as Prairie Grounds (coffee and treats), Chandler's Sandhills Honey (honey), Ash Canyon Creations (soaps, bathbombs, bath salts, etc.), Flour Girls (baked goods), and One Hundredfold (rugs), and the
Custer County Ag Society sold burgers and hot dogs.
Jean Akins celebrated her 77th birthday on Monday, Dr. Stephanie McCaslin provided a fascinating play-by-play of the event and discussed the mathematics behind the eclipse. Cowboy Poet R.P. Smith performed as well as music by We're Not Twins.
Folks like Andy from Wisonsin and Amber and her family from Iowa stumbled across Broken Bow but were happy they chose to view the once in a lifetime event in Custer County.
"Well, we were really excited about the eclipse and we were just outside of the path of totality, so we wanted to come to Nebraska and we were watching the cloud weather and we just kept going west and we're here now," Amber said of her husband Peter and their six children who made the trip.
"I had been contemplating a road trip up to Wyoming and couldn't decide and then when I realized that I was going to be passing right through here on eclipse day, I couldn't pass it up. This is awesome. I was planning on being another 150 miles or so down the road but when I saw this setup this morning on the way past, I thought 'nope, that's the spot,'" the Wisconsin native, Andy, told KCNI/KBBN.
The
Chamber-sponsored Nebraska 150 Drive prize winner and recipient of of $500 in chamber bucks was none other than Deb McCaslin, Director of the
Custer Economic Development Corporation.
McCaslin graciously donated her winnings to the red barn for needed repairs after last week's hail damage. Donations were also collected from the generous crowd to help keep the interpretive center a wonderful spot to visit.
"Okay guys, here's the deal: we sustained a tremendous amount of damage to the barn here over the hail last weekend. We have to replace the roof, we have to replace the gutters. What I'd love to do is pass the hat. I'll donate from those winnings double what you put in when we pass that hat right now," McCaslin told the crowd.
For many, their experience at the red barn will be one to remember for the rest of their lives as the community gathered to celebrate the total solar eclipse.
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A family from Iowa came prepared with decorated glasses and masks to view the eclipse[/caption]
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Stephanie McCaslin PHD observing the eclipse as the sky darkens[/caption]
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A couple dances to "Fly Me to the Moon" during the partial eclipse[/caption]
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Donations collected from the crowd to help with barn repairs[/caption]
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Crowds gathered at the Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway Interpretive Center to view the eclipse[/caption]
