Back Issues

• Scented Stocking Stuffers Santa sweetens Nebraska homes for the holidays with help from Cornhusker families who create lavender, wood and “bay rum” scents in candles, soaps, aftershave and bath bombs. By Cheyenne Rowe
• Looking Close at Cather Red Cloud celebrates the 150th birthday of its Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Willa Cather, who is remembered in the same class as other American literary greats for her novels that memorialize Great Plains pioneers. Essay by Ashley Olson
• Block 16 Restaurant Paul and Jess Urban created what a national food critic called the “best burger in America,” a review that helped put their downtown Omaha restaurant on the nation’s culinary map. By Tom Hess
• Nebraska’s Peaks Nebraska’s summits are not mountains, but peaks – jewels nestled throughout the state. For those with curiosity and adventure in their hearts, there is a range of beauty to be found in our vast landscape. Story by Matthew Spencer Photographs by Steve and Bobbi Olson
  
  

ON OUR COVER Nebraska’s famed author, Willa Cather, didn’t always smile for the camera, but on this occasion, it was her 63rd birthday, Dec. 7, 1936. Photography credit: National Willa Cather Center

• A World Apart on the Green River A group of strangers quickly bond as they paddle and explore Labyrinth Canyon on the Green River in autumn. Story and photographs by Mike Shubic
• Wendover and the Atomic Bomb Under a veil of extreme secrecy, Wendover played a crucial role in developing the technology that helped end WW II. Story by Valerie Phillips. Photographs by Chris and Azelan Amundson
• Torrey’s High Altitude Orchard In a region where water is scarce, a couple leave their careers behind to plant an orchard and delight visitors. Story by Rachel Fixsen Photographs by Austen Diamond
• Rock Art Mysteries of Northeast Utah In the second installment of our rock art series, a longtime Utah state archeologist’s first encounter with rock art shaped how he views etchings of headhunters and lizards. By Tom Hess
• Park City’s Kind-Hearted Madam Rachel Urban provided her “soiled doves” with education, etiquette lessons and regular doctor visits, helped out-ofwork miners and donated to local schools. By Brandi Christoffersen
  
  

ON THE COVER Canoers paddle down the Green River’s Labyrinth Canyon during the autumn low-water season. Story begins on page 16. Photo by Mike Shubic.

• County Capitals, Part Two A true testament to the grit and determination of the pioneer spirit, many of Nebraska’s county courthouses stand today to tell the stories and pride of the past. Take a photographic tour across the state in the second installment of Nebraska Life’s County Capitals series. By Alan J. Bartels
• Haunted Hollow Indian Cave State Park is the perfect place for some spooky seasonal exploring. In this reprint from our archives, hike and bike 22 miles of scenic trails, right alongside a certified ghost town, St. Deroin, with a past as haunting as it is interesting. Did hot-tempered Joseph Deroin deserve to die over a $6 hog? By Alan J. Bartels
• Sidney’s Unbeatable Spirit The town of Sidney has a storied history filled with dramatic changes, Wild West adventures and a people fighting to preserve the past, while reaching toward the future. Dive deep and venture to Sidney, saying “hello” to local establishments and unique people on the way. By Megan Feeney
• Humboldt’s Cancer Memorial Garden One family’s loss inspired a garden of hope, reflection and peace. Take a stroll along the cancer-ribbon shaped pathway, enjoy art installations through every turn and stop to smell the roses. By Lauryn Higgins
  

• Canyonlands’ Maze District The most remote part of any of Utah’s five national parks rewards the intrepid few who brave its wild and beautiful backcountry. Story and photographs by Noah David Wetzel
• Acropolis of Utah Inspired by a Greek ancestor, a Salt Lake couple builds a limestone home with architecture that puts a modern twist on the Parthenon. By Tom Hess
• Mighty & Magical Moose This photo essay shows why the state’s moose make a big impression on Utahns who encounter the powerful creatures in the wild. By Rachel Fixsen
• Four Ghost Towns The residents are long gone, but what they left behind at the sites of their failed communities tells a story of how they lived in days gone by. By Tom Hess

• Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge Birders revel in this marshy oasis that beckons hundreds of thousands of feathered friends to anavian haven near Brigham City. By Allie Wisniewski
• Slot CanyonsIntrepid canyoneers and hikers defy claustrophobia to discover some of Utah’s mostelusive scenic grandeur. By Matt Masich
• Joe Hill More than a century after his Salt Lake murdertrial and execution, the labor activist and songwriter remains a powerful if divisive hero. By Matt Masich
• Scenic Byway This incredible 124-mile road between Torrey and Panguitch features two national parks, one national monument and three state parks. Story and photographs by Joshua Hardin

• Fort Buenaventura Mountain man re-enactors get together to fireblack-powder rifles and relive the past at the Ogden site of Utah’s first white settlement. By Allie Wisniewski
• Red Cliffs Desert Reserve A special piece of nature is set aside to hike and explore near St. George, where the Great Basin, Colorado Plateau and Mojave Desert meet. Story and photographs by Joshua Hardin
• Photographer Daniel Lindhardt A West Valley City nature photographer travels all over the state with his camera to capture incredible portraits of Utah wildlife. Photographs by Daniel Lindhardt Story by Matt Masich
• Meet Mr. Moab Lin Ottinger, the 95-year-old owner of Moab Rock Shop, looks back on a remarkable life of dinosaurs, movie stars and Volkswagen buses. By Rachel Fixsen

• Animals of the Alpine Tundra In this wild and wonderful photo essay, life begins at tree line for the plucky creatures that make their homes on the treeless summits of Colorado’s highest peaks. Story and photographs by Dawn Y. Wilson
• Going Diagonal, Part 2 Two years after traversing Colorado on a straight line between its southeast and northwest corners, a Boulder woman walks the state along its other diagonal, hiking an ‘X’ across the state map. By India H. Wood
• Pawnee National Grassland Towering sandstone buttes, singing birds and a sea of prairie invite explorers to a timeless stretch of the Great Plains in northeast Colorado. Story by Lisa Truesdale
• Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railway An amateur train crew lives out their dream of smoke, soot and steam as they learn to operate a historic locomotive in stunning southern Colorado scenery. Story by Tom HessPhotographs by Joshua Hardin
  

• Woody’s Airboat Tours Nothing says “Nebraska” quite like spending summer weekends airboating on the Platte River. One Fremont duo has turned their way of life into work, but relishes the river life more than the money. Experience the laidback lifestyle and dive in. Story by Cheyenne Rowe
• Healing Lavender A family-run lavender farm in western Nebraska has promoted healing for owner Stephanie Anderson by giving her an outlet to grow a new passion project into a thriving business. Stop in and smell the lavender in this sweet-smelling tale. Story by Megan Feeney
• Outlaw Trail Scenic Byway Pack up your road-trip essentials and take this 231- mile drive along Nebraska’s Highway 12 from Willis to Valentine. While there might not be any old-time outlaws in these parts, we reckon the history in Ponca, a good burger in Butte, Nebraska’s tallest waterfall at Smith Falls State Park and the scenic Missouri and Niobrara rivers might have stories to tell. By Cheyenne Rowe
• Glacier Creek Prairie Native prairie grasses, wildflowers and the accompanying zen they create are present in this 525-acre space in northwest Omaha. A pair of prairie pros are trying their best to get it back to what it once was, and to let it be a space for people to enjoy. Story and photographs by Becky McCarville
• Summer Sunsets This time of year is one of the best for staying awake and experiencing the magic of Nebraska sunsets. Sit back, relax and check out this photographic collection of summer sunsets submitted by subscribers all over the state. By Cheyenne Rowe

ON OUR COVER An abandoned home near Denton slowly falls to ruin on the prairie. Photograph by Eric Johnson

• The Milky Way over Colorado In this stunning photo essay, photographers venture into some of the most remote parts of Colorado to capture beautiful nighttime landscapes beneath the starry canopy of the Milky Way. By Matt Masich
• Colorado Creative Corridor A 331-mile trail traverses some of the prettiest parts of the Rocky Mountains with stops in five mountain towns filled with artists, public artwork and galleries. Story by Matt Masich. Photographs by Joshua Hardin
• Weminuche Wilderness Encompassing a vast tract of the San Juan Mountains three quarters the size of Rhode Island, the Weminuche Wilderness Area offers vistas of unspoiled grandeur. By Will Berger
• Burlington’s Old Town Museum The past comes to life in dramatic fashion at a recreated frontier village, where gunslinging cowboys shoot it out in Wild West fashion each summer in Burlington. Story by Tom Hess. Photographs by Joshua Hardin

ON THE COVER With the Milky Way above, a mountain biker rides over Independence Pass. Story begins on page 20. Photo by Brandon Huttenlocher

• Reclaimed Remnants Take a trip back in time with this photographic collection of crumbling homesteads, long-lost barns and recollections of days gone by. Places may come and go, but memories last forever! By Tom Hess 
• Remembering Epworth The only remaining pieces of Epworth in Banner County hold the history of a devoted town and its residents. Pioneers brought the small town to life, and their descendants continue to work together to keep the memory alive. Story by Deb Carpenter-Nolting • Photographs by Jessica Rocha 
• Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway, Part Two: Dunning to Alliance In this second installment of the Sandhills Scenic Byway journey, Nebraska Life Photo Editor Joshua Hardin explores the Sandhills from Dunning to Alliance. On his journey he encounters a sprawling national forest, gets up-close with exotic animals and greets a classic attraction. Buckle up and enjoy the ride! Story and photographs by Joshua Hardin 
• Van’s Fishing Camp A camp and all-stop-shop for those visiting Lake McConaughy to fish, Van’s Fishing Camp reels in regulars and visitors alike. Follow one family’s journey in business and the memory of the man who started it all. Will you take the bait? Story by Alan J. Bartels • Photographs by Joshua Hardin 
• Hola, Muchachos! Nick Maestas brought the combination of love and good food from his grandparents’ dining table to a popular Lincoln eatery. Sprinkle in a passion for Nebraska athletics, and you’ve got a recipe for success. By Tim Trudell 
• Laura Farms A young Aurora farmer takes the internet by storm with her easy-going attitude and a smile. Log in and learn why Laura Wilson’s videos of Nebraska farm life are topping the social media charts and entertaining fans around the world. By Cheyenne Rowe 
• House of Prairie and Sun Two years at sea in a catamaran inspired one Omaha couple to build the home of their dreams, complete with ample opportunities to view sunlit skies and a yard full of Nebraska prairie plants to harbor a space for nature. By Tom Hess 
  
  

ON OUR COVER An abandoned home near Denton slowly falls to ruin on the prairie. Photograph by Eric Johnson

• The Five States of Colorado: The state’s arbitrary rectangular borders encompass five regions that each have their own distinct culture. A new documentary film explores the life and history of each of these five different Colorados. Story by Matt Masich.
• The sky is full of sandhill cranes and the fields are full of potatoes in the San Luis Valley town of Monte Vista, which has views of the San Juan and Sangre de Cristo mountains. Story by Leah M. Charney. Photographs by Joshua Hardin.
• A stunning photo essay covering Front Range Springtime explores city, state and national parks on the Front Range, from Garden of the Gods to Rocky Mountain National Park. Story by Matt Masich.
• Steamboat Springs is home to Yampa River Botanic Park housing more than 60 gardens along the Yampa River that provides a green and serene respite from the stress of daily life. Story by Marion Kahn.
• Lemon gives a special zest to this tasty selection of recipes. Recipes and photos by Danelle McCollum.