The iconic Chimney Rock, now a U.S. national monument, stands out in the distance in Morrill County, Nebraska. One of the most famous natural formations in the American West, it was highly anticipated by, westward-heading migrants on the Oregon, Mormon, and California Trails. So excited about reaching the formation were thousands of travelers that they climbed the cone and carved their names near or on the top. The 470-foot spire has (as of 2022) lost about 30 feet of height over the past 150 years. Photo by Carol Highsmith, 2022.