See previous installments here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9.

Editor’s Note: The following is a diary written in 1963, and has been edited minimally to maintain the original spirit in which it was written. Included in the record are photographs taken by the family on the trip, as well as postcards saved by the Eaton children.

In the summer of 1963, Nancy Eaton of Greenville plotted out a cross-country road trip for her and her five children: Betsy, 15, Jane, 14, Chuck, 13, Susan, 12, and Dick, 10. In their station wagon, the family went from Greenville to California, hitting some of the United States’ most-famous landmarks. This is the final installment of 10 in the diary she kept along the way.

In this final leg of the journey, the family drives through the Teton Mountain range, visits a Native American festival and visits with a group of Jane’s pen pals. The diary ends as the family reaches Chicago, where they visited with family. Recollections of the Eaton family children indicate that after the stop in Chicago, the family rushed through the final leg of the journey to return home to Greenville.

Driving through the Tetons

Up at 7:00, breakfast and off by 9:00. I had thought Archie wanted to spend some time in the Tetons but he is anxious to get back to Robbins Kimballs and home.

Drove north through the Tetons which were much prettier than last night as the sun was then behind the peaks.

We drove for many miles around Yellowstone Lake. Saw more hot springs and smelled them. Saw a buck moose, more bear and one with three cubs.

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After Yellowstone the mountains changed in form to much resemble those of Bryce and Zion. Long winding roads through Cody to Sheridan.

It was seven or so when we arrived at Sheridan where we stayed in a Motel ($21) 3 double beds and & roll away in 2 rooms. Betsy Chuck Archie and I washed up and left for the Indian Festival at the Fairgrounds where (Native Americans) from 18 western tribes were camped some in tents some in Teepees. There were several singers a promenade of the contestants for Miss American Indian and dancers of different tribes. A contest of teenage girls 12- 20 dancing was held.

The male dancers were elaborately dressed. We watched one dance of offering and blessing of meat to the four chieftains. Certainly over 100 (200 Archie says ) Indians took part. The festival lasts 3 days. The town was filled with them and I’d liked to have had a picture of the Indian who sat on the ground or sidewalk in front of the Laundromat Sunday morning. Dressed in unkempt grey American clothing with gray braids below his shoulders. The last night of the festival (Sunday) they allegedly dance until dawn. The program that night had to be interrupted so they, could dance and warm up —- some in the same dance wore their feathers and regalia over a bare body others had on leotards and tops under the regalia of beads and feathers.

Sunday morning. Archie took the car for tuning and I went to the laundromat. This meant a late start to Mount Rushmore.

Of course the statues are impressive. I did not realize that work had stopped on them. There are many other things I would have enjoyed seeing in the area but we are rushing home. We had a wonderful dinner at the Center at Rushmore -- The Buffalo Room. Chuck and Dick ate hot dogs in the snack bar while the rest of us dined well. Everyone had a taste of my buffalo steak which was tender and delicious. A cart of salads a cart of desserts and tray of olives celery etc, hot breads and muffins. … Archie partook of an out door cookout at Jenny Lake Lodge. I saw a smorgasbord luncheon at Old Faithful Lodge. All these parks have facilities to meet all incomes camping, cafeterias and dining rooms. In the Grand Teton Park Friday night Colter Bay campsite with 400 sites and Jenny Lake with 185 sites were full at 5:00 P.M. leaving only Pelican Bay. I guess if one had gone to the full ones they would have let you camp in a reserve area without fireplaces or tables.

We spent Sunday night in a motel in Hot Springs with a start before 7:00 Monday morning and a very long (over 400 mile) drive to Franklin where Jane visited with 3 ... penpals for half an hour and then on to John Champlinsin Hastings where we arrived at 7:15. They had a cookout for us and were most cordial.

The John Champlins have six children. John Jr. is 26 years old will be a senior at North Dakota University this fall. He married a girl from Fargo and has 2 children. His wife is a nurse. He spent 4 years in the Navy which delayed his studies, He is on the Dean’s list for the past quarter, studying electrical engineering. William 24 yrs. old was at their home when we arrived. He is married and has a daughter, 3. His wife who is expecting her second was at her home in New Orleans with John’s 4th child Nancy, 10 yrs... old. Jane 16 was a very … quiet, bleached blonde. She will be a senior in high school this fall. This summer she is a life guard at a club pool earning $1 an hour. The twins Jo and Jill are 7 yrs. old, cute as the dickens. I expect they are identical but one is bigger and more aggressive.

The Champlin’s home is 65 years old, set back from the street, directly across the street from Hastings College. The yard was divided into garage, patio fenced in with wood screening fence a fenced play area and outside a small green barn play house.

Aug. 6

It was about 10:00 when we left John’s. We stopped at one of his Skelly Gas stations to ge some dry ice for our freezer and now at 12:20 have just bypassed Lincoln where the tallest building with goldtop we assume was the capital building. We called Alicia telling her we would arrive tomorrow. An early stop and swim are essential tonight.

We stopped at Lake Manawa State Park in Council Bluff Iowa just passed the Missouri River. Betsy, Susan, and Dick went swimming. Then on to Newton, just west of Grinnell where the motel had a swimming pool.

Aug. 7

Up at 6:00 and off at 7:00. We’ve just had lunch and about 60 miles from Chicago. I expect Chuck and I will separate from the rest of the family Friday morning and Chuck and I will be in New Paltz Saturday for supper and the night before returning to Greenville. The girls are eager to get home. I don’t know about Dick.

Archie is concerned about Marion Hitchcock. I wonder whether she is still living. She has refused medical help and Dr. Hitchcock was quite upset to have Archie leave. Lorraine goes on her vacation Monday.

Love,

Nancy

Sidebar from the diary of Jane Eaton, age 14

August 4, 1963

Drove all day and part of the night, stopping at a commercial pool house and at Mt. Rushmore, where we ate dinner in the nicest dining room called the Buffalo Room. Then we took the scenic route from there to Hot Springs, S.D., where we spent the night. The scenic route was a winding, hilly road going through tunnels that were wide enough and just high enough for one car. We drove on it at night when it wasn’t so scenic.

August 5, 1963

We left Hot Springs before seven, driving steadily. I called LondaSpargo in Franklin, Nebraska to tell her I would arrive at about four. We did get to Franklin, but not until 5:30, so I could only visit for half an hour. I saw LondaSpargo, Pat Campbell and Janie Willford. Margie Bolle was in Omaha and Andy Rogers though she was visiting in Franklin  was at her aunt’s. I never found out if Jane Hardacre was notified or not. They were all lots of fun, but I, as usual, was a mess and very self-conscious, plus I didn’t have time to really meet them, so we never really got to know one another.

From Franklin, we drove to Hastings, Nebraska, to see the Champlins. Their 16-year-old daughter, Jane, took us all around Hastings, chasing boys and all. She and her friend Mary Ann really kept us laughing. We had hamburgers at Champlins and then slept in their yard, dining room and bedrooms.

August 6, 1963

We left Champlins at about 9:30 a.m., and stopped in Council Bluffs, Iowa for lunch. After lunch, while the others swam, I lay in the sun and got a partial tan. I have just got to look tan when I get home.