Small Towns Hold Secrets, Stories Worth Telling: A Journalist's Quest to Uncover Them All
Seth Varner, a 25-year-old historian from Nebraska, has spent the last five years on a mission to document every small town in six states across America. His endeavor, which started as a childhood dream of visiting each town in his home state, has evolved into an extensive project that showcases the quirks, landmarks, and people of these tight-knit communities.
Varner's journey began when he was just 10 years old, telling his father about his desire to visit every town in Nebraska. His dad chuckled it off, saying maybe one day Seth would achieve this goal. Fast-forward to Varner's college days, during the COVID-19 pandemic, when he stumbled upon an old scrapbook from his third-grade year. In those pages, he saw a chance to fulfill his childhood dream and shared his idea with a friend. Together, they set out on a mission to visit every town in Nebraska.
Over time, their endeavor expanded to include neighboring states like Iowa, South Dakota, Kansas, North Dakota, and Minnesota. Each state has its own Wandermore book, which Varner publishes himself, using the sales to fund his next adventure. His wife, Eliese, was initially skeptical but soon became his partner in crime, documenting the behind-the-scenes moments of their travels.
Varner's dedication has paid off, not only for himself but also for the small towns he visits. He has become a catalyst for local businesses and residents, highlighting their unique stories and experiences through social media platforms like Facebook. People have taken notice, and Varner credits this community support as one of his greatest accomplishments.
From Elsie's Jolly Green Giant to the Frost community's population growth, every story is authentic and unique. Fire Chief Nick Olson sums up the essence of small-town living: "Everybody can stop and talk to anybody at any random time." For Seth Varner, it's not just about documenting towns but also preserving their history for future generations.
By immortalizing these communities in his books, Varner feels he is doing something meaningful. As he continues his journey through Colorado next, one thing is clear: every small town holds a secret story worth sharing, and Seth Varner is determined to tell them all.
Seth Varner, a 25-year-old historian from Nebraska, has spent the last five years on a mission to document every small town in six states across America. His endeavor, which started as a childhood dream of visiting each town in his home state, has evolved into an extensive project that showcases the quirks, landmarks, and people of these tight-knit communities.
Varner's journey began when he was just 10 years old, telling his father about his desire to visit every town in Nebraska. His dad chuckled it off, saying maybe one day Seth would achieve this goal. Fast-forward to Varner's college days, during the COVID-19 pandemic, when he stumbled upon an old scrapbook from his third-grade year. In those pages, he saw a chance to fulfill his childhood dream and shared his idea with a friend. Together, they set out on a mission to visit every town in Nebraska.
Over time, their endeavor expanded to include neighboring states like Iowa, South Dakota, Kansas, North Dakota, and Minnesota. Each state has its own Wandermore book, which Varner publishes himself, using the sales to fund his next adventure. His wife, Eliese, was initially skeptical but soon became his partner in crime, documenting the behind-the-scenes moments of their travels.
Varner's dedication has paid off, not only for himself but also for the small towns he visits. He has become a catalyst for local businesses and residents, highlighting their unique stories and experiences through social media platforms like Facebook. People have taken notice, and Varner credits this community support as one of his greatest accomplishments.
From Elsie's Jolly Green Giant to the Frost community's population growth, every story is authentic and unique. Fire Chief Nick Olson sums up the essence of small-town living: "Everybody can stop and talk to anybody at any random time." For Seth Varner, it's not just about documenting towns but also preserving their history for future generations.
By immortalizing these communities in his books, Varner feels he is doing something meaningful. As he continues his journey through Colorado next, one thing is clear: every small town holds a secret story worth sharing, and Seth Varner is determined to tell them all.
! He's been chasing this dream of visiting every small town in six states for years, and it's amazing to see how his passion has led him to make a real difference in these communities. I mean, who wouldn't want to share their unique stories with the world? 
The fact that he's not only documenting these towns but also using social media to showcase them is genius! 
And I love how Eliese has been supportive from day one - she should get some credit too! 
Fire Chief Nick Olson said it best: "Everybody can stop and talk to anybody at any random time." It's all about community, right? 
they're just a bunch of old dude wandering around small towns taking pics for his own book collection idk how he's managed to get away with it tho - just published by himself and making bank 
at least he's good for the local economy, i guess. and can we talk about how weird it is that ppl are willing to share their stories & businesses w/ a complete stranger? i mean, don't get me wrong, Varner seems legit, but shouldn't there be some vetting process or something 
The fact that he's selling his books in each state he visits is genius, like a money tree for his trips! 
, but I guess that's just part of the adventure right?
. and its not just him, his wife eliese is super supportive too, which is really sweet. she was skeptical at first but then became his partner in crime 
. what i love about this guy is that he's not just documenting these towns for himself, but also for the people who live there 
. it's like, he's giving them a platform to share their stories and showcase their unique communities. and honestly, it looks like it's made a real difference in the lives of some of these folks 
.
. what I find really cool about this project is that Seth's not just visiting these towns as a tourist, he's actually engaging with the locals and sharing their stories - it's giving these small towns a major boost 
. can't wait to see where he goes next!
, but at the same time, youre wonderin' if he's really gettin' paid enough for his efforts? I mean, hes willin' to put in the work and travel around with his wife, but whats the end goal here? Is it just about fundin' his next book or is there somethin' more at play? 
And on a bigger picture, this got me thinkin' about how we value our local communities and whether its really just about tourism or if theres an actual plan to help these towns thrive in the long run 
. its awesome that varner has found a way to turn his childhood dream into an actual project and even made it a career 
.
. varner's dedication has paid off big time, and i'm excited to see where he goes next 
. colorado, here he comes! 
. I mean, who wouldn't want to share their story and connect with others over a cup of coffee 
️? Its also awesome that he's using social media to spread the word and support local businesses 
. I love how Elsie has become his partner in crime too