Andrew Jackson Higgins, a Columbus NE native, created the landing boat that helped win World War II. Columbus honors him with this park. His story:The landing boatThe sidewalk here contains disks from various locations and wars around the world. Below each disk is sand from that location.Omaha BeachUtah BeachGuadacanalGuamIwo JimaCasablancaOkinawa JapanInchon KoreaDanang VietnamCuba
The Andy Griffith Show was set in Mayberry NC, which was loosely based on Mount Airy NC, Andy Griffith’s hometown. There are a number of Mayberry related sites around town. This is a mockup of the courthouse.Sitting at Sheriff Andy’s desk.PrisonerBreakout?Wally’s Service StationAndy Griffith muralAndy Griffith Museum, sculpture of opening scene of the show.Displays in the museumAndy’s sheriff uniform from the showBarney’s salt and pepper suitsGoober’s outfit and Charlene Darling’s dressJail cell for OtisOtis Campbell’s outfitPoster from one of Griffith’s early movies.From his comedy albumGriffith’s childhood homeAndy receives Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush.
Joe Jackson, a native of Greenville, is widely considered one of the greatest hitters in baseball history. He was banned from baseball after the 1919 Black Sox scandal where several White Sox players were found guilty of taking bribes to throw the series. Jackson was never proven to throw a game.Joe Jackson’s home in Greenville. It is now a museum with memorabilia from Jackson’s life.Jackson’s living room.Joe and his wife KatieJackson’s kitchenDoctor’s “prescription” for Katie to fix breakfast “in grease”.
Our cousin Eric is the Training Chief for the Prescott Valley AZ. He is a pretty neat guy! He was also friends with the 19 Hot Shots who were killed in a fire in 2013.This is the training center.Trainees getting ready to practice on this training building.Wrecked vehicles used for practice.Another practice building.
I looked forward to this evening since planning our trip. The Purple Room goes back to the heyday of the Rat Pack in the 1950s and 1960s. This has a real Frank Sinatra vibe to it. First dinner, then a show.Dinner with friends.Filet with asparagus and potato cake.Braised short ribs with roasted carrots.Our show tonight – Billy Stritch and a jazz trio. All three were very talented!Billy Stritch, a long time confidant of Liza Minelli.
