The battle that took place here has an interesting background. The regulators were backwoods settlers who rebelled against corrupt government officials. Governor Tryon organized a militia to demand that the regulators surrender their guns and sign a loyalty oath. Of course, the regulators refused, so this two hour battle occurred. The governor’s militia had 8 cannon (the regulators, zero), and the “battle” was over in two hours. It was a rout for the governor. Due to the proximity of the battle to the Revolutionary War, this battle has been erroneously been credited as the first battle of the revolution. Actually the regulators were not rebelling against the crown, but rather corrupt local officials.
Historically, during the Revolutionary War, about half of the regulators supported the crown, and the others supported independence. Similarly, members of the governor’s militia were split. So men who fought with each other in the Alamance battle, fought against each other in the revolution!Bronze 3-pounder cannon tube, like the ones used in the battle.The Regulators were camped out in these woods, and came out for the battle.Facing opposite the woods, the governor’s militia.Etched in the monument “FIRST BATTLE OF THE REVOLUTION”This monument erroneously honors James Hunter, mixing up information for 2 different James Hunters, including one who was not involved at Alamance!For those who watched the Outlander series, this is the tree where they hanged Roger McKenzie. LOL
The Cincinnati Art Museum has a pretty good collection from a lot of the top painters from the 19th and 20th century. They also contain many pieces from local artists, or with Cincinnati-area subjects. Best of all, the admission to the museum is always FREE!
Undergrowth with Two Figures, Vincent Van Gogh 1890Head of a Woman, Pablo Picasso 1922 Surprising that Picasso painted something with realism!Abstraction (Head), Pablo Picasso 1930 This is more like what you would expect with a Picasso.Still Life with Glass and Lemon, Pablo Picasso 1911 Can really see glass and lemon, but it is not so wild as so many other Picassos!Fog on a Guernsey, Pierre Auguste Renoir 1883Rocks at Belle-Ile Port Dormois, Claude Monet 1886Romanian Blouse, Henri Matisse 1937Mahana ma’a, Paul Gauguin 1892My Back Yard, Georgia O’Keeffe 1943Portrait of Mary Joe Johnson, Diego Rivera 1939Sun on Prospect Street (Gloucester, Massachusetts), Edward Hopper 1934Daughters of Revolution, Grant Wood 1932 Grant Wood is most famous for American GothicSunday Morning in Virginia, Winslow Homer 1877Pete Rose, Andy Warhol 1985Soup Can (Can of Mushroom), Andy Warhol 1962Woman at the Races, Edouard Manet, 1865Baby in Dark Blue Suit, Looking Over His Mother’s Shoulder, Mary Cassatt 1889The Map in the Sand, Frederic Remington 1905Patty-cake, Lilly Martin Spencer mid-1850sWaiting (L’attente), William-Adolphe Bourguereau 1901 Stunning painting looks like a photograph.Rio Delle Torreselle Chandelier, Dale Chihuly 1995Mummified Remains of an Adult Male Named Mn, Egypt Ptolemaic Period 332-330 BCLion Funerary Monument, Greece (Attica) ca 350 BCNDeemba (Helmet Mask), unidentified Yaka artist Democratic Republic of the Congo, early 20th centuryPowel Crosley Jr., Nam June Paik 1992 This was interesting – all the TVs were playing video screens, mainly interference. I took a video of it also.Keyer Pipe House Shop Sign, Quehl Sign Company 1917. This large pipe sign once hung above Keyer Pipe House, 1225 Main Street, Cincinnati.Isabella, Jaume Plensa 2014
Huge disappointment here. It is a small museum to begin with, but they have two galleries of 19th-20th century American art, which was main primary goal, and both were closed. So there were very few other highlights.
A Beautiful Despair, Anila Quayyum AghaAll of the designs on the floor, walls and ceiling are created by this lighted sculpture. Royale, Dorothy Gillespie 1984Turkey, Gianmaria Buccellati 1997 Composed of 925 sterling silver and carnelian semi-precious stoneRed Amber Persian Pair, Dale Chihuly 2010Soft Elegance, Savannah Getter, 11th grader The museum had a special exhibit by children. This one was really special.Edge of Town, Thomas Hart Benton 1938The White Calf, Thomas Hart Benton 1945The Pipe Rack (The Artist’s Pipe Rack), William Harnett 1877Lunch Break, Dale Kennington 1996 Kind of reminds me of the Edward Hopper technique (i.e. Nighthawks, 1942)Gracelyn Rose, Josh Brook Cote, 2021
The Dred Scott was a slave whose “owner” sold him after they moved from Florence to Missouri, a free state. He sued for his freedom but the Supreme Court ruled in 1857 that slaves were not citizens and therefore could not sue, even in a free state.W. C. Handy is widely considered to be the father of Blues music. He was born in this cabin in 1873.Helen Keller was born here in Tuscumbia (just south of Florence) in 1880. She was an author, educator, and advocate for blind and deaf communities. Her accomplishments as a blind and deaf person helped to change perceptions of members of these communities and transformed in particular their opportunities for education.Keller overcame great challenges with the help of her teacher Anne Sullivan, memorialized here.This Frank Lloyd Wright house was built in 1939. It is considered the purest example of the Usonian style.
This FAME (Florence Alabama Music Enterprises) Recording Studios, which is still active recording top artists. They do tours every day, even when there is active recording going on, but no one was recording when we were there.One of the early stars to record at FAME. His hit Mustang Sally sold over 1 million records.Montage of some of the top stars that have recorded at FAME Studios.The door to the studiosStudio AStudio A ceiling for controlling soundComical notice on the key board. This is for serious musicians.Sound booth for the singers in Studio A.Studio B. Notice the louvered panels and the slanted wall, all for sound control/Sound booth for the singers in Studio B.Audio equipmentStudio B control room.
