Category: USA

Orange County VA

So we took advantage of a beautiful Presidents’ Day holiday this year, and went to Orange County, home of one US President and birthplace of another.

MONTEBELLO

Zachary Taylor, our 12th President, was born at this site in 1784. The house where he was born no longer stands, and the current Montebello farm is private and not open to the public. Taylor’s family lived in Kentucky, and they visited family in Virginia, and on their return trip, several people became ill, so they stopped here to recover before continuing on to Kentucky. It was during this time that the future president was born. President Taylor was a cousin of President James Madison, whose house is…

MONTPELIER

Just a few miles from President Zachary Taylor’s birthplace is Montpelier, the home of James Madison, the 4th President of the United States, and author of the US Constitution.
Approaching the front of Montpelier.
This is a beautiful house! Maybe even more impressive than Monticello!
This is the view from the front porch at Montpelier.
Gazebo with brick columns.
Entrance foyer
Parlor
Dining room
James Madison’s desk in his office
President Madison’s bed in his later years, when he was too weak to walk upstairs.
This is also the room that he died, June 28, 1836, six days short of July 4, the day that Presidents John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe all died on. He was last signer of the Constitution to die.
One of his nieces asked him “What is the matter?”
His last words were “Nothing more than a change of mind, my dear.”
James and Dolley Madison’s bedroom
This is the room where James Madison wrote the United States Constitution.
Actually, he carefully drafted a proposal to replace the failing Articles of Confederation. He took his proposal to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787, and as discussions progressed, became know as the Virginia Plan, which was mostly adopted with a few changes based on ideas from other states. Virginia was the tenth state to ratify the new constitution in 1788, and the current United States form of government was launched!
Outbuildings, such as smoke houses and slave quarters
A pitcher honoring President Madison, misspelled “Maddison”.
President Madison was our shortest president. When I first started studying about the presidents, I read that he was 5’1″ tall, and when I reached that height in fourth grade I was very proud to be as tall as a president! Now, depending on whose research you read, President Madison’s height was anywhere from 5’1″ to 5’6″.
Graves of President James Madison and First Lady Dolley Madison.
Shortly up the road from Montpelier is this house, which was the home of freed slave George Gilmore, who built it in the 1860s.
Inside of George Gilmore’s house..

MONTPELIER STATION

Train depot at Montpelier.
Interesting scene here. Notice the signs above the doors. This is what life in the south was like during Jim Crow.
This is the room for the “colored” people.
This is the much larger room for Whites.

JAMES MADISON MUSEUM

In the town of Orange, there is this neat museum called James Madison Museum. It is basically a museum about the history of Orange County. This house, completed rebuilt inside the museum, is a typical Virginia house in the 1800s for Virginians who didn’t live in mansions like Mount Vernon, Monticello and Montpelier.
A horse-drawn Rockaway carriage from the 1880s.
1912 Ford Model T
President James Madison’s favorite chair
Bust of President James Madison
Everything in the picture belonged to President Zachary Taylor:
Bed, grandfather clock, general’s chest and chair.
Although born in Virginia, President Taylor grew up near Louisville, Kentucky.
He enlisted int he US Army in 1806 and eventually rose in the ranks to brigadier general. He fought in the War of 1812, Black Hawk War, second Seminole War, and finally the Mexican-American War, during which he emerged as a national hero for winning the Battle of Buena Vista even though outnumbered 4 to 1. As a national hero, he won the 1848 presidential nomination from the Whig Party, and then the presidency. He died in office in 1849, elevating Millard Fillmore to the presidency.
Slave’s clothing and other items.
The museum holds a pretty large collection of arrowheads, and Indian tools, as well as ancient rock drawings.
The town of Orange once had a very busy silk mill, and there are artifacts from that mill in the museum. This ball of silk would be spun into silk thread one mile long!

RAPIDAN VA

Driving through the countryside of Orange County, we passed through the little village of Rapidan, which spans the Rapidan River, and rests in both Orange and Culpeper Counties.
This is the Waddell Memorial Presbyterian Church, built in 1874 in the Carpenter Gothic style with board and batten siding.
This is the Rapidan Schoolhouse, built in 1887 for the rector’s eight children. It was later used as the town library.
The inside of the schoolhouse.

MITCHELLS VA

This is Mitchells Presbyterian Church in Mitchells, Virginia. This is the village where my father was born in 1925.
These are the graves of my grandparents.
These are the graves of my great-grandparents.

CULPEPER VA

This memorial park is located in the town of Culpeper.
Dedicated to Culpeper County natives who have served in the US military.
These stones honor my father’s five brothers who served in World War II.
Civil War battlefield at Brandy Station.
This battle on June 9, 1863, the largest cavalry battle of the entire Civil War, lasted for one day, as the Union forces slowed down (but did not stop) General Robert E. Lee’s progress toward Gettysburg, and the battle that would occur there on July 1-3.
We finished our day here at the Frost Cafe in the town of Culpeper.
They have the best fried chicken!

George Washington’s Mount Vernon

After all these years we FINALLY made it to Mount Vernon!
Entrance with the circle drive. Again, we visited a landmark that was hidden by scaffolding! They are doing some structural rehabilitation on this side.
This is the porch that faces the Potomac River.
Potomac River from Mt Vernon’s front porch
Tulip Poplar planted by George Washington in 1785.
The ballroom, where the Washingtons entertained.
Mirror actually owned by George Washington.
George and Martha Washington’s bedroom. George died in this bed in 1799. Martha closed the door and never slept in this room again. She died in 1802.
George Washington’s office.
The actual key from the French Bastille. This was a gift to George Washington from French Marquis de Lafayette.
The Washingtons’ tomb.
George Washngton’s casket.
The museum was very full and informative. There are several videos that are very well done.
This is a scene of young George Washington as a surveyor
Revolutionary War General George Washington on his horse
George Washington’s inauguration
George Washington’s actual dentures. They were not wood, but a combination of human and cow teeth, and elephant ivory!
George and Martha with grandchildren “Washy” and Nelly
As our nation’s first president, Washington was certainly self-aware of his importance in the country’s future and continuity.
So it looks like people have been rubbing Washington’s nose, so…
… since we did it with Abraham Lincoln, why not Washington?!

Great Lakes Trip 2019 Day 15

President Ulysses S. Grant Birthplace
Moscow OH

This is the birthplace of Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th president of the US. He was the first president elected who was born in Ohio. He was also the youngest president up until that time – he was 46 when he was inaugurated. Prior to his presidency, Grant was the victorious Commanding General in the Civil War.
Moscow overlooks the Ohio River, about 25 miles east of Cincinnati.

Boyhood Home of Ulysses S. Grant
Georgetown OH

Grant lived in Georgetown until he went off to West Point.
Georgetown is a cute small town.
Boyhood home of Ulysses S. Grant
Grant attended this school in Georgetown. As with the birthplace and boyhood home, we were there too early in the morning to go inside – they were all closed.
I was able to get this picture of the schoolroom, which is typical of schools in the 1820s and 1830s.
Native Son statue.
Lee and Grant, together again.
We travelled through deep countryside in Ohio.

Ohio Statehouse
Columbus OH

This is the rear entrance of the capitol. I totally blew this one. The “dome” such as it is, is not visible from this side. It is, however, perfectly visible on the other side, but I forgot to go around the block. If we would have driven around the block, we would have seen this…
Darn it!
This is what we saw at a diagonal.
Looking up inside the rotunda.
This Ohio maps has a different tile for each county.
Liberty Bell replica.
Abraham Lincoln bust.
Abraham Lincoln bust atop a memorial of the Battle of Vicksburg.
Senate chamber
House of Representatives chamber

Columbus OH

Almost heaven, and almost home. Here is a West Virginia countryside farm scene.
West Virginia countryside

The End!

We made it home Thursday night. It is hard to believe we were gone two weeks and packed so many things into each day. We saw so much of the beauty of God’s creation, and so much history! America is such a great country! This trip we crossed twelve presidents off the list! And five state capitols!

And all five Great Lakes!

Ontario
Erie
Huron
Superior
Michigan

We hope you have enjoyed seeing what we have been up to the last couple weeks!

Great Lakes Trip 2019 Day 14

Ark Encounter
Williamstown KY

We looked forward to visiting this museum.
This is a reproduction of Noah’s Ark, built to the specifications as God gave Noah in Genesis. Of course, the exact shape and look are artistic representations, since the Bible does not give enough descriptions to understand what the ark actually looked like. But the dimensions are faithful to biblical directions, which are 300 cubits long by 50 cubits wide, or 450 feet long by 75 feet wide. It is massive in person!
Looking up at one end.
Impressive structure.
Again, all the displays are artistic representations of the insides of the ark. Whatever is specifically in the Bible is incorporated into the displays.
Noah and his family worshipping God inside the ark.
Grain and seed storage
This museum does not shy away from the dinosaurs, in fact in my opinion focuses on them too much. They do propose that dinosaurs were on the ark with Noah.
Bears
Deer
Pigs
This is a representation of feeding the animals.
There were many good explanations of how biblical perspectives are correct.
The sheer size inside the ark is incredible.
Looking up at some skylights
This contraption is used to twist strands into rope.
We are at ‘The Door”, which is intended to be both a representation of the door that God shut in Noah’s family behind, but also that Jesus Christ is the door to our salvation. There is a very strong emphasis on Christ and the Gospel throughout the museum.
Why the Bible is true
Why the Bible is true
Why the Bible is true
Why the Bible is true
Why the Bible is true
Family living quarters
Vegetation storage and growth
The dove returns…
… with the olive branch.
The rainbow and God’s covenant with Noah.

William Howard Taft Boyhood Home
Cincinnati OH

This was the boyhood home of William Howard Taft, 27th president of the US. President Taft was President Theodore Roosevelt’s hand-picked successor in 1908, and served as president from 1909-1913. Taft lived in this house until he went off to college at age 18. Taft was one of three presidents born within two years of each other. Theodore Roosevelt in 1858, Taft in 1857, and Woodrow Wilson in 1856.
Taft’s family was very active in public life. His father Afonso Taft, was Secretary of War, then Attorney General in President Lincoln’s cabinet. President Taft’s son, would become Senate majority leader as well as a serious candidate for the Republican presidential nomination three times.
Most of the furnishings in the house are not original to the Taft family, but period pieces. However, the desk in the upper left did belong to Alfonso Taft, President Taft’s father.
William Howard Taft at age 3 in 1860. The practice at the time was that children who were not “potty trained” would wear a dress-like gown. Also, boys would have their hair parted on the side, and girls parted in the middle.
Taft did not play the piano, but he did enjoy music, and he was quite a fine dancer despite his very large size – he was 300 pounds! And when he moved into the White House a special bathtub had to be installed to accommodate his size!
The parlor
As president, Taft was a fierce trust-buster, trying to break through large corporate monopolies.
In 1912, former president Theodore Roosevelt decided he was not satisfied with President Taft’s performance, so Roosevelt challenged Taft for the Republican nomination. Taft barely won the nomination, but an angry Roosevelt ran as a third party in the general election, thus splitting the Republican vote and allowing Woodrow Wilson to win the presidency. Roosevelt was the most successful third-party candidate in history, finishing in second place with 88 electoral votes. Combined, Roosevelt and Taft won over 50 percent of the vote.
President Taft was the only president to go on later and serve on the US Supreme Court. In fact, Taft became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

Creation Museum
Petersburg KY

The Creation Museum is related to the Ark Encounter. It focuses more on the six days of creation as described in the Bible.
The grounds of the museum are very nice.
Like the Ark Encounter, the Creation Museum puts a lot of focus on dinosaurs.
The museum tries to stay faithful to the Bible.
Explaining how and why the Bible and Human Reason come to different conclusions about creation (and science).
God created the heavens and the earth. Like the Ark Encounter, the Creation Museum uses artistic license to produce displays of biblical events.
Adam and Eve. As we went by each display, the biblical text for the scene was read over the speakers.
The serpent
God clothes Adam and Eve to cover their nakedness.
Man toils the field by the sweat of his brow.
Cain slays Abel.
Methuselah, the oldest man in the Bible, lived 969 years.
The ark on the water.
As the flood waters rose, the people were desperate for salvation. Notice on the top right of the rock, two men fighting
The rainbow, which signified God’s promise that He would never again destroy the world by flood.
Zoom in to read these explanations.
Actual fossilized skull of a allosuarus, one of the most complete allosuarus skulls ever found.
The museum is full of promoting the Gospel, Jesus is God, Lord of all.
God’s sovereignty is Jesus Christ’s sovereignty.

Cincinnati OH

Cincinnati skyline
Paul Brown Stadium, home of the Cincinnati Bengals.
Great American Ballpark
We had dinner at Hofbräuhaus in Newport KY, across the river form Cincinnati. It is a German beer hall, very loud!
Live entertainment. They sing German songs in German! Pretty cool!
Heidelberger Rahm Spätzle (with pulled chicken)
Jäger Spätzle (with beef tips)
Schwarzwälder Kirsch Torte (black forest cake). All the food was delicious!

Great Lakes Trip 2019 Day 13

Indianapolis IN

Crown Hill Cemetery

Grave of Benjamin Harrison, 23rd president of the United States
John Dillinger is buried here in Crown Hill Cemetery.
THAT John Dillinger
(Famous bank robber in the 1930s)

Indianapolis Motor Speedway, AKA The Brickyard
Home of the Indianapolis 500

We toured this iconic landmark in Indianapolis. This is the location of the famous Indianapolis 500 race which is usually held over Memorial Day weekend every year. It also is the home of the Brickyard 400, a NASCAR race that is held the weekend after Labor Day.
The monuments here are of race cars, not people!
We took a ride on a tour bus for a lap on the actual track. It was pretty cool. This view is looking back at the third turn.
This view is looking at the fourth turn.
This is the pit area.
The “Pagoda” which has suites for race viewing.
Winners podium. Tradition is that the winner of the race drinks milk (for an endorsement of the dairy industry). Before the race, all the drivers select which milk they want – whole, 2%, 1%, skim – but it has to be white milk, not chocolate or strawberry, and it has to be cow’s milk, not almond milk or other non-dairy milk.
This is the “yard of bricks”. The original track was made of millions of bricks. Over time, the bricks were paved over to smooth the track. They kept three feet of bricks for the finish line. A tradition has developed that the winner of the Indianapolis 500 runs out to the track and kisses the bricks, so…
… this was pretty cool.
The museum contains many, many cars, mostly winners of past races. There is also an entire section of Mario Andretti’s cars. Here is his 1979 Lotus. Zoom in on the picture to read the details.
Andretti won the 1978 World Driving Championship driving this Lotus Type 79-4.
A 1960’s-1970s garage.
This car is similar, although perhaps a little larger, to the race cars Mary Jean’s father used to race. He designed and built his cars and their engines.
This car won the 1912 Indianapolis 500.
There are many cars here. It is quite impressive.
Cars from the 1950s and 1960s.
This car won the 1977 Indianapolis 500.
The man in the blue car in this painting resembles Mary Jean’s father.

Home of President Benjamin Harrison

This is the home of Benjamin Harrison, 23rd president of the United States. He was the only president whose grandfather was also president. His grandfather, William Henry Harrison, was our 9th president (and also shortest-serving – 32 days).
President Harrison served one term from 1889-1893. He was defeated for reelection in 1892 by President Grover Cleveland, whom Harrison had succeeded. (Cleveland was the only man to serve non-consecutive terms). Harrison suspended his campaign a week before the election in 1892 because First Lady Caroline Harrison died on October 25, 1892. He simply didn’t want to continue in office. He lived for another nine years after leaving the presidency.
First Lady Caroline Harrison was a very active woman, a leader in women’s rights and advancement in the late 1800s.
Formal parlor
Informal parlor. The portrait above the fireplace is Harrison’s grandfather, President William Henry Harrison, 9th president of the US.
Reginaphone Music Box/Phonograph. The docent played a few seconds of this hand-crank machine! I recorded about 20 seconds of it.
Harrison’s office
This is a souvenir President Harrison received when the country celebrated the 100th anniversary of George Washington’s inaugural in 1789. It is called a centennial stick. There is a carved head of each of the presidents up until Harrison stacked on top of each other.
The kitchen is furnished with period pieces. This is a Hoosier Cabinet with many interesting drawers and cubbyholes. The high chair actually belonged to the Harrisons. Children would eat in the kitchen with the servants until they learned table manners.
This stove is similar to the model the Harrisons used.
Dining room
The Harrisons’ White House china.
Benjamin Harrison’s actual baby crib
This is Benjamin Harrison the Fifth’s (President Benjamin Harrison’s great-grandfather and a signer of the Declaration of Independence) actual crib from the 1700s!
Benjamin Harrison’s bed. This is the bed he died in. So this house contains his actual baby crib, AND his deathbed!
Harrison’s home gym

Indiana State Capitol

Front view of the Indiana State Capitol.
Abraham Lincoln’s Funeral Train stopped in Indianapolis in 1865 and lay in state inside this building, as it did in several locations on its way to his burial in Springfield IL.
Front view of the Indiana State Capitol
Looking up at the inside of the dome.
Bust of President Benjamin Harrison, the only president from Indiana.
Skylight
Colonnade
House of Representatives chamber. Zoom in to see how beautiful the chandelier is.
Senate Chamber
Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts
Downtown Indianapolis

Grave of President William Henry Harrison
North Bend OH

President William Henry Harrison, 9th president of the United States. He was a native of Virginia, and he was a hero for battling the Indians in the Northwest Territory (Ohio, Indiana, Illinois). He earned a nickname “Old Tippecanoe” for his exploits. He served at territorial governor of Indiana prior to winning the presidency in 1840. His inaugural address was the longest, and he delivered it outside in a terrible storm and developed pneumonia. He died 32 days after he was inaugurated. First Lady Anna Harrison was too sick to travel to Washington, so she never made it to the White House. Only Anna Harrison and Martha Washington were First Ladies that never lived in the White House (it didn’t exist when George Washington was president).
The approach to the crypt
The graves of President William Henry Harrison and Frist Lady Anna Harrison.
Near the grave of President William Henry Harrison in North Bend OH is the birthplace of his grandson, President Benjamin Harrison. He was born on a farm on this site, but the farm no longer exists.
A bend in the Ohio River at North Bend OH.

Great American Ballpark
Cincinnati OH

We stayed in a hotel across the river from Cincinnati in Covington KY, so we took this boat across the river to see the Reds-Phillies game at The Great American Ballpark.
Cincinnati
The Ballpark
Beautiful stadium. Too bad the Reds are not good this year. The attendance this night was very low.
The Reds best player Joey Votto.
Can you see the ball in these pictures?
Bryce Harper with this hit drove in his 100th RBI of the season.
Statue of Johnny Bench outside the stadium
Johnny Bench, the greatest catcher in history.
Tom Seaver’s Reds jersey
Red’s 1975 World Series Championship trophy
Johnny Bench Red’s Hall of Fame plaque
Tom Seaver. so now I have seen Seaver’s Baseball Hall of Fame plaque, his Mets Hall of Fame plaque, and now his Reds Hall of Fame plaque.
Pete Rose
Mary Jean relaxing with Mr. Red
Whenever a Reds pitcher strikes out a batter, these steamboat smokestacks blast three shots of flames.
Stadium in the dark
Cincinnati at night.