Category: Museum

Smoothly Trans-Atlantic

Bath is famous for many things and probably for these cascades on the River Avon too. However, I came back to this exact spot because the view is spectacular. Bath has so very much to offer.

If not an old shoe, it felt like a familiar shoe when I completed my trip to England by pulling out my Oyster prepaid card and swiping it to enter the Underground to board a Picadilly Line train to Padington. Everything had gone smoothly right down to sleeping which I forced myself to do for several hours in transit. When I strolled off the plane to Customs it felt like the start of a great day; I wasn’t dragging and cursing life. A good first stride in to a familiar and comfortable shoe.

Not wanting to schlep around my suitcase all day, I made my first stop my hostel in Bristol where I checked in and stored my bag in a locker. Then, back on the train for a 10 minute ride back to Bath, a town I’ve previously visited and been blown away by. It has strong Roman influences viewable even today. However, this visit would be different. My plan was to avoid the town’s key feature (the Roman baths) and take in the rest of what was in and around the once-walled city.

My first stop was the tourist information office where they provided me with a walking tour map. With that I set off on my way to explore. So what is there to be seen? A crazy number of interesting sites, among them:

– Jane Austin’s home

Historical Museum Road Train

The National Pike

Ever wonder what the first major highway was in the United States?

Roads among the major eastern cities had developed over the early decades of the U.S. but that network didn’t allow for easy expansion west to settle the new territories. Travelers could go as far west as Cumberland by navigating the Potomac River but from there travel got tough.

In 1811 the federal government commissioned the construction of a National Road to connect Cumberland to Pittsburgh and points west. Then, in 1824 a turnpike was constructed which connected Baltimore with Cumberland and was called the National Pike or the eastern extension of the National Road.

190 years after construction began you can still find many mile markers in place indicating distance to Baltimore (e.g. “3 M To B”). Not all are original but even the newest are many decades old. The idea that still today you can find evidence of the National Pike built at the dawn of our country’s history really intrigued me. I was going to hunt them down and take pictures of those which stood out as notable.

My plan was to drive 125 miles of it starting in Cumberland and heading east to Mile Zero in Baltimore.

Historical Museum Road Travel

Lee’s Maryland Campaign

One of the first things I heard from a Park Ranger at the National Park was “Were it not for Harpers Ferry, the battle of Antietam would never have happened.” Well, I knew enough to realize this was a big deal because Antietam was the single worst day of fighting in all of U.S. history with over 22,000 soldiers killed, wounded or missing. Harpers Ferry, Antietam, and more were part of the Confederates’ first incursion into the North in an effort known as The Maryland Campaign.

Historical Museum Road Train Travel

Scranton Has Steam!

From carpenters nails to t-rails for railroad tracks to steam locomotives, the Stanton brothers had a big impact on this town. At the time when trains were just taking off, northeast Pennsylvania was a busy place. The hard coal came from their hills, the rail lines were produced in their foundries, and soon the area was a major rail transportation hub.

The last fact is what caught my attention and that of the National Park Service too. Due to the important roots of steam locomotion in Scranton and the existence of a railway yard with roundhouse the NPS chose to build the Steamtown National Historic Site here. The site has a museum, a working steam line, a functioning roundhouse, lots of trains and a whole lot more.

This place really is for those who love trains of the steam era.

Historical Museum Road Travel

Along Virginia’s Highway 11

Post author By TravisGood
Post date June 10, 2010
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At times I need a catalyst to get me thinking and today the Frontier Culture Museum served that purpose. It tells the story of how German, English and Scots-Irish farmers came to the Shenandoah Valley, established traditional farms, and how over the decades these traditions merged. The resulting new standard moved west across the country and became the heart of American farming.

Cave Hike Historical Museum Road Technology

Caving as Performance Art

Post author By TravisGood
Post date March 23, 2010
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I’ve been in many caves and I have my favorites. Luray and Carlsbad Caverns were alone at the top of the list until today. Kartchner Caverns was revealed to the world in 1999 after over a decade of secretive development. Never before have I been in a cave so pristine, so well preserved, so artistically presented. The finale is a light show of a feature called Kubli Khan. It was beautiful and moving and extremely well done. Kartchner really rocks!

Cave Desert Mountain Museum Road Travel

From 750’ Underground to 9,500’ Above

Post author By TravisGood
Post date March 21, 2010
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Underground to Over — When last I visited the International Space History Museum it was raining. Today was sunny. There was no way I wasn’t going back to take pictures of their outdoor exhibit: John P. Stapp Air and Space Park.

As a photographer, I’ve found no better cave than Carlsbad Caverns to visit and shoot. Its huge expanse of beautifully lit formations sets the stage. However, what really sets it apart is the freedom the National Park Service gives you to roam at your own pace, to set-up tripods and to take pictures. I’ve now visited four times and I most certainly plan to return. A gallery of pictures is forthcoming … but not today, I’ve got a road trip to continue!

A snow storm hit New Mexico when last I visited. This of course didn’t affect Carlsbad Caverns which lies 750 feet underground but it sure affected the National Solar Observatory at 9,500 feet in elevation! Sunspot, as its known, is an observatory dedicated to studying the sun with its many telescopes. At this elevation, at this latitude, with this weather it’s an ideal spot to study the sun. Here are some of the telescopes to be seen.

Historical Museum Road Travel

Three Presidents and Three Governors in 24 Hours

Post author By TravisGood
Post date March 20, 2010
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Who could they be? The answer may become apparent when I tell you I drove through Arkansas and Texas. Can you guess? Last hints: they’re four people and three were related. OK, now you must know!

The Clinton childhood home is in Hope, a town which appears to have benefited greatly from its affiliation the President. Redevelopment was everywhere when I visited. Obviously, he was both Governor and President.

Cave Museum Road Travel

From Smokey Bear to Billy the Kid

Post author By TravisGood
Post date January 30, 2010
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Before we get to Smokey and Billy, browse a few shots from Carlsbad Caverns. Click to advance pictures.

[Show picture list]

Yesterday I visited Smokey’s grave and today I spent time at Billy the Kid’s.

But wait, Billy’s grave is the end of the story which spans from 1864 to 1881.

Museum Road Travel

New Mexico is Spacey

The world capital of UFOs is Roswell where strange occurrences have been reported since the 1940s. It’s home of the International UFO Museum, UFO City, the annual UFO Festival, and the upcoming Alien Theme Park. Up and down Main Street are space-themed businesses: UFO & Alien Stuff, Alien Zone & Area 51, Not of this World Cafe, Alien Spacecraft, Landing Screen Printing, etc. The place is nuts for alien invasion. I asked the clerk at a gift shop what locals think of it all and she said “We don’t like being the UFO center of the universe but we do love what it does for business!”