Category: Museum

Back onto the Mother Road

Post author By TravisGood
Post date January 21, 2010
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Today began a two day jaunt down Route 66. As many of you know, this road is a favorite of mine which I’ve traveled many times. Not having the time to loiter this trip, I just popped into some of my favorites for a quick visit. Below are a few choice examples for you to enjoy.

Back on Mother Road

This old service station is located in Galena, KS and it’s become quite famous. Executives from Pixar who made the movie Cars stopped here and developed one of the movie’s main characters from the truck you see at the left. Some of you may remember the character Tow Mater? Well, you’re looking’ at him!

Lake Lighthouse Museum Road Travel

Lights along Lake Erie’s South Shore

Post author By TravisGood
Post date October 30, 2009
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To complete my navigation of the U.S. side of Lake Erie I needed to drive from Detroit to Erie (perviously I’ve driven the Erie to Buffalo stretch). However, I woke up in Ann Arbor and there was no way I wasn’t going to tour the University of Michigan, visit the Ford Library, and go shirt-shopping for my girls. Since bed that night was south of Pittsburg I needed an early start and many hours behind the wheel. I’m homeward bound!

Lights along Lake Erie Since age 16 when I worked on the Ford for President campaign I’ve been a fan. Three day earlier I had visited his President Museum in Lancing and was very impressed. It’s very well done. While there I learned of the Library in Ann Arbor so I made it my first stop. It’s much smaller, not nearly so well done, but equally supportive and respectful of President Ford. My favorite part was the corner he used for his personal office till the end.

As for the lighthouses, they’re below. You look, I’ve got lots of driving to do!

Historical Museum Road Travel

The Heart of U.S. Manufacturing

Post author By TravisGood
Post date October 29, 2009
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All my life I’d heard about the manufacturing might of the automotive industry in Michigan. In recent years I’ve also read about plant closures. I recognize but know nothing about towns such as Pontiac, Detroit, Flint, Troy, Livonia, Flat Rock, Ypsilanti, etc. I was in the heart of Michigan and wanted to see this for myself so I mapped out a route and drove it.

First I wanted to see the scale of car plants. I drove around with my iPhone showing satellite views of my route. When I saw a large facility I’d drive toward it, position myself in the image (the blue dot), and snap a picture. Here are some examples and WOW they’re impressive.

Manufacturing

Historical Museum Road Travel

The Climb Begins at Fort Laramie

Post author By TravisGood
Post date October 4, 2009
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Larmie — Until I saw this sign I didn’t know what I was looking for. From a distance, the site is just a bunch of old buildings. Up close, it looked the same but oh what a story these old building could tell!

Heading west across the continent happened in three stages: 1) getting to St. Louis, 2) getting across the plains to the Rockies and 3) getting to your final destination on the other side of the Rocky Mountains. Most people followed the same path across the Great Plains but then could take any one of several paths across the Rockies. Fort Laramie is that important transition from where the plains end and to where the mountains begin.

You lay over at Fort Laramie for several important reasons. First, you’re resting after months spent walking across the flat middle of our country. Second, you’re purchasing supplies for the next stage of your journey as this is your last good opportunity before mounting the Rockies. Lastly, you’re waiting for decent weather before attempting to climb into the Rockies (remember the Donner Party). Fort Laramie figures very importantly into your plans!

Historical Mountain Museum Road Travel

Milestones of Westward Migration

Post author By TravisGood
Post date October 4, 2009
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It’s sometimes difficult to admit how little I know about U.S. history. I knew that people moved west, that gold was an important lure, and that the journey was a hardship. I knew there were trails people followed. I even knew some of the trails’ names: Oregon Trail, Santa Fe Trail, and California Trail. However, ask me details of any particular trail and I’d have told you nothing important.

After visiting the National Trails Headquarters I know enough to learn more! There in Omaha City I picked-up a few maps, I toured the museum facilities, I talked with Rangers. I learned the basics and committed myself to learn as opportunities presented themselves. It wasn’t long before I could do just that when I was headed south through Wyoming. It was then that I found three important milestones along the trails, two of which are described below.

Historical Museum Road Travel

Lincoln’s Boyhood Home

Lincoln Boyhood Home — At 15 feet square this isn’t a McMansion! It’s amazing that upwards of a dozen people lived in this small space. This home was the last of four built on this site in Indiana. From here he moved to IL.

What is it with me and President Lincoln? I’ll chalk it up to coincidence that I got interested when I was in the right place (his birthplace) at the right time (his 200th birthday) and attended his birthday party and new-penny launch. Revisit my awakening here.

First there was his birthplace and childhood home in Kentucky. Then there was his boyhood home in Indiana. Then he called Illinois home from age 21 till eventually he moved to D.C. as President. I recount all this because 1) it details my personal odyssey and 2) it shows that anyone who can lay claim to one of our greatest Presidents does.

This visit was to his boyhood home where he grew up, worked on the farm, and learned the knowledge and values which would eventually define the man he became. It was from age eight to 21 that he lived here after leaving the farm they had started in Kentucky due to a property ownership dispute.

Museum River Road Travel

Cincinnati Lights

This town is photogenic. A few months ago I was passing through and took note of it’s appealing character: the winding Ohio River, it’s many bridges, hills all around, and a beautiful skyline. I knew it had the makings of a photo shoot and I had it in mind for a revisit … this was it.

The Cincinnati Museum Center has a scale model of the city which is where I started to piece together my picture-taking ambitions. Foremost I wanted to capture some contemporary views which I could superimposed over identical historical images. This I didn’t manage to pull off; too ambitious. However, with all the buildings, bridges, river, hills and lights my second ambition was to get some skyline shots. This I did and I had a blast trying to sight my shots.

While I didn’t get to a few of the better vista points I did get enough good pictures to come away happy. Finding the night baseball game in process was a real coup!

The next morning was cloudy so after visiting the sites I’d missed at night, I hit the road.

Above you can see what I missed; shooting that would be lovely at night!

I feel a return engagement is inevitable.

Falls Historical Museum

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater

Post author By TravisGood
Post date September 30, 2009
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I’ve spent the past few years happening upon homes built by Frank Lloyd Wright, visiting exhibitions of his life’s work, and researching him online. The man fascinates me. Correction. His architecture affects me and that fascinates me. I’m moved emotionally whenever I see his work.

For me Fallingwater is the pinnacle of his work. The genius of how he melded the home in its natural setting. The stunning way the falls integrate with the structure. How he lets natural light reign supreme. You can feel it even in my petty attempts to capture his genius in these pictures. Amazing work.

In the southwest corner of Pennsylvania I found not only Fallingwater but also other homes built by Frank Lloyd Write. First is Kentuck Knob which is open for viewing and the other is a collection of homes called Polymath Park relocated to the area and converted into a Bed and Breakfast. For a Wright enthusiast this is one of nice detour. I’m glad I finally made it.

Family Museum

U.S. Botanical Gardens

At first glance the contents of this beautiful glass building didn’t appear very photo-worthy. Then I took a closer look. Flowers filled the place but in a quiet way. Beth had a hard time getting me to move away from the orchids!

Historical Lake Lighthouse Museum Road Travel

Taste of Chicago

Chicago - 0 — Cloud Gate is a giant jellybean of highly polished steel. In its reflection you can see the Chicago skyline along Michigan Avenue. It’s hard not to walk around it an be amazed.

Last year while returning home via the Lincoln Highway, our nation’s first transcontinental road which ran from Manhattan to San Francisco, I stayed in Chicago just as “Taste of Chicago” was winding down. “Wow!” I thought “I’ve got to get back to see this next year!” And so I did.

“Taste of Chicago” is a nine-day food and performing arts festival which takes place in Grant Park along Chicago’s waterfront. This is a big deal! All the music concerts are free and included such acts as Hootie and the Blowfish, Barenaked Ladies, Buddy Guy, and much more. To get a sense of scale, take a look a the map below. For food alone there were 56 restaurants!