SAW-HEARD-DID
Wrapping up Week 1 of what we are calling our "Spring Fling", I thought I'd see if I can at least complete a weekly blog update.
A little background- when Thing 2 moved east earlier this year- there were a few things that couldn't be shipped but that she still wanted to have. As loving parents- we offered to bring them to her. Ok- that's sort of only part of the reason...we also want to see how she's settling in, we enjoy a good "slow mode" road trip, and have crafted an itinerary that also gives us a chance to see a handful of dear friends that call the east coast home.
4.29-5.5
SAW
This week I saw that not everything mentioned on Roadside America warrants a detour-
Absolutely worth the cost of admission.
Yes- that Churchill...
I give you Exhibit A- Truckhenge..
On the outskirts of Topeka Kansas- is a place called Truckhenge. After a dispute with the county- where the county insisted the owner do something about all the debris on his property- he turned it into art- ending the argument (or so the story goes- court cases still found him guilty of some offense).
Let's just say- Cadillac Ranch it is not. Overgrown with an overall weary and tired appearance- it wasn't the kitschy fun that we often discover with this app.
HEARD
In our first stop on the road...I heard the sounds of silence...
Situated about 15 miles south of the interstate, near Wakenny Kansas sat a quiet little state wildlife area. A gem of a spot- to hear the birds chirping and to discover that central Kansas isn't as flat as one would think- made it well worth the fuel cost for this little excursion.
Next would be Blue Springs campground- part of the local county park system. Sadly- there was so much road noise from the nearby highway and fools on motorcycles- that the charm of the campground was almost lost.
And now- we sit listening to the steady pitter patter of rain here at Coles Creek COE campground- on the shore of Carlyle Lake- just east of St. Louis (by about 60 miles).
Fear not- the skies should clear tomorrow- which is good as we are out of eggs and need to make a grocery run!
DID
Week one- We did a lot...who knew that Kansas and Missouri are packed with some seriously well done museums!
First on the list is the National WW1 museum in KC, MO. What a wonderfully curated museum- filled with multi-media presentations that help bring the exhibit collection to "life" if you will.
Curious as to how this museum ended up in Missouri? While only 441 citizens of the Kansas City area died in the conflict- many came from very prominent families. So prominent- that when it came time to raise money to build a memorial (as was the practice of the era), the good (and apparently very wealthy ) people of Kansas City raised a record setting 2.5 million dollars (35 million in today's numbers) in just under 10 days!
How it became the "National Museum"...the docent I asked said- it was mostly a case of congress deciding we needed one, and declared that this museum in Kansas City would receive the official designation in 2004. Then in 2014- they added that the tower and surrounding features would be designated as the official memorial for the nation.
Next on the museum tour- would be the Arabia Steamboat museum. Normally- I don't think it would have caught my attention- but a friend recently shared that this museum is a classic KC attraction- that by the end of the year- would be closing its' doors- essentially go see it now or risk never seeing it.
When the mighty Steamboat Arabia sank near Kansas City on September 5, 1856, she carried 200 tons of mystery cargo. Think of it like- an Amazon delivery truck- loaded down with an assortment of goods- from tools to clothing- even perhaps 400 barrels of precious whiskey- disappears without a trace.
The steamer would be lost for over 130 years- when in 1988- a determined group of locals set out to remove the sunken ship from the Missouri River muck. Rather than cash in on their findings- they decided to save it all and created this museum that not only shows off the treasures- but tells the story of the recovery along with a history of the Missouri River boat and the role it played in the 1850s of transporting goods and people headed to the west.
Last on our tour agenda would be a visit to the town of Independence Missouri.
Here we would learn about all things Truman- who grew up in the area, married his childhood sweetheart (much to the dismay of his mother-in-law) and returned to the area after serving nearly 2 terms as the 33rd president of the US.
Both the home tour (run by the National Park service) and the Presidential Library and museum helped us both understand who this man was- and the challenges he faced during both his career and home life. Both proved to be worth the cost of admission! I personally enjoyed the home tour a little more- it was a small group of 8- with a docent led tour- who shared stories of President Truman and his life. While the library was well curated- I think by the time we visited there- we were approaching a saturation limit on all things presidential.
And that about wraps up week 1 of our travels...oh wait...
There was one last museum- the National Churchill Museum in Fulton Missouri
Turns out- in 1946- the president of the local college (Westminster College- rather fitting don't you think?) invited by then "former" prime minister Winston Churchill to visit the college...he also coordinated with an alumni of the college who was working for President Truman- also a native of Missouri- to join in the fun.
Or something like that...but what makes this visit remarkable- was it was here during the visit that Winston gave the speech known as the Iron Curtain speech.
The museum itself is located in the basement of an old church- a church that was shipped over from England and restored brick by brick.
Another example of how impressive these museums can be- located in what you might think is the middle of no-where.
Until next time...
"Never trust a man that has not a redeeming vice"...
wise man was that Mr. Winston Churchill...
