Wind Cave National Park includes scenic areas like this. The caves are below this ground.And of course, there are many buffalo within the park!This is the original natural entrance to the cave.Wind Cave got its name because of the wind that blows out of the natural entrance. The park ranger demonstrates the wind here. Depending on air pressure inside and outside the cave, the wind also blows into the cave.The stairs down the cave were narrow and steep.There are interesting holes and formations throughout the cave.Wind Cave is most famous for its boxwork formation. The origin of boxwork remains one of the biggest mysteries of Wind Cave. Boxwork is made of thin blades of calcite that project from cave walls and ceilings, forming a honeycomb pattern. The fins intersect one another at various angles, forming “boxes” on all cave surfaces.This is the largest room in the cave that we visited. It is 200 feet underground. The ranger demonstrated total darkness by turning off all the lights for a couple minutes. It was kind of disorienting. Excellent tour.
Due to the Wuhan Flu the Capitol was closed to visitors. Additionally, the dome is undergoing cleaning and renovation, so I couldn’t see the beautiful gold dome.
New River Gorge Bridge, Lansing WV
The New River Gorge Bridge is the longest single arch bridge in the western hemisphere.View of the bridge from the canyon overlookThe New River. we crossed this bridge to view the Gorge Bridge from ground level. Interestingly, the New River is actually one of the oldest rivers in the world, older even than the Appalachian Mountains!Structure of the Gorge BridgeSingle lane Fayette Station BridgeView of the New River Gorge Bridge from Fayette Station Bridge.Wolf Creek Falls
Glade Creek Grist Mill, Babcock WV
A picture for my wall, and calendar!
John Henry State Park, Talcott WV
John Henry was a steel driver who was employed to help bore a tunnel through the Great Bend Mountain for the C&O Railroad. When a steam drill showed up at the site, the steel drivers took it as a threat to their jobs. John Henry challenged the steam drill to a contest. After about an hour John Henry had out-driven the steam drill by five feet. Here, the legend says, then he laid down his hammer and died. The legend cannot be proven, but it makes for an interesting story.John Henry started the tunnel on the right, and it is no longer used. The tunnel on the left is still in use.John Henry statue.
President Zachary Taylor Home and Grave, Windy Hills KY
This monument honors the memory of President Zachary Taylor, our 12th president. He was president from 1849-1850, when he died in office. His grave is in the building to the right. His original grave was the small mound to the right in the back near the trees.Crypt of President Zachary and First Lady Margaret TaylorSpringfield, the home of Zachary Taylor. Born in Orange County VA while his parents were visiting relatives, Taylor grew to adulthood in this house in Louisville KY.
Kentucky State Capitol, Frankfort KY
The Capitol as seen from an overlook from the westApproaching the Capitol from the north The Capitol is closed due to the Wuhan Flu, so I could not go inside.Kentucky Governor’s Mansion, just east of the Capitol
Historic Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort KY
This historic distillery dates back to 1792. It was closed when I came by for a look, so I couldn’t get any souvenirs. It still had a sweet “angels share” aroma in the air.These warehouses hold thousands of barrels for years!
Lincoln Museum, Hodgenville KY
Lincoln Museum is in the town square of Hodgenville. It is a pretty neat little museum. It is really everything Lincoln – hundreds of images of Lincoln throughout. This is the real Lincoln’s top hat!This is a very rare photo of the log cabin in which Lincoln was bornNewspaper announcing Lincoln’s deathSeveral scenes from Lincoln’s life are displayed in the museum. This is growing up in the log cabin.Lincoln the railsplitter.Lincoln calling on Mary Todd, his future wife, at her Lexington homeLincoln-Douglas debateLincoln writing the Emancipation ProclamationLincoln with son Tad sitting in Matthew Brady’s studio. Brady was the most famous and prolific photographer during the Civil War.Gettysburg Address stageLincoln’s second inaugurationLee surrenders to GrantThe Lincolns at Ford’s Theater
Mammoth Cave National Park
Mammoth Cave National Park in central Kentucky contains the longest system of caves in the world, with over 412 miles of surveyed passageways! This is the Historic Entrance to the cave for the tour.Looking back up the stairs we just descended.Approaching the cave tour from the entrance. The temperature inside the cave is 54 degrees year-round. Same as Luray Caverns in Virginia.Artifacts from saltpeter mining, which was done by slaves prior to the Civil War.The Rotunda. This is a large flat circle ceiling near the entrance of the cave. These pictures do not do justice to the size and scale of this 1.5 mile passage. It is really: you have to see it to believe it.This is called the Methodist Church, because in the 1800s a small Methodist Church met for worship here. The preacher preached from atop a large rock ledge on the upper left.This is a close up at the Methodist Church. Notice the rock just left of center. It looks like the face of a man!This formation looks like a reptileThe “Giant’s Coffin” – this large rock formation looks like a casket!One of several stone houses near the end of one trail. These houses were part of a tuberculosis sanitarium. They had to walk in the cave over a mile to get here!The rotunda from a different angleAudobon Avenue
Another view of the Cleveland skyline.Key Tower.Terminal TowerThe Hilton Hotel with First Energy Stadium in the distance.Fifth Third Bank?Progressive Field, Home of the Cleveland Indians.Progressive FieldBob Feller statue. My father saw him pitch.Statue of Larry Doby, the first black player in the American League for the Cleveland Indians, several weeks after Jackie Robinson became the first black player in all of major league baseball, for the National League Brooklyn Dodgers.Slyman’s Restaurant. President George W. Bush ate here in 2007 when he came to Cleveland for a presidential visit. This was a very clean place, and the food was exceptional!Corned beef hash. After one bite, Mary Jean said this was the best corned beef has she has ever had.Bacon and swiss omelet.Slyman’s known for its deli meats and sandwiches. We ordered two sandwiches to go for lunch on the road. Here is what the turkey sandwich looks like! And it was the best turkey I have ever had!This is Ralphie’s family’s house from A Christmas Story movie.The leg lamp is in the middle window.The leg lampThe Bumpus House next door. Both houses are available for overnight guests.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
This is the only national park in Ohio.Brandywine FallsBrandywine FallsBrandywine FallsThick forestLedges Overlook – you can see for miles and miles!This cabin was built in the 1930s by young men who were in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), the group created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to alleviate unemployment during the Great Depression.Everett Road Covered Bridge. From the early to the late 1800s, Ohio had over 2000 covered bridges. This reconstructed bridge is modeled on a pattern from 1869.
Nativity Museum, Akron OH
Replica of Bethlehem’s Nativity Cave.In the actual Bethlehem cave, this star supposedly marks the spot where Jesus Christ was born to the virgin Mary.This museum displays hundreds and hundreds of nativity scenes from all over the world, and made from many different materials.Cardboard and Foil, from PolandCoconut from HawaiiOlive wood from BethlehemAustralian AborigineMade of wood, from China, by Christians who were persecuted by the Communist government.Thorn wood from NigeriaFrom ColumbiaMade of coal from West VirginiaAnd even one made of Legos.
President William McKinley Library & Museum Canton OH
William McKinley was our 25th president, serving from 1897 until he was assassinated in September 1901. President McKinley bustPresident McKinley was one of the “front porch campaigns”. He did all his campaigning in 1896 from his home here in Canton.McKinley’s White House deskHis bed from the White HousePiano that First Lady Ida McKinley played at the White HousePresident and First Lady McKinleyAdjacent to the McKinley displays is a museum called Street of Shops which are models of Canton shops in the early 1900s. Notice the horseshoe prints on the street!General StoreBlacksmith ShopPioneer HousePost Office stage garagePrint shopService stationFire housePackaging from the early 20th centuryChoose you apron style!Go for a bike ride?President McKinley Memorial. This is a huge structure, and it looks even larger because it sits on a hill.Statue of President McKinley (23 steps from ground level)A sense of the scale of the size of the structure.The crypts of President William McKinley and First Lady Ida McKinleyLooking up at the top of the dome.The brass exterior doors were the largest ever cast when they were built in 1905-1907.
Pro Football Hall of Fame, Canton OH
Here it is – the Football Hall of Fame. John Madden’s busSpecial exhibit on football cards.Joe Namath’s 1965 rookie card is the holy grail of football cards, so Namath is featured prominently in this exhibit.The “Big 4” football cards: Joe Namath, Johnny Unitas, Bonco Nagurski, and the Goodwin Champions.Joe Namath’s rookie cards – 15 of them!Autographed Joe Namath jersey.Displays for the decades…Jim Thorpe statueTribute to the 1972 Miami Dolphins, the only Super Bowl champions with a perfect record (17-0)Each Hall of Famer is honored with a bronze bust. It is a pretty neat display to see row after row of these busts.How the busts are made.Me and JoeMary Jean and John ElwayMe and Dan Marino. For you, Keith!Earl Campbell, the only hall of famer I have met.Jim Brown, greatest football player ever.John RigginsSuper Bowl III display: Jets 16, Colts 7Terrell Davis wore this helmet during the 1998 Super Bowl XXXII win.The Vince Lombardi TrophyNiemann portrait of Super Bowl III.Super Bowl ring, 1969Super Bowl ring, 2016Super Bowl ring, 2019Carrie Underwood’s outfit when she sang “Oh, Sunday Night!” to open the 2017 prime time Sunday Night Football season.Pro Football Hall of FamePro Football Hall of Fame
