Charles Pinckney NHS

                                                                         

A Forgotten Founder

Charles Pinckney was a principal author and signer of the United States Constitution. This remnant of his coastal plantation is preserved to tell the story of a "founding father," his life of public service, the lives of enslaved African Americans on South Carolina Lowcountry plantations and their influences on Charles Pinckney.

5 Sept 2015

Go ahead and think of some of the names of the Founding Fathers of this country, those that wrote the Constitution or those that went on to become President and Charles Pinckney will not come to mind for most people. Pinckney's role in the Constitutional Convention is controversial. Although one of the youngest delegates, he later claimed to have been the most influential one and contended he had submitted a draft, known as the Pinckney Plan, that was the basis of the final Constitution. This was strongly disputed by James Madison and some of the other Framers. He submitted an elaborate form of the Virginia Plan, submitted by Edmund Randolph, but it was disregarded by the other delegates. Historians assess him as an important contributing delegate. Pinckney boasted that he was 24, allowing him to claim distinction as the youngest delegate, but he was 30 years old that year. He attended full-time, spoke often and effectively, and contributed immensely to the final draft and to the resolution of problems that arose during the debates. He also worked for ratification in South Carolina (1788). The site is no more than the land he owned with a farm house built after he had sold the land. This a good site to take in during a visit to Charleston. A few hours are all that is required to take in this site.

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NPS Website

Our 116th NPS Unit

Congaree NP

                                                                   

Home of Champions

Astonishing biodiversity exists in Congaree National Park, the largest intact expanse of old growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the southeastern United States. Waters from the Congaree and Wateree Rivers sweep through the floodplain, carrying nutrients and sediments that nourish and rejuvenate this ecosystem and support the growth of national and state champion trees. 

22 May 2015
We took in the park with a visit to the VC that offers a short movie about the park and then it was off to take in the 2 1/2 mile Boardwalk loop trial. It was a perfect day for a trail walk and we all enjoyed all that the trail had to offer. Not much in the way of wildlife presented itself but the trail gave great views of the park and scenery. Lots of Cyprus knee's and plant life. We what to put this Park on the return list to take a canoe trip down the river.

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NPS Website

Our 115th NPS Unit and 16th National Park

                                              

Tuskegee Institute NHS

Bricks and Peanuts

In 1881, Booker T. Washington arrived in Alabama and started building Tuskegee Institute both in reputation and literally brick by brick.  He recruited the best and the brightest to come and teach here including George Washington Carver who arrived in 1896.  Carver’s innovations in agriculture, especially with peanuts, expanded Tuskegee’s standing throughout the country.  

13 March 2015

Got to take in the Oaks with a GREAT tour guild. It was her first time as a tour guild and she did a wonderful job and had such a passion for Booker T Washington. We also took in the Carver Museum and got to know the mind of George Washington Carver. Who knew you could do so much with a peanut, but he did so much more then just working with peanut's.

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NPS Website

Our 114th NPS Unit

Tuskegee Airman NHS

Before Their Tails Were "Red"

Before the first African American military pilots became known as the "Red Tails" they wore striped tails as they began their flight training in the Army's PT-17 Stearman bi-plane.  Their flying adventure started at Moton Field, in Tuskegee, Alabama, where the Army Air Corps began a military "experiment" to see if Negroes could be trained to fly combat aircraft.  Come--share their adventure!!                                                                          

13 Mar 2015

What a great site. This site give's a great understanding of the hardships they faced not only fighting the enemy aboard but also here in the the country that they were fighting for. These men and woman showed that dedication to a cause can overcome anything, We highly recommend a visit to this site.

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NPS Website

Our 113th NPS Unit

Horseshoe Bend NMP

   

                                                                        

“[They] fought to the last with that kind of bravery desperation inspires…”

On 27 March 1814, Major General Andrew Jackson ‘s army of 3,300 men attacked Chief Menawa’s 1,000 Red Stick Creek warriors fortified in a horseshoe shaped bend of the Tallapoosa River.  Over 800 Red Sticks died that day.  The battle ended the Creek War, resulted in a land cession of 23,000,000 acres to the United States and created a national hero of Andrew Jackson.

12 March 2015
This is a park that is off the beaten path but will worth the trip. This park lays out the events and timeline that led to this battle and a better understanding of why it happened. A dark chapter in our history non the less. This conflict set into motion events that sent one person to the presidency and shaped Andrew Jackson's time in the White House. The other side is the start of a very dark chapter in our history with Native Americans being force off there lands.

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NPS Website

Our 112th NPS Unit

George Washington Birthplace NM

Walking in Washington's Footsteps

In the heart of the Northern Neck of Virginia stands a tribute to America’s founding father, George Washington. Although only here a short time, the ideas that Washington learned here, helped shape the man he would become and forever alter the destiny of the United States of America. 

20 Jan 2015
Started with a stop at the VC and took in a good movie on the farm and George Washington's childhood. The home here is not the original Birthplace of George Washington, that home was destroyed by fire in 1779. We then spent some time walking the farm and meeting the resident horse's and other livestock. The park is a working farm but being it's the winter season there were no activity's going on that's normally going on in the Summer. After the farm we headed down to the beach and the girls got to have some fun. We would recommend a summer visit, but if you want to have the a little peace and quiet then a winter visit works well.

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NPS Website

Our 111th NPS Unit

Potomac Heritage NST

Hike, bike, ride and paddle the Potomac Heritage network of trails

Linking the tidal Potomac and upper Youghiogheny river basins, the evolving Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail network lies within a corridor rich in historic pathways and waterways. You can travel this historic corridor today—on foot, bicycle and horse and by boat—exploring contrasting landscapes between the Chesapeake Bay and the Allegheny Plateau.

NPS webpage

Our 80th NPS Unit

Jan 20 2015 George Washington Birthplace

July 13 2013 - A day trip up to the Northern Neck of Virginia and the Town of Reedville. This is a small Fishing town on the Chesapeake Bay. After a great Lunch at the Crazy Crab we spent some time at the Reedville Fishermen's Museum. This museum has much to offer in the local fishing industry and heritage of this part of the Chesapeake Bay.
Reedville fishermen's Museum Web page

Dec 11 2012  - Spent the day here as part of the 150th Anniversary of the battle of Fredericksburg. The Manor overlooks the city of Fredericksburg and was the site of the Union camp and the river crossing that the Union used to gain access to Fredericksburg.
Chatham Manor Web page

Chatham Manor