Steamtown NHS

Steam locomotives excited the senses and Steamtown works to keep their stories alive!

You'd feel heat from the firebox, smell hot steam and oil; you'd hear the whistle, feel the ground vibrate, and watch as one-ton drive rods turned steel wheels. Remember the sound of "chuff-chuff" from the smokestack? Today, you can learn the history of steam railroad transportation, and the people who built, repaired and rode, as we work to preserve a special era in America's industrial history!

July 27, 2019
This was a great park to take in. We had our entire family from New Jersey with us for this park. If you are a train nut like me this is the place to go. I could spend days here exploring - okay maybe weeks. Grand kids got there first Junior Ranger books and we learned that it takes longer to explore when you have them working on their books, that is a good thing for us as we really get to slow down and take more in. We took a couple of small train excursions in the train yard and explored all we could. The grand kids finished their books and got there First badge. We hope this starts there NPS exploring bug, we will see after this trip. We are putting this one on the return list just because I love trains.

Click here for photos of our visit

NPS Website

Our 139th NPS Unit

Indiana Dunes NP

Sand and Solitude

Indiana Dunes National Park hugs 15 miles of the southern shore of Lake Michigan and has much to offer. Whether you enjoy scouting for rare species of birds or flying kites on the sandy beach, the national park's 15,000 acres will continually enchant you.  Hikers will enjoy 50 miles of trails over rugged dunes, mysterious wetlands, sunny prairies, meandering rivers and peaceful forests.

May 5, 2012

This was a Solo trip for me as the wife and dogs had already headed home. Walked the dunes and enjoyed an afternoon at the beach.

July 22, 2019

Got to take in this new National Park, the last time I was here it was only a National Lakeshore. We started at the Visitor Center and saw the movie then took in the displays that we thought was far less than expected of a National Park. We decide our best approach was to start in the South end of the park so we headed to West Beach. We took in West Beach with a hike down to the Lakeshore. We headed North and made stops along the way to see the Century of progress Homes, these houses were built for the 1933 Chicago World's Fair to demonstrate modern architectural design, experimental materials, and new technologies. It was then on to Mount Baldy Beach and the star of the park, Mount Baldy. While you cannot climb it anymore, we did walk around it to the beach. This is a great Park to take in and we still have a few areas to see so we will be back. 

Click here for photos of our visit

NPS Website

Our 72nd NPS Unit and 20th National Park

                                    

Herbert Hoover NHS

To Look Forward With Unbounded Hope

Orphaned at age nine, Herbert Hoover left West Branch never to live here again. In later years, he returned to his humble birthplace to celebrate his long career of public service. A memorial landscape remains to tell his story: how community, hard work, honesty, and usefulness to others opened a world of opportunity— and the presidency of the United States— to a child of simple beginnings.

July 21, 2010
A stop here on the way home from a cross country trip. I did not know much about Herbert Hoover, so this was a very educational stop. Like so many Presidents he did more after office then in. Much to see and take in here.

July 20, 2019
This was a revisit for me and the first time for my wife. Took in the Visitor Center and a movie on Herbert Hoover's life here in West Branch. We then took a walk to take in the buildings and homes that are preserved here. After seeing what there is to see we headed to the Presidential Library. This is where you truly learn about his life and Presidency. After a few hours at the Presidential Library, we drove up to the grave site and took that in.

Click here for photos of our visit on July 20 2019

NPS Webpage

Our 55th NPS Unit