Freedom Riders NM

The World Witnessed the Violence:

In 1961, a small interracial band of “Freedom Riders” challenged discriminatory laws requiring separation of the races in interstate travel. They were attacked by white segregationists, who firebombed the bus. Images of the attack appeared in hundreds of newspapers, shocking the American public and spurring the Federal Government to issue regulations banning segregation in interstate travel.

Apr 2, 2025

This unit is fairly new to the NPS, being established in 2017 and is just starting to come together to tell the importance of what happened here in 1961 and how it played a role in the signing of the Civil Rights act in 1964. The bus station is being used as the intern Visitor Center and only open on Wednesday. We had good timing this trip and made it while it was open. We watched the movie that is PBS documentary of the Civil Rights Movement, only a small part deals with the events here, the movie is long taking in all of the events of the Civil Rights movement. We took in the informational banners, then had a nice talk with the Rangers on a wide range of topics. We headed outside to take in the informational plaques and wall mural. There are plans to bring the Bus Station back to the look of the time period and the building next door will become the Visitor center. We spent 2 hours here. 

Click here for photos of our visit

NPS Website

 Our 182nd NPS Unit

Moores Creek National Battlefield

 

"King George and Broadswords!"

In the early morning hours of February 27, 1776, Loyalist forces charged across a partially dismantled Moores Creek Bridge. Beyond the bridge, nearly 1,000 North Carolina Patriots waited quietly with cannons and muskets poised to fire. This battle marked the last broadsword charge by Scottish Highlanders and the first significant victory for the Patriots in the American Revolution.

4 Mar 2025

This Park protects the land of a Revolutionary Battlefield for a battle that lasted less than four minutes. This was the first major victory for the patriots and set in motion the road to victory in the Revolutionary war for the United States. We started this visit at the Visitor Center taking in the offered ten-minute movie that did a great job at explaining the battle here and what it meant to starting the march to independence for the United States. There is a great timeline of both the Carolina's and the United States along the walls and the Center also has great exhibits from the time of the battle. After the Visitors Center we picked up Daisy's BARK Program pamphlet and headed out to take in the one-mile Historic trail. This trail makes a loop around the Battlefield taking in the breast works, the reconstructed bridge and the monuments. We finished our walk, and Daisy got another collar tag to add to her collection. We spent around 3 hours exploring this site.

NPS Website

Click here for Photos of our visit on 4 Mar 2025

Our 181st NPS Unit

Cowpens NB

“…our success was complete…”  -- Daniel Morgan, January 19, 1781

A pasturing area at the time of the battle, this Revolutionary War site commemorates the place where Daniel Morgan and his army turned the flanks of Banastre Tarleton's British army. This classic military tactic, known as a double envelopment, secured a patriot victory.

Feb 28, 2025

We made a return trip today to let Daisy get her BARK Ranger Certificate, no new collar tags this time. We picked up a booklet for Daisy and headed out to the trail. We enjoyed the booklet and Daisy enjoyed taking in the smells of all the critters that call this area home. After the Trail Walk, we stopped at the Visitor Center and Daisy got her Certificate. 

Sept 19, 2013

A decisive victory for the American forces. We took in the visitor Center taking in the exhibits and movie to get a better understanding of the events that took place here. After the Visitor Centers we took the girls out on the trail to get an understanding of the size of the battle. We were left in wonder on how close the two armies were in combat; you could almost throw a rock at each other.

Click here for photos of our visit on 28 Feb 2025

NPS Website

Our 89th NPS Unit

Kings Mountain NMP

                                                              

The turn of the tide of success:

Thomas Jefferson called it "The turn of the tide of success." The battle of Kings Mountain, fought October 7th, 1780, was an important American victory during the Revolutionary War. The battle was the first major patriot victory to occur after the British invasion of Charleston, SC in May 1780. The park preserves the site of this important battle. A Battle that set in motion a new direction of the revolutionary war.  The British decided to change their tactics and move the war to the Southern states. After a series of victories, they would meet a group of Mountain men that feared there way of life would be threatened. This small army won a victory that would turn an unwinnable war to a winnable war for the Americans.

Feb 28, 2025

We made a return trip with Daisy Mae joining us for the walk around the trail. No BARK Program but we still had a great day for a trail walk with so many smells for Daisy to take in. 

Sept 20, 2013

We got to take in the unit today with the girls tagging along. After taking in the exhibits and movie at the visitor center and learning why this site was so important to the road to the end of the revolutionary war and our independence. We headed out to take the one-mile trail around the battlefield. The girls really enjoyed the day taking in all the sights and smells.  

Click here for photos of our visit on 28 Feb 2025

NPS Website

Our 91st NPS Unit






The girls resting at Centennial Monument - 2013

Gulf Islands NS

The Lure of the Islands in the Gulf of America:

Millions of visitors are drawn to the Gulf of America for Gulf Islands National Seashore's emerald coast waters, magnificent white beaches, fertile marshes and historical landscapes. Come explore with us today!

12 Jan 2025

We made a quick trip over to the park today so daisy could pick up her BARK ranger tag and also take a short walk out to the pier. 

3 Dec 2022

Today we finally got to a section of the Florida side of this unit. we took in Fort Barrancas, this fort is on the Pensacola Naval Air Station, so Access is limited. We took in the movie that tell the history of this fort and also the sister forts - Fort Pickens and Fort Mcree. These forts were part of the Third System of seacoast defense aimed at fortifying major harbors. We headed out to explore the fort after the movie. This fort is well preserved and offers a few hours of exploring the inner workings of it. We spent three hours here and got all there was to see. We still have to make a trip out to Fort Pickens but will save that for another visit. Fort Mcree no long exists. 

21 Dec 2021

The weather was perfect today, so we decided to head over to Gulf Islands National Seashore and do a trail walk with Daisy Mae. After getting the newest stamps at the Visitor Center we headed out and did the CCC spur Trail. This trail is about around a half mile round trip. It was a great day to take in the sights and sounds of the park. In total it we walked around 2 miles today. 

21 Nov 2014

We took in the Mississippi section of this park. We took in the Visitors Center first to get a better understanding of the unit. The Visitor Center offers a movie, and many displays. We then headed out on a great trail walk with Molly. Found an Alligator sunning itself and a few turtles also taking in a sunny day. For this visit we stayed at the National Park campground for a few days and really enjoyed doing that as it gave us more time to explore this section of the park. We missed the ferry season to get to Ft Massachusetts so we will be back here to take it in. We will also have to plan a trip to the Florida side to take in that section.

Click here for photos of our visit on 3 Dec 2022

NPS Website

Our 109th NPS Unit

                      

  

Molly taking a break on the trail. 2014