Chickamauga NMP

                                                    

                                                                          

Death Knell of the Confederacy

 In 1863, Union and Confederate forces fought for control of Chattanooga, known as the "Gateway to the Deep South." The Confederates were victorious at nearby Chickamauga in September. However, renewed fighting in Chattanooga that November provided Union troops victory and control of the city. After the fighting, a Confederate soldier ominously wrote, "This...is the death-knell of the Confederacy."

Jan 28, 2012

This was my second trip to this park and this time I got bring the wife and dogs along. Lookout Mountain provided a great view of Chattanooga today as we had perfect weather. We took in the small Visitors Center at Lookout Mountain and then headed out to get in a nice hike around the battlefield with the dogs. After our hike on Lookout Mountain, we headed down to the Chickamauga Battlefield stopping first at the Visitors Center. This is a large VC with lots of displays and information on both Battles, After the VC we took a tour of the battlefield stopping at all of the turn outs and hiking with the dogs. It struck us at how close the opposing sides were during the battle. This unit took us around 6 hours to see both sites.

May 22, 2011

Solo trip to take in Lookout Mountain. The views are amazing, and you get a good sense of the struggles it took to take back this Mountain from the Confederates. I spent an hour here this trip and there is more to see. I will be making a return trip here with the wife and we will also include a trip to the Chickamauga Battlefield site. 

NPS webpage

Our 60th NPS Unit

                                                                    

                            

                      

                            

                          

 

Marsh - Billings - Rockefeller NHP

Green Pastures and Green Mountains

Walk through one of Vermont's most beautiful landscapes, under the shade of sugar maples and 400-year-old hemlocks, across covered bridges and alongside rambling stone walls. This is a landscape of loss, recovery, and conservation. This is a story of stewardship, of people taking care of places - sharing an enduring connection to land and a sense of hope for the future.

Sept 15, 2011
Different for an NHP. We are still trying to wrap our finger around the reason this one is in the National Park system. We did not take the tour of the house so guess we will stop by again and spend some time here. we did walk the grounds and took in the small museum. 

NPS webpage

Our 64th NPS Unit

Saint-Gaudens NHS

Step into the world of one of America’s greatest artists

Discover the home, studios and gardens of Augustus Saint-Gaudens, one of America’s greatest sculptors. See over 100 of his artworks in the galleries and on the grounds, from heroic public monuments to expressive portrait reliefs, and the gold coins which changed the look of American coinage. Enjoy summer concerts, explore nature trails, or indulge your hidden talents during a sculpture class.

Sept 13, 2011
We Thought this would be a short visit, but we were so wrong. There is so much to see here and taking your time is the best way to take it all in. Saint-Gaudens was a great sculpture, and his work can be found across this country.

NPS webpage

Our 63rd NPS Unit

                                                          

Springfield Armory NHS

                          

Forging Arms for the Nation

For nearly two centuries, the US Armed Forces and American industry looked to Springfield Armory for innovative engineering and superior firearms. Springfield Armory National Historic Site commemorates the critical role of the nation’s first armory by preserving and interpreting the world's largest historic US military small arms collection, along with historic archives, buildings, and landscapes.

Sept 12, 2011
This was a great site and a must for anyone into the history of Firearms. This Armory played a vital role in every conflict this country has been involved in. There are firearms across the times from the 1700's to modern times. Plan on a long visit to take all in all this site has to offer.

NPS webpage

Our 62nd NPS Unit

Morristown NHP

Where America Survived

Morristown National Historical Park commemorates the sites of General Washington and the Continental army’s winter encampment of December 1779 to June 1780, where they survived through what would be the coldest winter on record. The park also maintains a museum & library collection related to the encampments & George Washington, as well as items relating to pre- and post-Revolutionary America.

Sept 9, 2011
This was a second visit park. A vital point in our fight for Independence. A must see and tour is the house George Washington stayed, then spend some time at Jockey Hollow to learn how the troops fought to survive a very hard winter.

NPS webpage

Our 30th NPS Unit

Rocky Mountain NP

Feel Like You’re On Top of the World!

Rocky Mountain National Park’s 415 square miles encompass and protect spectacular mountain environments. Enjoy Trail Ridge Road – which crests at over 12,000 feet including many overlooks to experience the subalpine and alpine worlds – along with over 300 miles of hiking trails, wildflowers, wildlife, starry nights, and fun times. In a world of superlatives, Rocky is on top!

Aug 8, 2011
So much to see but we had only a day.  We took the drive up to Alpine Visitor's center and a enjoy a refreshing visit. We also took in the Visitors Centers at Fall River, Beaver Meadows, and Moraine Park.  This park will be on our must return list as there is still much to see and do.

NPS webpage

Our 61st NPS Unit and 10th National Park

                                                  

                                                   

Thomas Edison NHP

Where Modern America Was Invented

Thomas Edison’s home and laboratory are a step back in time, when machines were run by belts and pulleys and music was played on phonographs.  Where to the passerby, the buildings betray little evidence of the industries they once started.  Discover where America’s greatest inventor changed our world forever.

June 17, 2011
There is so much to see and do here. This time we also took in the Glenmont Estate. Plan on spending some time here to get it all in.

Mar 2, 2011

This was a solo trip. Still have to take in the Laboratory complex. With so much to see there will be a return trip to here with the wife to explore more of the laboratory and Glenmont Estate. 

NPS webpage

Our 57th NPS Unit

New Bedford Whaling NHP

The City That Lit The World

"The town itself is perhaps the dearest place to live in, in all New England. Nowhere in all America will you find more patrician-like houses, parks and gardens more opulent, than in New Bedford…all these brave houses and flowery gardens came from the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans. One and all, they were harpooned and dragged up hither from the bottom of the sea."

Apr 9, 2011
A solo visit. A great way to learn about the early whaling industry in North America. Still much to see so a return visit is in order.

NPS webpage

Our 56th NPS Unit

Fort Stanwix NM

Six Miles Shared by Many Nations

For centuries, the Oneida Carrying Place, a six mile portage connecting the Mohawk River and Wood Creek, served as a vital link for those traveling by water from the ocean to the Great Lakes. When Europeans arrived, nations fought for control of the carry, the homelands of the Six Nations Confederacy, and the rich resources of North America. In this struggle, Fort Stanwix would play a vital role.

Aug 27, 2010
Another solo trip while I was working a Job in Western NY. Even though the fort is a recreation there is much to learn and take in. This is also part of the Erie Canal NHC and North Country National Scenic Trail site.

NPS webpage

Our 53rd NPS Unit

Crater Lake NP

Deep Water in a Sleeping Volcano

Crater Lake inspires awe. Native Americans witnessed its formation 7,700 years ago, when a violent eruption triggered the collapse of a tall peak. Scientists marvel at its purity: fed by rain and snow, it’s the deepest lake in the USA and one of the most pristine on earth. Artists, photographers, and sightseers gaze in wonder at its blue water and stunning setting atop the Cascade Mountain Range.

July 19, 2010
Stopped here on a cross-country trip. Spectator view, this will go on the we will be back list.

NPS Website

Our 52nd NPS Unit and 9th National Park

Hagerman Fossil Beds NM

Examine a fossiliferous Pliocene-aged site!

Do you know horses evolved in North America? The Hagerman Horse, Equus simplicidens, is the first true one toed horse. It's the park's most famous fossil but we have fossil evidence of over two hundred different species. From saber-toothed cat, mastodon, bear, camel, and ground sloth to smaller animals like rodents and frogs, the scientific study of Pliocene fossils is the key to Hagerman. 

July 16, 2010
Another stop on my solo cross-country trip. The Visitor's Center is the main attraction to see as you can't see the dig site. I took in the Visitor's Center and movie. A return trip will be needed to see all of this unit.

NPS webpage

Our 51st NPS Unit