Wright Brothers NM

They Taught the World to Fly! 

Wind, sand, and a dream of flight brought Wilbur and Orville Wright to Kitty Hawk, North Carolina where, after four years of scientific experimentation, they achieved the first successful airplane flights on December 17, 1903. With courage and perseverance, these self-taught engineers relied on teamwork and application of the scientific process. What they achieved changed our world forever.

Dec 11, 2020

We made a trip down today. It made for a great day to get out and relax. Walked the park and Daisy enjoyed the time out also. 

May 26, 2012

This was our second trip to the Wright Brothers NM. There is so much to learn about the first flights here. We toured the visitor center and then headed out for a walk up to Kill Devil Hill and the Wrights Memorial with the girls. This offered us a breathtaking view of the entire area. After a visit here you must do a follow up with a visit to Dayton Ohio to get the complete history and life stories of the Wright Brothers.

March 24, 1997

Took in the site first by stopping at the Visitor center learning about the impotence of the site. We then headed out to the hill and monument.  

NPS webpage

Our 41st NPS Unit

Cumberland Gap NHP

                 

Mountain Gateway: 

At Cumberland Gap, the first great gateway to the west, follow the buffalo, the Native American, the long hunter, the pioneer... all traveled this route through the mountains into the wilderness of Kentucky. Modern day explorers and travelers stand in awe at this great gateway and the many miles of trails and scenic features found in the park.

Nov 28, 2020

We started this visit at the Visitors Center. There is a small museum to take in that gives a overview of the history of the Cumberland Gap. We also watched a short film that was well done and gave us more clarity to the history and use of the Gap. After grabbing lunch in town, we headed up to Pinnacle Overlook. This is the main attraction you can drive to in the park. The drive up was fun but not for the faint of heart. We spent some time at the overlook taking in the amazing views at the overlook. Due to COVID we did not get to take in the Hensley Settlement or Gap Cave. We will be back to take in these on another visit. 

Click here for photos of our visit

NPS Website

Our 144th NPS Unit

Martin Luther King NHP

A Great Leader is Born:

A young boy grows up in a time of segregation…A dreamer is moved by destiny into leadership of the modern civil rights movement…This was Martin Luther King, Jr.  Come hear his story, visit the home of his birth, and where he played as a child.  Walk in his footsteps and hear his voice in the church where he moved hearts and minds.  Marvel at how he was an instrument for social change.

23 Nov 2020

A quick stop to pick up the new stamps

14 Apr 2017

A return visit to spend more time learning more about Martin Luther King, Jr.

28 Oct 2016

A quick stop to pick up the Centennial stamp. 

6 Nov 2013
To read about the subject of the Struggle for Civil Rights in school was one thing but to walk in the footsteps of Martin Luther King, Jr. brings so much into focus. One could wonder how much different it would have been had not one person extinguished the guiding light of the movement. We took in the different locations throughout this unit including a tour of his birth house and the Ebenezer Church. 

NPS Website

Our 93rd NPS Unit

Birth Home

Natchez NHP

The Richest History on the Mississippi River: 

Discover the history of all the peoples of Natchez, Mississippi, from European settlement, African enslavement, the American cotton economy, to the Civil Rights struggle on the lower Mississippi River. Natchez National Historical Park tells the story of Natchez in the American South. The park protects the sites and structures associated with the peoples of Natchez and its surrounding area from earliest inhabitants to the modern era. The name Natchez is derived from the "Natchez" American Indians who inhabited the area at the time of European exploration. The historic sites maintained by the park, and the surrounding preservation district, give visitors an opportunity to understand the region's social political, and economic development, particularly in the pre-and-post Civil War era's. They also provide insights into the region's commercial and agricultural history, especially in relation to the Mississippi River, slavery, and cotton. The park is composed of five NPS owned properties: Forks of the Road, Fort Rosalie, Melrose, the William Johnson House, the Natchez Visitor Center, and a larger area known as the preservation district. 

Dec 7 - 8 2019
Got to revisit this site today. First taking in the antebellum estate of Melrose, built in 1840. We got to tour the mansion with the Park Ranger and as we were the only ones on the tour, we got the full attention of the Ranger who did an outstanding job with the tour and answering all of our questions. After the tour we got to explore the ground at our pace. We then headed to the William Johnson House. No tour is offered of the house but there is a very well-done display telling the story of what life was like for a man whose mother was a slave and father was believed to be the plantation owner. This is a great Park to take in the learn about life in the old South.

Jan 18, 2011

Solo trip. Took in the Visitor Center. Lots of Southern history. Did not take in the Plantations so this will go on a return visit list. 

NPS webpage

Our 54th NPS Unit

                                                   

Vicksburg NMP

The Nation was divided:

Both sides agreed: Vicksburg was Vital to Victory to Confederate President Jefferson Davis, Vicksburg was the "nail head that holds the South's two halves together. President Abraham Lincoln remarked "Vicksburg is the key" to victory and could be the north's lifeline into the south. As the federals closed in on the Fortress City, they were met by a ring of forts with over 170 cannons. The resulting battle would determine the war's outcome. 

4 - 5 Dec 2019
Day one was a trip to the Visitors Center to take in the exabits and movie. The movie was well done and tells the story of the Vicksburg Battles and Sege very well.
Day two was spent driving the 16-mile loop road. We made many stops and spent time exploring the different areas. This is a large park and after a day of making stops and exploring we rushed the last half and decided a return trip will be on our list. We did get to take Daisy with us, and she got to work on her Bark Ranger badge, much easier than the grandkids Junior Ranger badges but still fun to get. We enjoyed having her out with us and she was sure tuckered out. You can plan on 2 days with this park and maybe 3 depending on how much you want to stop and see. There are over 1300 monuments here so there is much to see and learn.

1 Nov 2007
Solo trip. I got to see much of the park. Will make a return trip with wife.

Click here for photos of our 4 - 5 Dec 2019 visit

NPS Website

Our 47th NPS Unit

Appalachian NST

Footpath for the People:

The Appalachian Trail is a 2,180+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by private citizens, and completed in 1937, today the trail is managed by the National Park Service, US Forest Service, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, numerous state agencies and thousands of volunteers.

30 Nov 2019

Hiked another couple miles of the trail near Great Smokies NP

15 July 2014
Got to take a short hike on the trail in Shenandoah NP

7 Sept 2012
Got to take a hike on the trail in the Great Smokies NP

22 Apr 1996
We will never hike the whole trail, but we can do a few hikes whenever it corresponds with a park site. We did that at Harpers Ferry.

NPS Website

Our 33rd NPS Unit

Guilford Courthouse NMP

The Battle of Guilford Courthouse - a Victory Within a Defeat: 

"I never saw such fighting since God made me. The Americans fought like demons." - Lt. General Charles, Earl Cornwallis. On March 15, 1781, six years into the American Revolution, General Greene and Lord Cornwallis' troops faced off at a small courthouse community. This 2.5-hour battle would change the course of the Southern Campaign of the American Revolution. 

26 Nov 2019
Stopped by to catch up and see what was new. Took in a great movie and the exhibits at the Visitor Center. We skipped the road tour as we had done that before. Great site to get an understanding of the events the lead up to the Battle of Yorktown and the end of the Revolutionary war.

31 May 1999
Took in all this park had to offer. This site gives you a great understanding of the history and timeline of the Revolutionary War.

Click here for photos of our 26 Nov 2019 visit

NPS Website

Our 43rd NPS Unit

First Ladies NHS

"...a position where I can do the most good..." Eleanor Roosevelt:

First Ladies National Historic Site consists of two properties in downtown Canton, Ohio - the home of First Lady Ida Saxton-McKinley and our Education Center. Come learn about how the position of First Lady has evolved over time to include a public role. 

2 Nov 2019
We took in this small unit with a different expectation then what we got out of it. We were just in time for the tour of the Ida Saxton-McKinley house. We had a great tour of the house with a very knowable volunteer. The house was close to the wrecking ball but was saved and restored. When taking in the unit a tour of the house is a must. After the tour we headed back to the Visitor Center. The center is small, and the displays are on a rotational basis. We got to take in the current display. The history of the First Ladies of Ohio. There were more from Ohio than any other state, 7 were born or lived in Ohio. We did not take in the library to learn about the other First Ladies. We expected to learn about all the First Ladies but that is not the case here unless you take in the library to do the research.

Click here for photos of our visit

NPS Website

Our 142nd NP Site

Flight 93 NM

A field of honor forever: 

On Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001, the U.S. came under attack when four commercial airliners were hijacked and used to strike targets on the ground. Nearly 3,000 people tragically lost their lives. Because of the actions of the 40 passengers and crew aboard one of the planes, Flight 93, the attack on the U.S. Capitol was thwarted. 

Oct 3, 2019

A very moving and humbling site. We knew this was going to be a hard site to take in, but a site we have been wanting to see. The feelings of that tragic day are still fresh and very raw. We took in the Visitor Center to get an understanding of the events on Sept 11 and the passengers of Flight 93 that we lost on that day. There is not a movie here, but the Visitor Center does an amazing job of telling the story. After the Visitor Center we took the mile long walk down to the site. You can drive down, but this walk helped to give us time to think and understand what we learned in the Visitor Center. The lower site was just as emotional as the Visitor Center. After taking in the lower site, we went back up and then drove out to the Tower of Voices. This was a fitting end to our visit. We highly recommend this site to visit.

Click here for photos of our visit

NPS Website

Our 141st NPS Site