Where:3416 Columbus Avenue Sandusky, OH 44870 and Kelleys Island, OH
Cost: Free for the Museum, the ferry to the island costs $6 for kids, $7 for seniors, and $9 for Adults. Cars are $15
Hours: Sunday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Parking: on site, free for the museum. $8 for the ferry.
Shh! Don't tell Tonee, but I had a trip without her! I went to a JAG conference for my unit. Saturday was a staff ride (aka tour). This is my review of where we went.
Our first stop was the Ohio Veterans Home. On the campus of the home is the Ohio Veterans Home Museum.
This is the imposing entrance to the museum. This is the last of the turn of the century buildings that you can see in the second line that is still occupied. It has been renovated to have some easier access, but you can still see many of the original features. Also, for a veterans home, it is rather imposing.
Since there was a rather large group, I decided to split off from them and hit the second floor. My first stop was the library. Greeting me as I entered was this sight
That's right. M*A*S*H . I'd presume that that's the whole series on VHS. (Tonee, don't steal it when you visit). Also, there was a collection of planes that had rough landings
Before becoming a residential area, Johnson's Island was a POW camp during the Civil War. Now, the only major reminder of this is a large cemetery on the island. During the war, a 15ft wall surrounded a two story barracks for the prisoners. At the peak in Jan, 1864 there were 3,224 men in the prison. During this time the island looked like this:
Nothing much happened to the island after the war. Different plans were floated including a USCG training center. But, in 1956 it was decided that the island would be used for vacation homes. Sometime during this process a causeway was built connecting island to the mainland. There will be more on the island later. Side note, the island had a acting troupe of prisoners that called themselves the "Rebel Thespians"
The rest of the museum was full of uniforms, and artifacts from every major war from the Civil War to Afghanistan and Iraq.
From there we made our way to Johnson's Island.
Sorry, no dogs in the cemetery.
The cemetery had no real monuments until 1910 when the United Daughters of the Confederacy put up this monument:
After our stay on Johnson's Island, we made our way to the ferries to Kelleys Island. Right by the pier where we boarded the ferry, there was a huge lake steamer being loaded with gravel. It was a sight to see.
Quarries are big in this area in Ohio. Glaciers deposited gravel and sandstone all in this area. When the glaciers retreated, the left grooves in the ground. There is one in the state park on the island and most got taken out during mining operations. Here is a picture of the one in the park:
The islands are a fun trip in state. The lakes and trips on the ferries makes you think that you might be somewhere not in state, but you sill are. However, you do get rather close to Canada.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
4/10/10: Cincinnati Museum Center
Where: 1301 Western Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45203
Cost: All Museums Pass $12.50 adults, $8.50 children. (Includes all three museums on site)
Hours: Mon-Sat: 10a-5p, Sun: 11a-6p.
Parking: on site, $6. The museum is also on the city bus network.
Once upon a time known as my senior year of high school, the Art League took a field trip to the Cinci Museum of Art, and then spent the afternoon "studying architecture" at one of the coolest buildings I've ever seen: The Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal. Back then, I only ventured through the Natural History museum, but I knew there was something special about this place and that I would eventually come back. Fast forward six years, to Tim & I kicking around this blog project and desperately wanting to get out of town for the day. Where do we head? You guessed it.
I don't really know where to begin with this one. From the time you catch that first glimpse of the building from the exit ramp, you know there is something special about where you're going. Pulling up into the parking lot gives you a full frontal view of what can only be described as a masterpiece of Art Deco architecture (Tim: It turns out that Tonee and myself are crazy for Art Deco. It was ultra modern and still sort of is).
Seriously. Look at that. GORGEOUS! And there are three museums, an Amtrak station, a food court, and a mini-museum tribute to the history of the station itself (Tower A).
We started this venture with the Cincinnati Area History Museum as neither of us had been to that part before. Walking in is what is undoubtedly a great labor of love - Cincinnati in Motion:
The model riverfront.
The model Union Terminal at its opening in 1933. (You can see here where what is now the two large museums were once traffic tunnels for unloading and loading of passengers for taxis and buses). (Tim: There is a third traffic tunnel that was never used. The Terminal Company wanted trolley lines for people but they trolley company didn't want to run anymore lines).
There is so much detail that not only do the inclines and streetcars move, but there's a little building on fire! We also found a man flying a kite, and several yellow puffs that we don't know the significance of yet. We plan on going back and finding all the puffs and then figuring out why they are where they are. Museum Center, we're on to your game!
Also part of the history side is a relic from the street car days that we, of course, had way too much fun playing in:
That pose was Tim's choice for the whole day. (Tim: It's the pose of a bold adventurer. I see nothing wrong with me choosing that pose for the day).
I opted for more silliness...you can't tell in the picture, but I'm this close to falling off the car. This is in the middle of the World War II exhibit, and it's just fascinating. Between this exhibit and Titanic at COSI in Columbus, we've decided we were born in the wrong era. (Tim: It's true. We love Art Deco and outmoded things. But is has to be around the 20s. The Edwardian society from the 10s isn't for me. I don't want to keep changing clothes. See the Titanic Post for that rant).
Towards the end of the War Era exhibit is this great Photo-Op of an ambulance plane. Yes, we know he's too big for that but we don't care. We didn't break it. (Tim: I don't know what's funnier, me trying to fit, or the name of the plane).
Hiding in a stairwell was this piece from the original murals that decorated the concourse. The rest of them are visible at the airport. (Tim: Not original, but a remake. All the murals but one are in the airport. The last one was taken with the passenger concourse).
Moving on they have a riverfront replica complete with historic actors. Talk about flashbacks for us old COSI relics. It took quite a bit of energy for me to not slip into character and insist that I was visiting from Progress. In here is also a steam-powered paddle boat to give you a good feel for how much Cincinnati thrived because of the river.
Hard to see, but the paddle is really moving and sitting in water. (Tim: It took me a while to realize that there is a button inside to start the wheel. After I found it, I pressed it....a lot....).
This was my attempt to be like Tim. I failed, but hey, I'm on the bow of the paddle boat and that automatically makes me awesome.
Of course, the master (Tim: Damn right. I've been rocking that look since '99) shows me how it's done back on the stern of the paddlewheeler. Seriously, we spent at least 15 minutes just exploring this replica!
Moseying right along, as part of the development of Cincinnati from a Fort to a thriving metropolis, the museum gives you plenty to read, look at...and play with. (Tim: We are such museum nerds, that we went out of our way to reset an exhibit about canal boats. Seriously, you know it's a problem when you do stuff like that and you aren't in your museum or volunteering at your museum).
Yes, I know that the little house and flat bottomed river boat were for the kids..but I couldn't resist. I don't know if you can tell, but I definitely got my butt stuck in that chair (Tim: It was hilarious). (I don't think I broke it, but if I did, I will replace it!)
Rounding out the History museum is the Machine shop, were they have real, WORKING, steam-powered power tools complete with the belt system and a completely awesome guy who not only explained how it all worked, but actually showed us. Take that, Ford Museum. This guy knew what he was doing!
Here you can see the belts in motion. The bar going horizontally across the top actually connects to all the tools in the shop. A single steam engine powered all of them!
Another offering with the Museum Center is a free tour to give you some history about the building itself. Of course the two of us absolutely had to do this tour (Tim: Tonee was so excited she said that she would pee her self if we made it to the catwalk. We did and she didn't pee herself. Part of me was disappointed, part was relieved. I didn't want to ride home with a pee pants). It was one of the most fascinating hours I think either one of us has had in a while. They take you places the public doesn't get to go otherwise to see some great features of the building in its brief-lived hey day as a Union Terminal.
Waiting for the tour to start, Tim snapped this great picture of the original signage with the new museum signage underneath. They did an excellent job capturing the essence of the terminal.
The mural you see here is original. The French artist who designed it insisted on using mosaic tiles instead of paint. Thanks to his stubbornness to not cheap out on materials, we still get to see this vibrant piece 70 years after it was installed. By the way, we are up on the catwalk across the front of the terminal at this point. Part of the tour. Awesome, I know. (Tim: Unrelated to the murals, if you see where the banners were hanging down, that is where the passenger concourse and where the murals would have been.)
Another part of the tour is through the President's office, the board room, and into the Amtrak station which has changed very minimally over the years (Tim: The Amtrak station used to be the Men's Lounge. The President's office didn't see much use after the station closed and became many other things. Thankfully the only thing missing was a map stand. The secretary's office , board room, typist pool, and waiting room were still mostly there). This map was just too beautiful not to share. I also got some great ideas for redecorating my house from the woodwork both in this office and in the board room.
This is one of several original signs that were still around by the time the terminal started becoming a museum in the late 1980s. Over the years they tried keeping it a train station and even turning it into a mall. I'm so glad that ultimately a museum won out.
By the time we finished the tour we had only an hour to get through the Natural History Museum. Boo on us, but that's what return trips are for :-)
This is what greets you at the entrance to the Natural History Museum's inner sanctum.
Just a few highlights: nifty dioramas about the beginnings of humanity, a great exhibit on archaeology (by the way, if anyone wants to get me out of work for two weeks to do their field school that would be great!), and of course we have to mention the Cave.
Tim, in the cave, trying to be contemplative and stoic.
Naturally, I had to combat his stoicism and I ended up nearly falling into the water there. Not sure how well you can tell, but I am holding on to that wall for all I'm worth with my right hand.
Aside from the awesomeawesomeawesome cave, there is the glacier trail. They've created a great pathway through a glacier and across what Southwestern Ohio would've been like about 18000 years ago (Tim: If you can hack it, the non-kid trail was the best one. It twisted all over.).
Since we were kinda rushed, we didn't take nearly as many pictures through here as we should have. Once again, that's what return trips are for..but here go some pictures of the glacier for you:
I told you, that was his pose of the day.
Just like my goofiness was my signature move. Yes, I had just fallen over in an attempt to make it look like I was being run over by the glacier. Part of what makes this so cool is how absorbing the atmosphere is; I almost expected to touch that wall and have it be icy cold.
Part of our rush through the Natural History Museum was that we were determined to make it up to Tower A before they closed. Tower A is a relic from the past if there ever was one...it's the original control tower for Union Terminal. To get there you have to take an almost hidden elevator up to the top and then go up a flight of stairs into a room that really makes you respect rail yard controllers. It has to be seen to truly appreciate, but I took pictures nonetheless.
One of my favorite aspects is that the rail yard out back is still one of the largest rail freight yards around.
In short, this museum is freaking cool. Once we left the museums inside, we hung out in the front for a bit just to sit and enjoy the warm weather and to enjoy the atmosphere.
This is the historical marker to the right of the building's entrance. This is on the Natural History & Science Museum side.
This is the Historical Marker to the left of the entrance near the Victory Garden. This is on the History Museum side.
This is the left side of the building, where you can clearly see the exits for the traffic tunnels, where the street cars were supposed to enter, and there now there is a Victory Garden. The steps they've taken to preserve the history of the terminal while making it active and alive is just amazing. I'm so excited for this museum, and can't wait to go back.
Cost: All Museums Pass $12.50 adults, $8.50 children. (Includes all three museums on site)
Hours: Mon-Sat: 10a-5p, Sun: 11a-6p.
Parking: on site, $6. The museum is also on the city bus network.
Once upon a time known as my senior year of high school, the Art League took a field trip to the Cinci Museum of Art, and then spent the afternoon "studying architecture" at one of the coolest buildings I've ever seen: The Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal. Back then, I only ventured through the Natural History museum, but I knew there was something special about this place and that I would eventually come back. Fast forward six years, to Tim & I kicking around this blog project and desperately wanting to get out of town for the day. Where do we head? You guessed it.
I don't really know where to begin with this one. From the time you catch that first glimpse of the building from the exit ramp, you know there is something special about where you're going. Pulling up into the parking lot gives you a full frontal view of what can only be described as a masterpiece of Art Deco architecture (Tim: It turns out that Tonee and myself are crazy for Art Deco. It was ultra modern and still sort of is).
Seriously. Look at that. GORGEOUS! And there are three museums, an Amtrak station, a food court, and a mini-museum tribute to the history of the station itself (Tower A).
We started this venture with the Cincinnati Area History Museum as neither of us had been to that part before. Walking in is what is undoubtedly a great labor of love - Cincinnati in Motion:
The model riverfront.
The model Union Terminal at its opening in 1933. (You can see here where what is now the two large museums were once traffic tunnels for unloading and loading of passengers for taxis and buses). (Tim: There is a third traffic tunnel that was never used. The Terminal Company wanted trolley lines for people but they trolley company didn't want to run anymore lines).
There is so much detail that not only do the inclines and streetcars move, but there's a little building on fire! We also found a man flying a kite, and several yellow puffs that we don't know the significance of yet. We plan on going back and finding all the puffs and then figuring out why they are where they are. Museum Center, we're on to your game!
Also part of the history side is a relic from the street car days that we, of course, had way too much fun playing in:
That pose was Tim's choice for the whole day. (Tim: It's the pose of a bold adventurer. I see nothing wrong with me choosing that pose for the day).
I opted for more silliness...you can't tell in the picture, but I'm this close to falling off the car. This is in the middle of the World War II exhibit, and it's just fascinating. Between this exhibit and Titanic at COSI in Columbus, we've decided we were born in the wrong era. (Tim: It's true. We love Art Deco and outmoded things. But is has to be around the 20s. The Edwardian society from the 10s isn't for me. I don't want to keep changing clothes. See the Titanic Post for that rant).
Towards the end of the War Era exhibit is this great Photo-Op of an ambulance plane. Yes, we know he's too big for that but we don't care. We didn't break it. (Tim: I don't know what's funnier, me trying to fit, or the name of the plane).
Hiding in a stairwell was this piece from the original murals that decorated the concourse. The rest of them are visible at the airport. (Tim: Not original, but a remake. All the murals but one are in the airport. The last one was taken with the passenger concourse).
Moving on they have a riverfront replica complete with historic actors. Talk about flashbacks for us old COSI relics. It took quite a bit of energy for me to not slip into character and insist that I was visiting from Progress. In here is also a steam-powered paddle boat to give you a good feel for how much Cincinnati thrived because of the river.
Hard to see, but the paddle is really moving and sitting in water. (Tim: It took me a while to realize that there is a button inside to start the wheel. After I found it, I pressed it....a lot....).
This was my attempt to be like Tim. I failed, but hey, I'm on the bow of the paddle boat and that automatically makes me awesome.
Of course, the master (Tim: Damn right. I've been rocking that look since '99) shows me how it's done back on the stern of the paddlewheeler. Seriously, we spent at least 15 minutes just exploring this replica!
Moseying right along, as part of the development of Cincinnati from a Fort to a thriving metropolis, the museum gives you plenty to read, look at...and play with. (Tim: We are such museum nerds, that we went out of our way to reset an exhibit about canal boats. Seriously, you know it's a problem when you do stuff like that and you aren't in your museum or volunteering at your museum).
Yes, I know that the little house and flat bottomed river boat were for the kids..but I couldn't resist. I don't know if you can tell, but I definitely got my butt stuck in that chair (Tim: It was hilarious). (I don't think I broke it, but if I did, I will replace it!)
Rounding out the History museum is the Machine shop, were they have real, WORKING, steam-powered power tools complete with the belt system and a completely awesome guy who not only explained how it all worked, but actually showed us. Take that, Ford Museum. This guy knew what he was doing!
Here you can see the belts in motion. The bar going horizontally across the top actually connects to all the tools in the shop. A single steam engine powered all of them!
Another offering with the Museum Center is a free tour to give you some history about the building itself. Of course the two of us absolutely had to do this tour (Tim: Tonee was so excited she said that she would pee her self if we made it to the catwalk. We did and she didn't pee herself. Part of me was disappointed, part was relieved. I didn't want to ride home with a pee pants). It was one of the most fascinating hours I think either one of us has had in a while. They take you places the public doesn't get to go otherwise to see some great features of the building in its brief-lived hey day as a Union Terminal.
Waiting for the tour to start, Tim snapped this great picture of the original signage with the new museum signage underneath. They did an excellent job capturing the essence of the terminal.
The mural you see here is original. The French artist who designed it insisted on using mosaic tiles instead of paint. Thanks to his stubbornness to not cheap out on materials, we still get to see this vibrant piece 70 years after it was installed. By the way, we are up on the catwalk across the front of the terminal at this point. Part of the tour. Awesome, I know. (Tim: Unrelated to the murals, if you see where the banners were hanging down, that is where the passenger concourse and where the murals would have been.)
Another part of the tour is through the President's office, the board room, and into the Amtrak station which has changed very minimally over the years (Tim: The Amtrak station used to be the Men's Lounge. The President's office didn't see much use after the station closed and became many other things. Thankfully the only thing missing was a map stand. The secretary's office , board room, typist pool, and waiting room were still mostly there). This map was just too beautiful not to share. I also got some great ideas for redecorating my house from the woodwork both in this office and in the board room.
This is one of several original signs that were still around by the time the terminal started becoming a museum in the late 1980s. Over the years they tried keeping it a train station and even turning it into a mall. I'm so glad that ultimately a museum won out.
By the time we finished the tour we had only an hour to get through the Natural History Museum. Boo on us, but that's what return trips are for :-)
This is what greets you at the entrance to the Natural History Museum's inner sanctum.
Just a few highlights: nifty dioramas about the beginnings of humanity, a great exhibit on archaeology (by the way, if anyone wants to get me out of work for two weeks to do their field school that would be great!), and of course we have to mention the Cave.
Tim, in the cave, trying to be contemplative and stoic.
Naturally, I had to combat his stoicism and I ended up nearly falling into the water there. Not sure how well you can tell, but I am holding on to that wall for all I'm worth with my right hand.
Aside from the awesomeawesomeawesome cave, there is the glacier trail. They've created a great pathway through a glacier and across what Southwestern Ohio would've been like about 18000 years ago (Tim: If you can hack it, the non-kid trail was the best one. It twisted all over.).
Since we were kinda rushed, we didn't take nearly as many pictures through here as we should have. Once again, that's what return trips are for..but here go some pictures of the glacier for you:
I told you, that was his pose of the day.
Just like my goofiness was my signature move. Yes, I had just fallen over in an attempt to make it look like I was being run over by the glacier. Part of what makes this so cool is how absorbing the atmosphere is; I almost expected to touch that wall and have it be icy cold.
Part of our rush through the Natural History Museum was that we were determined to make it up to Tower A before they closed. Tower A is a relic from the past if there ever was one...it's the original control tower for Union Terminal. To get there you have to take an almost hidden elevator up to the top and then go up a flight of stairs into a room that really makes you respect rail yard controllers. It has to be seen to truly appreciate, but I took pictures nonetheless.
One of my favorite aspects is that the rail yard out back is still one of the largest rail freight yards around.
As you can definitely see, this is still very active. I love that you can trace the tracks to where the platforms once stood. That empty track on the far right is the Amtrak access line.
In short, this museum is freaking cool. Once we left the museums inside, we hung out in the front for a bit just to sit and enjoy the warm weather and to enjoy the atmosphere.
This is the historical marker to the right of the building's entrance. This is on the Natural History & Science Museum side.
This is the Historical Marker to the left of the entrance near the Victory Garden. This is on the History Museum side.
This is the left side of the building, where you can clearly see the exits for the traffic tunnels, where the street cars were supposed to enter, and there now there is a Victory Garden. The steps they've taken to preserve the history of the terminal while making it active and alive is just amazing. I'm so excited for this museum, and can't wait to go back.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
3/27/10: COSI Columbus -Titanic
Where: 333 W. Broad St. Columbus, OH 43215
Cost: Titanic + Exhibits + Live Shows Adult-$23.75 Youth-$16.75 $21.75 Member- $8.00 Adult $7.00 Youth
Hours: Monday through Saturday:10:00am to 5:00pm Sundays: 12:00pm to 6:00pm
***SIDE NOTE FROM TIM***COSI is a wonderful, magical place that I have had the amazing opportunity to volunteer at off and on since sometime around the summer of 2001. (Tonee: Hey, I was there from February 2000 to August 2004, and I'm going back soon, too!) COSI will get a full post in the future. I just felt that since the Titanic exhibit is here for a limited time, it deserved a post before the beginning of the summer. Also, Twitter comes up in this and if you don't follow me, Tonee, or COSI right now I'd like to you to. Our Twitter IDs are ,respectively, tkennedy3, timeracer and COSICols. Add us now!!! I'll wait...........done yet? Good. On to the blog!!
I was lucky enough to win ticket to the exhibit not once, but twice on Twitter. The first event was the press preview day. Had I known I could have taken pictures, I would have. But, I didn't until I was at the Grand Staircase and all I had was my iPhone. So, here is my one picture from the event.
It's breathtaking to see this recreation. There are other recreations in the exhibit. There is a 1st class stateroom and passageway, a 3rd class room and passageway, a watertight door, and a coal bunker. All very stunning.
That's right. Tim and Tonee on the Grand Staircase with Captain Smith!!!
The exhibit is very moving. You get to see things that spent the better part of 90 years under almost 3,800 meters of water. The ad for the exhibit from COSI shows some of the artifacts that you can see. There was a pair of spectacles that even had one of the lenses still in it! One thing that really hit me hard was one of the lifeboat davits. It makes a moving point.
Another thing that makes this tragedy from 90+ years epic is that when you first get into the exhibit, you get a card of a passenger. You get a brief bio about them and see where they stayed. You don't tend to think about it again until you get to the end and you see the list of passengers and crew that survived and perished. I died both times. The first time I was a third class male. I knew the odds were against me. Second time through, I was a fist class male. I felt I might have a chance this time. Nope. Died again. (Tonee: I was a first class woman and still died, although thanks to the book I bought in the gift shop and had autographed, I know I died valiantly!)
It's a mind blowing exhibit. They really pull you into the saga of the RMS Titanic. You really have to experience it.Part of it is my bias from being involved with COSI and part of it is that it was an epic time in history. Mildly related final thought, I would have never lasted in Edwardian society. Constantly chaining clothes throughout the day. Lunch, afternoon tea, dinner, and after dinner would all have different clothing required.
Videos from the exhibit
Cost: Titanic + Exhibits + Live Shows Adult-$23.75 Youth-$16.75 $21.75 Member- $8.00 Adult $7.00 Youth
Hours: Monday through Saturday:10:00am to 5:00pm Sundays: 12:00pm to 6:00pm
***SIDE NOTE FROM TIM***COSI is a wonderful, magical place that I have had the amazing opportunity to volunteer at off and on since sometime around the summer of 2001. (Tonee: Hey, I was there from February 2000 to August 2004, and I'm going back soon, too!) COSI will get a full post in the future. I just felt that since the Titanic exhibit is here for a limited time, it deserved a post before the beginning of the summer. Also, Twitter comes up in this and if you don't follow me, Tonee, or COSI right now I'd like to you to. Our Twitter IDs are ,respectively, tkennedy3, timeracer and COSICols. Add us now!!! I'll wait...........done yet? Good. On to the blog!!
I was lucky enough to win ticket to the exhibit not once, but twice on Twitter. The first event was the press preview day. Had I known I could have taken pictures, I would have. But, I didn't until I was at the Grand Staircase and all I had was my iPhone. So, here is my one picture from the event.
It's breathtaking to see this recreation. There are other recreations in the exhibit. There is a 1st class stateroom and passageway, a 3rd class room and passageway, a watertight door, and a coal bunker. All very stunning.
That's right. Tim and Tonee on the Grand Staircase with Captain Smith!!!
The exhibit is very moving. You get to see things that spent the better part of 90 years under almost 3,800 meters of water. The ad for the exhibit from COSI shows some of the artifacts that you can see. There was a pair of spectacles that even had one of the lenses still in it! One thing that really hit me hard was one of the lifeboat davits. It makes a moving point.
Another thing that makes this tragedy from 90+ years epic is that when you first get into the exhibit, you get a card of a passenger. You get a brief bio about them and see where they stayed. You don't tend to think about it again until you get to the end and you see the list of passengers and crew that survived and perished. I died both times. The first time I was a third class male. I knew the odds were against me. Second time through, I was a fist class male. I felt I might have a chance this time. Nope. Died again. (Tonee: I was a first class woman and still died, although thanks to the book I bought in the gift shop and had autographed, I know I died valiantly!)
It's a mind blowing exhibit. They really pull you into the saga of the RMS Titanic. You really have to experience it.Part of it is my bias from being involved with COSI and part of it is that it was an epic time in history. Mildly related final thought, I would have never lasted in Edwardian society. Constantly chaining clothes throughout the day. Lunch, afternoon tea, dinner, and after dinner would all have different clothing required.
Videos from the exhibit
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
3/20/10: Motts Military Museum
Where: 5075 South Hamilton Road, Groveport, OH
Cost: Adults: $5.00; Students $3.00; Seniors $4.00
Hours: Open Tuesday through Saturday 9am-5pm; Sunday 1-5 pm
*TIM'S DISCLAIMER* I don't have any really good pictures from the museum. So, I can't have a photoriffic post like Tonee. The only shots we have were through a chain link fence because the museum prohibits photography and I didn't feel like posting those. So for pictures from the exhibits, I'd like to direct you to this link Motts Military Museum Home Page . So, without further ado, my post.
I've known about Motts since sometime around 2005. However, in all that time, I've never gotten around to visiting the museum and I have no good reason for it. Kind of like the Fire Museum.
Since it is finally starting to warm up in Central Ohio, it was the perfect day to be out in their, well for lack of a better term, motor pool. In this outside area they have tanks, aircraft, howitzers, a Higgins Boat, and a replica of Eddie Rickenbacker's house.
Inside the main building, there were artifacts packed all over. It was impossible to spend less than 15 minutes looking at a single case. The first main part of the museum features artifacts from the 1700s to Lincoln's assassination. This is where most of the Civil War medical equipment is displayed. It's amazing to see how far we've come in 150 years.
Next you come across items from the 1900s to the end of The Great War. There are examples of WWI uniforms and field equipment. What was really amazing to see were the French Army uniforms. Everyone can recognize a doughboy, but you can't really picture uniforms from our allies with the possible exception of Great Britain.
Once you turn the corner, you are greeted with a German soldier in a guard tower and suddenly, you are in World War 2. In this area you see Nazi printed copies of Mien Kampf, door hinges from the Eagle's Nest, and even one of McArthur's trademark pipes. Also from the Pacific Theater, there are parts of the teak deck from the USS Missouri. Tucked away in a corner is a uniform belonging to Paul Tibbets with a model of the Enola Gay. The Tuskegee Airmen have a wall dedicated to their history and what happened to the members of the unit after the war.
There isn't too much going into Korea, the Cold War, or Vietnam. However, there is a new wing opening up soon that will give them more space to display items from these conflicts and go into the detail the other eras have.
To wrap up Tim's way-too-detailed-post-with-way-too-many-links, Motts Military Museum is a well hidden secret of Central Ohio. It too, is one of those places that you know of but have no reason as to why you haven't gone. Well worth the admission, you can get lost here for a day. Everywhere you turn in the museum there is an interesting artifact packed into some small space.
Cost: Adults: $5.00; Students $3.00; Seniors $4.00
Hours: Open Tuesday through Saturday 9am-5pm; Sunday 1-5 pm
*TIM'S DISCLAIMER* I don't have any really good pictures from the museum. So, I can't have a photoriffic post like Tonee. The only shots we have were through a chain link fence because the museum prohibits photography and I didn't feel like posting those. So for pictures from the exhibits, I'd like to direct you to this link Motts Military Museum Home Page . So, without further ado, my post.
I've known about Motts since sometime around 2005. However, in all that time, I've never gotten around to visiting the museum and I have no good reason for it. Kind of like the Fire Museum.
Since it is finally starting to warm up in Central Ohio, it was the perfect day to be out in their, well for lack of a better term, motor pool. In this outside area they have tanks, aircraft, howitzers, a Higgins Boat, and a replica of Eddie Rickenbacker's house.
Inside the main building, there were artifacts packed all over. It was impossible to spend less than 15 minutes looking at a single case. The first main part of the museum features artifacts from the 1700s to Lincoln's assassination. This is where most of the Civil War medical equipment is displayed. It's amazing to see how far we've come in 150 years.
Next you come across items from the 1900s to the end of The Great War. There are examples of WWI uniforms and field equipment. What was really amazing to see were the French Army uniforms. Everyone can recognize a doughboy, but you can't really picture uniforms from our allies with the possible exception of Great Britain.
Once you turn the corner, you are greeted with a German soldier in a guard tower and suddenly, you are in World War 2. In this area you see Nazi printed copies of Mien Kampf, door hinges from the Eagle's Nest, and even one of McArthur's trademark pipes. Also from the Pacific Theater, there are parts of the teak deck from the USS Missouri. Tucked away in a corner is a uniform belonging to Paul Tibbets with a model of the Enola Gay. The Tuskegee Airmen have a wall dedicated to their history and what happened to the members of the unit after the war.
There isn't too much going into Korea, the Cold War, or Vietnam. However, there is a new wing opening up soon that will give them more space to display items from these conflicts and go into the detail the other eras have.
To wrap up Tim's way-too-detailed-post-with-way-too-many-links, Motts Military Museum is a well hidden secret of Central Ohio. It too, is one of those places that you know of but have no reason as to why you haven't gone. Well worth the admission, you can get lost here for a day. Everywhere you turn in the museum there is an interesting artifact packed into some small space.
Friday, March 19, 2010
3/13/10: The Central Ohio Fire Museum
What: The Central Ohio Fire Museum
Where:260 N. Fourth Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215-2511
Cost: $6 adults, $4 kids, free parking at museum with inexpensive pay lot next door.
The Central Ohio Fire Museum is one of those places we've heard of, driven past, and even meant to visit for a good long while and never got around to it. Well, now that we've finally been there we have this to say: HOLY CRAP HOW DID WE NOT GO HERE SOONER?
On the kind of day where you don't really want to be outside and you don't really want to be in the house either, we ventured downtown to visit one of Columbus' best kept secrets. This one is definitely the kind of museum with enough fun stuff to keep the kids amused and enough cool history stuff to entertain mom and dad. A good outing for all involved, really. The museum doubles as an education center focusing on elementary and pre-school aged children to teach them fire safety complete with a practice room where the kids get to practice checking the door for heat and escaping a fire, complete with (harmless) smoke.
Where:260 N. Fourth Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215-2511
Cost: $6 adults, $4 kids, free parking at museum with inexpensive pay lot next door.
The Central Ohio Fire Museum is one of those places we've heard of, driven past, and even meant to visit for a good long while and never got around to it. Well, now that we've finally been there we have this to say: HOLY CRAP HOW DID WE NOT GO HERE SOONER?
On the kind of day where you don't really want to be outside and you don't really want to be in the house either, we ventured downtown to visit one of Columbus' best kept secrets. This one is definitely the kind of museum with enough fun stuff to keep the kids amused and enough cool history stuff to entertain mom and dad. A good outing for all involved, really. The museum doubles as an education center focusing on elementary and pre-school aged children to teach them fire safety complete with a practice room where the kids get to practice checking the door for heat and escaping a fire, complete with (harmless) smoke.
From here, I think I'll let the pictures speak for themselves:
The brochure available at the front desk.
The inside of the replica doors. The firehouse was used until the early 1980s, so it had mechanical garage doors before the restoration. The photos are the station as it looked in the 1950s, and then the restoration to its original 1908 appearance.
Original fire call boxes from the days of the telegraph before telephones were commonplace. These used to be every 3 blocks or so around the city.
Display on the history of fire extinguishers, including quite a few fun flops.
Looking into the basement from the bell tower, where the hoses were hung to dry after a run. It still smells like drying hoses in this room. I really don't think they'll ever get that smell out.
One of our favorite treasures: Jim from the old COSI's Street of Yesteryear! So glad to see he has a new home and a great purpose.
For the kids of all ages, a truck to play in! Our very own Tim models the donated cab that has been converted into a delightfully noisy toy.
To play a firefighter, you have to look the part! The museum caters to those of us who like to dress up while we play make-believe.
To see the myriad of other pictures we took of the museum, please click here to see our Picasa album.
Friday, March 12, 2010
The Idea isn't original
I've always wanted to play tourist right here in Columbus. For years, I've been convinced that this city cannot possibly be as boring as people seem to think it is. I've found some great things to do here and there over the years, and I have decided to dedicate this summer to seeing as much here in Columbus and around Ohio as I possibly can. Essentially, I'm going to be making a bunch of day trips with my friends to experience what Columbus (and vicinity) has to offer from Restaurants to museums and even some parks. My goal here is partially to entertain myself and partially to give others some ideas for what is around here that they can enjoy. I'm not looking for fame (heck, if more than two people read this I might fall over in disbelief!) but I am looking to have my own little interesting corner.
The point of this post, more than anything, is to get suggestions. There are already plans in the works for some of the big things around Columbus like the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium, Franklin Park Conservatory, The Columbus Museum of Art and the Ohio Statehouse, but I want to hit some of the offbeat and lesser traveled places, too. The ideas are a mixture of what we know about, what we find in tourist pamphlets we grab from random hotels and what people suggest to us. Anywhere in Ohio is up for a trip! That's the beauty of being in Columbus, I can get almost anywhere and back in a day :-D
The point of this post, more than anything, is to get suggestions. There are already plans in the works for some of the big things around Columbus like the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium, Franklin Park Conservatory, The Columbus Museum of Art and the Ohio Statehouse, but I want to hit some of the offbeat and lesser traveled places, too. The ideas are a mixture of what we know about, what we find in tourist pamphlets we grab from random hotels and what people suggest to us. Anywhere in Ohio is up for a trip! That's the beauty of being in Columbus, I can get almost anywhere and back in a day :-D
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