Post from: Southern Byways

Partial Museum To Do List…

• Explore the interesting collection of antique and collectible cars at the Tupelo (Miss.) Automobile Museum.
• Take a walk through the Bird of Prey Trail at Anniston (Ala.) Museum of Natural History.
• See the Dolley Madison collection at Greensboro (N.C.) Historical Museum.
• Learn more about the state of West Virginia at the West Virginia Independence Hall in Wheeling.
• Take a train ride at the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore, Maryland.

Feel as if you are never getting anywhere with your museum to-do list? Well, you’ll have an opportunity on September 27 during the 4th Annual Museum Day, sponsored by Smithsonian magazine, to put a dent into it.

On the 27th, in a celebration of learning and discovery, Smithsonian-based museums will drop their admission fees to the public. Yes, that’s right, in a world where ‘free,’ is hard to find, this Saturday – it won’t be. Last year, over 600 museums in the U.S. and Puerto Rico participated.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity. Be sure to download a Museum Day Admission card and keep it with you. You’ll have to present it at the door.

With Museum Day 2008, there isn’t any excuse not to be able to check off some of things to see on your to-do list.

Photo credit: To Do List with Monet-Like Scene, flickr, creative commons by Old Shoe Woman

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Mr. Ed received his first elephant as a wedding gift and he has been collecting ever since. In 1975, his collection outgrew his house, and his wife made him open a museum to get them out of the house. Mr. Ed’s Elephant Museum, located at 6019 Chambersburg Road in Orrtanna, PA, houses over 10,000 elephants from around the world. The elephants are made from every material imaginable and are made for every use – even a hairdryer.

Along with the collection of elephants, the museum houses a candy room with the most Pez you’ve ever seen in a single location and a gift shop filled with unusual gifts. If you are a fan of elephants and want your elephants to be part of this historic collection, Mr. Ed does take donations, and if you’re lucky you might receive a little extra cash in the process.

Post from: Southern Byways

Let’s start in the north and make our way south:

• Constitution Gardens in Washington DC: Do you need an escape from the bustling lifestyle of D.C.? Plan a visit to the Consitution Gardens. This memorial island (dedicated in 1976) is located in the middle of an artificial lake decorated with stones that bear the names of the 56 men who signed the declaration of Independence.
• Claude Moore Colonial Farm in Virginia: This gives you the perfect opportunity to experience what life was like on a farm before the American Revolution. Pound some corn, card wool or play an 18th century game. You will be sure to be taken back in time.
• Congaree National Park in South Carolina: Located near the Conagee River, this 22,000 acre is home to champion trees, some towering to record size. This park is home to the largest remnant of old-growth, bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the US. Visit the museum on-site, walk the 2.4 mile boardwalk loop trail, go kayaking or venture through the 20 miles of hiking trails.
• Russell Cave National Monument in Bridgeport, Alabama: Taking you back over 10,000 years in history, Russell Cave takes you on an exploration of the lives and culture of early North American inhabitants (6500 BC to 1650 AD). This national park is home to the most complete record of prehistoric cultures in the Southeast.

Photo Credit: Russell Cave travelcycle @ flickr

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Located on Sneads Island, near Palmetto (which can be a drive from Longboat Key, if you don’t where you are going), Emerson Point is a 365-acre preserve. Here you can enjoy the area’s natural beauty through the hiking and biking trails as well as kayaking and canoeing opportunities. If you just want to take in everything on a clear day, head to the observation tower. However, I think the pinnacle of this area is the Portavant Temple Mound and the visible shell middens. At over 1,200 year old, it’s also the largest one in the Tampa Bay area.

If you’re looking for a more in-depth experience into Emerson Point, go with a tour guide. Owner of Around the Bend Nature Tours and naturalist, Karen Fraley guided the group along walkway near the temple, providing background information on the plants and the mound itself. We made our way to the grass flats where, if we wanted to, go net dipping. As the story would go, the tide was higher than usual and there was a slight wind, so the water was at a good level. Rolling up our shorts, we wadded out and scratched our nets along the grass. Some of us, who caught on immediately, were able to catch shrimp and other small sea creatures. And as for myself, after three tries of getting nothing, I did eventually catch two small shrimp.

With semi-wet shorts and squeaky shoes, we headed to South Florida Museum in Bradenton. What makes this attraction unique is the fact it’s three different places located under one roof. There’s the museum part, which is the largest natural and cultural history museum on the Florida’s Gulf Coast. On the first floor, you can view exhibits and collections that tell Florida’s story from the very beginning. On the second level, the exhibits take you on an interesting journey through the state’s history that features a look at tourism and other industry important to the Sunshine State.

Bishop Planetarium is a dome theater that shows different astronomy features. You can view such presentations as Infinity Express, which explores the universe, and Extreme Planets that focuses on what makes a planet habitable.

The last place is the Parker Manatee Aquarium, home to Snooty, the manatee. Born in 1948, he holds the distinction of being the first manatee born in a man-made, fully-protected environment. You can view him and his friends happily swimming around, either from an above water view or a below water view.

Photo credits: Personal Photos

Apryl Chapman Thomas

Post from: Southern Byways

Withstanding two wars, several fires, an earthquake and numerous hurricanes, each time rebuilding and restoring its historical treasures, these 25 blocks of the city’s historic downtown is an incredible journey through time. The city has more architecturally significant 18th – and 19th – century buildings that any other city in America. As you meander through cobblestone streets or take a horse drawn carriage, you will quickly learn why Charleston is considered a living museum.

The best place to start exploring is on Meeting Street. In March 2008, the Charleston’s Museum Mile was established.  Extending from the Charleston’s Visitors Center to Nathaniel Russell House, you can visit an array of historic places and museums. Spend the day visiting such places as the Powder Magazine, the oldest public building in the state, and then head to The Charleston Museum about the Lowcountry. Also along the Mile, you’ll find the Gibbes Museum of Art, another place that showcases the area’s history in art and the Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim, the fourth oldest Jewish congregation in the continental U.S.

Whether you’re visiting Charleston for the first time or fifth time, you can’t go wrong with a stroll down Meeting Street and taking in the many sights. You never know just what you might discover (again.)

-Apryl Chapman Thomas

Photo credits: All photos are courtesy of The Charleston Museum/Charleston Museum Mile. (top left) Aiken-Rhett House; (top right) Museum Mile South End Banner; (bottom left) Gibbes Museum of Art; (bottom right) Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim.

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The 91-room hotel, which opened in 2006, defies the definition of a traditional hotel. The moment you step into 21c Museum Hotel, you’ll feel as if you are in a contemporary art museum with bedrooms, a spa/fitness center, and according to Cintas Corp., a nominee for  America’s best bathrooms.

“The concept of the hotel was born out of the owners’ love for contemporary art and the desire to revitalize downtown Louisville,” says Sarah Robbins, VP of Operations at 21c Museum Hotel. “There is art everywhere within the 9,000-square feet of space.”

The artwork, chosen by the owners (“whatever the owners like,” says Robbins) features local, national and international artists, and tends to lean heavily toward emerging artists.

21c Museum Hotel striving toward creating a cultural center in downtown. Not only does property hosts free artist talks, but it’s also regarded as a 24/7, completely free art museum.

“The property is easily accessible from the street and people walk in just to see the exhibits. In fact, there is one lady who works in the area and will park her car across the street to walk through the hotel on her way to work.”

By encouraging the revitalization of urban sprawl, the property helps the green effort by encouraging people back to the downtown area to live, work and play. And while speaking of green effort, 21c shines in this area as well.

The property, located on Main Street, is housed in five historical buildings that once served as warehouses and a bank back in the 19th century. Some of the buildings’ salvage materials were reused to create tables and the bar in the restaurant. Oh, the restaurant, Proof on Main prides itself on using locally grown foods.

“We are so lucky to be located in the Ohio River Valley,” says Robbins. “We have all of this produce available at our fingertips.”

In addition, the owners of the property have a bison farm, where Proof gets their meat. The restaurant also utilizes a rooftop garden that currently grows all the herbs used in the kitchen and heirloom tomatoes.

So, the next time you’re in Louisville, stop in 21c Museum Hotel either for the night or just take a glimpse of their artwork. I guarantee that you won’t be disappointed.

By the way, the property is opening a 21c Museum Hotel in Austin, Texas. The 16-story, 243-room hotel is slated to open in 2010.

Photo credits: (top left) 21c Exterior, photographer Kenneth Hayden, 2008; photos provided by Brain Spark Media; (top right) 21c Bathroom, photographer Kenneth Hayden, 2008; photos provided by Brain Spark Media; (mid-left) 21c Atrium, photographer Kenneth Hayden, 2008; photos provided by Brain Spark Media; (mid-right) 21c Lobby, photographer Kenneth Hayden, 2008; photos provided by Brain Spark Media; (bottom left) 21c Proof on Main; photos provided by Brain Spark Media

Post from: Southern Byways

Housed in a 27,500-squared-foot wing, the collection takes you through the history of the Olympic movement from its origins to modern times. You can view the collection of Olympic torches, including the official torch of the 2008 Beijing Games and see other related artifacts.

Of course, the focal point is on the 1996 Olympic Games that took place in Atlanta. 

You have the opportunity to go “behind the scenes,” so to speak, to learn more about Atlanta’s bid for the 1996 Games through video, images and much more. There is also an tribute to the many volunteers who made that summer possible for the city. The interactive section, “The World Comes to Atlanta” highlights the gifts and participants from around the world who called Atlanta their home for awhile. All of this leads to the important “16 Days in Atlanta,” which takes you back to the time when the Games officially opened in the city.  Don’t miss the Sports Lab, another interactive exhibit that invites you to test your strength against some of the world’s greatest athletes.

Photo credits: (upper left) Centennial Olympic Park, flickr, creative commons by FLC; (bottom right) Water Show, flickr, creative commons by wenzday01.

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Living History: If you happen to love American History, then you will love visiting Virginia. The state is home to America’s Historic Triangle (Jamestown, Yorktown and Williamsburg) as well as historic homes such as Mount Vernon, Montpelier and Monticello. Eight U.S. presidents were born in Virginia as well. There is the Road to Revolution Trail that pays homage to Patrick Henry. The state’s Civil War trail has around 388 sites to explore. This is just the beginning. Virginia is filled with all sorts of historical sites and places that can make anyone develop an immediate interest in the nation’s history.

Sweet Sounds: As much as history is a part of Virginia, so is Bluegrass/Gospel/Country music. No trip to Virginia is complete without driving along the state’s Crooked Road Music Trail. Along the route, you can visit such places as the Blue Ridge Music Center and the Ralph Stanley Museum and Traditional Mountain Music Center. You can also be a part of the music at Clark’s Ole Time Music Center in Raphine. During most Friday and Saturday nights, there’s live bluegrass music and dancing.

Photo credits: (top right) Monticello, flickr, creative commons by SkipSteuart; (bottom left) Yellow Old Time Banjo, flickr, creative commons by Dick Edie.

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Designed by Rodney M. Cook, Jr., president and founder of the National Monuments Foundation, the 82-foot monument is the largest public monument to be built since the Jefferson Memorial. The design resemble the arches of Arch of Titus in Rome and the St. Denis Arch in Paris. Inside the monument, located on 17th Street, is a 12,000-square-foot museum that highlights the history of Georgia from the Georgia Indians to present-day.

photo credit: The Millennium Gate, courtesy of the National Monuments Foundation

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