Dallas TX

6th Floor Museum

Leave a comment

On November 22, 1963, the building now called the Dallas County Administration Building was known as the Texas School Book Depository. And on that day, three shots rang out that would take a President’s life. On the sixth floor of this building, a rifle and three shell cases were found and, conspiracy theories aside, it is widely believed that Lee Harvey Oswald fired those three shots from a corner window on this floor. Today, the Sixth Floor Museum examines the life, times, death, and legacy of President Kennedy and provides a look into the history of the events surrounding this site. Among the artifacts in the museum are Lee Harvey Oswald’s wedding ring, Jack Ruby’s fedora, the suit detective Jim Leavelle was wearing when cuffed to Lee Oswald as he was shot, numerous cameras and the pictures they took that day, and a first generation copy of the Abraham Zapruder film of the assassination. The window from which the shots were fired has been recreated to exactly the way it was found by police on that fateful day and a rifle similar to the one used is also on display near where the original weapon was found. It’s a very interesting look back at an infamous day in United States history. Note: The museum currently does not allow pictures inside, but you can take them looking out, one floor up over the snipers window.

SAS Score: 3

Newport RI

The Breakers

Leave a comment

If you happen to be in Newport, Rhode Island for any length of time, then undoubtedly you’ll find plenty of references to the Newport Mansions. This area is well known as the summer getaway location for a great many of the wealthiest U.S. families during America’s “Gilded Age”. Many of these “Summer Cottages” are now owned by the Preservation Society of Newport County and can be toured. The Breakers, being the largest of these giant homes, is a study in opulence and architecture. Built by Cornelius Vanderbilt II between 1893 and 1895, the main house encompasses almost a full acre of the thirteen acre estate. It includes seventy rooms and has over sixty two thousand square feet of living area across five floors. (Remember – this is a simple summer cottage). With a stunning view of the Atlantic Ocean and beautiful gardens surrounding the estate, you can spend as much time inside as you do wandering the outside of this home turned museum. As of 2014, a few members of the Vanderbilt family still spend part of their summer living on the third floor in an area which is off limits to the public. So, you never know, there is a chance you’ll bump into some American royalty if you stop by…

SAS Score: 3 – very impressive, but also a bit on the expensive side

San Francisco CA

Letterman Digital Arts Center – LucusArts Campus

Leave a comment

Located on the East end of the Presidio, overlooking the Palace of Fine Arts, is the Letterman Digital Arts Center. This is the headquarters of LucusFilm and home of ILS Animation. If you are a StarWars fan, you’ll love the Statue of Yoda standing atop the water fountain at the entrance to building B. During business hours, you can also check out the lobby, where Boba Fett, Darth Vader, and a few other StarWars memorabilia are on display. Aside from StarWars, the 20+ acre Letterman DAC has 17 acres of park for you to stroll. There are numerous walkways which wind around a flowing creek and lagoon and statues paying tribute to Philo Farnsworth and Eadweard Muybridge, the inventor of the television and a montion picture pioneer respectively. If you are looking for a place to escape the hustle and bustle of downtown or are a StarWars fan, this is a great spot to check out.

SAS Score: 3

Hartford CT

Old Connecticut State House

Leave a comment

Located in the heart of downtown Hartford and just a 15 minute walk from the current State Capitol building, stands the Old Connecticut Statehouse built in 1796. This building currently houses a museum that highlights the early history of Connecticut history. Designed by Charles Bulfinch, many of the United States’ historical debates, including Thomas Hooker’s fundamental orders; this became the basis for ‘the consent of the people’. Also, the trials of the Amistad captives were held here. Some notable legislators that served in this building include P.T. Barnum, Noah Webster, and Gideon Welles. Some of the notable artifacts in the museum include an old roadside marker, a bible, stein, and helmet from the 1640s settlement, historical items across the Hartford born Coleco’s timeline (including Colecovision, moccasins, electronic games, and a couple Cabbage Patch dolls), and a early 1900s Fire Engine. There is also a portion of the museum focused on Reverend Joseph Steward’s collection of curiosities. Steward once used space in the Old State House as a portrait studio and used a room on the third floor to highlight wonders and treasures from around the world Today a reproduction of his “Curiosity Room” includes numerous stuffed and mounted animals, such as a stuffed alligator and a few albino mammals, animal skeletons, several mechanical devices from the colonial era, and his prized oddity – a two headed calf. A good place to visit during lunch if you are working downtown.

SAS: 3

Ottawa Ontario

Canadian War Museum

Leave a comment

The Canadian War Museum is located just off the Trans Canadian Trail, which winds along the Ottawa River, and only about a 20-30 minute walk from Parliament Hill. At the time of this writing, the museum stays open late (until 8pm) on Thursdays, which makes it a perfect place to spend an evening after work if you are in the area. One of the largest and in my opinion best all around museums highlighting human conflict in the world, the Canadian War Museum houses vehicles, weapons, artwork, documents, uniforms, audio and visual works, and other artifacts from the late 1800s to the present. Officially established in 1942, the museum originates from a collection of military artifacts that began in 1880. In 2005, the museum opened the building in its current location, which itself is a piece of art. A few of the many highlights in this museum include the LaBreton Gallery, where you’ll find a CF-101 Jet hovering over a row of over 20 different tank models, Hitler’s Parade Car, a section of the Berlin Wall, and a Memorial Hall which holds a single artifact – The headstone of a Canadian unknown soldier from World War 1. This is a museum you could spend all day in, but if you have a few hours after work on a Thursday, I recommend you check this museum out.

SAS: 4

Boston MA, Salem

Salem Witch Trials Memorial

Leave a comment

Over three hundred years ago, the community of Salem Village was swept into hysteria around witchcraft. So convinced that witches were rampant in the community, more than two hundred were accused, twenty were executed, and thirteen others died in prison or while in custody. About 40 minutes north of Boston, if you go to Salem, MA today expecting to find a lot of historical buildings tied to the trials, you are in for some disappointment. In fact, the trials themselves didn’t originate in Salem at all, but in nearby Salem Village, which renamed itself Danvers to escape the shame of the trials. The Governor did eventually establish a special court in Salem to sort out the issue and Salem did eventually hang 19 on Gallows Hill and also press one 71 year old man to death for not admitting to what the courts had accused them of being – witches.

So if you do find yourself in Salem, there is one period home once owned by a judge tied to the trials still standing (although nothing related to the trials actually occurred there) and several museums on the subject to peruse around town. If you are interested in getting personal with the ‘witches’ of Salem, there is a very nice memorial downtown with their names, date, and method of execution.

If you have some extra time, you can drive 20 minutes North West to Danvers to find another monument to the victims. This one sits just across from the actual spot where the madness all began.

SAS Score: 2

Baltimore MA, Gettysburg PA, Harrisburg PA, Washington DC

Gettysburg National Military Park

Leave a comment

This one is off the beaten path for most. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the nearest ‘big’ city is 40 minutes North, while the more populous Baltimore and Washington D.C. are a bit more than an hour and a half away. Gettysburg National Military Park maintains 6,000 acres of historical ground with the largest collection of outdoor sculptures in the world. There are 1,328 monuments, memorials, and markers highlighting the three day battle, in which over 160,000 soldiers fought. Driving through the park, it’s easy to visualize the struggles that these soldiers would have faced in key areas of the battle. The park service has placed many plaques with pictures taken in the days following the battle in the areas where they were taken.

There are also several structures that survived that battle still around today. The Trossle Farm, includes the home and barn of which still has the hole created by cannon fire during the third day of the battle. Along with many other structures, the homes used as battlefield headquarters by Generals Lee and Meade are still standing.

When asked to write and deliver a ‘few appropriate remarks’ for the dedication of the Union Cemetery in Gettysburg, Abraham Lincoln responded by delivering one of the most best known speeches in American History. At the center of the military cemetery, you will find a plaque dedicated to the speech; however, the spot marked is no longer believed to be the exact location of Lincoln as he delivered the address. Most researchers place him in the public cemetery about 300 yards north of the marker.
As an aside, you can also visit the home in which Lincoln finalized his speech. It can be found in the center of the town of Gettysburg, just outside the park.

The final highlight of the park is visitor center and museum, which houses 12 museum galleries and a cyclorama painting of the battle which is 42 feet high and 377 feet in circumference. It is only one of two cycloramas in the U.S. and was painted between 1883 and 1884. In additional to exhibits, there is a short film providing an overview and the history of Gettysburg and the battle. I do recommend visiting the museum first if you have time, as it will provide a much more comprehensive understanding of the park; just make sure you have time to see the park too as you can get lost for quite a while taking in all the museum has to offer.

Driving the park can take as little as an hour and much longer if you have the time. The museum is definitely worth a stop as well and can take as long or longer given the large size. If you are really into history, make the time visit this great national park and museum.

SAS: 3 (primarily based on proximity to major metro areas)

Atlanta GA, Stone Mountain GA

Stone Mountain Park

Leave a comment

Billed as the largest piece of exposed granite, Stone Mountain Park, about 30 minutes East of Atlanta, hosts the largest bas relief sculpture in the world. The carved surface covers 3 acres and depicts Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, and Jefferson Davis riding their horses. Work began on the carving in 1923 by Gutzon Borgium, but a dispute with the managing association, saw Borgium’s exit and ultimately the carving wasn’t completely finished until 1972. Side note: After leaving this project, Borgium went on to carve another pretty famous site – Mount Rushmore.

Within the park, there are numerous attractions, dining and shopping locations, exhibits, and shows. You could spend a full day here and still not see it all, but for those on a tight timeline, I recommend you take in the carving and a quick trip to the top of the mountain.

For a fantastic view of the surrounding area, there is a Swiss-build cable car that will provide a quick ride to the top. Passing very close to the carving, this is as close as you can get to the memorial without a repelling rope. On the top, you’ll find a lot of stone, stone pools, and great views of the Park and skyline of downtown Atlanta in the distance.

For those with a bit more adventurous side, there are trails allowing you to climb to the top of the granite goliath. Along the way, you will find numerous engravings and etchings from early visitors dating back to the 1800s. The hike is at times very steep and is over a mile in length, so another option is to ride the SkyRide up and walk down the the trail. Be aware however, that parking for the Skyride is not close to the start of the trail, which will result in an additional mile and a half walk (but on much more level ground).

SAS Score: 4

Manchester NH, Merrimack NH

Budweiser Clydesdales

Leave a comment

20 minutes south of Manchester, New Hampshire, you’ll find the Budweiser brewery and one of three homes for their world famous Clydesdale Horse Teams. A key symbol of the beer maker since 1933, the Clydesdales have made an appearance in numerous Super Bowl ads since 1986. The predecessors of these horses delivered the first cases of ‘legal’ beer post prohibition to Franklin Roosevelt at the White House.

While stables are usually open to walk through and allow you a very up close view of the day to day operations, on certain days the horses are dressed up and brought out into the courtyard to interact with the public. And if you are lucky, you might also get the chance to see Bud or Brewer, the Dalmatians that are part of the Budweiser team – a tradition started in the 1950s.

In the stables, you’ll also find memorabilia and exhibits around the Clydesdale’s history, along with the bright red wagons they pull in those commercials.

The tour is free and if you have some extra time, you can also take in a tour of the brewery or a quick visit to the gift shop for all things Clydesdale, Dalmatian, and of course Budweiser.

SAS Score: 4

Dallas TX

Perot Museum of Nature and Science

Leave a comment

A fairly new addition to downtown Dallas, the Perot Museum of Nature and Science boasts a very unique and eco-friendly design. With its roots as far back as 1936, this museum is a combination of several Children’s, Health, Natural History, and Science Museums previously situated across town in Fair Park.

In four stories, the museum packs in dinosaurs, wildlife, minerals, a section on birds, robotics, the science of sports, weather, energy, the universe, and being human. Most areas have hands-on exhibits, there are a few simulators (tornados, earthquakes), a ‘ride’ into a natural gas well to demonstrate fracking, a 1.5 ton geode, robots that can be programmed by the public, a race track that will allow you to size your speed up to a T-Rex or several world class athletes, cross sections of human bodies, and a 298 seat theatre. There is also a Children’s section for the young ones, which most likely won’t be of much use to those travelling on business unless you were lucky enough to bring the family along.

The building itself features LED and natural lighting, off-grid energy generations, solar powered water heating, and a 1 acre green roof consisting of drought resistant grasses and water collection that provides 100% of its irrigation requirements.

Because it is several museums in one, it’s almost too much to pack into one museum and feels like it just lightly touches on each area, However, you shouldn’t be disappointed if you have a couple hours to spend in Dallas and are looking for something interesting to do.

SAS Score: 3 (with your family – SAS Score 4)