Almost Home

My trip has been a wonderful adventure that I know will influence my teaching for years to come. I am thankful to All Saints' for supporting my trip. It has been a grand adventure! Here are a few statistics  from my trip:

Number of miles travelled: approximately 5,627

Number of states: 11 (Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico) 

State capitols: 7 (Phoenix, Austin, Tallahassee, Atlanta, Montgomery, Little Rock, Santa Fe)

Number of museums visited: 17

Number of parks visited: 27

Number of geocaches found: 120

Worst traffic: Atlanta

Cheapest gas: 3.08

Best surprise stop: Ponce De Leon State Park

Regional foods: collard greens, fried chicken, grits, hush puppies, fried green tomatoes, fried catfish, beignets, chicory coffee, fried okra, bar b que ribs and turkey, fried pickles, coleslaw, gumbo, fried oyster po' boy, pralines, fried crawfish, grilled shrimp, popcorn shrimp, peach cobbler, crawfish étouffée, chille rellano, green chille breakfast burrito

Favorite memory: getting a secret visit into Dr. King's office

Thanks everyone for following along on this blog! I'm happy to be back home in Arizona, my desert home. 

The Plaza in Santa Fe, New Mexico

The last stop on my journey was Santa Fe. I have visited Santa Fe many times before, and I was happy to make this the last stop on my trip. In addition to being the capital of New Mexico, Santa Fe is the ending point for the Santa Fe Trail. This wagon route brought settlers west in the 1800s from Missouri and was one of two major routes many settlers used. The trail was also a vital military route used in the Mexican-American War. The picture below is taken in The Plaza, often called "the heart of Santa Fe". This city square dates back to 1610 and contains the Palace of Governors, the oldest municiple building in the United States. The Plaza is home to the Santa Fe Indian Market and it is always fun to walk along and see the jewelry, pottery, and crafts the Native American artists have created. Santa Fe was the perfect place to end my trip. 

Blue Hole at Santa Rosa, New Mexico on Route 66

Today I stopped at Blue Hole on historic Route 66. This beautiful blue pool is a popular location for scuba diving with a constant temperature of 64 degrees and a constant inflow of 3000 gallons of water per minute. The hole goes down 81 feet making it a great place to get scuba certified. Historically Route 66 was one of the main highway systems in the United States covering 2,448 miles from Chicago, Illinois to Santa Monica, California, including a section that goes through Flagstaff, Arizona. During the Great Depression thousands of people migrated west trying to escape the hardships of the Dust Bowl. These displaced farmers nicknamed "Okies" headed to California for the promise of work. Their journey was difficult as was their arrival in California, but their work ethic and persistence eventually helped them to find a new home.  They would have traveled this road on their journey! The water in this amazing pool was cold and refreshing! This was a great find on this historic route. 

Palo Duro State Park near Amarillo, Texas

On the way to New Mexico, I stopped at Palo Duro Canyon in Texas. This canyon is approximately 120 miles long and 600 to 800 feet deep and is the second largest canyon in the United States. During the Great Depression, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) sent seven companies of men to develop roads, a visitor center, cabins, shelters, and a park headquarters. Although nothing can compare to the Grand Canyon in my beloved state of Arizona, I did enjoy hiking the CCC trail, looking at the views, and geocaching. Today made me excited to visit the Grand Canyon in September with my sixth grade students and hike rim to rim with my friends in October. I'm happy I am working my way home! 

Roman Nose State Park near Watonga, Oklahoma

I decided to return to a spot that I went to as a child and spent the evening and morning at Roman Nose State Park. The park is named for Henry Caruthers Roman Nose, a Cheyenne Indian who owned the reservation allotment on the land where the park now sits. In August of 1935 men from the 2819th Company of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) arrived in the area tasked with the job of building a state park. The federal government created the CCC as a part of FDR's New Deal programs to create jobs during the Great Depression. This program employed men between the ages of 18 to 25 to preform public conservation work. In addition to room and board, the men were paid thirty dollars a month and were required to send twenty-five dollars back to their families. In addition to work, the men learned job skills, discipline, and they became fit and healthy. The program at Roman Nose wrapped up by 1942 as many of the young men headed into the military to fight in World War II. It was amazing to me that the work done by the CCC men 77 years ago is still beautifully in place today. I really enjoyed posing in front of the iconic entrance sign created by CCC workers as I have a picture of myself standing there as a child and one of my dad, uncle, and aunt at the same spot when they were children. This is a beautiful Oklahoma state park.

Oak Vale Cemetery Kingfisher County in Oklahoma

Today I went on a search on the red clay back roads of Oklahoma to find my great-great-great grandmother Cerrelda Butterfield's gravestone. In April of 1889, Cerrelda came to Oklahoma with her son-in-law, Joseph Kariker, to stake a claim in the Oklahoma Land Rush. She was 65 years old at the time. She filed a claim for a 160 acre farm located in Columbia Township. She sewed beautiful quilts that my family still has. Cerrelda died in 1909 at the age of 86 and is buried one half mile south and one-half mile west of the homestead. I made this part of the trip in honor of my Grandmother who died this past year at the age of 95. She wrote a fantastic family history that I used to find the location of the cemetery and the homestead.  My grandmother nurtured and supported my love of history! I love and miss her very much.

Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas

Today I was able to visit Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. In September of 1957, Central High School captured the world's attention when the "Little Rock 9" (9 African American high school students) attempted to integrate the school in accordance to the 1954 Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education which outlawed segregation in public schools. Governor Orval Faubus used the Arkansas National Guard to keep the students out of the school and when he recalled the national guard and left the black students open to attack  President Eisenhower was compelled to call in the 101st Airborne Division to protect the students after a mob gathered to try to keep the students out. The media attention brought attention to the issue and the nine students were able to finish the school year before Governor Faubus closed all public schools the next school year. In 1959 the Federal courts ruled that school closings were unconstitutional and all public schools reopened on an integrated basis in August with three African American students attending Central High. I learned a wonderful story about a famous picture taken of Elizabeth Eckford navigating a mob of people as she tried to get into the school on the first day. A white woman in the crowd was pictured screaming at Elizabeth as she walked. That image has come to represent resistance to desegregation. Forty years later Hazel Bryan Masery, the white woman, and Elizabeth Eckford were able to talk and reconcile what happen on that day. That example of forgiveness gave me a wonderful feeling of hope. I'm so glad I was able to stop at this historic site that is still a high school today. 

Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee

This afternoon I visited Elvis Presley's home in Memphis, Graceland. Elvis was a singer, actor, and musician who is often called "the King of Rock and Roll". Elvis and his extended family lived in the house from 1957 until his death on August 16, 1977.   I was able to tour the bottom floor of the house and some of the nearby buildings including the meditation garden where Elvis and his parents and grandmother are buried. My favorite room in the house was the jungle room because it was so unique with its green shag carpet and tiki motif. I also enjoyed seeing all of the gold records and awards in the trophy room which once was the racquetball court. It was fun to learn more about Elvis and hear his music playing throughout the tour. I was surprised to hear about all the charitable donations Elvis made throughout his life, and it was actually wonderful to see all of his gold and platinum records. I'm happy to say that I have been to Graceland. 

Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee

This morning I visited the Lorraine Motel in Memphis. In 1968 Dr. King was in Memphis to support African American sanitation workers who were on strike to gain equal wages and better working conditions. The night before Dr. King's assassination, he gave his famous, "I've been to the Mountaintop" speech where he foretold his own death. On Thursday, April 4, 1968, at 6:01 p.m. Dr. King was shot while he stood outside of room 306 on the second floor of the balcony at the motel. Dr. King was only 39 years old. Truthfully, this location had an overwhelming feeling of sadness for me. The world lost an amazing leader that day, however, I continue to be inspired by Dr. King's legacy of love. 

Ingram Park in Birmingham, Alabama

This afternoon I stopped at Ingram Park; this park located right across from the 16th Street Baptist Church is the location of the confrontation between civil rights protestors and the Public Safety Commissioner Eugene "Bull" Connor during the month of May in 1963. Connor ordered police and firemen to confront the demonstrators, many whom were children some as young as seven, with fire hoses and police dogs. Images from these confrontations were broadcast nationally and brought attention to the civil rights movement. I also saw the memorial to the four young girls who were killed when the 16th Street Baptist Chuch was bombed by Klan members on Sunday, September 15, 1963. These marches and the bombing are credited with helping to pass the 1964 Civil Rights Act. I have seen film footage from the marches at this park so it was amazing to stand here in person and think about the brave young people who made their stand for civil rights. 

Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site in Tuskegee, Alabama

This morning I visited Moton Field. This field was used for flight training for young African American men who trained to become pilots in the Army Air Corps. They later became known as the Tuskegee Airmen. The Selective Training and Service Act of 1940 prohibited discrimination in training for military service. This legislation along with pressure from the black press, civil rights groups, and the support of Eleanor Roosevelt, led to the establishment of the 99th Pursuit Squadron in January of 1941. This squadron along with the 332nd Fighter Group soon served in North Africa and Europe. Their group became known as the "Red Tail Angels" because of their planes' distinctive red tail sections and their determination to never abandon the bombers in their care. By 1944 the airmen began flying the P-51, one of the best fighter planes of the war, and their primary duty was to escort bombers to oil refineries and other strategic targets in Europe. In addition to their military service the Tuskegee Airmen were fighting to overcome discrimination and segregation both at home and overseas. The superb performance of the fighter squadrons, helped convince President Truman to sign Executive Order 9981 in 1948 calling for the integration of all branches of the military. It was an honor to see the fields where these brave airmen learned to fly and served our country with such distinction.

Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church and the Rosa Parks Library and Museum

This afternoon was filled with two wonderful highlights. First, I visited the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church. Dr. King served this church from 1954-1960. The meeting in which the decision was made to launch the Montgomery Bus Boycott was held in the church's basement on December 2, 1955. Dr. King was later elected President of the Montgomery Improvement Association, and he directed activites for the boycott from his office located in the basement of this church. Still an active church, the first worship service was held in its basement in 1885 and four years later, on Thanksgiving Day in 1889, the first worship service was held in the upstairs sanctuary. Wanda, our tour guide, was so generous with her time and explained the history of the church including a beautiful mural in the basement, the office where Dr. King wrote his sermons, and the sanctuary. Her personal touch made this stop a highlight of my trip. My second stop was at the Rosa Parks Library and Museum. This museum sponsored by Troy University is located on the site of the arrest, and it celebrates the legacy of Mrs. Parks who is considered the Mother of the Civil Rights Movement. The museum opened on December 1, 2000, the 45th anniversary of Park's arrest. This interactive museum explains how Mrs. Park's decision to challenge the bus segregation laws in Montgomery began the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which eventually led to bus desegregation and the realization that non-violent civil disobedience could be a successful tool for social change. I admire Mrs. Park's quiet courage and grace in the face of such hatred. She is a true hero! It was such a wonderful afternoon to stand in the footsteps of two civil rights heroes. 

Civil Rights Memorial in Montgomery, Alabama

A visit to this memorial has been on my bucket list so I was so happy to visit this morning and be able to touch and explore the monument. This monument which is sponsored by the Southern Poverty Law Center was created by Maya Lin and is inspired by a line from Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech, "...we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream..." The memorial was dedicated in 1989 and remembers 40 people who died in the struggle for civil rights. After spending some time at the monument, I went inside to the Center where I learned about those civil rights maytrs. My favorite part inside the Center was signing the Wall of Tolerance and watching my name come up on the wall as I watched. My name signified my commitment to stand up for others and promote understanding and tolerance in our world. I appreciate the everyday work the Southern Poverty Law Center is doing to promote civil rights in the United States.

Andersonville National Historic Site in Andersonville, Georgia

On the way to Montgomery, Alabama today I stopped at the site of the infamous Confederate prisoner of war camp, Andersonville. Intended to hold 10,000 men, this 26 1/2 acre prison surrounded by a 15 foot high stockade wall eventually housed over 32,000 prisoners who struggled to survive the terrible conditions which included lack of food, water, shelter, and illness. Nearly 13,000 Union soldiers died here. My favorite part of the tour was visiting Providence Spring. The prisoners constantly suffered from lack of water and in August of 1864 the prisoners prayed for water. In answer to their  prayers a thunderstorm washed across the camp and lightening struck the ground and a spring of cool and clean spring water burst from the ground, saving the lives of many men.  A monument now stands on the site commemorating that event, and I was able to put my hands in the cool water and imagine what a relief it must have been to the prisoners. Today the site also honors all POWs and it was so interesting to learn about this topic and remember those who have been imprisoned while serving our country.

Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site

Before leaving Atlanta this morning, I visited the neighborhood where Dr. King  was born, grew up, and is now buried. This historic neighborhood includes the King family home, Ebenezer Baptist Church, The King Center, and a number of surrounding residences. Besides seeing King's birth home, my favorite part was sitting in the church all alone and getting to hear a recording of one of Dr. King's sermons that included the sounds of his congregation responding to what he said. I closed my eyes and imagined what it would be like to be in the congregation. Such a blessing! 

Jimmy Carter Presidential Museum, World of Coca-Cola, and the Center for Civil and Human Rights

Today I explored Atlanta. I started my day at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum. This wonderful museum highlighted the achievements and challenges of his presidency including energy and land conservation, peace talks in the Middle East, inflation and the Iran hostage situation. I was inspired by Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter's continued work around the world to promote peace, good health, and better conditions for all. The next stop was The World of Coca-Cola. Coca-Cola was created in 1886 when a pharmacist from Atlanta named Dr. John S. Pemberton created the formula. I liked seeing all the memorabilia and getting a chance to try over 100 different sodas in the tasting room. No, I didn't try all 100! My final stop today was at the Center for Civil and Human Rights. There was a special exhibit on loan from Morehouse College showcasing some of Dr. King's papers. It was neat to see his annotations on his speeches. The second part of the museum focused on the Civil Rights Movement and included lots of personal stories and fantastic artifacts. It also included an interactive exhibit where I was able to feel what it would be like to participate in a sit-in. That was intense! The final part of the Center focused on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  This area talked about current issues and how the Center tries to monitor and address those issues and what we as citizens of the world can do.  This was a powerful museum! What an amazing day!

www.jimmycarterlibrary.org
www.worldofcoca-cola.com
www.civilandhumanrights.org

Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, Georgia

After a long drive from Florida today, I was hungry when arriving into town. So when in the Sourh eat like a Southerner, so fried chicken, mashed potatoes, collared greens, and fried green tomatoes hit the spot. After a big dinner a walk was in order so I headed downtown to Olympic Park. This 21 acre park was created as a place for the public to meet during the Centennial 1996 Summer Olympics. In the picture below I am standing near the Fountain of Rings. This water play area is in the shape of the Olympic rings and it is lit up at night and the 251 jets shoot up as high as 35 feet into the air. My shirt is wet because I ran through the fountain. A great way to end a long driving day! 

Emerson Point Preserve

Today I traveled across the bridge and over to Palmetto, Florida to hike along the Emerson Point Preserve. This 365 acre wildlife preserve is located near the Manatee River and the Lower Tampa Bay. I was able to explore the shady mangrove covered trails and the pups could get wet in the water of the river. This preserve is the home of southwest Florida's largest Native American Temple Mound. These mounds were located in the center of a village and served cultural, political, and religious  purposes, including being the burial location for a tribal leader.  It was a great place to hike on this humid day.

De Soto National Memorial in Bradenton, Florida

While in Bradenton, I took the afternoon to go explore the De Soto National Memorial. This memorial commemorates the 1539 landing of Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto. De Soto is often remembered for "discovering" the Mississippi River, but he also explored all around the Gulf Coast and inland in the name of Spain as he sought gold, land, and to convert or conquer the native people. This was a great hike as I was able to walk through a mangrove forest with the pups and they could swim in the waters of the Manatee River while we looked out over Tampa Bay. This was a wonderful local attraction. 

Hiking at Withlacoochee State Park in Florida

Today on our drive from Tallahassee to Bradenton, we decided to stop at the Withlacoochee State Forest. This forest was named by World Wildlife Fund as one of the "10 Coolest Places You've Never Been in North America". The trails here wind through long leaf pine and scrub oak hills, live oak thickets, and past creek bottoms and cypress ponds. While hiking the Tucker Hill trail area, I discovered an old cemetery near the hike. One of the gravestones belonged to First Sergeant Henry Crawford Tucker. Sgt. Tucker fought for the Confederates as a part of Company H 13th Georgia Infantry. His family homesteaded the area around this cemetery which is actually one of Florida's highest summits. It was a humid day but the trail was quiet, and it was neat to get a feel for what the Florida forest feels like.

Ponce de Leon State Park in Florida

Today while driving to Tallahassee, we passed a sign for Ponce de Leon State Park. Remembering my history of explorers unit in grade school, I was excited to stop and check out this park named for the Spanish explorer who led an expedition to Florida in 1513. The main attraction of the park is the 68 degree spring fed pool that is the convergence of two underground water flows that produce 14 million gallons of water daily. The pups were able to walk on the nearby nature trail, and they loved a cool dip in the water. I loved diving into the pool and swimming in this "fountain of youth". This detour was a wonderful surprise!

Geocaching in Pensacola

This morning I explored Pensacola on a Geocaching Tour. Geocaching is best described as a treasure hunt using GPS to find hidden treasures all over the world. There are currently over two million  geocaches hidden by geocachers. This Geotour was put together by Visit Pensacola, a group that encourages tourism in the city. The caches I found today highlighted the history of this old city, and it was fun to read the history and then look for the cache. In the picture below I am standing in front of High House, which is one of the oldest masonry homes in Florida. It was built between 1825-1830 by George Barkley and the home features bricks salvaged from British forts. The second picture shows the five flags of Florida and Pensacola Bay in the background. I love that caching takes me to so many unique places. You can learn more about geocaching at www.geocaching.com

Fort Barrancas in Pensacola, Florida

While on Pensacola Bay, I stopped at Fort Barrancas, one of the many coastal forts along the northern Gulf Coast. The first part of this fort called the water battery was built by Spain around 1698. In the early 1800s General Andrew Jackson seized the fort for the American government and when Florida joined the United States in 1821 the Navy made improvements to the fort with a force of 60 slave laborers. During the Civil War the Alabama and Florida state militias occupied the fort while the Union forces occupied nearby Fort Pickens. This produced a tense stalemate which was broken on November 22-23, 1861, when the two sides exchanged cannon fire including over 6,000 cannon balls. The Confederates eventually abandoned the the fort in 1862. In 1971 Fort Barrancas became a part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. It was amazing to see something so old yet so beautifully made. It was another outstanding piece of history!

National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida

Today I visited the National Naval Aviation Museum located on the Naval Air Station in Pensacola. This naval station is home to the amazing exhibition flight group The Blue Angels. The museum had a huge display of aircraft including planes from the early days of flight, World War I and World War II planes, Cold War era planes,  an Apollo Space Exhibit, and modern day planes and helicopters used by the military. Highlights included seeing a helicopter that carried President Nixon and the first fighter jet to land on an air craft carrier with a president on board. On May 1, 2003,  President George W. Bush flew in the co-pilot seat of a S-3B Viking and landed on the USS Abraham Lincoln to give his "Mission Accompllished" speech.  This was a fantastic stop and I learned a great deal about naval aviation. 

National World War II Museum in New Orleans

This morning I visited the National World War II Museum. This museum is also known as the D-Day Museum. New Orleans is home to Andrew Higgins the inventor of the LCVP (Landing Craft, Vehicles, Personel) also known as the Higgins Boat. These amphibious boats were instrumental in helping the Allies attack from the water and enabled Allied troops to run ashore quickly. A full boat of troops could unload in 19 seconds. This wonderful museum pays tribute to the many men and women who served our country. I was touched to see two World War II veterans there. One giving a tour and one on a tour. The museum was filled with recorded personal accounts and numerous artifacts which told detailed personal stories. In the bottom picture I am standing at the ramp of a Higgins Boat  This was another fantastic museum.
nationalww2museum.org

Spindletop in Beaumont, Texas

Today I am driving from Austin to New Orleans so on the way I went through Beaumont, Texas. On January 10, 1901, the Lucas Geyser came through and the new oil field soon produced over 100,000 barrels of oil per day beginning the oil boom in Texas. Soon Gulf Oil and Texaco were formed creating competition for Rockefeller's Standard Oil company. 

Texas State History Museum

This afternoon I visited the Texas State History Museum. This incredible museum chronicles the history of Texas from the Native Americans until today. I learned about the "can do" spirit of the settlers, ranchers, farmers, Tejanos, oilmen, and immigrants who make up the fabric of Texas. In addition to the regular exhibit there was a special exhibit all about the year 1968. Since that was the year of my birth, I particularly enjoyed seeing the year broken down by month. It was an informative and fun afternoon.

Texas State History Museum