2011 is ending, and I feel the need to let you guys know my progress. Here are some interesting figures (as of 12/19/11):
As far as actual time, I have completed 8.33% of my journey (5 months out of an eventual 60)
As far as locations, I have totally completed 7.69% of my destinations (2 states (Maryland and Virginia), DC, and Puerto Rico out of a total of 52 eventual stops).
While 85.45% of my page views (591 in total) are from the United States, I have a decent international following as well. In the top three: 4.06% (24) of my page views are from Russia, 1.52% (9) are from Germany, and 1.01% (6) are from India.
The top three browsers used to read my blog are Internet Explorer (37%), Safari (30%), and Firefox (15%).
The top three operating systems used to read my blog are Windows (50%), iPhone (28%), and Macintosh (10%).
Your 3 favorite posts were BONUS: Puerto Rico - Old San Juan and the Bacardi Factory (49 page views, or 8.29% of all views), Washington, DC - Part I (30 page views, or 5.07% of all views), and Why Am I Doing This? (29 page views, or 4.90% of all views).
These may not seem very important numbers to you, but it helps me out a great deal. One, it lets me know I'm not totally alone on this- if on average 118 people read my blog each month, SOMEONE is interested in what I have to say! That's pretty great encouragement. Also, a good number of people read my blog from mobile devices. This prompted me to enable my mobile versions of my page, and I have begun looking into new formats (including a new blog host) to polish and professionalize my blog. I want my blog to be visually appealing- not just a decent read.
I do, however, need to figure out how to get more interaction on my comments, Facebook page, and my Twitter account. Nearly 600 blog views and only two comments, 10 Facebook likes, and 50 followers. I've been trying to read online tips to improve those areas, but I'm a bit perplexed still. I loosened my security settings on comments (and have braced myself for spam) to encourage people to leave comments and suggestions. By the time this is published I SHOULD have my first video entry posted...it's a little rough to call it a full out "vlog" but I've got 55 months to perfect it.
Also, it's pretty clear that I currently live in the DC metro area. Around mid-January, that will no longer be the case. I am returning to my hometown of Pittsburgh. While this will make travel into New England lengthier and more expensive than just hopping on a Megabus or Greyhound, it will make traveling into the Midwest cheaper and easier. I'm looking forward to finishing up Pennsylvania in 2012, and venturing into Ohio, West Virginia, Tennessee, and some other central states before 2013 shows it's face.
Thank you everyone for joining me on my adventure. I hope you stick with me to the very end!
Happy New Year,
Terri Traveler
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Virginia - Part II (Richmond)
Founded in 1737, Richmond didn't become the capital of Virginia until 1780. It later would become the capital of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War. Today, over a million people live in the city and surrounding areas, making it the third largest populated area in the commonwealth. I spent a full day in the city, having gone from DC to Richmond via the Megabus. It was a 2 hour trip, and I only paid $4.50 round trip- so I was pleased! I decided I wanted to visit Richmond because everything I heard about the city sounded romantic and uber-historic. I wanted to try something new for this excursion, so I made a video going into details about where I went an my experiences an opinions of what I saw. It's very rough so please don't make fun of me TOO badly :) Hopefully over time I will polish these up a bit, but I at least wanted to see how this would work.
Sites I visited (but you have to watch the video for details!) :
The Museum and White House of the Confederacy
The Maggie L. Walker House and Historic Site
The Jefferson Hotel
The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Bygones Vintage Clothing
Galaxy Diner
Please feel free to check out my Facebook page an look at the photos from this and all of my adventures, follow me on Twitter, and leave comments on the blog (subscribe!) or you can email me as well!
Thank you for following me on my journey!
Sites I visited (but you have to watch the video for details!) :
The Museum and White House of the Confederacy
The Maggie L. Walker House and Historic Site
The Jefferson Hotel
The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Bygones Vintage Clothing
Galaxy Diner
Please feel free to check out my Facebook page an look at the photos from this and all of my adventures, follow me on Twitter, and leave comments on the blog (subscribe!) or you can email me as well!
Thank you for following me on my journey!
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Maryland - Part II (Baltimore)
I say I live in the DC area, and technically that's true, but for all official purposes I live in the state of Maryland. I have to admit, I have a fondness for this place- I've been here more or less the past 6 years. Established in 1788, much of Maryland's history has been shaped by a long love affair with all things aquatic and maritime. For my journey, I decided to explore this state by immersing myself in to water-based activities. I visited the cities of Annapolis and Baltimore- both famed for their access to water- and had a great time! You already read about my adventures in Annapolis, so here's where I went in Baltimore:
NATIONAL AQUARIUM- BALTIMORE
Those of you that have been following me the past few months know that I already went to an aquarium in DC. Well, this aquarium is the "sister" to that small, ancient location. Five levels of exotic aquatic creatures (and more!) are easily visible on Baltimore's Harbor and have been calling to me ever since my first visit to the city in 2002. I went on a thankfully sunny Sunday in October (hey- I told you I was behind on my entries!) with a good friend of mine and her two sons, ages 1 and 3. As someone without kids, I had an interesting time learning to manage toddlers but it was a great time overall.
I'll go ahead and say the downsides to my visit first. Frankly, the NAB is EXPENSIVE. Basic adult admission is $24.95 (which is coincidentally about the price I paid to enter an entire amusement park back home in Pittsburgh- but I digress). You can add on the dolphin show for $3 more ($27.95) and a 4D movie on top of that for another $2 ($29.95). In other words, $30 to go in and visit. Because the boys were too young to sit through the 4D movies (we'd missed the last Dora the Explorer showing of the day), we opted to only add on the dolphin show (from what the employees told us, 4D movies are 3D movies where the fourth "D" involves vibrating and moving seats, and water being squirted on you). Thankfully, the ticket agent didn't charge the $19.95 for my friend's 3 year old that she should have- only kids 2 and younger get in for free. Once inside, we paid another $2 to use a locker for our stuff (but a really neat kid-holding backpack thingy was free to use). Already spent more money than I had anticipated and I had yet to see anything! According to the website, there are days/times that are cheaper to enter- I would suggest any grown up sans kids interested in going to utilize those specials.
Once inside and actually on the move though, you can see the money they receive is put to good use. Everything looked new- not one sign looked worn or dated. The first stop we made was an employee holding some sort of lizard out for small kids to see and learn about in an open space I'm guessing they use for children's activities. Unfortunately, there was no touching allowed due to salmonella risks (which was really disappointing to me but I understood). Then there was a giant open pool with a humongous tortoise splashing around with sting rays (they were EVERYWHERE) and other random giant fish. There were also some shark tanks overlooking this pool. We went up moving ramps to each floor and saw tanks of all sizes holding a variety of creatures. Surprisingly, there were more than just water creatures on display- a room filled with puffins stands out to me as we tried our best to convince the 3 year old that they weren't penguins. The fifth floor is actually VERY warm- I'm assuming to resemble a rain forest- and is allegedly filled with all sorts of tropical birds, though we only say two pink birds and an old turtle in our time there. The jellyfish have their own separate area (ironically near the cafeteria) in sci-fi looking tubes, panels, and domes that allow you to marvel at how they move around.
The dolphin show was kind of neat. Seven or so dolphins did very basic tricks- but nothing on a Sea World level even though there is a splash- zone and you DO get wet if you sit in said splash zone. We learned how to tell dolphin fins apart, and a "random" guest from the audience got to come up and touch the dolphins. Two different women were talking about dolphin information, but between the room echoes distorting the sound and keeping the kids occupied and focused, I have no idea what either of them were talking about.
Overall, a wonderful place. I would certainly return- during a money saving time period- and would love to experience these 4D movies for myself.
HISTORIC SHIPS IN BALTIMORE (BALTIMORE MARITIME MUSEUM)
It was pretty chilly on the November day I decided to travel to Baltimore from DC and visit the Historic Ships. As the self-proclaimed Queen of Public Transportation, I rode the Metro from my home to Union Station in DC and took the MARC train for $7 to Baltimore Penn Station. From there, I took the free Charm City Circulator down to the Harbor (which is where the Aquarium is also, but when I went with my friend we drove). The entire process took me probably an hour and a half from the Metro station nearest my house and the ticket booth where I purchased my $18 ticket to tour all four ships.
The four ships represent military life at sea from the mid 1800s up through the 1980s. There is also a free lighthouse (the Seven foot Knoll Lighthouse) that has stood in place for more than 130 years- but I didn't get a chance to go in there. I had a friend (who suggested I name this entry Maryland Part II - Holy Ship!!) who was coming to meet me, and I didn't want to totally bore him to death with my exploration of all four ships (though he did end up joining me for the last two).
I think I pretty much entered them in historical order, starting with the USS Constellation- a wooden ship that was used to thwart illegal slave trading in her early years (successfully stopping at least three ships and freeing the African aboard), carried famine relief to Ireland in the years before World War I, and also served as a practice ship for the US Navy. I was amazed at how large the ship was on the inside- from the outside looking in it seems as if everyone would be packed into one tiny space, but I found (after carefully climbing and descending the very steep ladder like stairs) three levels of space used for various purposes, including sleeping quarters for all ranks of men, storage areas, cannons and weapons, etc. A lot of the spaces were under renovation, but there were signs in place explaining what was going on and what the object or area was used for.
From there I went to the LV116 Chesapeake, which was a lighthouse ship that was later used by the US Coast Guard. This was probably the least exciting of the ships (to me) but it prepped me for the ladders and small entry ways I would expect on the next ship I would board. The main highlight aboard was a small exhibit about dogs that served on the ships and how they boosted morale among the crew.
After that I went into the USS Torsk, a World War II submarine that boasts over 10,000 dives and was the last US Navy vessel to sink an enemy ship in that conflict. The deck of the Torsk is kind of rickety looking, but my friend (who joined me by this point) reminded me that in general you wouldn't be walking on top of the ship anyway, seeing as it was designed to be underwater. Again lots of steep stair-ladders, and this time small doorways to squeeze our bodies through as well. This ship was really interesting, getting to walk past torpedoes, radar rooms, and a mini-cafeteria that had a television playing some really great classical music with movie clips. The main downside- other than being slightly too tall and too pudgy to move around freely without having to think about the angle I would approach doors- is that throughout the ship there were touches of things obviously not from that time period (like plastic Bic pens that looked fresh from Office Depot) that were a bit distracting.
Finally we went to the USCG Taney, the last ship floating that fought in Pearl Harbor. The ship also was a part of the search for Amelia Earhart, fought in the Vietnam War, and was a part of the largest marijuana bust in US history- 160 tons. Certainly the largest of the ships, the Taney was the easiest to move around, and had an entire room dedicated to the attack on Pearl Harbor, with a video playing of interviews of survivors of the events.
Now, I am sure everyone is wondering "Terri, why haven't you blogged about Maryland crab?" Well, I'm the genius that decided to visit Maryland during the off season for crab. I'll have to come back, maybe on a food centered entry, when crabs are plentiful and don't cost two arms and a third of your soul to get a decent sized cake. As a rule, I don't eat crab legs or pick through crustacean bodies because they look like giant bugs to me- but I'll eat crab cakes and soups and dips and just about anything made with the actual meat. Just an FYI for when I head to Maine and am faced with lobsters!
I also was disappointed that the public isn't allowed to tour the Domino sugar factory located in the city. I'm kind of developing a "thing" of touring factories after visiting Bacardi in Puerto Rico. I'm already plotting on Hershey in Pennsylvania, and Jack Daniels in Tennessee. My friend told me that the dot of the "I" in the glowing sign is over 6 feet tall, and that workers who clean it have to wear special suits to avoid sticking to the lettering because of the sugary fumes that emit from the building. Would have been nice to tour for myself and hear this from an official rep- but alas, that wasn't possible.
With that, I've completed my journey into Maryland! Please feel free to visit (and like!) my Facebook page, leave your comments below, or Tweet me with your thoughts and ideas.
Thanks for reading!
NATIONAL AQUARIUM- BALTIMORE
Those of you that have been following me the past few months know that I already went to an aquarium in DC. Well, this aquarium is the "sister" to that small, ancient location. Five levels of exotic aquatic creatures (and more!) are easily visible on Baltimore's Harbor and have been calling to me ever since my first visit to the city in 2002. I went on a thankfully sunny Sunday in October (hey- I told you I was behind on my entries!) with a good friend of mine and her two sons, ages 1 and 3. As someone without kids, I had an interesting time learning to manage toddlers but it was a great time overall.
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| Dolphin Show |
I'll go ahead and say the downsides to my visit first. Frankly, the NAB is EXPENSIVE. Basic adult admission is $24.95 (which is coincidentally about the price I paid to enter an entire amusement park back home in Pittsburgh- but I digress). You can add on the dolphin show for $3 more ($27.95) and a 4D movie on top of that for another $2 ($29.95). In other words, $30 to go in and visit. Because the boys were too young to sit through the 4D movies (we'd missed the last Dora the Explorer showing of the day), we opted to only add on the dolphin show (from what the employees told us, 4D movies are 3D movies where the fourth "D" involves vibrating and moving seats, and water being squirted on you). Thankfully, the ticket agent didn't charge the $19.95 for my friend's 3 year old that she should have- only kids 2 and younger get in for free. Once inside, we paid another $2 to use a locker for our stuff (but a really neat kid-holding backpack thingy was free to use). Already spent more money than I had anticipated and I had yet to see anything! According to the website, there are days/times that are cheaper to enter- I would suggest any grown up sans kids interested in going to utilize those specials.
 |
| Jelly Fish |
Once inside and actually on the move though, you can see the money they receive is put to good use. Everything looked new- not one sign looked worn or dated. The first stop we made was an employee holding some sort of lizard out for small kids to see and learn about in an open space I'm guessing they use for children's activities. Unfortunately, there was no touching allowed due to salmonella risks (which was really disappointing to me but I understood). Then there was a giant open pool with a humongous tortoise splashing around with sting rays (they were EVERYWHERE) and other random giant fish. There were also some shark tanks overlooking this pool. We went up moving ramps to each floor and saw tanks of all sizes holding a variety of creatures. Surprisingly, there were more than just water creatures on display- a room filled with puffins stands out to me as we tried our best to convince the 3 year old that they weren't penguins. The fifth floor is actually VERY warm- I'm assuming to resemble a rain forest- and is allegedly filled with all sorts of tropical birds, though we only say two pink birds and an old turtle in our time there. The jellyfish have their own separate area (ironically near the cafeteria) in sci-fi looking tubes, panels, and domes that allow you to marvel at how they move around.
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| My friend's son watching the dolphins in their tank |
The dolphin show was kind of neat. Seven or so dolphins did very basic tricks- but nothing on a Sea World level even though there is a splash- zone and you DO get wet if you sit in said splash zone. We learned how to tell dolphin fins apart, and a "random" guest from the audience got to come up and touch the dolphins. Two different women were talking about dolphin information, but between the room echoes distorting the sound and keeping the kids occupied and focused, I have no idea what either of them were talking about.
Overall, a wonderful place. I would certainly return- during a money saving time period- and would love to experience these 4D movies for myself.
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| USS Constellation |
HISTORIC SHIPS IN BALTIMORE (BALTIMORE MARITIME MUSEUM)
It was pretty chilly on the November day I decided to travel to Baltimore from DC and visit the Historic Ships. As the self-proclaimed Queen of Public Transportation, I rode the Metro from my home to Union Station in DC and took the MARC train for $7 to Baltimore Penn Station. From there, I took the free Charm City Circulator down to the Harbor (which is where the Aquarium is also, but when I went with my friend we drove). The entire process took me probably an hour and a half from the Metro station nearest my house and the ticket booth where I purchased my $18 ticket to tour all four ships.
The four ships represent military life at sea from the mid 1800s up through the 1980s. There is also a free lighthouse (the Seven foot Knoll Lighthouse) that has stood in place for more than 130 years- but I didn't get a chance to go in there. I had a friend (who suggested I name this entry Maryland Part II - Holy Ship!!) who was coming to meet me, and I didn't want to totally bore him to death with my exploration of all four ships (though he did end up joining me for the last two).
I think I pretty much entered them in historical order, starting with the USS Constellation- a wooden ship that was used to thwart illegal slave trading in her early years (successfully stopping at least three ships and freeing the African aboard), carried famine relief to Ireland in the years before World War I, and also served as a practice ship for the US Navy. I was amazed at how large the ship was on the inside- from the outside looking in it seems as if everyone would be packed into one tiny space, but I found (after carefully climbing and descending the very steep ladder like stairs) three levels of space used for various purposes, including sleeping quarters for all ranks of men, storage areas, cannons and weapons, etc. A lot of the spaces were under renovation, but there were signs in place explaining what was going on and what the object or area was used for.
 |
| View of the Chesapeake, the Torsk, and the Aquarium |
From there I went to the LV116 Chesapeake, which was a lighthouse ship that was later used by the US Coast Guard. This was probably the least exciting of the ships (to me) but it prepped me for the ladders and small entry ways I would expect on the next ship I would board. The main highlight aboard was a small exhibit about dogs that served on the ships and how they boosted morale among the crew.
After that I went into the USS Torsk, a World War II submarine that boasts over 10,000 dives and was the last US Navy vessel to sink an enemy ship in that conflict. The deck of the Torsk is kind of rickety looking, but my friend (who joined me by this point) reminded me that in general you wouldn't be walking on top of the ship anyway, seeing as it was designed to be underwater. Again lots of steep stair-ladders, and this time small doorways to squeeze our bodies through as well. This ship was really interesting, getting to walk past torpedoes, radar rooms, and a mini-cafeteria that had a television playing some really great classical music with movie clips. The main downside- other than being slightly too tall and too pudgy to move around freely without having to think about the angle I would approach doors- is that throughout the ship there were touches of things obviously not from that time period (like plastic Bic pens that looked fresh from Office Depot) that were a bit distracting.
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| USS Torsk |
Finally we went to the USCG Taney, the last ship floating that fought in Pearl Harbor. The ship also was a part of the search for Amelia Earhart, fought in the Vietnam War, and was a part of the largest marijuana bust in US history- 160 tons. Certainly the largest of the ships, the Taney was the easiest to move around, and had an entire room dedicated to the attack on Pearl Harbor, with a video playing of interviews of survivors of the events.
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| USCG Taney |
Now, I am sure everyone is wondering "Terri, why haven't you blogged about Maryland crab?" Well, I'm the genius that decided to visit Maryland during the off season for crab. I'll have to come back, maybe on a food centered entry, when crabs are plentiful and don't cost two arms and a third of your soul to get a decent sized cake. As a rule, I don't eat crab legs or pick through crustacean bodies because they look like giant bugs to me- but I'll eat crab cakes and soups and dips and just about anything made with the actual meat. Just an FYI for when I head to Maine and am faced with lobsters!
I also was disappointed that the public isn't allowed to tour the Domino sugar factory located in the city. I'm kind of developing a "thing" of touring factories after visiting Bacardi in Puerto Rico. I'm already plotting on Hershey in Pennsylvania, and Jack Daniels in Tennessee. My friend told me that the dot of the "I" in the glowing sign is over 6 feet tall, and that workers who clean it have to wear special suits to avoid sticking to the lettering because of the sugary fumes that emit from the building. Would have been nice to tour for myself and hear this from an official rep- but alas, that wasn't possible.
With that, I've completed my journey into Maryland! Please feel free to visit (and like!) my Facebook page, leave your comments below, or Tweet me with your thoughts and ideas.
Thanks for reading!
Monday, December 12, 2011
Maryland - Part I (Annapolis)
Hello readers! I apologize that I have not posted in several weeks. It isn't due to a lack of interest or exploration, just a matter of my personal and professional life getting a lot busier and more hectic than I anticipated. I had my Internet and cable disconnected in my apartment because it was simply TOO expensive ($120/ month!), and have not yet activated an alternative month-by-month service. If you have any suggestions (such as Cricket or Verizon- two companies I've already been told to look into by friends) please feel free to let me know! You don't realize how much you USE the Internet until you don't have it at your disposal whenever you wish. I also came down with a seriously terrible flu/bronchitis/upper respiratory infection/pink eye illness combo that had me out of commission for over a week, slowing progress in posting even more (don't worry- I'm all better now!) I have about 4 entries in process, so please bear with me!
I had a very good friend (Alicia) come and visit me from Connecticut for my long Veteran's Day weekend. Being a great friend and good sport, she joined me on my adventure to Annapolis- the capital of Maryland. We spent a day there, visiting three locations: The Annapolis Maritime Museum, the US Naval Academy, and the Alex Haley Memorial. We were instantly impressed with how clean, quaint, and colonial the city looked- in fact she noted that it reminded her a lot of Connecticut!
THE ANNAPOLIS MARITIME MUSEUM
I learned about this place by doing Google searches for "Maryland tourism". Almost every site listed mentioned this quaint museum, so I just HAD to check it out. I was expecting a semi-large space with information about Maryland aquatics, boat history, and how the water has affected Maryland (or at least Annapolis) culture. I kind of got that. It was a very small (but free!) building that my friend and I later learned used to be an oyster shucking plant. Essentially it was a room, with a split up boat in the middle, a murky tank and giant oyster model in the back corner, and a few interactive exhibits along the walls. Inside the tank were fish native to the Chesapeake Bay (and horseshoe crabs- which look completely scary and creepy but are harmless- according to both the staff and my Connecticut friend who is also familiar with them...I personally don't want to find out either way).
I had a very good friend (Alicia) come and visit me from Connecticut for my long Veteran's Day weekend. Being a great friend and good sport, she joined me on my adventure to Annapolis- the capital of Maryland. We spent a day there, visiting three locations: The Annapolis Maritime Museum, the US Naval Academy, and the Alex Haley Memorial. We were instantly impressed with how clean, quaint, and colonial the city looked- in fact she noted that it reminded her a lot of Connecticut!
THE ANNAPOLIS MARITIME MUSEUM
I learned about this place by doing Google searches for "Maryland tourism". Almost every site listed mentioned this quaint museum, so I just HAD to check it out. I was expecting a semi-large space with information about Maryland aquatics, boat history, and how the water has affected Maryland (or at least Annapolis) culture. I kind of got that. It was a very small (but free!) building that my friend and I later learned used to be an oyster shucking plant. Essentially it was a room, with a split up boat in the middle, a murky tank and giant oyster model in the back corner, and a few interactive exhibits along the walls. Inside the tank were fish native to the Chesapeake Bay (and horseshoe crabs- which look completely scary and creepy but are harmless- according to both the staff and my Connecticut friend who is also familiar with them...I personally don't want to find out either way).
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| Inside of the Maritime Museum |
I was slightly disappointed, but a good sport I still walked around and checked it out- and I'm glad I did. The split up boat is a decades old oyster boat separated to show you the construction and allow small kids to climb in and through (I didn't feel small enough to fool around with that, so kudos to the men and women who do that every day!) The interactive displays in the back talk about the history of oyster harvesting as an industry- with videos showing different methods use to collect them from the water, how to open them, etc. There was a giant oyster model with LED lights that showed different parts of the oyster. In the back, there was an actual stand that would have been used by workers as they stood, shucking oysters trying to fill buckets as quickly as possible, as well as equipment and antique products that would have been made in the plant. The displays claimed this was one of the few industries blacks and whites could work side by side in....but all the photos they showed and used in displays- I only saw blacks (no biggie though). Outside, along the back, there is a dock, with signs talking about both the history and fragile ecosystem of the Chesapeake Bay. Kind of surreal reading about all the different ships and events that happened while in the background expensive sailboats and yachts are bobbing in the water.
Overall, very cute museum even though it is small. Just a tip, there is street parking available- but not much. and for some reason, we left there ready to sit down to a meal. This is a great place to bring small kids who have never been to a museum before- a perfect balance of learning that some things you can touch and other things you cannot.
Overall, I enjoyed my visit. It was a very well organized and executed museum- even if it is a little hidden on campus (Preeble Hall is where you wanna go- past the gigantor building that has the crypt of John Paul Jones in it). Be prepared to show ID when you enter the campus. There is very limited street parking, and they tow if you are there longer than 2 hours (a lesson we thankfully didn't have to learn the hard way!) The day we went, some special dance or something was going on, and it instantly had me wishing I was going to a military ball with someone! I'd love to return to the campus someday for a more thorough tour, but even if I never do, the Navy thoroughly impressed me!
First off- wowza. Before I get into details, this has to be the most immaculate campus of anything I have ever seen. I was in full history geek mode the entire time...and I loved it! Alicia and I wandered in and out of several buildings (one of which had a reproduction of a 1909 Wright Military Flyer...long story as to how I knew that on-sight) and I took pictures on our scenic walk. The primary purpose of my visit, however, was to get to the museum located on their campus that covers the naval history from around the world, but with special emphasis on the American Navy and the development of the USNA as we know it today. Admission was free- but I think it's because we arrived later in the day because I distinctly remember reading about admission fees somewhere online...but I digress.
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| Wright Military 1909 Flyer replica on display on the campus |
In two levels, you get a very thorough background of naval history. On the upper floor, there are stations that explain how each part of ships worked (via exhibit displays- nothing hands on though) You also learn about model shipbuilding, as there are dozens and dozens of ship models around the room, most of which are centuries old and were made my prisoners of various countries and conflicts. Some of the more interesting ones were made of animal bones with crude tools. The first floor specifically discusses that American Navy and it's development from our colonial days up through now where USNA alum have flown into space. We both really enjoyed out visit there, and highlights for me were displays of all the class rings from every year of the Academy's existence, and a giant flag that said "Don't Give Up the Ship!" I was also surprised at how many names I already knew and recognized (such as Oliver Hazard Perry- who was the namesake of my rival high school...even though I still am not a fan of that place, the fact that I had an instant connection with a person featured in the museum was cool to me).
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| Rings from every class of the USNA |
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| Don't Give Up The Ship! |
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| Alex Haley reading to children (statues of course) |
Long before I was totally aware that a TV miniseries had broken so many grounds about the story of Kunte Kinte and his descendants making a life in an ever changing America, I read the book. Mind you, I was old enough to even have been born when Roots first came on television, but I was old enough to know that the book was one of America's great novels- and that if I was going to consider myself well-read (which I did and to an extent still do) the 700+ page book was going to have to be tackled. The summer of 1996, it took me four weeks, but I finished that book and I'd never felt prouder of myself and of my heritage as an African-American. Mind you, I skimmed a few pages when Chicken George just kept doing things I considered foolish, but I READ that book. I've been a Haley fan ever since. Learning by chance that a memorial was dedicated to him, I knew I wanted to see it!
Situated on the water, approximately in the same location Kunte Kinte would have arrived from Africa, the memorial is broken into three sections. First is a sign with the explanation of the memorial off to the side and under some trees. Then there is a quartet of statues, Haley reading to children. Finally, along the water, are proverbs and sayings from African and African American culture (and Roots) that speak to importance of family, unity, faith, etc. Alicia said that she liked that it wasn't really big and "memorial" like, but just blended in with everything else, so that everyone can walk up and take claim to such inspiring information. i have to say I agree. Even though it was our last stop (not only was it now nightfall, but we had a date with a dance floor in mere hours back in DC!) it was the stop that made me feel the warmest. I could see my 13 year old self shutting the back cover, smiling and thinking about all of these things that happened so long before I even got here, and could feel almost a sense of closure getting so close to place where that history began.
For more pictures (90+) of my time in Annapolis or any of my adventures, please feel free to visit my Facebook page. Follow me on Twitter, and comment below with your feedback and ideas and opinions!
Thank you for reading!
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