The National WWII Museum-New Orleans, LA

This past weekend we took a weekend trip to New Orleans, LA. I'm sure most people go to NOLA to get drunk on Bourbon, eat beignets from Cafe Du Monde (yum!), or to go hang out in the French Quarter. My first thought when we chose our destination was, "Oh, they have a WWII Museum that I've heard is great!" My husband is used to this by now so we decided to go there once we arrived in town. We were disappointed to learn that they were closed for an event that morning, but we were able to come back that afternoon and again the next day.

The National WWII Museum  is open seven days a week from 9am - 5pm. There is so much to do and according to their website they recommend 3 hours for the exhibits. When we went on Friday and Saturday we spent about a total of 6 hours combined. We did everything the main exhibit, Road to Berlin (which just opened this past Saturday!), Beyond All Boundaries, and Final Mission: The USS Tang Experience. 

From a local tour guide I learned that this was originally a D-Day Museum, but then was expanded to include the whole war. There is so much information to take in from the whole experience. While, I would recommend doing everything when you visit I know not everyone will spend the amount of time we did. You have to check out the main exhibit plus that is your admission to the museum. I did learn more about Okinawa and that is where my Grandpa was during WWII on the USS Hart. 



The new exhibit that opened on Saturday was Road to Berlin. You get a Dog Tag that you register with your information, and then you select a story to follow. I chose Josephine Pescatore who worked as a an evacuation-hospital nurse in the United States Army Nurse Corps and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for her service. You walk through the interactive exhibit and at different stations you swipe your card, and then watch a short video on their story during the war. You can also collect items on your card to review later from home. I have been to a lot of museums, and this one of the coolest features I have seen. 

One other thing I do want to highlight is the 4D experience Beyond All Boundaries. The film is narrated by Tom Hanks and runs about 48 minutes long. First, you are welcomed by Tom in a small room where you watch a short preview and then you make your way into the auditorium. Since it is a 4D experience you have fog going off, chairs shaking, snow falling and other features that come up from the orchestra. I learned a lot from this video--this is a must see!

When Roosevelt didn't speak softly

*This article is from San Antonio Express News and not written by me.*

By Richard A. Marini

SAN ANTONIO — Vice President Teddy Roosevelt was chafed. That much is apparent from even the most cursory reading of a three-page letter dated July 13, 1901, that will be sold via an online auction beginning today.

In the letter, written only three years after his victory with the Rough Riders in the Spanish-American War, Roosevelt airs his concern that an upcoming annual reunion might besmirch the regiment's “splendid record” if it is used as “an advertising scheme, or turned into a raree show.”

Reunions should be held less often, he proposed, and only “in one of the four territories in which the regiment was enlisted (or else in San Antonio).”

Photo via Flickr

Roosevelt's affinity for San Antonio is understandable. This is where he spent several weeks in May 1898 training the raw recruits who would gain fame and glory battling up San Juan Hill in Cuba. And the city returned Roosevelt's affection, turning out in numbers to watch the approximately 1,000 men of what officially was known as the First U.S. Volunteer Cavalry Regiment train in Riverside Park south of downtown.

In the letter, written from his home in Oyster Bay, Long Island, Roosevelt also rails against those former comrades who beseech him for military appointments and government jobs, or for help getting out of legal scrapes.

The surprisingly candid, behind-the-scenes glimpse of one of American history's most colorful characters will be sold online by Boston-based RR Auction in a sale running through Nov. 12.

The original, typewritten letter is addressed to Maj. William H.H. Llewellyn, who'd served under Roosevelt and been rewarded with a post as U.S. attorney in New Mexico.

Signed by Roosevelt and with several handwritten corrections — he added the parentheses around the phrase “or else in San Antonio” — the letter is one item in a lot of more than 850 historical documents, manuscripts and artifacts to be sold.

Purchased from one of Llewellyn's descendants three years ago by a New York collector, the Roosevelt letter carries a starting bid of $1,000, according to Bobby Livingston, executive vice president of RR Auction.

“Other than some scattered creases and a rusty staple hole at the top, the letter's in very good condition for its age,” he said. “It gives you an interesting look at Roosevelt's personality.”

Apparent in the letter, for example, is Roosevelt's keen interest in maintaining the Rough Riders' reputation. After all, the regiment's fame helped propel him to the second-highest office in the land. (What he could not know, of course, was that he'd be elevated to the presidency only two months hence, following the assassination of William McKinley.)

The letter begins with Roosevelt complementing Llewellyn for his prosecution of someone he calls simply “Britto.”

Research by the auction house revealed he likely was referring to Frank Brito, a one-time Rough Rider convicted of murder in the third degree after he tried to shoot his wife but mistakenly killed his sister-in-law instead.

Roosevelt's annoyance with others seeking military or political assistance from their now-influential commander is plain.

“We cannot afford to let it be thought that we either shield bad men because they are Rough Riders or press second rate men forward for the same reason,” he wrote, later adding, “The Oklahoma men have bothered me particularly, seeming to be unable to understand that I cannot possibly dictate the appointment of postmasters &c. I have asked for so many favors for men of the regiment that I am positively ashamed to go to a single department in Washington, and above all, to the War Department.”

As for the reunions, he expresses the belief that getting together annually might be too hard a burden for the “best and most hardworking” vets and instead suggests the next one — “a quiet meeting of the regiment without any outside show of a spectacular type” — be postponed until 1905.

According to contemporary reports, Roosevelt and 50 or so Rough Riders did indeed attend a reunion held here that year. While there were plenty of public events during the two-day affair, the agenda also included a private lunch and afternoon meeting with the president, and a farewell reception later that evening in the parlors of the Menger Hotel.

State Board of Education ponders: Was Sam Houston a liberal?

*This snippet is taken from an article at HoustonChronicle.com and not written by me.*

Wax bust of Sam Houston that was on display at
the San Jacinto Monument. Photo taken by me.

Was Sam Houston a liberal? This is yet the latest "factual" issue discussed by the State Board of Education as the deadline approaches next month for approving new social studies textbooks that Texas students will use for the next eight years. Recent directives from the board to textbook publishers have involved refernces to Jews and the Holocaust, and the good and the bad sides of Islam. "The whole structure is in a way a charade," said Jacqueline Jones, the chairwoman of the history department at the University of Texas at Austin. Texas Tribune

Proposed Items for Social Studies Textbooks

Books via Flickr                                                             Frontier Classroom via Flickr

   

                     
Back in 2009 the State Board of Education (SBOE) in Texas tried to cut Darwinian evolution from state textbooks. These new social studies books will be voted on in November by the SBOE. The Houston Press has compiled a list of 10 crazy things they are proposing to include in the textbooks. The full list is located here . Here is some of the crazy things being considered from that list:

"6. Nothing good has happened in society since 1927.
4. The Native Americans hung out with the Pilgrims and the whole things turned out just fine for Squanto and his buddies.
2. The whole segregation thing wasn't that big of a deal"

I can't even begin to say how ridiculous some of these are. Read the article and make your own conclusions. 


**I did not write the list, it's from the Houston Press.**

Peaceful Protests

From time to time people of this great nation have felt oppressed and stood up against opposing forces. The colonists who were tired of taxation from the British, women who wanted the right to vote like their counterparts, and African Americans who wanted equal rights. All of these were achieved with peaceful protests-where the oppressed remained  peaceful even when they were attacked or harassed. With recent events in Ferguson I thought it would be interesting  too compare a true peaceful protest held by Alice Paul compared to the "peaceful protests" being held in Missouri. 

Photo from History.com

Alice Paul fought for woman's suffrage not only in Britain but in the United States as well. She organized her first political protest outside the gates of the White House in January 1917. Along with other women they held banners demanding the right to vote. The women continued to protest throughout the year by holding up different banners even while the country went into World War I. Paul and the other women were not met kindly while peacefully protesting. Young men would beat up and harass the women with the police never intervening, police would arrest the men who tried to help defend the women. The women were arrested and pardoned once by Wilson. They were sent to Occoquan  Workhouse in VA and given no special treatment. The lived in dreadful facilities with infested food and poor sanitation. Paul went on a hunger strike protesting these conditions and she was force feed raw eggs. All of this put pressure on Woodrow Wilson and he finally announced in January 1918 that  suffrage was needed urgently as a war measure. For the next two years the House and Senate would vote  on women's suffrage finally passing the 19th Amendment on August 18, 1920. 

Women stood up with signs merely asking for their voice to be heard and were mistreated by others in the process. 

Picture taken from Flickr

In Ferguson, MI however they did not protest all that peaceful. People were protesting after an African American teen was shot in the street. (This post is not about getting into who did what, who is or isn't innocent, or any of that.) Days after the shooting people were out in protest. They could of taken note from any peaceful protests... the Boston Tea Party, Alice Paul, or the March on Washington for Civil Rights just to name a few. However, they choose to get in police face's taunting them not to shoot. There was also acts of looting, breaking into stores, or damaging property. The "peaceful protests" shut down the city preventing some people from going to work, children to go to school, and curfews set in the city by the Governor. Explain to me how looting or breaking into a store is going to change the way Ferguson or even America views racism? 

Comparing the two protests you can see a difference. One lead to women getting the right to vote and the second hasn't lead to anything, in my opinion. People are so quick to judge, but they don't take the time to look at the details. 

That is all.

Arlington National Cemetery-Arlington, VA

If you're ever in Virginia or Washington D.C. you should definitely visit the Arlington National Cemetery.The cemetery was established 150 years ago on June 15, 1864. It was created out of necessity for the soldiers lost during the Civil War. Today it is a shrine to the numerous men and women who have survived during times of war and peace for our beloved country. 

This is from our trip in 2011.

Now I've been to the Houston National Cemetery to visit my Grandpa and Uncle's grave, but being at Arlington it is a once in a lifetime experience. To see that many graves in one place puts things into perspective. This is a place to visit and show your respects. 

There are two things you must see while there: the eternal flame and the changing of the guard. The eternal flame is at the grave site of John F. Kennedy and was put in at the request of his wife, Jackie.
The flame has only been extinguished a few times once when holy water was spilled on it and once by a heavy rain. Both times the flame was relit by hand.

At the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier it has been guarded since July 2, 1937 continuously. Inclement weather, terrorist attacks, and other events do not cause the watch to cease. The Soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Regiment "The Old Guard" protect the tomb day and night. The soldiers who walk the mat do not wear rank, so they won't outrank the "Unknowns."

The soldiers duty is not only ceremonial but they will confront anyone trying to cross the barriers or people who are disrespectful/loud.

Arlington National Cemetery is open 365 days a year in April-Sept from 8am-7pm, Oct-March 8am-5pm. There is a charge for parking and there may be a charge to get in but that can be found on their site!

San Jacinto Day

Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad!

On April 21, 1836 the Battle of San Jacinto occurred and it was the last battle of the Texas Revolution. Texas won their independence from Mexico. 

Today is an official state holiday, but of course I still had to work :p (They don't really give anyone the day off...). An annual San Jacinto Day Festival and Battle Reenactment is held on the weekend before, on, or after (depending how the days fall) . This year the festival is on April 26, 2014 from 10am-6pm at the San Jacinto Monument.

2012

Now not only is there a battle reenactment at about the same time of the actual battle they do have both camps set up for you to walk through and ask questions about life in the 1830s. I have asked Santa Anna where his Yellow Rose of Texas was and he  didn't answer my question. I'm not sure if he was in role and didn't want to answer my question or if he didn't know what I was talking about. It could also be that I was in the 7th/8th grade when I asked. Lol! 

There is also vendors, the museum gift shop, entertainers, petting zoo, train ride, square dancers, among other things. 

If you've never been it is worth checking out. The best time to go to the top of the Monument is early in the morning when they open at 9am, during the actual Reenactment because everyone will be out there. They stop selling tickets around 5:30pm and the show runs hourly from 10am-5pm. Be prepared for a long day and lots of people. 

As for me, I won't be out there this year I've gone numerous times and will be at work. Have fun yall!

National Museum of American History-Washington, D.C.

Where do I even begin to write about the National Museum of American History?  This place is amazing! We drove up to meet friends in Georgetown for lunch (which if you are in the area, you must eat at Filomena Ristorante the food is to die for!) and make it over to the museum.

Caroline Scott Harrison's dress

We only got to see about 1/4 or a 1/3 of the museum. It is so large, and there is so many things to see. I had the biggest smile on my face the entire time I was there. It was like taking a kid into a candy store instead this was taking a mid 20's woman with a B.A. in history to the ultimate American history archive! 

As we walked in the first display was the The Star-Spangled Banner, the flag that inspired the National Anthem. The flag is over 200 years old and is quite a site to see. I wanted to take a picture of it sooooooo bad, but photography is not permitted.  I understand why they can't let pictures to be taken to preserve the flag, but they are nice enough to share pictures on their flickr page. Ok, ok we must move on to some other things now. 

Other things we got to see were the First Ladies dresses, pieces of the White House, debris from the Twin Towers after the 9/11 attacks, a piece of the Berlin Wall plus a few other things. I really wanna spend a full day or two walking around and seeing EVERYTHING! 

If you make it out to D.C. to see the museum plan on spending a few hours. There is so much to see and read, plus they have a pretty nifty gift shop. I plan to go back, hopefully soon while the cherry blossoms are in bloom.

This is my Civil Era type photo.

Admission to the museum is free and they are open 364 days a year (closed on Christmas Day) from 10am-730pm.

Houston Zoo-Houston, TX

While contemplating my next blog post I came across some pictures from the Houston Zoo. It's been a couple of years since I've been... I want to go feed the giraffes! Plus there is new babies at the zoo, and what is more adorable than a baby animal? This got me wondering on how the zoo came to the city and if there was any interesting story to its creation. 

The Houston Zoo had its early beginnings in 1922 with a bison named Earl. A fence was put around him and the park collected other birds and reptiles. At that time it was named Hermann Park Zoo. The first staff member was Hans Nagel who built up the collection and bought the zoos first elephant, Hans. Hans, the zookeeper, did lion and elephant shows. Only in Texas, would this story exist but he passed away on Zoo ground during a gun fight. 

In 1950, the Zoo expanded to add primates, an aviary and an array of other animals. They have an agreement with the city for a 50 year lease of the park. They have expanded the Zoo and brought in more animals. 

The nest time to visit the Zoo would be in the spring or fall just for the simple fact that our summers can be unbearable sometimes. 

I plan to make it out there soon to feed the giraffes, see the large cats, and the baby elephant. 

They are open from 9am-7pm; children under 2 are free, children 2-11 $11, adults $15, and senior citizens 65+ $8.50. 

The Museum of Edgar Allan Poe-Richmond, VA

"I became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity."-Edgar Allan Poe

We went to Richmond, VA to go to a performance shop for my husband's truck that needed work and before heading back we stopped at The Museum of Edgar Allan Poe. 

I didn't know there was a museum until looking it up on one of my favorite apps History Here. Poe never lived in the building that the museum is in, but it is set up to reflect Richmond at that time. The museum hosts a large collection of manuscripts, personal belongings, first editions and a 3D model of Richmond from when he lived. 

Pictures were not allowed to be taken inside so sadly I have none to share but this one to the left. In the museum you get to learn of his life. They have relics from his boyhood bed, his truck, walking cane and even handwritten first copies of some of this work. 

It's interesting to learn more about him then the things you are taught in school. It would of been nice to have someone dressed up as him reading "The Raven" or a "Tell Tale Heart." I would visit it again next time I make it back to Virginia.