We visited the Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center to get the America 250 stamp for the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park. We enjoyed the exhibits, especially learning about the Wright Brothers printing press business.
Wright Flyer
Helicopter Toy
Frank B. Hale Groceries
Frank B. Hale Groceries
Wright Brothers Gliders
Aviation Trail Parachute Museum
Aviation Trail Parachute Museum
Aviation Trail Parachute Museum
Bench from Wright family home
Composing Room
Printing Press
See full list of Ranger Dan's National Parks Visited here.
Because it was raining, Mik did not want to get out of the truck when we visited Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument. Thus, Dad and I just quickly went through the exhibits inside the house and got the stamps.
See full list of Ranger Dan's National Parks Visited here.
As this was our first visit to Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, we planned to spend time really exploring it. However, we found the visitor center rather lacking with no real exhibit and the sidewalk to the mounds did not even get to the first info sign. We were not surprised that it was not accessible for Mik (Wheelchair Travel Adventures post) to go through the mound side, but we had expected there to at least be some sort of exhibit about the site in the visitor center. Mik did at least let me quickly walk through the mound area to the various signs and take some Ranger Dan photos.
Visitor Center
Shawnee Tribe Flag
Mound 7
Elliptical Mound
My Sketch
See full list of Ranger Dan's National Parks Visited here.
The New River Gorge was one of the places we visited on the trip we got Ranger Dan. Back then, it was designated a National River, so this was our first visit to it as a National Park. That visit we only went to the Canyon Rim Visitor Center. This trip we also visited the Sandstone Visitor Center and Sandstone Falls.
Batteau
As we got to the visitor center near closing time, Dad went in and got the stamps while I took some Ranger Dan photos and did a sketch of the batteau.
Batteau Sketch
Sandstone Falls
At the Visitor Center, Dad learned that the Sandstone Falls could be seen from a short accessible trail, so we drove over and saw that before going to the hotel.
The next morning we went to the Canyon Rim Visitor Center for more 250 stamps and for Mik to see the New River Gorge Bridge.
We have visited the Indiana Dunes several times including when it used be a National Lakeshore and not a National Park. Thus, this visit was meant to just be a quick stop for the America 250 stamp. We discovered there was a Indigenous Cultural Trail at the Visitor Center that is new since our last visit and ended up exploring that, too.
Sign at Visitor Center
Buffalo Statue in front of Visitor Center
Indigenous Cultural Trail
Indigenous Cultural Trail - Miami Lunar Calendar
Indigenous Cultural Trail - Miami Lunar Calendar
Indigenous Cultural Trail - American Elm
Indigenous Cultural Trail
Indigenous Cultural Trail - Potawatomi Lunar Calendar
On our last day in Springfield, Missouri, we visited the nearby Wilson's Creek National Battlefield as a national park unit we have not been to before and, of course, collect another America 250 stamp. We learned about the battle in the Visitor Center and drove the Tour Road.
As we wanted to make sure to make it back to Springfield for Disney/Pixar's Cars at the Gillioz Theatre, we did kind of rush our visit and only stopped at a few of the stops on the Tour Road. At one stop we took a short hike to the Gibson's Mill and House sites. At another stop, we walked up to the Ray house and I did a sketch of it.
Timeline Marker on Sidewalk up to Visitor Center
Lyon Bed in Visitor Center
Major General Sterling Prices' Revolver
Gibson's Mill Site
Gibson's House Site
My Sketch of Ray House
America 250 Stamp
Ray House
Cannon
Backoff's Battery
See full list of Ranger Dan's National Parks visited here.
