March 5th Jackson MS and New Orleans

We started the morning going to the Mississippi State Capitol in Jackson.  We were the only 2 people taking the tour, given by Steve.  He did a wonderful job and was very knowledgeable. The building was completed in 1903.  The building cost $1,093,641 dollars, which was paid by the Illinois Central Railroad for the back taxes they owed the state.

One of the governors was a Maine born man, Adelbert Ames (1835).  He served 2 terms, from 1868 to 1870 and 1874 to 1876.

A lot of the Marble in the building came from Italy as well as Rose Marble from Vermont.

John Grisham Jr., a writer, best known for his books, served a term in the Legislature.

Typical of other states, the legislature is working hard to finish up on bills submitted, with 2 days to go.  There was a K-9 officer taking a dog for a walk in the chambers before they came back for the day.  While the dog was going up and down the aisles quickly, it did stop and put it's paws on top of a desk to get a better smell.  Maybe it was a new variety of Oreos.

 Steve did a great job of letting you know where Grammie and Grampy were.

A view from the front of the building.  The insides of the building were renovated in 1979 at a cost of 19 million.

The Eagle at the top is 8 feet tall and 15 feet wide.

The statue in front of the building was established by the United Daughters of the Confederacy in memory of Mothers.

A Red Tailed Hawk strolling around the freshly mowed grass.

In the middle of the day we headed to New Orleans, checked into the hotel, and then took off for the city.                                               On the way, the Superdome.

If you by chance get to visit the city, go to this web site FIRST.  Premium parking. When you first go the website, you can pay for your parking ahead, or pay by plate.  On the website, it may appear that the prices are high, but if you put in an early time, you may get an early bird all day special for $12.00.  We have already paid in advance for all day on Tuesday.  P402 in in the French Quarter where you can pick up tours by boat, trolley, or walking. It is very handy to Bourbon Street.

Down by the water, you can take a ride on the Natchez in varying lengths of times.

Today it is known worldwide as Bourbon Street.

Nearing dinner time the streets became more crowded.  

Certainly a drivers nightmare with people walking all over the streets.

There were many shops, and places to eat, or grab a soda as you tour Bourbon Street. In an effort to catch your business, the signs hope to catch your eye.

 Bourbon street, 2nd floor apartment.  $1500/week single bedroom apartment.

 Some signs were humorous...and some signs bore some evidence of a good upbringing.

  There was a long line outside of Preservation Hall.  It is a no frills parlor promoting Jazz. The first 40 people get low backless chairs, and the remainder of the 100 person capacity get to stand during 45 minute sets.

 More signs to drum up business.

It was a busy day day!

For dinner, Grampy had a meal right our of a Carpenter song

...Jambalaya, crawfish pie and fillet gumbo.

With parking already paid for, Grammie and Grampy are in for a full day Tuesday.

March 3rd, 2018 - William J Clinton Presidential Center and Park

Little Rock Arkansas is the Home of the Presidential Library.  It is real easy to get to...if you follow directions.  Get off the exit and the large free parking space is right in front.

Outside is a display honoring Anne Frank and her human spirit.  Anne's Tree outlived her by more than 60 years. The original tree was destroyed by disease and a windstorm. The Clinton Library was selected as one of the 11 sites in the US to receive a sapling of Anne's Tree.

The Library Building was designed to withstand hurricanes and tornadoes as it is located in what is known as Hurricane Alley.  It also has other design features to ease stress on the environment.

There is a temporary display featuring the Louisiana Purchase.  It's last day is March 4th.
The original document of the Treaty between the US and the Republic of France is on loan from the National Archives.

We were treated to a tour of the library by a very knowledgeable docent, Jesse.

There is a replica of the Cabinet Room which features the Table from the Nixon Presidency, being the same table that Betty Ford danced on.

Betty Ford 

Among the library is a collection of things donated to the library, or President Clinton.
Shawn Walsh's gift of a Maine Black Bear's Jersey #93.

Sylvia Gabriel, a member of the Passamaquoddy Tribe in Maine, made this basket, and was her gift.

Andy Meucci, manager of the Family Fun Bowling Lanes in Bangor.  A bowling ball bag, and a bowling ball inscribed to Chelsea.

Bill's Saxes helped to bring music to the White House and also included performances by great artists.  Itzhak Perlman, Arethra Franklin, Yo Yo Ma, Lenny Kravitz, Wynton Marsalis, B.B. King, Mark Anthony, and military Bands. 

A display of gifts from foreign dignitaries and leaders of other world countries.  

 Gifts from sports greats.

There was a display of Christmas in the White House.

A gift of Dale Chihuly, Artist

On display at the library are displays that include information from his State of the Union addresses and his plans for helping to develop humanity.  Among them, his efforts to improve the lives of people including solidifying Social Security, and healthcare.

President Clinton advanced his plan of putting people first by extending the life of Medicare to 2025.

There are many other things in the permanent collection including the daily logs while president.

For more online, visit  Clinton Presidential Library 

Downstairs in the Library is the 42 Bar and Table.  The food and service was great...and Grammie didn't turn down the Creme Brulee, one of her favorites.

A great day in Little Rock. 

March 2, 2018 Hot Springs National Park

On Friday we traveled to Hot Springs AR, the location of the Hot Springs National Park.  The park was established in 1921 but in 1832 it was established as Hot Springs Reservation.

 There were many spa businesses established that features the use of spring water as a therapeutic cure for all sorts of ailments.  Besides hot baths, steam baths, massages and the like, it also included electrotherapy.   Over the years the problem of water usage allotments became a serious problem.  The park includes portions of downtown Hot Springs, making it one of the most accessible national parks. There are numerous hiking trails and camping areas. Bathing in spring water is available in approved facilities at extra cost.  The row's Fordyce Bathhouse picture below, serves as the park's visitor center; the Buckstaff and Quapaw are the only facilities in 2015 still operating as bathhouses.

 The Quapaw, next door to the Fordyce has different options.  Quapaw Specials

 The water comes out of the ground around 143 degrees and is diluted with cold water to bring it down to about 100 degrees.

 The Arlington Hotel, front building, with about 500 rooms also features Hot Spa and Salon services.

 A rock wall collects the hot mineral water.

The National Park intermingles with the city of Hot Springs.  Bathhouse Row is on one side of the street.  Across the street are museums, antique and art galleries, unique restaurants and live entertainment.

The following pictures are from the Fordyce Bathhouse.  After a hot tub, and a steam treatment, the cold water stream cools one down.

The hot tubs, from days gone by.

Steam bath treatments

Controls to mix hot and cold water to get the temperature down to 100 degrees.

The changing room.

The Salon room

Up on the top floor, a gym was added to help develop muscles.

A hot tub therapy room for people with disabilities.

Hot Springs Mountain, climbs steeply behind the bathhouses and has has hiking trails and a lookout tower, with gift shop, to view the nearby mountains.  The location of the yellow structure includes water slides and other rides, and music groups.  Magic Springs

 

 The hiking trail was 1.7 miles and included category 1 and 1.5 difficulty areas.

 Hot Springs National Park is the 28th National Park that we have visited.

Thanks for keeping an eye out for Grammie.

March 1, 2018 - Little Rock Arkansas

Today we traveled down from Millington, TN where we have been staying, through Memphis to Little Rock.  Because the rain has continued, the flooding has become more extensive.  I would guess that at least half the 140 mile distance at least on one side of the road, was flooded back into the crop fields and into the woods as far as we could see from the road.

We started by doing a tour of the Capitol in Little Rock. The building was finished in 1915 at a cost of around 2 million. In the process, all the needed land for the building, and the associated state agencies was procured.  The Capitol was easily, and quickly reached from the interstate system.  Getting off the exit and going through only one stoplight, you were there in about a minute, however, parking and a short walk added a bit more.

 Inside, under the rotunda, there was a team taking last day applications to run for the available seats in the house and senate.  The work sessions for legislators will open on March 5th with the goal of coming up with a budget.

 Among the usual  state bird, tree, etc, they came up with the State Historic Cooking Vessel.  The Lodge Dutch Oven

 Governot William Jefferson Clinton looked very young in office.  He was the Governor from 1979 to 1981, and again from 1983 to 1992.

 Outside is a Memorial to the The Little Rock Nine who were a group of nine African American students enrolled in Little Rock Central High School in 1957. Their enrollment was followed by the Little Rock Crisis, in which the students were initially prevented from entering the racially segregated school by Orval Faubus, the Governor of Arkansas.  They eventually entered school, under the protection of the 101st Airborne, ordered by President Eisenhower.

 The front of the Capitol

The members of the Little Rock Nine were presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Clinton.

 Although the High School is still in use in its 61st year since desegregation, there is a Historic Site Visitor Center diagonally across the intersection of the streets.

 A view of a portion of the high school from across the street.  3:50 p.m. and school is out for the day.

 The front of the main building from the street.

It was a great opportunity to see such a historic place.