Wanderlust… The call of the open road… Mid-life crisis… Insanity.
Maybe.
Wanderlust
Posted in Random Thoughts
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Ribault Club and Kingsley Plantation
January 29, 2022
Before the Ribault Club on Fort George Island became a rich man’s paradise, the Kingsley Plantation was a slave’s hell.
The two sites may only be a few miles apart, but were worlds apart in what life was like.
Ribault Club
National Civil War Naval Museum, Columbus, GA
January 12, 2022
National Civil War Naval Museum
This not-so-little museum is another one of those gems that you really have to look for. We’ve gotten into the habit of using Google Maps to search for interesting things to do near our current location. We just type in “things to do near city, state” and Google Maps returns a nice list of possibilities. That’s how I found this museum.
 CSS Jackson Deck |
 CSS Jackson Propellers |
Gulf Islands National Seashore and Fort Pickens
January 16-23, 2022
We spent a week at the Fort Pickens Campground which is part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. We’d been here once before and enjoyed it enough to come back.
Gulf Islands National Seashore
We explored Civil War era Fort Pickens and early 20th century coastal batteries, learned about the area at the Fort Pickens Discovery Center, walked the beaches, hiked the trails, watched wildlife, and thoroughly enjoyed our time here.
Jimmy Carter NHS, Plains, GA
January 6, 2022
Plains High School and Jimmy Carter NHS Visitor Center
Most National Park sites represent “old” history, i.e., events that happened before I was born. The Jimmy Carter National Historic Site is different. I was old enough to vote in the presidential election that pitted Jimmy Carter (D) against Gerald Ford (R). I remember many of the key events, both good and bad, that happened during the Carter administration – OPEC-caused gas shortages, the Egyptian-Israeli peace agreement, and the Iran hostage crisis.
Posted in Museums, National Park
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Andersonville NHS, Andersonville, GA
December 31, 2021
The day we visited was cloudy and dozens of vultures circled above us. While that felt eerie it also seemed fitting.
The Andersonville National Historic Site encompasses a portion of the notorious Civil War Andersonville prison camp. A road winds around the prison’s perimeter. As you walk the site make sure you listen to the audio recordings that describe the prison, the prisoners, their captors, life and death in the camp, and the good and evil that existed side-by-side here.
Only a few remnants of the original prison camp remain. But there’s enough left that you can imagine what it must have been like to be a prisoner here.
Map of Prison Camp
Posted in Civil War, Museums, National Park
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National Prisoner of War Museum, Andersonville, GA
December 31, 2021
Every war-related museum – from the Revolutionary War to Iraq and Afghanistan – that I have visited celebrates our armed forces strength, power, bravery, and perseverance.
Except this one.
The National Prisoner of War Museum, part of the Andersonville National Historic Site, focuses on and commemorates American prisoners of war, both military and civilian.
This one brings you face to face with those men and women who fought on or were caught behind the front lines and were captured by the enemy. This museum tells their story poignantly and well.
Memorial to American Prisoners of War
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Allatoona Pass Battlefield State Park, Georgia
December 20, 2021
Union
Commander: Brig. Gen John M. Corse
Troops: 2,000
Casualties: 706 (35%)
Confederate
Commander: Gen Samuel French
Troops: 3,200
Casualties: 897 (28%)
The Battle of Allatoona Pass was fought on October 5, 1864. While the battle was small by Civil War standards, the casualty rate was much higher. Its location tells you why.
The Western & Atlantic Railroad ran from Chattanooga, Tennessee to Atlanta, Georgia. As the Union army fought its way from Chattanooga to Atlanta in 1864, this railroad was its lifeline. Protecting the railroad was critical to the Union army’s success. One chokepoint was at Allatoona Pass where the railroad traveled through a very steep, narrow gorge.
Union troops were determined to defend their tenuous supply line. The Confederates were equally determined to sever it.
Allatoona Pass
Chattahoochee River NRA and Old Mill Park
December 16, 2021
Chattahoochee River NRA
The Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area protects most of a 48-mile stretch of this historic river. We spent the morning wandering the Island Ford Visitor Center and taking a nice stroll along this scenic river.
Island Ford Visitor Center
While small, the visitor center provided a lot of information. A very helpful park ranger also pointed out the best places to visit. Sadly, we did not have the time to see them all.
Kennesaw Mountain NBP
December 14, 2021
I really liked this visitor center’s museum and gift shop/bookstore. Unfortunately, the theater was closed so, no film. I drooled over and could have spent a lot of money on books but…I already owned about half of them and, living in a small motorhome, buying physical books is a no-no. So I saved a lot of money.
On the wall just before the museum entrance is a Civil War timeline prior to the start of the Atlanta campaign in the summer of 1864. Once inside you get both sides of the story as to why the Civil War was fought. Being a presidential election year, you’ll learn why President Lincoln wanted a clear victory to help ensure his chances for reelection. The war had entered its fourth year and the Union appeared to be no closer to victory. Confederate President Jefferson Davis believed that if his armies could just hold on, the Union would sue for an end to the war.
 Setting the Stage – Union Perspective |
 Setting the Stage – Confederate Perspective |
South Carolina State Museum
December 4-5, 2021
South Carolina Science Museum
What we thought would be a one day event, turned into two very full days. And we still had to hurry. I took hundreds of pictures to capture as many of the exhibits as I could. Sadly, all the pictures I took on the second day “disappeared.” I’m not sure if that was due to technical difficulties or user error. But there were still plenty left for this post.
Spirit of the Woods 