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By Doug, July 18, 2009 02:44

The Hobo Museum in Britt, Iowa.

Believe it or not, there’s a difference between a hobo, a tramp and a bum.  Basically, a hobo travels in order to work (a migrant worker is a type of hobo) and a tramp travels but doesn’t do work.  A bum doesn’t travel around and doesn’t work, either.

The Hobo Museum, in Britt, Iowa has photos, various contraptions used by hobos, railroad memorabilia, etc.  There’s also a hobo cemetery one can visit to pay their, well, respects to various hobos of note.  A visit to the gift shop is a must; one can buy various hobo-made oddities like wood carvings, “monkey fists” (apparently the symbol of all official hobos) and more.

Each year, the town hosts a Hobo Convention where folks come by the thousands to do what it is hobos do.  There’s a parade, flea market, concerts and Mulligan Stew to serve 5,000!

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By Doug, July 15, 2009 04:41

Houdini's Milk Can Escape

The American Museum of Magic in Marshall, Michigan is a collection of entertainment magic props, books, posters and so forth. Housed in two buildings, the collection includes more than 15,000 books and 20,000 photographs in its library.

One of the more popular pieces in the collection is the actual “milk can” made famous by Harry Houdini. Houdini would fill the can with water and then he’d have himself handcuffed and lowered into the can. The audience was invited to hold their breath just like Houdini was doing inside the can while it was sealed shut and Houdini performed his escape. The popular act was only done for four years but it’s one of the stunts most associated with the famous magician.

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By Doug, July 10, 2009 18:00

Donner's Pass Memorial. The snow level of 1846/47 was as high as this statue is tall.

In 1846 a group of people started out for California. Along the way they met a man who said “hey, I know a shortcut” and so 87 people in 23 wagons headed off on a route that took them through the Wasatch Mountains and the Great Salt Lake Desert. The arduous trek took three weeks longer than the more normal route and by the time the parties reached the Sierras in November, snow was falling. With Pioneer Spirit and I’m suspecting more than an average amount of stupidity (and perhaps a little whiskey), the party took on an attitude of “hell, we’re almost there, no sense stopping now!” and trod off through the snow and mountains.

After hitting 22-foot deep snow they decided to stop and send 10 men and 5 women for help. Two men and five women eventually found help on the other side of the mountains. The balance of the 15 members became tasty little morsels.

Four waves of rescue parties went after the folks camped out in the Sierras, each wave finding fewer and fewer people alive with those less fortunate once again becoming People McNuggets. Finally, the last surviving man was rescued and taken back to Sutter’s Fort, where he arrived on April 29. In the end, 39 people died and 48 survived. In addition, two California Indians who were bringing supplies from Sutter’s Fort became trapped and also died, bringing the total to 41.

Today, we’ve erected a monument at Donner’s Pass, with the inscription below, to warn others not to try to cross the Sierras in winter without adequate food and supplies lest ye be eaten.

VIRILE TO RISK AND FIND; KINDLY WITHAL AND A READY HELP. FACING THE BRUNT OF FATE; INDOMITABLE, -UNAFRAID.

 

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By Doug, July 7, 2009 05:10

Gene Autry

Trying to figure out the “begats” for the Museum of the American West is like trying to figure out why a dog likes to stick his head out of a car window while the car’s moving but hates it when you blow in its face. Sure, you can figure it out eventually but you’ll probably need to take a couple of aspirin before it’s all said and done.

The Museum of the American West is part of the Autry National Center of the American West. The other two parts of the Autry Center are the Southwest Museum of the American Indian and the Institute for the Study of the American West. The Autry Center was formed when the Southwest Museum, the Women of the West Museum and the Autry Museum of American Heritage merged. Not sure what happened to the women during that move but at least the name was dropped for good. So, that’s all I’m going to say about that.

For those who know nothing about cowboys, here’s a little bit about Gene Autry:

Gene Autry’s career spanned some 60 years in the entertainment industry, encompassing radio, recordings, motion pictures, television, rodeo and live performances. He also became a broadcast executive and major league baseball owner.

Known as ‘America’s Favorite Singing Cowboy’, he is the only entertainer to have five stars on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, one each for radio, records, film, television and live theatrical performance (including rodeo). In his ability to transcend media and in the sheer scope of his output, Gene Autry was unsurpassed as a popular image-maker of the American West.

Born in Tioga, Texas, on September 29, 1907, Orvon Gene Autry bought his first guitar at the age of 12 for $8. By the late 1920s, he was working as a telegrapher for the railroad in Oklahoma. While he was singing and playing in the office one night, Gene was discovered by the great cowboy humorist Will Rogers. Rogers advised the young Autry to try radio, and the rest is history.

But what about that museum, you may ask. Well, I was getting to that.  The museum is located in Griffith Park, California.  Exhibits include art, costumes, firearms and (of course) music related to the American West. But the museum exhibits rotate quite a bit so make sure you look into what’s going to be there when you are or you might end up seeing a whole lot of stuff you really don’t care about. However, if you are the least little bit a fan of the American West, that’s not likely!

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By Doug, July 5, 2009 03:12

Steamboat Arabia

Picture it in your mind. You’re traveling from St. Louis to Kansas City in 1856. It’s nighttime, the air is sticky, crickets are chirping, fireflies light up the shores and someone is playing a banjo in the distance. No, you aren’t in a scene from Deliverance and you aren’t going to be made to “squeal like a pig!” You’re on the steamboat Arabia, cruising up the mighty Missouri river on your way to a new life way out west in Missouri!

Then, you hit a submerged log, the boat sinks and all of a sudden it sucks to be you. You’re on one of more than 300 steamboats that have met a similar fate. The Missouri river is tough to navigate.

The steamboat Arabia was a side-wheel steamer built in Brownsville, PA in 1853. She measured 171 feet long and was capable of carrying 222 tons. Against the Missouri’s swift current, the twin 28-foot tall paddlewheels could push the steamboat upstream at a speed of over 5 miles an hour. The Arabia was considered a dependable vessel and soon gained a reputation for speed, safety and comfort.

More than 130 years after the wreck, David Hawley, along with his father Bob and brother Greg went looking for the remains of the steamboat and found them in a field, nearly ½ mile from the present day riverbank. The crew was able to salvage parts of the riverboat, personal belongings of the passengers (no passengers died during the accident), cargo and other treasures. Those treasures are now on display at the Steamboat Arabia near Kansas City, Missouri.

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By Doug, July 4, 2009 05:10

National Museum of Patriotism

Capitalizing on the swelling of patriotic feelings after 9/11, The National Museum of Patriotism in Atlanta, Georgia takes the visitor through some of the events that have made the United States what it is today. Exhibits include a Hall of Patriots, Symbols of America, the Olympics, First Responders and more. Although it’s easy to be cynical about this “national” museum being in Atlanta rather than New York or DC and the view of history presented within its halls is straight out of high school textbooks (with any impropriety completely absent), the museum does a good job of instilling a valuable sense of national pride.

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By Doug, July 2, 2009 11:04

Lincoln Pioneer Village and Museum

The Lincoln Pioneer Village and Museum in Rockport, Indiana doesn’t have a whole heck of a lot to do with Abraham Lincoln himself, other than a hutch made by his father. But, the name sells and this IS the “land of Lincoln!”

So, the attractions don’t have much to do with Lincoln and the log cabins aren’t original. The museum has a lot of old “stuff” you see in other museums. This is just basically someone’s dream to milk your tourist dollar. But, that doesn’t mean it isn’t interesting or worth a stop if you’re in the neighborhood.

Honig met many obstacles. But he persisted, saying: “The citizens of Spencer County will see the vision, then we will build a historic memorial to Lincoln that will visualize the Spencer County environment in which Lincoln lived during the 14 formative years of his life, from 1816 to 1830.”

Honig made the blueprints for the buildings after long and careful research, then superintended the construction of the village.

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By Doug, June 25, 2009 07:21

Silver City, Idaho

Around the turn of the last century, Silver City, Idaho was the county seat of Owyhee County with 75 businesses, a population of 2,500 people and 300 homes. Although most similar mining towns of the era either grew up or burned down, for whatever reason Silver City remains the same; a true ghost town, high up in the Owyhee Mountains. Some of the remaining buildings include a church, hotel, schoolhouse and over 70 other structures. There are also four burial areas with some fascinating gravestones.

As run down as it is, there’s a museum in the schoolhouse, some of the houses are available to rent as cabins and hot food is available in the hotel/bar. The town itself is about 65 miles from Boise, near the Idaho/Oregon border.

Today people come to see the abandoned buildings, go horseback riding, collect rocks and arrowheads or otherwise enjoy the surrounding mountains. Outfitters and guides are available to help you find your way around. Note, although you’re welcome to walk around and see the sights, much of the area is still private property so treat the area with respect. Believe it or not, some people still live there.

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By Doug, June 19, 2009 21:58

 

Salem Witch Museum

There aren’t too many more bizarre events in American history than the Salem witch trials. Although on the surface it was not much more than a bunch of bratty little girls run amok, in the end 14 women and 5 men were found guilty and hanged while another man was pressed to death (large rocks were placed on his chest until he suffocated) for not entering a plea. Contrary to popular belief, nobody was burned at the stake; that was more popular in merry old England.

Providing context to the events of 1692 and 1693 is the Salem Witch Museum, the most popular museum in all of Massachusetts. Housed in a creepy old stone building with a statue of a hag out front, the museum will give you chills even before you enter. It’s a “must see” at night when lit by green lights. Inside, you’ll find a variety of scenes depicting the events of the accusations and trials, complete with voice recordings that really put you in the period and provide a little bit of insight into exactly what it must have been like.

So, what exactly happened? Well, nobody is 100% sure since much of the context is lost to history but, never fear, I’ll give you my take on the situation (this is MY blog after all)!

Problem #1: The niece and daughter of a minister get “sick” and have “fits.” Likely just play acting (they were 9 and 11 years old), other girls in town started acting similarly.

Problem #2: Since the finest medical minds in town couldn’t find anything wrong with the girls physically, it was obvious they were possessed by the devil.

Problem #3: When the girls were asked “who did this to you?” they pointed out whoever they didn’t like. First three up to bat: Sarah Osborne, Sarah Good and Tituba. Tituba was a slave who liked to entertain the children with tales of demonic possession.

Problem #4: Since the three accused were of low standing in the community, nobody stood up for them.

Problem #5: Anybody who said the girls were full of crap was then accused of being a witch.

Problem #6: Cotton Mather wrote to one of the judges, supporting prosecution but stating the court should not rely heavily on “spectral evidence” (accusations). No, he had more scientific ideas in mind and anybody who is a fan of Monty Python and the Holy Grail has a good idea of 17th century scientific evidence. Here are some of the better ways of spotting a witch:

The first one was apparently “proof positive” someone was a witch and it was easy, just look for a “Witches Teat” somewhere on the body. Simply poke a mole or some other skin blemish with a dull needle and if the person didn’t feel much pain, then she’s a witch. Burn her! I mean, hang her!

Second, but taking slightly more effort, was making a “Witch Cake.” The cake was made from Rye and other miscellaneous ingredients and, oh, urine from the possessed (ah, finally some science). The cake was fed to a dog and the witch would cry out in pain as if being eaten by the dog. This method was particularly effective if the interrogator and the witch were left in private for the “experiment.”

The touch test was another fine method of finding a witch. The suspected witch was blindfolded and then made to touch the afflicted. If the afflicted acted possessed, then obviously the blindfolded person was a witch. Can’t find anything wrong with that method!

There were other methods, but you get the idea. In the end, people finally started to realize they were acting like a bunch of ripe asses and the events came to a close and people found other hobbies to occupy themselves. Lots of hubbub that could have been prevented with a couple of good spankings!

Anyway, when you’re in or near Salem Massachusetts, take time to visit the Salem Witch Museum and form your own opinion.

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By Doug, June 16, 2009 10:53

Boot Hill Museum in Dodge City, Kansas

Boot Hill. Instantly upon hearing the name, visions of cowboys, horses, shootouts, saloons and the Old West in general fill our minds. For a visit back in time to a place that truly exists only in our minds, the Boot Hill Museum in Dodge City Kansas is a must.

Boot Hill Museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of the history of Dodge City and the Old West.

Dodge City was founded in 1872 and quickly became the world’s largest shipping point for Longhorn cattle. Dodge was the wildest of the early frontier towns, but law and order was soon established with the help of men such as Bat Masterson, Wyatt Earp, and Bill Tilghman.

Dodge City was a town that persisted and grew, and still honors its western heritage.

The Front Street buildings are reconstructions, exhibiting hundreds of original artifacts. They represent Dodge City in 1876, and were carefully researched through historic photographs and newspapers.

The various exhibits throughout the museum depict life in early Dodge City. There is a collection of over 200 original guns on display, a working print shop, an extensive collection of drug store items, an entire building that was just completely renovated, and many other special exhibits. Each artifact on display is authentic and there are approximately 20,000 artifacts displayed throughout the complex.

Boot Hill Museum is an educational, historical institution with just enough fun added for the whole family to enjoy. We look forward to seeing you in Dodge City!

The name “Boot Hill” actually applies to a number of cemeteries associated with the Old West, particularly where gunfighters are buried, usually with their boots on, hence the name. You may be more inclined to think of Tombstone, Arizona when you think of Boot Hill, but that’s another post for another day!