I’ve been using my NPS map to plan my wandering the past few months. The NPS.gov site is great, of course, and I love the app, but the printed map shows all the NPS sites all over the country making it easier to plan road trips. Independence I came to Independence to see both the Harry Truman National Historic Site and Truman Presidential Library and Museum. I also drove out to his family farm another day. The house is by…
Leaving Hot Springs, I got an early start so I could stop at Fort Smith National Historic Site. Such interesting history, glad I took the opportunity to visit. The area was the site of a fort as early as 1817, the second fort was built in 1838. It was occupied by Confederate soldiers in 1861 but Union soldiers forced them out in 1863. It was originally built to “keep peace” in Indian Territory (i.e. Oklahoma) between the local tribe, the…
On the drive from Chattanooga to Hot Springs I went through Little Rock. Fortunately, the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site had Saturday hours. I didn’t make it in time for the 1300 guided Ranger tour, but I spent an hour and a half in the visitor center then about an hour following the NPS app audio tour of the grounds. I was very glad for the opportunity to visit and learn more about this event. They have…
The visitor center at the park is closed for new exhibits for several months but I wanted to visit Shiloh National Military Park anyway and tour this important battlefield. The movie is still showing in the theater. Like most of the informational videos in the parks, it provides a great overview of the battle. April 6 & 7, 1862, “Nearly 110,000 American troops clashed in a bloody contest that resulted in 23,746 casualties; more casualties than in all of America’s…