A Triple Day
First light saw us cross town to Fort Scott. This is a well-resourced park with an extremely well done history in one of the old barracks. The grounds were immaculate but we did not linger because it was raining quite vigorously. We crossed into Missouri and headed south past Joplin to the George Washington Carver NHS. This park, number 249, was well worth the trip. Large grounds with a well marked walk that had statues and panels about GWCarver’s life gave you a peek at the enormous obstacles he overcame. Astonishing man. We also saw a bit about him at Tuskegee Institute, another park in Alabama, where he did most of his research. I challenge you to get a book about him and be enthralled. Tripping further south into Arkansas, on narrow, winding, hilly roads we emerged at our third park, Pea Ridge National Battlefield Park. Fitting for our 250th park as the first park I can remember visiting on my own was Gettysburg NBP. This was a Union victory and secured Missouri for the North. Most interesting aspect is how intact the field is, they own the entire 200 plus acres and the views are basically unchanged from the era. Also the old Butterfield Stage Route to the West ran across here and portions are still visible. Long tiring day.
Cadillac’s Most Correct Viewpoint
OK, enough. I am having trouble keeping up with these states. We are in Kansas, we are in Missouri, we are in Arkansas and it is barely lunch. I guess I need to get out and speechify a bit but no ice cream and one latte tells me we are not really in a civilized part of the world. Oops, can’t say that in campaign mode. I believe I will write a note to Ms. McKinley and ask for counsel. At this rate we will finish these 50 states in a few more days and I will see her in the Minnesota one. Maybe we can go quicker.
A statue of G. W. Carver as a boy in the woods he loved.
75% of the Pea Ridge battlefield is visible in this shot.