William Howard Taft National Historic Site

Today we went to see three long-standing historic sites of the Cincinnati area.

First up was the William Howard Taft National Historic Site. The site includes the house in which the 27th President of the United States lived his entire childhood.

This desk was used in the law practice of Taft's father.

This "portable" gas lamp came with its own cord.

The house has been restored to how it appeared during Taft's childhood. The furniture is of the period, although not necessarily owned by the Tafts.

Let's go up the stairway.

The stairway ends at the second floor where bedrooms can be found on either side of the hall.

Did you know William Howard Taft was the only President of the United States to later become Chief Justice of the Supreme Court?

This display demonstrates how the elephant is a direct descendant of William Howard Taft who at over 300 pounds, by the way, was the heaviest U.S. President ever elected.

Strangely enough, he is also the only president since 1909 to have facial hair while in office.

This Bible was used in both 1909 and 1921 in Taft's swearing in as President and Chief Justice.

The house had indoor plumbing by the fall of 1851. Here is one of its cisterns.

In case the front of the house looked small, here is the back. The house was subdivided and apartments were rented out in the 1940s before being acquired by the William Howard Taft Memorial Association in the 1950s.

Then, on Taft's 107th birthday, September 15, 1964, the home became a National Historic Landmark.

The house is located in the Mount Auburn Neighborhood. Mount Auburn was founded as a hilltop retreat for Cincinnati's social elite where wealthier people could escape the dirt, heat, smoke and crowded conditions of the lower city.

For more pictures, go to http://public.fotki.com/Marlonfleenor/1/2008/july/taft-museum-police-/ pictures 1-45.

To be continued...

Der Dutchman, Blanchester Movie

July 4th was very rainy near Cincinnati this year. We spent the day trying to determine what the brown pus was leaking out of Pedra's side.

We took her to the vet the next day and found out she had an abscess which had ruptured and was now in the healing process. Yuck!

After giving Pedra her medicine, we met Amber along with her mom, aunt and grandma at Der Dutchman Amish Kitchen Cooking in Waynesville.

The food was good and Amber's grandma and aunt told us to go ahead and put them on the internet. So here they are!

The next day we journeyed to downtown Blanchester to see the first-run Walt Disney animated feature Wall-E. Total cost for a first-run movie, popcorn and drink in Blanchester, Ohio? $5 per person!

Then we had to try some Cincinnati-based Gold Star Chili.

Was it good? The jury is still out.

Then we saw this cloud blocking the sun. Wow...

For a few more pictures, go to http://public.fotki.com/Marlonfleenor/1/2008/july/eatting-at-der-dutc/ and http://public.fotki.com/Marlonfleenor/1/2008/july/movie-at-blanchester/ .

To be continued...

World's Largest Horseshoe Crab & The Ohio River

Today we met up with our friends Amber and Shelly and went to see the world's biggest horseshoe crab.

See it yourself at the Freedom Worship Baptist Church in Blanchester, Ohio.

Originally built for the Columbus Maritime Museum in Baltimore, it was ultimately determined that the museum had no room for the crab and it was donated to the church.

A scripture garden surrounds the crab.

An eagle greets visitors at the front entrance of the church.

Pastor Jim Rankin started the church in 2004 and was kind enough to give us a personal tour.

The church building was successfully converted from a long-time hardware store.
Preparations were being made for the Fourth of July town parade.

The church features an impressive collection of artifacts from biblical times, as well as other historical time periods.

Each youth room features a different theme.

This display is featured behind the church.

Thanks to Pastor Rankin for the tour!

Learn more about the church, the horseshoe crab and their Crab Fest at http://www.freedomworshipbaptist.com/ .

Next we headed to Cincinnati to view the city from the Ohio River aboard the Mark Twain Riverboat.

It was quite a stormy day for a riverboat ride.

Two professional sports stadiums can be viewed from the Ohio River.

The skyline of Cincinnati.

The "Big Mac Bridge" spans the river.

This would be a neat building to live in...when I win the lottery.

Since it was raining, our riverboat video is really brief.

For more pictures, go to http://public.fotki.com/Marlonfleenor/1/2008/july/visitingamber/ .

To be continued...

Olive Branch Campground, Oregonia, Ohio

Today we headed toward the Cincinnati area and landed at The Olive Branch Campground in Oregonia, Ohio.

This is the entrance road.

We had a nice pull-thru site with our own deck.

They had another nice swimming pool we probably wouldn't swim in.

A stocked catch-and-release fishing pond is located right on property.

We will be here an entire week seeing the sights near Cincinnati and visiting a friend from Epcot.

For more pictures, go to http://public.fotki.com/Marlonfleenor/1/2008/july/olive-branch-campgr/ .

To be continued...

Pymatuning Deer Park, Jamestown, Pennsylvania

Today we visited Pymatuning Deer Park, which was established in 1953.

Here's a sampling of the many animals you will encounter on a visit.

"Why do they like to feel my antlers?"

"Look...but don't touch. We bite."

"What the heck is that thing behind me?!"

"I just drank some green Kool-aid."

"I'm gonna peck you!"

"I'll eat you for lunch."

"I won't spit on you since your feeding me."

"I like meat."

"I like meat too."

"I'm ready to hibernate."

"Look at the ants...look at the ants..."

"Slow it down there..."

"Relax..."

"I need a haircut."

"You smell like ham."

"The heat is killing me."

"I love chewing tobacco."

"It's a long way down. Hope this guy doesn't drop me."

"Ooo...look...people..."

"I'm lucky because I have shade."

"I can't wait to transform into some flying critter so I can get the heck out of here."

Most will agree Pymatuning Deer Park is well worth the $6.50 admission price.

Check out our video below.

For more pictures, go to http://public.fotki.com/Marlonfleenor/1/2008/july/pymatuning-deer-par-1/ .

To be continued...