Ocean Views 2016

Featuring North America’s Leading Travel Destinations

Ocean Views The U.S. Naval Academy Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Mobile, Alabama West Coast Cruising America’s Coolest State and more!

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Lovin’ the Summer with scenic beauty, heritage, arts and music all in the heart of wild, wonderful West Virginia…

Summer in Randolph County offers an outstanding opportunity for tours to experience the majestic scenery and natural wonders found in our state parks. It will take your breath away.

As an added experience, provide these outstanding attractions:

• Musical Theatres • Mountain Train Excursions • Civil War Battlefields

• Summer Art and Music Festivals • Farmers Markets • Historical and Heritage Homes

Visitors will discover the heart and soul of West Virginia, a state with traditions born out of the Civil War. Bring your tour group on an Adventure to Remember!

Check out the Summer Concerts at Augusta

Let us help plan your visit.

We are the Official Randolph County Visitors Center 1302 N. Randolph Avenue, Rt. 219 - North of Elkins

800.422.3304 | www.randolphcountywv.com

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Scenic Beauty Mountain Train Excursions

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!"#$%&'()))))))*%+#,West Virginia

Lovin’ the Summer with scenic beauty, heritage, arts and music all in the heart of wild, wonderful West Virginia…

Summer in Randolph County offers an outstanding opportunity for tours to experience the majestic scenery and natural wonders found in our state parks. It will take your breath away.

As an added experience, provide these outstanding attractions:

• Musical Theatres • Mountain Train Excursions • Civil War Battlefields

• Summer Art and Music Festivals • Farmers Markets • Historical and Heritage Homes

Visitors will discover the heart and soul of West Virginia, a state with traditions born out of the Civil War. Bring your tour group on an Adventure to Remember!

Check out the Summer Concerts at Augusta

Let us help plan your visit.

We are the Official Randolph County Visitors Center 1302 N. Randolph Avenue, Rt. 219 - North of Elkins

800.422.3304 | www.randolphcountywv.com

Call for our New Visitor Guide

Farmers Market

Scenic Beauty Mountain Train Excursions

History

Theatre

Byways Magazine

©Copyright 2016 by Byways, Inc. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be duplicated in any form without express written permission of the publisher.

For more than 33 years, Byways has been covering the leading destinations along the highways and byways of North America. Some of the most well-known — and least known — destinations to discover in the United States and Canada.

Byways is published in three versions. They are a Turn-Key edition on the web for viewing on Computers, Android, iOS (iPhone and iPad). There is an Apple App Store edition. There is also a Byways Magazine Channel in Apple News.

For advertising rates, editorial deadlines, or to place advertising insertions, contact: Byways Magazine 502-785-4875 http://bywaysmagazine.com

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PREVIEW

By Steve Kirchner, Editor & Publisher

But this is also a shipbuilding and containerization he theme of this issue of Byways center, and you can’t look out of your hotel room withis Ocean Views. Once each year we focus on destinations along out seeing evidence of one or the other.

Take a guided walking tour of one of the South’s oldthe Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific Oceans. est downtown districts. Start at Cathedral Square, where And where better to start than the the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception was finally United States Naval Academy in completed in 1850 and serves as the heart of this historic Annapolis, Maryland, which trains district.

Be awed at the Mobile Carnival Museum. As future officers who travel the world’s oceans protecting home to the first Mardi Gras in 1703, Mobile is rich with the interests of the United States and its allies.

Mardi Gras traditions.

Don’t miss a visit to GulfQuest, a More than 4,400 men and women representing every state in the U.S. and several foreign countries make up unique museum dedicated to Gulf Coast maritime tradithe student body, known as the Brigade of Midshipmen. tions.

The USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park is one of Upon graduation, midshipmen earn a tax-payer fundAmerica’s finest military parks. It features dramatic ed Bachelor of Science degree in a choice of 25 different exhibits telling stories of heroism and courage in the subject majors and go on to serve at least five years of Armed Forces.

A highlight is touring the World War II exciting and rewarding service as commissioned officers era battleship USS Alabama. in the U.S. Navy or U.S. Marine Corps.

Heading to the Pacific But you don’t have to be Ocean, it’s time for some West enrolled to visit the Naval Coast cruising. Pat Woods Academy. In fact, the academy takes us on a journey that hosts more than 2.5 million visibegins in Los Angeles, offers tors a year. several exciting port calls, and Next, we’re off to one of the ends in Vancouver. Port calls most popular beach destinations include Santa Barbara, San on the Atlantic coast, Myrtle Francisco, Astoria, Oregon Beach, South Carolina. and Victoria, BC. Jennifer Merrick takes us on Pat Woods knows her cruisand off the beaten track, and ing, and returns with another explores venues of interest to Taking the helm at GulfQuest in Mobile. adventure, this time to Alaska. varied types of visitors.

She takes us to America’s coolest state. The 7-day More than 15 million travel to Myrtle Beach each year, journey embarks and ends in Seattle.

Port calls include many returning year after year. There’s more than Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan and Victoria, BC. beachtime that keeps them coming back, as we learn in Friendly Alaska port towns exude a warm welcome for this article.

In his Highways and Byways column, Bill Graves cruise guests. All are walkable, safe and offer a plethora takes us to Sarasota, Florida, to learn about a famous of activities and shopping.

In What’s Happening, I visit an unexpected treasure in kiss. Not just any kiss, it is a bigger-than-life statue repliNebraska.

Pioneer Village near Kearney is no ordinary cating the famous V-J Day photograph of a Navy sailor village.

It’s a huge collection of Americana telling the kissing a girl in Times Square celebrating the end of story of America and how it grew.

World War II. It’s controversial. Some say it’s art.

But the story of Harold Warp, the founder of Pioneer Others say it’s not, and want it gone. Bill says, “So Village, is just as fascinating. Mr. Warp developed a what?” It captures a moment in American history and a flexible glass that he could put up next to henhouses. He proud moment at that.

From the Atlantic we head to the Gulf Coast of patented his invention in 1924 as Flex-o-Glass. He Alabama, for a visit to Mobile. The Port of Mobile has became the first manufacture of polyethylene food wrap, always played a key role in the city’s economic health known as Jiffy Wrap. Then he became the first to invent, beginning as a key trading center between the French produce and sell the plastic garbage bag! And his comand Native Americans down to its current role as the pany is still in business today!

We hope you enjoy this issue of Byways.

12th-largest port in the United States.

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Volume 33, Issue No. 3 2016

Features

On the cover. The beach at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is featured in Byways annual Ocean Views issue. For more on ocean themes, turn to page 8. For more on Mytle Beach, turn to page 18. Photo courtesy Jennifer Merrick.

Ocean Views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 U.S. Naval Academy, Pride of Annapolis, Maryland. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 On and Off the Beaten Track in Myrtle Beach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 The V-J Day Kiss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Mobile, Alabama’s Gulf Coast Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 West Coast Cruising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 America’s Coolest State Offers the Warmest Welcome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Departments

Byways Instant Connect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Byways Preview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Traveling the Highways & Byways with Bill Graves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Advertisers Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Free Byways Subscription . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

What’s Happening

Pioneer Village, Unexpected Nebraska Treasure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Coming in future issues of Byways ..... Rivers & Lakes, Great American Roads, Leading North American Tour Destinations, Great American Railroads, and much more!

Next Up: Rivers & Lakes. An Amtrak train crosses the James River after departing from Lynchburg, Virginia.

Photo courtesy J.P. Mueller.

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Golf on the beach in South Carolina. Photo courtesy Myrtle Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

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Ocean Views

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U.S. Naval Academy: Pride of Annapolis, Maryland

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The Midshipmen assemble for Noon Formation.

Photo courtesy U.S. Naval Academy.

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Memorial Hall. Photos courtesy U.S. Naval Academy.

he U.S. Naval Academy hosts more than 2.5 million visitors a year. Founded in 1845, the United States Naval Academy today is a prestigious fouryear-service academy that prepares midshipmen morally, mentally and physically to be professional officers in the naval service.

More than 4,400 men and women representing every state in the U.S. and several foreign countries make up the student body, known as the Brigade of Midshipmen.

Midshipmen learn from military and civilian instructors and participate in intercollegiate varsity sports and extracurricular activities.

Midshipmen also study subjects like small arms, drill, seamanship and navigation, tactics, naval engineering and weapons, leadership, ethics and military law. Upon graduation, midshipmen earn a tax-payer funded Bachelor of Science degree in a choice of 25 different subject majors and go on to serve at least five years of exciting and rewarding service as commissioned officers in the U.S. Navy or U.S. Marine Corps.

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Guided walking tours of this national historic landmark are available from the Armel-Leftwich Visitor Center. The academy is approximately 30 miles from Baltimore and Washington, D.C. The journey to learn more about this auspicious institution begins at the visiThe crypt of John Paul Jones.

tor center with the showing of the free 13minute film, “The Call to Serve.”

The Quarterdeck leading into the Visitor Center hosts an extensive exhibit about life at the Academy and features numerous interactive displays including a 20' X 6' touchscreen digital screen for visitors to help plan what they will see at the academy.

The exhibit helps visitors and prospective students better understand what it takes to become a midshipman, what life is like at the Academy and about career options after graduation and commissioning.

Upon reaching the Visitor Center, tourists Start of a public tour. are greeted by information specialists who sell guided walking tour tickets and direct people to various locations around the academy, including two restaurants open to the art prints, gifts and clothing for men, women and chilpublic. dren. Proceeds from the sale of tours and merchandise The Visitor Center is open 9am to 5pm, March through benefit the Brigade of Midshipmen (student body of the December and 9am to 4pm in January and February. Naval Academy).

Guided walking tours of the academy are available daily Located on the second floor (deck) of the Visitor except for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. All visitors 18 and older must have an original U.S. government-issued photo ID; international visitors must have an original passport in order to enter Academy grounds.

Those from the states of Minnesota, Illinois, Missouri, Washington and American Samoa must have a second photo ID. All bags will be searched. Vehicles without a Department of Defense or USNA credentialed driver or passenger are not permitted to drive onto academy grounds.

Parking information may be obtained by calling Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County at 410-280-0445 or going on-line to www.visitannapolis.org.

Walking tours are $10.50 for adults, $9.50 for seniors ages 62 and older and $8.50 for students first through twelfth grade. Preschool children are free of charge. Walking tours of “the Yard” are given by certified Naval Academy tour guides. They discuss the history and traditions of the academy, including sites such as the statue of Tecumseh, Herndon Monument, and Bancroft Hall, one of the largest dormitories in the world. The tour also includes the Naval Academy Chapel and the crypt of John Paul Jones, Revolutionary War naval hero.

The newly renovated (2016) Naval Academy Gift Shop is located on the first The Drydock Café is located in floor of the Visitor Center and contains a historic Dahlgren Hall. wide variety of memorabilia, videos, books, Byways • 13

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Midshipmen pass by the Mexican Monument on the grounds of the U.S. Naval Academy. Photo courtesy U.S. Naval Academy.

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Center is the Admissions Office, which holds an admissions briefing for high school students Monday through Saturday at 10am and at 2pm, except for major holidays. Always call in advance to confirm presentation.

The United States Naval Academy Museum is a recommended stop for all visitors to the academy. The museum’s artifacts are displayed in galleries located on two floors in Preble Hall. The first floor is devoted to the exhibit entitled “Leadership and Service: The History of the United States Naval Academy.” The famous Rogers Collection of antique ship models is the focus of the second floor exhibit. Admission is free of charge.

The Drydock Café is located in historic Dahlgren Hall, once the 16 • Byways

Tthe Naval Academy Chapel. Photos courtesy U.S. Naval Academy.

academy’s armory, and is open seven days a week except when midshipmen are on break. This cafeteria offers

The United States Naval Academy Museum.

A Naval Academy tradition as Midshipmen march into Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium for home football game. Byways photo.

made-to-order deli sandwiches and grill options as well as soup, salads and pizza. The Alley, a sit-down restaurant, is located in the Naval Academy Club and is open to the public Monday through Friday from 11am to 2 pm. It offers menu service and a daily lunch buffet with soup and salad bar.

For more information about public tours and how to

schedule a group tour, visit the visitor center website at www.usnabsd.com/for-visitors or call 410-293-TOUR (8687).

To book a group tour for 16 or more people, go to the Group Tours tab and click on the black bus for an on-line booking form. The website also provides links to the Drydock CafĂŠ, the Alley, Admissions and the Museum.

The newly renovated Naval Academy Gift Shop is located on the first floor of the Visitor Center.

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On and Off the Beaten Track in Myrtle Beach

By Jennifer Merrick

The sandy beach at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Photo courtesy Jennifer Merrick.

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ach year, over 15 million tourists flock to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, many returning year after year. What’s the attraction?

For some, it’s the golf. “It can’t be beat in terms of value and quality,” says Don Wood, an avid golfer, who has been coming to Myrtle Beach on a regular basis for 20 years. His wife, Joni Hartman, loves the beautiful beaches and the fact that ocean-front accommodation is reasonably priced.

Personally, I don’t play golf; and since I was travelling in winter, it meant that I wasn’t going to be frolicking on the beaches. Besides, I was with my 14-year-old son, and looking for a vacation that was both exciting enough for him and relaxing for me. A tall order to fill, but Myrtle Beach delivered with fun tourist thrills, off-the-beatentrack activities and peaceful surroundings for a muchneeded break.

Tourist Thrills The 196-ft-high SkyWheel was an ideal first stop on our Myrtle Beach vacation, giving us a bird’s-eye-view of its famous boardwalk and beach in the comfort of a glass-enclosed gondola. Afterwards, we strolled along the classic beach town promenade, stopping to listen to a band playing in the parkette. The beach beckoned, and we casually beachcombed for treasures, scanning our eyes over the endless white sands looking for shells and fossilized shark teeth.

Thoroughly touristy, but a whole lot of fun, Broadway at the Beach is a 350-acre site teeming with attractions, shops and restaurants. We ventured into a shark tunnel at Ripley’s Aquarium, and marveled in amazement as these prehistoric predators glided above us, along with giant stingrays, snappers, sawfish and a sea turtle. The jelly fish also captivated us with their graceful dance-like movements in the lit up, floor-to-ceiling tanks. As we were visiting off-season, there were no crowds and we would have stayed longer, but my 14-year-old was starving (as teen boys always are). www.broadwayatthebeach.com

Civil War Treasures Delving into your kids’ interests and exposing them to local culture is one of the greatest benefits of family travel. Knowing my son’s love of history, especially when it involves war and weaponry, the Civil War Museum was an obvious choice.

It turned out to be very much off the beaten track and even our GPS brought us to the wrong address. We did eventually find it, but I have to admit, I was a little worried about the place I had taken my son to when we first approached. The “museum” had a shooting range, sold guns and displayed a NRA support sign on its door.

In fact, at first glance, there was nothing about it that resembled a museum. But when I tentatively asked about this, the manager unlocked a door, switched on the Black River Outdoors’ Kayak Tour.

Photo courtesy Jennifer Merrick.

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The Boardwalk at Myrtle Beach. Photos courtesy Jennifer Merrick.

lights, and lo and behold, there was an impressive array of Civil War artifacts, including maps, flags, medical kits, clothing, guns and swords. At the back were remains from a sunken battle ship that the owner found.

The owner found? It became clear that there was quite a story behind the collection.

Owner Ted L. Gragg, a Civil War enthusiast, had spent his life searching for the lost Confederate battle ship, CSS Peedee. He was rewarded with its discovery, and founded the museum to house his rare and historically significant collection to ensure that the treasures wouldn’t languish in a warehouse. www.myrtlebeachindoorshootingrange.com

Peaceful Waters “I rarely go downtown unless we have out-of-town guests,” said Paul Laurent, our guide from Black River Outdoors. “This is what I love.” We were kayaking at Huntington State Beach Park, 30 minutes south of Myrtle Beach. Looking around, it was easy to see why Paul was so passionate about the area. The grassy coastal scenery was idyllic, and the only other people we saw were a few fishermen and oyster diggers.

As we paddled through the calm marshy water, we immediately spotted a Great Blue Heron, the first of many birds on our two-hour excursion. We learned about “pluff” mud, which according to Paul, “everyone remembers their first experience with.” It’s not quick20 • Byways

Ripley’s Aquarium

sand, but one step and you might end up knee-deep or worse in the shiny, dark ooze that can suck you in and swallow your shoes.

Then there was the story about Pirate Drunken Jack, who got stranded on an island, now named after him, with a supply of rum. He never got out alive despite shallow water within walking distance from the mainland.

Perhaps he got stuck in the pluff mud?

The tides started to change the marshy landscape, and we headed back to shore, filled with an appreciation of this natural environment and happy we had the chance to experience another side of Myrtle Beach -- one that I didn’t expect. www.blackriveroutdoors.com

I now understand why it’s such a popular destination.

Your vacation here can be whatever you want it to be, whether you’re a golfer, beach aficionado, shopper or a nature-loving mom travelling with her thrill-seeking teenager.

If you go:

Southern Bites Yes, there are plenty of fast-food type joints with feasts of fried everything and happy hour specials, but you can also find more upscale dining and local culinary treats to

savor.

If you’re on vacation, why not indulge a bit, and Thoroughbreds is just the place to do that. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, reminiscent of a grand house, especially in our seat by the fireplace in the library. But it was the food that would be remembered. The house specialty, New York striploin encrusted with Wonder Works coffee and cracked peppercorn, was so tender it hardly needed a knife, and the broiled scallops melted in your mouth. www.thoroughbredsrestaurant.com

Bonjour y’all is the fitting slogan for Croissants Bistro

Scenic beach at Myrtle Beach. Photo courtesy Myrtle Beach Tourism.

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& Bakery that pairs European cuisine and Southern home cooking. Creative sandwiches on homemade French bread and Southern classics with a twist have made this place a local favorite. My son declared that his aptly named “Not Your Mama’s Meatloaf” sandwich was indeed much better than mine. www.croissants.net

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Broadway on the Beach.

Photos courtesy Jennifer Merrick.

Accommodation We stayed at the Hampton Inn and Suites and were extremely satisfied with their large family-friendly suites with kitchenettes and hearty breakfasts. The balcony with the ocean view was a highlight of the trip. There is nothing like the sound of ocean waves. Ahhhh. www.hilton.com

Live Entertainment As over 15 million visitors vacation in Myrtle Beach For more information about Myrtle Beach visit each year, it’s not surprising there are so many music, www.visitmyrtlebeach.com dance, comedy and dinner shows plus concerts to keep them all entertained. The Alabama Theater, House of Blues, Legends in Concert and the Palace Theater all host live productions.

We were lucky enough to snag tickets for the Carolina About the Author. After teaching Opry Christmas Special at the Calvin Gilmore Theater.

English as a Second Language abroad The beloved variety show has Southern comedy, along for 7 years, Jennifer Merrick has now with heart-warming classic songs performed by a large “settled down” in Toronto. But her feet cast of talented artists. We left the theatre humming, continue to itch and she now travels basking in the Christmas spirit. The Carolina Opry whenever she can with her family, writshowcases crowd-pleasing performances throughout the ing about their adventures in numerous year. www.thecarolinaopry.com diverse publications, including Buffalo Knights on horseback, jousting and sword fighting, News, Latitudes, Virgin Atlantic Blog, falconry, and a four-course meal eaten without cutlery….

Ontario Magazine, Forever Young, What kid could resist Medieval Times Dinner and Montreal Families, vacay.ca and Tournament? Certainly not mine.

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Traveling the Highways & Byways with Bill Graves The V-J Day Kiss

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Paul Bunyan statue in Northern Minnesota would not surprise me any more than would seeing a lake up there. They go with the territory, like a statue of General Dwight Eisenhower at the DDay Memorial.

I am in Sarasota, Florida, driving along the water’s edge on Bayfront Drive. From the street, the bay appears as one humongous marina, what a visitor would expect to see in this city on the southwestern coast of the state. Then came the unexpected: In a grassy strip, on the bay side of the drive, is a biggerthan-life statue replicating the famous V-J Day photograph of a Navy sailor kissing a girl in Times Square.

As a perpetual student of the war in the Pacific, I know that day well -- it was more than 70 years ago -- the day the war ended with Japan. Photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt was on the streets of New York that afternoon -- August 14, 1945, as the crowds started to form.

He later wrote: “I saw this sailor running along the street grabbing any and every girl in sight ... I was running ahead of him with my Leica looking over my shoulder. Then suddenly, in a flash, I saw something white being grabbed. I turned around and clicked the moment the sailor kissed the nurse. If she had been dressed in a dark dress I would never have taken the picture. If the sailor had worn a white uniform, the same.”

The following week, that black-and-white photo was given a full page in LIFE magazine. It has become the icon of that momentous day. The girl in the picture, Edith Shain, died in 2010 at 91. The identity of the sailor has never been established for certain, but a number of guys have said that they remember the event well.

But why here? With no unique identity with V-J Day or relationship with New York, except that alot of New Yorkers retire down here or least spend their winters, why is this statue in Sarasota?

On second thought, why not? It’s a national symbol, we as a country, Sarasota included, suffered through the war and we all certainly celebrated the end of it. The picture represents the joy and relief that 24 • Byways

we felt that day.

I guess it should be expected that some day a sculpture would be made, a three-dimensional rendering of that historic photographic. This is not the only one.

Sculptures like it can be found at World War II memorial sites around the country where vintage artifacts are displayed.

J. Seward Johnson produced the 25-foot sculpture called “Unconditional Surrender” in 2005. It came on loan to Sarasota as part of its “Season of Sculpture” that runs every January through May. When May came that first year, many in Sarasota wanted “Unconditional Surrender” to stay. Others called it “tacky” and wanted it gone. The controversy apparently raged until a person gave the city $500,000 to keep the sculpture in place for the next decade. The city commissioners accepted the gift after months of debate.

Some folks in Sarasota, namely the Sarasota Public Art Committee, still want it gone. They claim that it is not art. I side with those who say, “So what?” It captures a moment in American history and a proud moment at that.

And they are hard to come by these days.

I don’t think the critics get it, it’s what it represents that’s significant, not what it is. I am told it’s an ongoing debate. I suspect those who remember or understand the joy of that day in 1945 -- more importantly, the price we paid to get there -- will win this one.

Welcome to America’s Outback.

About the author: After seeing much of the world as a career naval officer, Bill Graves decided, after he retired, to take a closer look at the United States. He has been roaming the country for 20 years, much of it in a motorhome with his dog Rusty. He lives in Rancho Palos Verdes, California and is the author of On the Back Roads, Discovering Small Towns of America. He can be reached at Roadscribe@aol.com.

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Mobile, Alabama’s Gulf Port City

Cooper Riverside Park alongside the Port of Mobile.

Photo courtesy Visit Mobile and Tad Denson.

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A float at the Mobile Carnival Museum. Byways photo.

labama’s only saltwater port, Mobile is located at the head of Mobile Bay and the north-central Gulf Coast. The Port of Mobile has always played a key role in the city’s economic health beginning as a key trading center between the French and Native Americans down to its current role as the 12th-largest port in the United States.

Take a guided walking tour of one of the South’s oldest downtown districts. Start at Cathedral Square, where the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception was finally completed in 1850 and serves as the heart of this historic district.

Stop in at a few favorite shops in Mobile’s entertainment district along Dauphin Street. Don’t miss favorites like Three Georges Southern Chocolate, founded in 1917. Tthe shop is famous for heavenly hash, marshmallows and pecans drenched in their silky milk chocolate.

A&M Peanut Company, established in 1947. This Mobile institution specializing in fresh-roasted peanuts and southern hospitality. Bienville Books is a small independent bookstore carrying local and rare and first editions. Urban Emporium, Mobile’s only retail incubator, was established to help ensure the success of new or expanding retailers in downtown.

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The Grand Lobby’s centerpiece is “America’s Sea,” an interactive map that allows visitors to explore the Gulf of Mexico. Photo courtesy GulfQuest.

Carnival Season Be awed at the Mobile Carnival Museum. As home to the first Mardi Gras in 1703, Mobile is rich with Mardi Gras traditions.

In Mobile, locals often use the term Mardi Gras as a shorthand to refer to the entire Carnival season. During the Carnival season, the mystic societies build colorful floats and parade throughout downtown. Masked society members toss small gifts, known as throws, to parade spectators. The mystic societies, which in essence are exclusive private clubs, also give formal masquerade balls, usually by invitation only, and oriented to adults.

The museum encourges everyone to understand and enjoy the carnival experience regardless of the time of year they visit Mobile.

Take a tour of the jeweled crowns, intricately designed gowns and lavish robes of Mobile’s Mardi Gras Kings and Queens in this historic Government Street mansion.

Guides shed light on the mysteries of Mardi Gras, such as what is a mystic society, who is King Felix, and why do Mobile maskers throw doubloons and moon pies?

You will even have a chance to climb up on a rocking Mardi Gras float and throw moon pies into a crowd yelling, “Throw me something, mister!” www.mobilecarnivalmuseum.com

Celebrate the Arts Start at the Alabama Contemporary Art Center (formerly Centre for the Living Arts). This 8,000 square foot downtown gallery is located in vibrant Cathedral Square and features works by significant local, regional and national artists. Alabama Contemporary investigates themes and topics of particular relevance to the Gulf Coast, while functioning as a public forum and cultural broker. www.alabamacontemporary.com Learn about the city’s exciting art scene, Mobile Art’s Council, from the fine art oil painter to the cool cat jazz musician. Mobile Arts Council serves a variety of artists, arts organizations and community agencies by cultivating and promoting the arts on the Gulf Coast. www.mobilearts.org

Visit Mobile’s Saenger Theatre, which opened on January 19, 1927. It was the sixty-first Saenger Theatre of a chain founded by J.H. and A.D. Saenger of New Orleans. There were Saenger Theatres located throughout the South as well as in Cuba and Puerto Rico. Hailed as, “Alabama’s Greatest Showplace” and, “the most beautiful playhouse in all of Dixie.” www.mobilesaenger.com

GulfQuest’s most prominent exhibit is the full-sized container ship that houses the museum’s exhibits.

Photo courtesy GulfQuest.

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USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park One of America’s finest military parks. The USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park features dramatic exhibits telling stories of heroism and courage in the Armed Forces.

Exhibits include WWII tanks, artillery and 24 combat aircraft, including those flown by the Tuskegee airmen.

You can also go inside the Submarine USS Drum, which earned 12 Battle Stars for valor in WWII and the USS Alabama, also known as the “Lucky A,” because she didn’t lose a single American life to enemy fire during WWII. Battleship Memorial Park is located on the western shore of Mobile Bay. The USS Alabama and USS Drum are both National Historic Landmarks.

The park also includes a large assortment of military aircraft and has a large aircraft pavillion. www.ussalabama.com

GulfQuest, National Maritime Museum of the Gulf Coast GulfQuest is the first museum dedicated to the Gulf 30 • Byways

Coast’s rich maritime traditions and only the third interactive maritime museum in the world. Opened in 2015, GulfQuest is housed inside a 120,000 sq. ft. structure shaped like a vessel headed out to sea and is the centerpiece of Mobile Landing, the city’s new development on the downtown waterfront.

A visit to GulfQuest is essential to understanding the role of the Gulf in the city’s past and future.

GulfQuest’s most prominent exhibit is the full-sized container ship that houses the museum’s exhibits. This unique container ship will entice you to explore the maritime world by stepping aboard. A realistic replica, from its actual size with containers stacked high, to the water surrounding its hull, and the vibration of its engines -this ship commemorates the development of “containerization,” a revolutionary idea pioneered by Malcom McLean in the 1950s as owner of Waterman Steamship Corporation in Mobile. www.gulfquest.org

Tour the 6th ship in the U.S. Navy, the USS Alabama. Photo courtesy Visit Mobile and Tad Denson.

The Aircraft pavillion at Battleship Memorial Park. Byways photo.

Celebrate the Outdoors Tour the 5 Rivers Delta Center. This $10 million facility stands on the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta, the second largest river delta system in the continental United States. Here the Mobile, Spanish, Tensaw, Appalachee and Blakely Rivers flow into Mobile Bay. 5 Rivers features kayak and canoe launch, six campsites (four of which are floating platforms), classrooms, exhibit hall, meeting space, theater and more. www.outdooralabama.com/outdooradventures/5rivers

Shipbuilding and container facilities are highly visible in Mobile. Byways photo.

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Azalea Bloom-out at Bellingrath Gardens Photo courtesy Visit Mobile and Tad Denson.

Next, take a pontoon delta safari aboard the Pelican with 5 Rivers Delta Safaris. During this leisurely trip, you will experience the scenery of the Mobile Tensaw Delta. Encounter marsh, cypress and tupelo gum swamp, alligators and abundant wildlife up close. www.5rds.com

Dauphin Island Calls Start at Fort Gaines. Famous for the Civil War’s Battle of Mobile Bay and Admiral Farragut’s command, “Damn the torpedoes-full speed ahead,” Fort Gaines will show you how soldiers lived in the 1800s. A tour of the 19th century brick seacoast fort includes a working blacksmith shop, bakery, Officer’s Quarters, actual cannons used in the Battle of Mobile Bay and more. www.dauphinisland.org/fort-gaines

Continue on to the Estuarium at Dauphin Island Sea Lab, founded in 1971. This is Alabama’s only marine science education and research laboratory. The Dauphin Island Sea Lab offers a closer look at the four local ecosystems of coastal Alabama: the Delta, Mobile Bay, the Barrier Islands and the Gulf of Mexico. Learn what makes each of these ecosystems and its inhabitants special through visual displays, aquariums and interactive exhibits. www.disl.org 32 • Byways

Tour Bellingrath Gardens and Home The estate is located on the Fowl River in Theodore, near Mobile. Walter Bellingrath was one of the first Coca-Cola bottlers in the Southeast, and with his wealth built the estate garden and home. He and his wife, Bessie, lived in the home which has since been converted into a museum. Since the Gardens opened to the public in 1932, it continues to welcome visitors to enjoy year-round floral pageantry.

Enjoy the early days of spring reflected in the blooms of the tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, pansies, camellias, Japanese magnolias, violas and poppies. The English Renaissance-styled Bellingrath Home, built in 1935, houses original furnishings from the Bellingrath family, including an “ultra modern” 1935 bathroom and Mrs. Bellingrath’s extensive collection of decorative arts.

Bellingrath Gardens and Home encompasses approximately 900 acres along the Fowl River. Sixty-five acres are cultivated with annual blooms and continuous color.

The gardens include a bridal garden, a conservatory, a great lawn, the Harrigon/ExxonMobil Bayou Boardwalk, a nature walk, the Asian-American garden, a rose garden, a chapel, the Mermaid Pool, Mirror Lake, an observation tower, and the Delchamps Gallery of Boehm Porcelain. www.bellingrath.org For additional information on your next visit to Mobile: http://www.mobile.org

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West Coast Cruising

By Pat Woods

Victoria, B.C. Butchart Gardens welcomes 1 million guests from around the world every year. Photo courtesy Pat Woods.

A

fter reviewing dozens of colorful cruise brochures, husband Rob and I chose the 7-day Coastal Wine Country itinerary on the Golden Princess. We liked the Los Angeles-Vancouver itinerary and coastal ports.

At Pier 93 in Los Angeles it took only 15 minutes to check in. Just back from dry dock refurbishing, the 3,100-passenger ship had a new carpet smell and a renovated Horizon Court buffet. Throughout the ship we found a friendly international crew eager to please. We noted today’s cruisers are somewhat younger and prefer casual dress.

Many Food Options We chose “Anytime” dining in the Bernini (main) dining room. Rather than standing in a long entrance line, we made a standing 7 pm dinner reservation that enabled 34 • Byways

us to get a table immediately. Each night we told the head waiter we would share a table with anyone. As we dined with congenial cruisers from Australia, Canada and throughout the U.S., we exchanged tips and anecdotes with veteran cruisers.

Waiters delivered sumptuous meals with smiles and humor. Anyone trying to decide between two desserts got both! One of my favorite meals was a shrimp cocktail followed by artichoke soup, green specialty salad, delicious broiled salmon and a sinful dessert served with humor and flair.

A popular casual dining option, International Café served European-style sandwiches, salads and decadent desserts 24 hours (extra charge for beverages). Cruisers can find alcoholic beverages in seven venues and food in nine.

The Golden Princess, photo courtesy Princess Cruise Lines.

Onboard activities Music is a big part of the cruise experience.

Entertainment venues offered everything from folk and classical to jazz and rock, as well as dance music. The Princess Theater hosted several Broadway-style production shows with singers and dancers. The entertainment lineup included comedians, a mentalist and more. In the Piazza on deck five something always was happening: plethora of musicians, fashion shows, spelling bees, games and more.

To work off fat grams, cruisers hit the fitness center, swam, danced, used the sports deck or simply circled the

The top of the hills in Santa Barbara, CA looking over the ocean at sunset. Photo courtesy Rich Niewiroski Jr. Byways • 35

Near San Francisco: Jacuzzi Family Vineyards produces award-wining wines and olive oil in a picturesque Sonoma County setting. Photo courtesy Pat Woods.

ship on the promenade deck. With a casino, karaoke, trivia, art shows, wine tasting, lectures, spa consultations and treatments, plus onboard shopping and specialty classes, no one was bored.

For us the cruise highlight was the bridge tour where an officer explained the ship’s communication and navigation systems, as well as thruster, stabilizer and crew functions. We were thrilled to experience the same views as senior officers have as they control the ship.

The Golden Princess called on four distinctively different ports.

with a plethora of friendly retailers who warmly welcome cruise ships. The trolley tour included a 20-minute stop at Old Santa Barbara Mission. info@sbtrolley.com

San Francisco www.sanfranciscotravel Our ship docked at Pier 27 for a full day. We chose the Woods & Wine tour with San Francisco City Sight Seeing Tours. It was a joy to walk among the giant Coastal Redwood trees in Muir Woods, just 30 minutes from Fisherman’s Wharf. The fresh piney scent and peaceful environment are great for the soul.

In the afternoon a different City Sightseeing bus took us to picturesque Sonoma County where vineyards dot the landscape.

While tasting award-winning white and red vines at Jacuzzi Family Vineyards, we learned about the Italian Jacuzzi family history, then sampled olive oils and strolled the beautiful grounds. We also tasted wines at Larson Family Vineyards, visited a cheese store and enjoyed a humorous wine tasting at Roche Winery. www.city-sightseeing.us

Santa Barbara www.santabarbaraCA.com Pretty purple Jacaranda trees welcomed us to Santa Barbara. At the waterfront, we hopped on the white shuttle bus (50 cents, 25 cents seniors) to attend church services. While there, sunshine broke through morning fog.

From the waterfront we walked past the yacht basin to the Maritime Museum.

Later on the popular Santa Barbara Trolley tour, Richard, our knowledgeable driver, made local history come alive with fascinating anecdotes about the city’s architectural styles, celebrities, and local entrepreneurs Astoria, Oregon www.travelastoria.com including Ty Warner, inventor of Beanie Babies.

Volunteers warmly welcomed us to Astoria’s museOn State Street beautiful government buildings meld Byways • 36

ums, shops and the 125-foot Astoria Column. At the Maritime Museum we learned when Lewis and Clark camped here in 1805-06, they established Fort Clatsop.

This was the first U.S. military post west of the Rocky Mountains where the Columbia River flows into the Pacific Ocean. Known as the Columbia Bar, these

treacherous waters where ocean and river meet cause many shipwrecks.

Today the Coast Guard has a major presence in this friendly town of 10,100, where fishing, logging and tourism drive the economy. Buses drove visitors around town and up a 600-foot hill to see the pictorial Astoria

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Astoria, Oregon locals and visitors have an outstanding view from 600foot Coxcomb Hill. Photo courtesy Pat Woods.

Column. This beautiful hilltop provided fantastic views.

We noticed the friendly, helpful bus drivers did not have the customary tip jars.

Victoria, B.C. www.tourismvictoria.com In Canada’s island city welcoming hosts deftly directed cruisers to waiting shuttle buses. A CVS motor coach driver (www.cvscruisevictoria.com) narrated passing scenery as he drove us to world-famous Butchart Gardens which were ablaze with millions of spring flowers. Built on a former stone quarry, the spectacular sunken garden elicited a “Wow” factor from everyone.

The 55-acre privately owned property blends rare and exotic shrubs, giant Redwoods and other trees, flowers 38 • Byways

and fountains with Italian, Japanese, Rose, and Mediterranean theme gardens.

A special treat was high tea with a delightful medley of delectable tea, tiny sandwiches and sweet treats elegantly presented in a 3-tier server. The gardens are open all year displaying seasonal flowers to a million guests.

Christmas is a magical time with musical entertainment, massive poinsettia and 12 Days of Christmas displays plus an ice skating rink. www.butchartgardens.com We had a delightful Inner Harbor tour on a cute water taxi that resembles a small tugboat. The skipper pointed out houseboats and Fisherman’s Wharf, a great place for Fish n’Chips and yummy ice cream. The Inner Harbor also functions as an airport for sea planes. www.victoriaharbourferry.com

We learned about Victoria’s famous landmarks, history and neighborhoods on an interesting Gray Line hop on/hop off tour in an authentic London Set on a high hill with a dramatic view, the 125-foot double decker bus. The considerate Astoria Column is a pictorial history summary. driver offered to drop off cruise guests Photo courtesy Pat Woods. just a few blocks from our ship. www.graylinevictoria.com About the Author. A widely pubDisembarking from the ship in Vancouver was a lished travel writer, Arizona-based Pat breeze. With 18 ships in its fleet, Princess sails to all sevWoods encourages readers to SKI en continents. Learn more from your travel agent or (spend the kids inheritance) on a cruise. www.princesscruises.com Byways • 39

View of the harbor from the Juneau Tram. Photo courtesy Pat Woods.

40 • Byways

America’s Coolest State Offers the Warmest Welcome

By Pat Woods Byways • 41

A

s another Arizona summer dragged on, husband Rob and I decided the best place to cool off was America’s last frontier. So I booked a balcony cabin on Holland America’s Westerdam for an Alaska Inside Passage cruise. The 7-day journey embarked and ended in Seattle.

Cruises are known for decadent dining, and Holland America did not disappoint. Because we enjoy meeting new people and trying different food, we opted for open dining. Dinner and lunch in the bi-level Vista Dining Room provided multiple courses. At the popular Lido Buffet, guests chose from a plethora of tasty American and ethnic soups, salads, sandwiches, entrees and desserts.

In addition, the Westerdam offers two alternate dining venues which require reservations. For dinner only, Canaletto ($10) creates the Italian authentic experience with a variety of dishes to enjoy and share. All five dishes Rob and I shared were melt-in-mouth delicious and perfectly seasoned with heavenly sauces.

The Pinnacle Grille ($10 lunch, $29 dinner) provides elegant china, stemware and linens for a romantic dinner or to celebrate a special occasion. Known for its succulent Pacific Northwest steaks and fresh seafood, the Pinnacle is popular with repeat cruisers.

Once each cruise the Pinnacle transforms into the legendary Le Cirque of New York City, ranked among the world’s best restaurants. We had jumbo shrimp cocktails, 42 • Byways

lobster bisque and delectable chateaubriand for two followed by a signature pineapple dessert at our Le Cirque dinner. ($49) Alaska cruises provide numerous opportunities for close-up glacier views. Three national park rangers boarded the Westerdam to narrate the ship’s onboard visit to dazzling Glacier Bay National Park. We were delighted to see stunning glaciers and abundant wildlife as we cruised through this massive wilderness in comfort and style. Glacier Bay National Park, which can only be reached by water or air, was named one of the 7 Cruise Wonders of the World by Condé Nast Traveler.

Captain Bart Vaartjes maneuvered our ship remarkably close to Margerie Glacier. Our port-side balcony cabin provided a spectacular spot to admire nature’s incredible beauty. Then he turned the 935-foot ship 180 degrees to share the great views with starboard guests.

Small friendly ports Friendly Alaska port towns exude a warm welcome for cruise guests. All are walkable, safe and offer a plethora of activities and shopping. You won’t need a pricey wardrobe here. Simply dress in removable layers, wear sturdy walking shoes and bring rain gear.

Juneau www.TravelJuneau.com An all-day rain did not stop us from exploring Alaska’s

capital city of 30,000. Our ship docked within steps of Mount Roberts Tramway, where cable cars ascend 1,800 feet up the steep mountain. At the top we watched a movie, shot pics of ships below, visited a nature center and browsed a gift shop purveying quality merchandise.

In late afternoon a shuttle bus took us to a Dog Musher’s Camp on nearby Douglas Island, where we were greeted by 150 barking and howling Alaska sled dogs. Sixteen-dog teams were hitched to 6-passenger wheeled vehicles that enable dogs to train year-round for winter dog mushing, Alaska’s favorite sport.

The dogs’ excitement made us forget the rain and enjoy the one-mile ride. After the ride, mushers demonstrated equipment and talked about their dog racing experience. Finally it was much anticipated puppy petting time which helps pups become socialized with humans. www.alaskaexcursions.com Juneau’s attractions include Mendenhall Glacier, Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure, sport fishing, whale watching and helicopter flightseeing.

Sitka www.sitka.org Like other towns in the Inside Passage, Sitka is an island that cannot be reached by roads or highways.

Juneau dog sled team.

Photos courtesy Pat Woods.

The Westerdam anchored in Sitka.

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Glacier Bay. Photo courtesy Pat Woods.

Byways • 45

Once a part of Russia, Sitka celebrates both its Russian and Native American heritage with dance troops.

Known for clean air and safety, this quiet town of 8,900 (far fewer in winter) offers a variety of hiking trails, museums, the Alaska Raptor Center and St. Michael’s Russian Orthodox Cathedral. The local pharmacy features a 1950s-era soda fountain.

Ketchikan www.visit-ketchikan.com Ketchikan pulls out all the stops for cruisers with a flat attractive waterfront, large visitor center, free shuttle buses, plus friendly greeters, local tour operators, helpful shopkeepers and residents.

Although Ketchikan gets 152 inches of rain a year, it was sunny and in the 60s. We strolled Creek Street boardwalk and visited the Tongass Historical Museum.

Ketchikan honors its native heritage with the world’s largest totem pole collection preserved at the Totem Heritage Center. The town of 13,000 has a thriving arts community and is a sport fishing haven with five salmon species.

Victoria, B.C. www.tourismvictoria.com A festive ambiance greeted us during our Friday 46 • Byways

Parliament Building in Victoria.

Photos by Pat Woods.

evening port call. After sunset, 3,300 lights lit up Parliament buildings, sidewalk musicians played lively tunes and attractions stayed open late. We toured the Royal BC Museum and strolled flower bedecked Inner Harbor walkways. On a previous port call, we toured Butchart Gardens, rode one of the cute ferries and did a CVS hop on/hop off tour.

Onboard experience Although the Westerdam carried 1,923 guests and 800 crew, there were no long lines -- and we never felt crowded. That’s because management strategically schedules meals and activities to avoid congestion.

Besides traditional Bingo, casino, dance lessons and swimming pools, the Westerdam offered Windows technology and group cooking classes which Rob and I attended. Along with customary evening stage shows, musicians and comedians, the B. B. King’s Blues Club played music that made Beale Street famous.

When is the best time to cruise Alaska? Mark Pells, Westerdam Hotel Director, says May and September are good for empty nesters who like a quiet environment with fewer kids. Late July is best for King Salmon anglers.

“Reserve a balcony cabin, throw open your drapes in morning and walk around the top deck at sunset,” Pells said. “The sunset colors are amazing!”

To get maximum enjoyment from your Alaska experience Pells advised doing your pre-cruise homework. “Study the different ports, read the literature, check out the Web sites, then be ready to learn and explore. Listen to onboard lectures, watch the movies, and talk with other guests.

Remember it’s the journey, not the destination.”

If you go Undecided about whether to go?

Mark Twain said it best: “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor.

Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore.

Dream. Discover.”

Seven Holland America ships ply Alaska waters between May and September. www.hollandamerica.com 1-877-932-4259 About the Author. A widely published travel writer, Arizonabased Pat Woods encourages readers to SKI (spend the kids inheritance) on a cruise.

Bagpiper in Victoria.

Byways • 47

Unexpected Nebraska Treasure

W

Welcome to Pioneer Village.

Photo courtesy VisitNebraska.com

By Stephen M. Kirchner

e arrived at Pioneer Village in Minden on a huge collection of Americana telling the story of cold March morning, and as best I could tell America and how it grew.

And then I remembered Mr. Nelson encouraging us to our small group of travel media were pretty visit the other 26 buildings on the 20-acre property. much the only ones on site this early.

Knowing our time here was limited, I began to move This day, we were scheduled to visit several smaller, much faster. lesser known museums and attractions near Kearney, off As I began to enter one building after another, I of Interstate 80 in Central Nebraska. became amazed at the size and scope of the collections.

General Manager Marshall Nelson was on hand to greet us, offer hot coffee and fresh donuts.

After a brief introduction, and some background on a Minden native by the name of Harold Warp, we were invited to explore.

I had heard of Pioneer Village before, and even seen their advertising. For those traveling in Nebraska and nearby states, you’ve probably seen their roadside advertising as well, aka Burma Shave.

But I had never been here, and I just thought this was some sort of village dedicated to the early pioneers.

After exploring the main museum building, I had a totally changed view of Pioneer Classic cars.

Village.

This was no ordinary village. But rather a Byways photo.

48 • Byways

I walked into a building to discover one of the largest collections of farm tractors and farm machinery in the world.

Another housed every model of Chevrolet ever built. Next door a building housing every Ford automobile.

These are real cars, not rebuilt classic cars kits. They are in the original condition in which they arrived at Pioneer Village.

These cars today make up one of the most complete displays of automobile history in America.

But the buildings go on and on.

You can view the development of transportation in the U.S., from ox cart to prairie schooner, stagecoach, horse-drawn street cars, electric trolley, and everything from buggies to bicycles to airplanes.

Original cars on display. Photo courtesy VisitNebraska.com.

g n i n e p p a H s ’ t a h W Other displays

cover the development of lighting, firearms, money, radios and televisions.

You can view the In all, more than 50,000 items, including 350 automoevolution of household appliances, from biles, are displayed throughout Pioneer Village, and in the development of stoves, ice boxes and refrigerators, our allotted time we were able to view but a fraction of and washing machines and even bathtubs. them.

One of the largest collections of farm equipment.

Photo courtesy VisitNebraska.com.

Byways • 49

One of multiple 2-story buildings containing car collection. Photos courtesy VisitNebraska.com.

And I asked, why is this place here? In Minden, In 1983 Mr. Warp converted the collection to a selfNebraska. And how could any individual afford a col- supporting private education foundation to insure its lection of this magnitude? future existence.

Which brings us back to Harold Warp. Mr. Warp was Looking back at that trip to Nebraska, I still think of one of 11 children, born and raised near Minden. While how easy it would have been to pass on Pioneer Village. still in his teens, he became an inventor.

Now, however, I look at Pioneer Village as one of the Mr. Warp developed a flexible glass that he could put must see stops on any tour to Nebraska. www.pioneervillage.org up next to henhouses. In 1924 he patented his invention as Flex-o-Glass.

When he was 24, he moved his business to Chicago.

About the Author: Stephen M. Kirchner has been And created a network of 3,000 dealers to sell the prod- Editor and Publisher of Byways Magazine for the past 33 uct. years. He is based in Louisville, Kentucky.

He then became the first manufacture of polyethylene food wrap, known as Jiffy Wrap.

Then the company became the first to invent, produce and sell the plastic garbage bag!

The company is still in business today, producing a wide range of high quality plastics. Harold’s son is now President of the company.

In 1948 Mr. Warp began acquiring historic buildings in the Minden area, determined to preserve them. These became the basis of Pioneer Village, opening in 1953.

From six buildings, Pioneer Village grew steadily over the years, and continues to preserve and display items that impact the average American.

50 • Byways

Byways is published bi-monthly by Byways, Inc. and distributed electronically throughout North America.

Byways is emailed to more than 4000 tour operators /Travel Trade through the Internet. Subscriptions are complimentary. An iPad & iPhone version is available for consumers in iTunes in the App Store. An Android browser version is available at www.issuu.com/byways.

Byways’ distribution includes motorcoach companies, tour operators, selected travel agents, bank travel managers, school band and athletic planners, meeting planners and the travel trade. For advertising rates, editorial deadlines, or to place advertising insertions, contact: Byways Magazine at 502-785-4875. ©Copyright 2016 by Byways, Inc. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be duplicated in any form without express written permission of the publisher.

Editor and Publisher Stephen M. Kirchner

Advertising Director 502-785-4875

Internet bywaysmagazine.com byways@motorcoach.com Byways on Facebook Byways on Twitter

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