Henry Ford and Greenfield

One of our top items on our summer to do list was visit the Henry Ford and Greenfield Village.

We were able to share this trip with the Romans.

Nathan and I both have visited the museum and village as kids, and once for our anniversary.

Jane took a quiz what kind of car are you?

She came up with the the Commuta:

This was built as a result of the 70's oil crisis.

Elliot liked making paper airplanes at the Wright Brother's section. They have some of the original material used from the first plane in flight along with the recreation of the plane.

The collection at the Henry Ford is extensive, including the chair Lincoln was shot in, Rosa Park's bus, and Presidential cars.  It could also be called the Thomas Edison museum with all of the information and artifacts it contains of the inventor. We didn't get a chance to see it, but they even have Edison's last breath. 

Dad and Elliot constructing their car ideas.
I didn't quite get Nathan in the shot, photography 101, don't cut-off people's heads.

 The Dymaxian house.  The link gives all the information about it. A round shaped home that uses, what at the time were considered modern innovations. A family did live in the house for 20 years, adding onto it over the years.

This section of the museum had scenes from different eras. Jane and Elliot sitting in front of the radio, like kids in the 1940's might have done.

The kids got their own models made of the Wienermobile.

Greenfield Village

The highlights for the girls was going to school.

We experienced what school life was like in 1867. 
Boys and girls sat on separate sides of the room. 
 The teacher asked real questions and you had to stand up and give your name.  The Roman girls and Jane answered everything right.  She prodded answers from the adults and I gave the capital of Pennsylvania and then I was asked to spell it,  I didn't think that was quite fair, but thankfully I got it right.

Laura Ingalls Wilder told about her life on the prairie right before she became a teacher.

Old fashion games

Emma was quite good at the stilts

There was a baseball game that was played according to the rules in the 1800's.

I don't think Addidas was standard issue in the 1800's.

Events were being held to commemorate the 200 anniversary of the war of 1812.  

The kids joined the army. They first had to enlist, then go see the doctor. One of his questions was if you ever had small-pox. 
Then they marched, it was quite warm that day and it was a bit of work for the kids to learn how to hold their weapons and march.

Jane's occupation-actress,
Moriah's-artist

We got a visit from the Krohns.  They then joined us on Sunday afternoon at the village.

 I am glad we were able to share this  special trip,with great family and friends.

Sleeping Bear

The conclusion to a weekend in Traverse City was spent visiting The Sleeping Bear Dunes.

 Jason and Isaiah Krohn were able to join us for the trip. 

The dunes are part of The National Lakeshore, which means they are owned and operated by the government. In 2011, it was named the most beautiful place in America-by the ABC's network morning show "Good Morning America."

On the way to the dunes is a little town called Glen Haven. We spotted this Herbie car in the parking lot. What else can you do if you have a white VW bug, but paint it like Herbie?

Skipping rocks and looking for Petoskey stones.
We found a few.

This is what a Petoskey stone looks like. We didn't find any this big.

The water was freezing. Lake Michigan doesn't warm up too much this far north.

I love Elliot's face here as it perfectly captures the shock of the cold.
 The kids were offered .25c if they went completely under, all three took up the challenge. 

This man was doing some blacksmithing. He explained some techniques and tidbits about life in the village  from when it was thriving.

A boat museum is housed in what used to be a cannery.  

The Sleeping Bear is a Chippewa Indian legend.
Long ago, along the Wisconsin shoreline, a mother bear and her two cubs were driven into Lake Michigan by a raging forest fire. The bears swam for many hours, but eventually the cubs tired and lagged behind. Mother bear reached the shore and climbed to the top of a high bluff to watch and wait for her cubs. Too tired to continue, the cubs drowned within sight of the shore. The Great Spirit Manitou created two islands to mark the spot where the cubs disappeared and then created a solitary dune to represent the faithful mother bear.

A test of strength and stamina is to climb back up.  Signs are posted warning that if rescuers are needed to assist you back up the dune, a fee will be charged. We would consider doing the fun run down and the arduous climb up, when the kids are older.
Hopefully by then we won't be too old to do it ourselves.

A scenic drive allows easy access to this viewing point from the dune.

Elliot and Isaiah trying to find some good jumping points. 

At the top of the dune.  
The view is marvelous and a reminder of just how beautiful the Great Lake State can be.