MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE

I'm back again, but will not be again for a while.  I am having difficulty with my photo program, so will have to wait to put any more pictures into it.  Our stay in Memphis, Tennessee has not been busy every day as it was in Little Rock.  But only part of my pictures are removed from our camera.

On Wednesday, the 9th, we arrived here at Agricenter RV Park after going to the State Park not far from here.

A cloudy day, but no rain.
Agricenter RV Park, a part of the local fair grounds.

Back view of the Farmer's Market next to our Park.
It is farm crops as well as plants and flowers,
 and quite busy when open!!

We were unable to stay in the State Park because their sites were too short, and there were too many trees in the way if we had decided to let the back end of our rig hang out over the pad.
So we moved on to a Walmart lot for the night.  But after getting lunch and a few groceries, we decided to go on to another park even though we did not get a call back from the manager.  It was a relief after we set up home to know that we were finished for the day.
Our trip from Little Rock was nice, but got very busy with truck traffic, especially closer to Memphis.

But all is well that ends well.
On Friday we stopped by a Visitor's Center on Elvis Presley Blvd and picked up brochures for attractions in the area.  We are not going to Graceland as we have been there before, but there are many more things to do.  Our first stop was the Pink Palace Museum.  It was a mansion which Clarence Saunders began building in 1922. He was the founder of Piggly Wiggly.

The Pink Palace Museum in Memphis.

However, because of failure in a stock market battle, he was not able to finish it's construction.  The developers bought the grounds and donated the building to the city of Memphis.  They used is for a municipal museum.  The name Pink Palace was derived from all of the pink shaded marble used in it's construction.

Central Entry
The second floor is used often
for major events of the area.

Our first attraction in the Museum was the 3-D movie made by National Geographic, Jerusalem. 
We loved it and were so glad that we got to see it.  I would recommend it to anyone. 
Bob and Eugenia, we must say that we did not feel that we had missed out so badly when we were unable to go with you to Israel this year.  With all that is going on there now, we doubt that we will ever get to do that trip.  But as I said, this was a well narrated movie!!
The rest of the museum was Tennessee and area history, prehistoric to near present day. 
I am having difficulty uploading my pictures for this, so I am not sure how many I will be able to show you.  But will try.



Hand operated cotton gin.

Corn planter, not too old
 as I remember using one as a child.



Geod that was cut open.

Real Civil War cannon, but "real" soldiers?



Glad that we did not have to go to the
dentist in those days!!

Just one from a section on dinosaur history,
of this part of the country, once upon a time.

Painting by Charles Banks Wilson
to reflect Quapaw Indians
 from the Arkansas area. 



Interesting!  Some I remember, but some before my time.

Clothing made from cotton.

There was a full replica of a Big Top
Barnum and Bailey Circus.



Glass aquariums with different kind of terrantulas.



I remember these.  My grandmother had the cupboard
and Gary and I had the stove when we got married,
believe it or not!

Many stuffed trophies from early 1900 hunters.

Saturday began with our usual city bus tour, with a MoJo tour beginning on Bealle Street, then on to the Cotton Museum in the former Cotton Exchange building, and the Peabody Hotel. The bus tour had it's own entertainer!!  So we listened to the narration along with a guitarist singing music from the early days of Rock and Roll.  Our pictures from this day forward are still stored in the camera.  You will see them when my program is fixed!!

Walking the streets in ninety degree temperatures, sure did us in for the day!!  We were glad that the next day was Sunday.  And we had a lovely lunch on Sunday with four couples from the church we visited!!  It was great that they invited us along to Fulin Chinese Restaurant. 

Thanks Jerry and Donna for inviting us!!

Take care now and check back in a week.  Maybe I will have it running well by then???

MacARTHUR MUSEUM, the STATE CAPITAL, and GOODBYES



 July 8th, Tuesday, last day to run around in Little Rock and time to say goodbye to nephew, Andrew, and his family.
Gary and I started out early- - to be the first ones going into the MacArthur Museum, formerly a federal arsenal located in Little Rock, Arkansas.  When it was the arsenal there were other buildings on the complex, but this is the only building left.

Front View of former Federal Arsenal, now the
MacArthur Museum.

View of back of building.

 

Civil War soldier monument.

 



Sculpture of General MacArthur

MacArthur's military jeep.

It was so interesting for me to read all of the wall hangings, because I really did not know much about General MacArthur.  Gary is the history buff in our family. 
MacArthur was born in Little Rock and spent his first six months of life there where his father was active with the arsenal.  In his long military career, on some fronts he was a popular man, but on other fronts he was very much disagreed with. 
Just a couple pictures of displays.

One of three displays of possible awards to be given
to military people. 

 

Video scene from Vietnam

So many displays of war materials and uniforms, too much to show.  But I was touched by this stained glass likeness of David Owen Dodd who was a seventeen year old who was hanged after being court martialed for espionage.  It was a questionable accusation, but it did not stop the sentencing and execution.  So depressing to think that he was so young. 

    
We finally left the museum and drove about the city and went south to the State Capital building.  We did not have time to take the tour as we had plans with Andrew.  But we got pictures outside.

Arkansas State Capitol, front view.



Side view of Capital building.

 This is a sculpture  on the grounds that we drove past, honoring firemen.

Late in the afternoon Andrew, Kelli, Cole and Olivia came to the motor home for a tour.  Our plans then were to go for a Trolley ride around the city with them and have dinner together before our leaving in the morning. 

Cole, Andrew, Olivia and Kelli
and guess who is behind them? 

 

Olivia, Kelli, Cole, Andrew and Gary
at Wendy's. 

We really felt that we all benefited greatly from this visit.  Kids we will see you again when we drive through there.  I have no doubt that we will on some future trip.  Happy Days!!  And Andrew we wish you the best with your education.  Take care!!

More buildings from our drive about:

Union Railroad Station



OLD STATE HOUSE MUSEUM and ARKANSAS HISTORIC MUSEUM

Monday, July 7th began as usual with plans to go to the Old State House Museum which was the original state Capital.  It later was turned into a Medical School because of the extensive ground behind it for animals used in research.
This was a very interesting museum, but more than I can begin to share and give adequate credit.

Old State House with added wings on both sides.

There was a section about the restoration of the foundation showing the many artifacts that they found as they did the excavating by hand.  There was another section about the Medical School of Arkansas.  Then also some Arkansas government history.

One of two circular staircases to the second floor.

Looking down from the second floor.



Looking up into the tower.



1836 House of Representatives meeting room,
looking toward the hall.

 

Arkansas has a history of so many celebrities in motion pictures and the music industry, that a large area was used to show that memorabilia and walls of photographs.

 

Hilary Clinton's suit.

Bill Clinton's running shoes, used during campaign.

Two of Hilary's dresses

A black Jazz musician's saxophone

Governor Mike Bebee

Meeting room  of the DAR

 A section on the AMF bicycles manufactured in Little Rock.




These are just a tip of the iceberg!!  You could spend all day if you read every label and too pictures of all and we still wanted to take in another museum. 
In driving around we found the Arkansas Historic Museum which we went through, excluding the outer historic buildings.  They will have to wait for another day as the tour of those had already begun.

Restored house, one of the outer buildings.

Another "mind your bees wax" screens.



Pedal sewing machine, different from
any that I have seen.

Bowie Knives

Bowie display. He lived in Arkansas

Classic Blades by Moran



Armor from early Spanish in
that area.



This about wraps it up for Monday.  Time to go home and write up an overdue Blog.  I am having difficulty keeping up!!  The next day is another museum day.