Our original plan was to return to Texas by way of Virginia, Carolinas, and Georgia. Instead, we decided to go west from New Jersey and spend a few days in Johnstown before heading west into Ohio. We thought it best to stay away from the coast during the peak of hurricane season.
Highlights of the past week:
Morristown National Historical Park, New Jersey
Washington's Headquarters during Winter 1779-1780
Museum at Morristown NHP
We had a nice visit with Mindy and Al Wasilewski in Newtown, PA and visited Independence Hall in Philadelphia. We did not get to see it on a previous trip due to summer crowds and not getting tickets. (We did see the Liberty Bell a few years ago.) I think the visit here was especially interesting as we made connections with other historical sites that we have seen in the past few weeks (Minute Man NHP in Concord, MA, Adams NHP in Quincy, MA).
The tour guide claimed this is the most important room in the U.S,
The Continental Congress met here and the Declaration of Independence was signed here.
Independence Hall - we heard the bells chime on the hour while waiting for our tour.
Our next destination was Pinelands National Reserve in southern New Jersey and a visit to Cape May. (We finished the New Jersey County Geocaching Challenge while there.)
Cape May Lighthouse
(Attention Mindy W. - Brian touched the lighthouse!)
Sunset Beach - Cape May - you can see the remnants of SS Atlantus (WWI concrete ship - we are
wondering if the one near Galveston is a sister ship.)
seen in the dunes
World War II Lookout Tower - Cape May
Back to Pennsylvania to visit Valley Forge National Historical Park and Hopewell Furnace National Historical Site. There was a state park campground conveniently located next door to Hopewell.
The house GW rented at Valley Forge
GW really did sleep here
Valley Forge National Historical Park Visitor Center
National Memorial Arch at Valley Forge NHP
reconstructed soldiers' huts
Washington Memorial Chapel and Bell Tower
Hopewell Furnace National Historical Site, Penn.
The ironworks here produced Hopewell cast iron stoves and other iron products from 1771
until the last blast in 1883. It was interesting to see the advancements in ironmaking technology since the Saugus Iron Works were in operation (ca 1640s) as well as the similarities.
anthracite furnace
Picking apples in the orchard at Hopewell Furnace NHS (I made yummy apple crisp
with them in Johnstown.)
We took Brian's mother to the Flight 93 National Memorial and enjoyed a drive in the country spotting the first trees beginning to show fall color.
Crash site of Flight 93 on Sept. 11, 2001
The walls of the memorial are aligned with the flight path of the airplane.
Wall of names of the passengers and crew
We can't pass up a covered bridge while out on a drive in the country.
Brian waited in line to buy fresh corn-on-the-cob in Johnstown.
In a few days, we will leave Pennsylvania and head west. There are some national park service sites we want to visit in Ohio and Indiana before heading south in the general direction of Texas. Love and best wishes to all!
Seen while geocaching:
The 'Burg in Trenton, NJ - Broad Street near "Plum Cache"
(for you Janet Evanovich fans out there)
Mister Ed's Elephant Museum and Candy Emporium near Chambersburg, PA
We resisted the temptation to go inside and buy candy.
Miss Penny Candy is her name
Newsboy Statue in Great Barrington, Massachusetts
Perrine's Covered Bridge near Tillson, NY
A fascinating series of pictures covering a lot of American history. I was especially taken with the photos of the Flight 93 National Memorial. Thanks for sharing.
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