what about the plastic animals?

Junior Rangers

Since it was George Washington's actual birthday I led last week's visitors to Federal Hall on Wall Street.

If there's any location in this country that has a claim to being sacred to our democracy it is the Federal Hall site.  Although the original building is gone this is where freedom of speech and freedom of assembly were established.  It is the site of the first capitol.  Washington was sworn in as president and established the workings of the executive branch of government here.  The first Supreme Court and Congress met here.  The Bill of Rights were introduced here.  In 1842 a Customs House, the current building, was erected here.  In the pre-income tax days this is where most of the federal government's income was collected.  After Customs moved to a new building Federal Hall became the U.S. Sub-Treasury.  Until the Federal Reserve was established in 1920 the gold and silver that backed up the dollar was stored in the building's basement.

You'd think such an important building would be buzzing with activity but Federal Hall was pretty much empty while we were there.  Near as we could tell we were the only visitors to mention to the park rangers that we were visiting on Washington's actual birthday.

The two younger visitors undertook a rigorous quiz and scavenger hunt, took an oath in front of the flag to "share what they learned" and "explore, preserve and protect" the national parks.  Upon doing they were awarded badges as Federal Hall Junior Park Rangers.  On their next visit they will get an exclusive tour just for Junior Rangers.

The Statue of Liberty

I had a few young visitors last week.  We trekked out to the Statue of Liberty on the coldest day they were here.  I hadn't been to the statue since a class field trip in third or fourth grade.  So long ago I can't remember when!  On that class trip we all climbed up to the crown to take in the sights.  When we were done there was still lots of time before the ferry arrived so a few friends and I repeated the 315 step climb to the crown.

There was no crown climb this time.  The crown is open but access is booked-up five months ahead of time.  We already have crown tickets for late June. 

The torch in the second photo is the statue's original torch.  It is now in the museum in the pedestal of the statue.  The museum is really good and includes many depictions of the statue in popular culture.

You can make your own joke about souvenir statues being made in China, the cradle of liberty.

Oh, here's a panoramic view of the skyline from Liberty Island.

Sh#t My Dad Gave Me

Over Thanksgiving my father gave me a plastic bag full of stuff he had accumulated.  He found most of the items on his daily walks over the years.  The pewter medallion next to the red elephant is a souvenir from the 1892 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago.  The eagle topped brass medal on the center left is the Filli Veteranorum, or Sons of Union Civil War Veterans, medal from 1881. 

I gave him the coin from the U.S. Coast Guard Barque Eagle.  The Eagle was launched in 1936 as the German training ship Horst Wessel.  My great-grandfather was one of the contractors that built it and as a child my father was aboard the ship as it was being built.  The United States took possession of the ship after World War II and it now serves as a Coast Guard training vessel.  The Eagle will be docked in a port near you (if you live near a North Atlantic port town) sometime next summer.

An annotated photo is on Flickr as is a double-sized version.

Once a Bum, Always a Bum

I don't remember this costume but I was a Halloween hobo one year.

Twelve

I heard from an impeccable source that the young lady pictured above turned twelve today.  Happy Birthday, Emma!

Another Pappajohn Visitor

They really need a fence or something to limit access to the sculpture park.  This woman jumped next to the sculpture as I was taking the photo and then demanded ten dollars for "prettying up the picture".

Unrelated:  Bike jumping into a pond.

Going for the 'Gold

Ahh, it's summertime.  Time to sit back and enjoy a nice cold Rheingold beer.

Happy 80th Birthday!

My father turns 80 today.  Happy birthday, Dad!

Toes and Dolls

This photo of Judy and her dolls was too cute not to put up!

Happy Birthday!

Guess who is having another birthday today!  Hint:  It's not the person having a birthday tomorrow (hence the two birthday cakes).