Category: National Monuments, National Historic Sites, Memorials, Battlefields, National Forests etc.

Hiking Team: Dave Miller, Rosie Miller, Nick Kelly, Jacque Kelly, Elizabeth Kelly

Date: August 21, 2023

Within the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, we ascended this 1.7-mile wooded, hilly trail that occasionally had mushrooms just off the trail in the beech and maple tree forest. Nick carried Elizabeth at times and sometimes she walked. Near the summit it opened into a bright, sunny sky with periodic boardwalks along the bluff to an incredible overlook. Lake Michigan was 400 feet below. Looking north, we could see Pyramid Point, the sandy lakeshore, and South Bar Lake in the distance. Lots of beachgrass mixed with the sand along the bluff to thwart erosion.

After hiking we drove to Suttons Bay Ciders and bought a tasting flight of eight different ciders. All had different tastes especially the Spanish style cider Sidra-Lapeno that had quite the kick. That night another outstanding sunset over Lake Michigan. The water looked like it was ablaze.

Hiking Team: Dave Miller, Rosie Miller, Nick Kelly, Jacque Kelly, Elizabeth Kelly

Date: August 22, 2023

Within Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, this 2.4-mile trail began in the open grassland with beautiful wildflowers on each side. The trail became wooded and shady and ascended over a hundred feet until opening upon a beautiful bluff overlook. A sign warned hikers not to risk injury and rescue fees going down or the two hours to climb back up the several hundred-foot sandy cliffs. Still a few hikers disobeyed and headed down to the cool Lake Michigan waters far below. From the bluff overlook we had the best view of North & South Manitou Islands plus the lighthouse and lighted buoy in the middle channel.

I walked by myself a quarter mile south from Pyramid Point along Empire Bluff. The sandy trail was tight with tall grass, ferns and other green growth touching me on both sides.  One slip and I would fall 50 to 70 feet down. Great views of the lake shore. 

Outstanding sunset that night at the Jolli Lodge where we were staying.

Expedition Team: Dave Miller, Rosie Miller, Nick Kelly. Jacque Kelly, Elizabeth Kelly

Date: August 19-22, 2023

Located in Michigan’s lower peninsula, this national park was very diverse with miles of sand beaches, over 100 miles of hiking trails, lush forests, clear inland lakes, scalable high sand dunes and dark nighttime skies for stargazing. There were many fresh fruit and vegetable stands for blueberries, apple cider, cherries and apricots. We stayed four nights at the Jolli Lodge and drove to various beaches, hiking trails and sites. Evening sunsets at Lake Michigan looking west were spectacular.

Expedition Team: Dave Miller, Rosie Miller

Date: April 26, 2023

This National Monument enlightened us about Colonel Young, a former slave, that in 1889, became the third African American to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He was leader of the Buffalo Soldiers who not only fought but patrolled Yellowstone National Park and other parks. The Buffalo Soldiers built roads, trails, and structures in Sequoia, Yosemite, and Glacier NP. He was the first Superintendent of Sequoia National Park. Young installed the fence around the giant Gen. Sherman tree for protection). Young was the first African American military attaché and a diplomat to Haiti. His 1830’s former house was under renovation, so the photos, documentary film, and exhibits were less than a mile away at a seminary library on Wilberforce College campus. We plan to return to the house next year when the renovation is done.

Expedition Team: Dave Miller

Date: April 1, 2023

Located on the Wright Patterson Air Force Base, on top of a hill overlooking the base and the Huffman Dam, the small center focusses on the Wright Brothers development of the world’s first practical airplane at Huffman Prairie in 1904 & 1905, their flying school which started in 1910 and accomplishments of Wright Patterson Air Force Base. Outside of the center, there is a large 17-foot-high granite memorial saluting the Wright Brothers and several Indian mounds. It was nice to see a couple photos of the WB hydroaeroplanes or seaplanes, which were tested on the Miami River in Moraine from 1912-1914. This site is the 4^th of six sites making up the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historic Park.

Expedition Team: Dave Miller

Date: April 1, 2023

Located on the grounds of Wright Patterson Air Force Base, the Wright Brothers rode the interurban trolley Monday through Saturday during the 1904 and 1905 flying season to this cow pasture and worked on perfecting their flying machine. Although the original airplane hangar is not here, the Simms Station Platform for the trolley stop is here along with many informational kiosks, photos, an Ohio Historical Marker, and grassland. The trolley made it possible for the Wright Brothers to haul tools, materials and parts for their flying machines. I talked to an elderly man back in 1918 who told me his uncle drove the trolley and would pick the Wright Brothers up at Simms Station in the evening. The is the third site of six total sites that make up this National Historic Park.

Expedition Team: Dave Miller, Rosie Miller, Holly Miller, Jacque Kelly

Date: 2013, 2014, 2015

This 100-foot-tall white sandstone obelisk completed in 1960 was America’s first National Historic Landmark. The monument honors Sgt. Charles Floyd, a member & quartermaster of the Lewis & Clark Expedition who died at age 22 on the upstream voyage in 1804. He was buried here. The expedition explored the Louisiana Purchase. The monument overlooks the Missouri River valley on a bluff. Just north along the river and interstate is the Sgt. Floyd River Museum. The drydocked 138-foot-long riverboat was built in 1932 and also serves as a welcome center. Son Matt was a pre-season football NAIA All-American Team selection who played defensive end at nearby Briar Cliff University. In-between cancer treatments, we attended his home college football games at the Dakota Dome in Vermillion, South Dakota. We often stopped by the Sioux City obelisk and museum.

Expedition Team: Dave Miller

Date: May 8, 2009

Fenway Park is home to the Boston Red Socks professional baseball team. Opening in April 1912, it is the oldest stadium and the most famous in Major League Baseball. I attended a game there with a half dozen Moraine co-workers between Boston and the Tampa Bay Rays which the Red Sox won 7 to 3. I was really excited to see the infamous Green Monster, the nickname of the high left field wall. The high wall prevents home runs on many line drives that would clear the walls of other ballparks. Down in the bowels of the stadium beneath the seating, I went to get a sandwich and drink. The interior looked so nostalgic, historic and old, reminding me of what a ballpark would have looked like in 1938 and 1939 when my father played pro baseball. Outside the ballpark for a block or two, auto traffic was totally restricted so that fans could walk out and safely hog the streets to visit the many neighborhood bars and restaurants for aftergame dining and partying.

Expedition Team: Dave Miller, Rosie Miller

Date: June 18, 2022

At over one million acres, this is the largest national grassland in the USA. Located in western North Dakota, it is a mixed grass prairie with both long and short grass along with beautiful badlands, rugged terrain eroded by water and wind. The Little Missouri River meanders through a part of the grassland. 

Expedition Team: Dave Miller

Date: August 9, 1974

Completed in 1922 to honor our 16^th President Abe Lincoln, I viewed the monument in the evening on the night that President Richard Nixon resigned. The national news media and crowds were focused over at the White House, so a friend and I had the Monument all to us. We sat on this quiet summer night to observe the carving of Abe sitting in his majestic chair all lit up by spotlights. My photo disappeared over time, so I thank my son-in-law Justin for recently taking this photo for me.