DAY X1 (September 8) - Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial honors those men who fought the Battle of Lake Erie in the War of 1812. Commander Perry was victorious against the British, leading his fleet from the U.S. Brig Lawrence. The Doric column memorial reminds all of the longest undefended border in the world, between Canada and the United States. Its 352-feet height is 47 feet more than the Statue of Liberty. The VC had an example of a six-pound Blamefield long gun. Perry’s ships had larger caliber carronades, giving the Americans an advantage in the battle.

Cuyahoga Valley NP had plenty of bicyclists on the Ohio and Erie Towpath Canal. The original Boston Land and Manufacturing Company building sits along the path. This used to be the park’s VC, but a new VC has been built. A lovely mural has been painted on the old parking lot. The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad runs through the park, Wednesdays to Sundays. This is the station at Boston Mills, under I-271 (closer) and the Ohio Turnpike (in background). Along the canal path one can see many of the old locks, such as Lock #34. One of the highlights in the park is Brandywine Falls, 65 feet of cascading water. Upper and lower boardwalks provide access to viewing platforms.

DAY 4 (July 25) - Theodore Roosevelt Inauguration NHS is in Buffalo. Yes, in Buffalo, NY. This inauguration was unusual in that President McKinley had been shot on September 6, 1901, dying eight days later. Roosevelt rushed via train from a speaking engagement in Vermont to the Queen City, then stayed at the home of an old friend, Ansley Wilcox (first photo is front of house, second is one side). Thinking McKinley was recovering, Roosevelt left town, but on the 13th word reached him McKinley had taken a turn for the worse and rushed back to Buffalo. During this travel he was told McKinley had died. For 13 hours there was no President. Roosevelt return to Wilcox’s house, where he took the oath in the parlor (photo with red carpet). He had to borrow formal clothes for the occasion. The desk at which Roosevelt made his first Presidential actions is in the room. Wilcox’s house preserves this important event in our country’s history.

I made a special visit to see Heather at the University at Buffalo. She was a member of the Lake High School soccer team in the 1990’s when I was one of the coaches. She is now an Assistant Athletic Director at the university.

Garfield NHS preserves Lawnfield, the home and estate of the 20th President and his family. Though Garfield only lived here from 1876 to 1881 due to his tragic assassination, his wife continued to live here until her death in 1918. She transformed the original home into a tribute to her husband. Her addition (left half of the second house photo) included a library, with a vault to protect Garfield’s personal papers. A windmill was added to the grounds. The home and remaining property were donated to the NPS in 1936.

The house was most famous for Garfield’s “Front Porch Campaign” in 1880, after winning the Republican nomination for President. The dirt path (first photo) went 3/4-mile to the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad tracks where thousands of people disembarked to walk to Lawnfield to hear Garfield campaign. The 1893 Carriage House is now the park’s VC. Inside are memorabilia such as the bible used by Garfield for the Oath of Office and his Inaugural Address.

The house has rare Louis Comfort Tiffany wallpaper (photo with Garfield portrait). Yes, that Tiffany. He only made a few wallpaper patterns. All of the books (seemed like multiple thousands) in the library are original to Garfield. He spoke various languages (Greek, Latin, Hebrew, etc.) and is considered the most intellectual of all our Presidents. The bust in the one corner was considered by his mother to be the perfect image of her son.

DAY 3 (July 11) - The Bluestone National Scenic River begins its journey near Bluefield, VA. But only a short portion, 10.5 miles, is within the NPS park, that being in southern West Virginia, near Hinton. It is about as slow going as a river can get (see photo), in July. There is one hiking trail, the Bluestone Turnpike Trail, which covers 9 miles along the western shore. A walking bridge has been built over the Little Bluestone River, which dumps into the bigger river at the Lilly parking lot and Trailhead. There was even less water in that tributary.

Even though I had stopped at New River Gorge NP and NPres earlier in the year, that was a “backup stop”, in case I never made it back. Well, today I was able to “stop and smell the roses.” First photo is at Brooks Overlook, viewing the New River at the southern section of the park. Further north is the historic town of Thurmond, which was a major railway stop, for tourists and coal shipments (Thurmond was considered the heart of the New River Gorge in the late 19th century). The Thurmond Depot (yellow building) stands today, 119 years old. It is now one of the park’s VCs, and has a museum. Down the tracks is the old town. The coaling tower is under the track lights. Downstream is the world famous New River Gorge Bridge, the longest arch bridge in the Western Hemisphere. It is possible to drive a car down the hillside to the river, permitting one to fathom the enormity of the structure. The Tunney Hunsaker Bridge is what allows vehicles to reach the other bank.

The Gauley River NRA spans 25 miles on the free-flowing Gauley, and six miles of the Meadow River. Early in the rafting season, the Gauley has some of the highest rated rapids in the Eastern USA. Today was a bit calmer. Though the park portion of the river is free-flowing, that is not the case for the entire length. The Summersville Dam was built between 1960 and 1966 as a flood control project. The one photo shows the backside of the dam, which releases water into the park portion of the river.

DAY 2 (February 19) - Alleghany Portage Railroad makes one believe the human mind can accomplish anything. No one had ever attempted to load canal boats on railroad cars and hoist them over mountains. By 1834 this was a reality. The recreated Engine House #6 is open for visitors to view the engineering marvel (the far right photo shows two large sheaves and the cog wheels). The original Lemon House gives one an insight as to life in the 1830s at a road tavern.

The Johnstown Flood NMem VC has a work of art hanging from the ceiling, probably how Victor Heiser felt as he was clinging to his family’s house as it was being crushed. The site of the Lake Conemaugh Dam is where US219 runs north-south above Conemaugh River (photo). 20,000,000 tons of water were released at 3:10 PM on May 31, 1889. No one from the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club (photo) was ever convicted of dereliction, for the factors which resulted in the dam breaking. The interior is being rehabilitated so visitors can tour in the future.

Fort Necessity NB has two main landmarks, the reconstructed fort (surrounded by earthworks, and a couple of swivel guns) and the Mount Washington Tavern. The Tavern is only open seasonally, which means not in February. When you visit, step inside the fort and look out at the treeline to the east. Try imaging what Washington’s men felt, with no chance to escape. One mile west of the tavern, on US40 (known as the National Road), is General Braddock’s grave monument.

Friendship Hill NHS is comprised of a beautiful house. It has seen multiple additions over the decades, from the original structure in the 1790s (one photo shows the 1824 stone kitchen). This was Albert Gallatin’s primary residence, though much of his time by the turn of the century was spent in Washington, D.C., helping to run the new country.

DAY 1 (February 17) - With an 8-day break, I decided to travel to five park sites which are close to home base. The first stop was the First Ladies NHS, in Canton, Ohio. The VC (located in the park’s Education Center… which was the city’s historic City National Bank) had a display of gowns worn by First Ladies (photo is of Kennedy, Ford, Reagan, and Bush… the display continually rotates to other First Ladies). A quilt made in 1975 by Lilith Wood, honors the Inaugural Gowns.

The other main portion of the park is the Saxton House. This is where Ida Saxton was born and raised. She soon married Major William McKinley, in 1871. Over the course of the 30-year marriage (McKinley was assassinated in Buffalo, in 1901), the house would be the couple’s primary residence, sheltering them for 13 years (it is the only Canton home in which they lived still standing). The house had multiple additions, thankfully since at one time 12 people lived under roof. A study in the home contains a Navajo rug which was bought by the Saxton family in the 1800s. Many other items in the home are original to the two families. A music box which Ida obtained from Europe and the family piano are in the formal parlor, with a photo of Ida above the mantle.