Charleston WV

 We were up and on the road on our second day heading to some cross stitch stores and to find something to do along the way.   We had hoped to tour the Governor’s Mansion in Charleston, WV, but it was closed.   Instead we went to the Capital Building.   How cool is it that after a passing through a security check,  you can walk about the Capital Building.

I haven’t even toured my own state capital but it and other state capitals could be on the list of possible FREE sites to visit.

The building was beautiful with all its marble and trim.  

View of the ceiling.

Someone has a playful sense about them.

Outside the Attorney General’s Office were winners of a poster contest regarding the dangers of opioids and other drugs.   These students are spot on with their drawings and captions.  And they are elementary and middle school students.   Bravo!

Back to the architecture.  Beautiful sconces 

There was a statute dedicated to the coal miners of West Virginia.  As well as a bust of Booker T. Washington - Great book to read is his biography.  

We walked from the Capital Building to the West Virginia State Museum.   What a 

lovely museum.   I feel like museums are so much better thought out and displayed than when I was a kid, or maybe it is my maturity (ha!).  

This museum led you a path in time starting with the prehistoric times.   

Look at this desk in the lobby area.  Couldn’t we hide all kinds of stash in those little cubbies!!  The Certificate of Authenticity states it is from the Louisville Medical Society, belonging to John P. Hall, 1847.

A 33-star flag

Not Daniel Boone’s jacket but a coonskin jacket from the 1873. This and the above two photos were all from the area before entering the museum display proper.   One things I also liked was it was laid out with a pre-designed one way path.   No way you would miss anything and it provide a cohesive experience.

There were brass floor plates for each year you entered.  

Here’s a cool thing.   These are the gowns of all the First Ladies of the state.   Some have dolls with miniature dresses.   Again, I don’t know if every state does this, but we are textile people so it was of interest.

My aunt had a Criterion and I remember when she would play it for us.    It worked the same way a music box would.   The little metal ‘chads’ (remember that word from a past election?! as I am posting thing on our Election Day - so glad the ads will be over!!!).  would strike the cylinder below to make the music.   The “records” were metal and about 15 inches across.  It was like having a giant music box.  

I am happy not to have to wash my clothes with this washer.  Thank very much for my LG stackables!

Not much in the way of needlework in the museum.

One sampler in the ‘pioneer’ section of the museum dated 1834.

Lady’s Dresser set

I have always marveled at how switchboard operators handled all the wires and connections.

Look at this books of codes and abbreviations.

There was a large - albeit dark - display on coal mining.

Again, it was a very interesting walk through the decades and centuries featuring not only local history but history of the time.

Back to the lobby, which is what drew us to the Museum in the first place, a quilt display.  These are not old but from a recent quilt event.

One last stop before leaving Charleston, WV but I will share that in my next post.  

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for checking out my non-stitching posts.   But don’t worry, I will share arrival at the retreat with my next post.    As always, thanks for stopping by and double thanks for all your sweet, wonderful comments.   Once I am home for a bit, I hope to reply to each one.

Somber Tribute

The next step on our journey was the Flight 93 National Memorial.   It was a solemn museum and I felt it has been very well done.   No one could visit this place without having some tissues on hand.   For me, hearing the replay of the new broadcasts from that day was all it took.  

The setting is a beautiful, peaceful and serene site.  Walking the grounds, there was nothing but the sound of birds and the breeze through the trees to hear.   

On the grounds, 40 groves consisting of 40 maple trees were planted.  They represent the 40 lives lost in the crash.

This black sidewalk marks the flight path of Flight 93.   There are markers along the walkway denoting the times of the other key incidents of the day. 

The path continues through the space between the two walls and leads directly to the crash site.

The black walkway continues at the Wall of Names which is erected at the crash site.

This gate at the wall of names was made from the hemlock trees on the property uprooted at the time of the crash..

“Let’s roll”

So sad

The Tower of Voices at the entrance to the National Park.  It is 93 feet tall and holds 40 wind chimes.

Across the street from the Flight 93 site, is the Patriot Park Memorial.  

We ended our day in Clarksburg, WV with a dinner with a view of a wonderful sunset.

Next stop, Charleston, a cross stitch store and our retreat destination.  Thanks for stopping by and keep on stitching.