Mill Neck Manor

Mill Neck Manor, formerly known as           Sefton Manor.

Keeping up with the elegance and luxury of the Gilded Age that now may be assigned to the Great Gatsby, Mill Neck Manor is one of the remaining historic estates on the North Shore of Long Island.  Once known as Sefton Manor, this granite Tudor Revival mansion overlooks the water of the Long Island Sound on eighty-six acres.  The majestic estate was the home of cosmetic heiress, Lillian Sefton Thomas Dodge and her second husband Robert Leftwich Dodge.

In 1949, Mrs. Dodge sold her estate to the Lutheran Friends of the Deaf, the founding organization for Mill Neck Manor School for the Deaf.  The Manor House became a residential school for the Deaf and then a day elementary school. In 2001, a new Deaf Education Center was built which left the Manor House vacant and it is now used for events, Designer Showcases and monthly tours.

Since re-reading the F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” in anticipation of the Christmas release of the new movie based on the novel, I have embarked on a Gold Coast tour and was thrilled when I secured tickets for the once a month tour of Mill Neck Manor.  I enjoyed touring the Mansion that cost two million dollars back in 1923 and was impressed by many of the unique features and the formal gardens.  I was equally impressed with the life of Lillian Sefton Thomas Dodge upon learning that it was her success as the company president of the Harriet Hubbard Ayer Corporation that financed Sefton Manor.  Below is a synopsis of my delightful afternoon at Mill Neck Manor.

The Manor House and Formal Gardens

Upon entering the home I walk through one of the most remarkable feature, the solid oak doors that are over 400 years old and were studded with iron detail.  After passing through the grand entrance the tour group convened in the Great Hall and learned about the history of the three-story residence.  The mansion did not have any original furniture of the Dodge family and many rooms were empty.  The vacant rooms allowed visitors to focus on the beauty of the engraved wood walls, ornate ceilings and the leaded stain glass-windows, depicting scenes from five Shakespearean plays overlooking the main stair landing.

The main entrance doors are 400 to 500 years old.

Stained glass windows depicting scenes from five Shakespearean plays.

Fireplace from Europe.

Ceiling on the third floor. No two ceilings in the home are alike.

The mansion consists of 34 rooms, 16 bathrooms and two elevators.  The Great Hall is on the main floor with a parlor to the right and the kitchen to the left.  Also on the first floor were fireplaces imported from Europe from the 16th and 17th century.  On the second floor was the bedroom of the Dodge’s only child, Mary.  This room served as an exhibit for  the Harriet Hubbard Ayer Cosmetic Company and had several original advertising pieces displayed on the walls.  The third floor rooms were for the servants.

Original Advertisement

Harriet Hubbard Ayer collection

Harriet’s life was beset by tragedy and triumphs and it is documented in her biography written by her youngest daughter.

After checking out a room that featured a two-way mirror and two vaults that were hidden in the paneling walls that were constructed from the last wood of the Sherwood Forest,  I ventured out to the formal gardens.  The sunken gardens can be approached through a pair of bronze gates that were designed in Paris and are named the Gate of Sun and the Gate of Moon.  Three Limestone Temples framed the gardens that were originally arranged in the form of a sundial radiating from the Venetian fountain that is centrally located.  Small water pools give the gardens tranquility.

Gates to the formal garden.

One of the three temples.

Lillian Sefton Thomas Dodge

Lillian Sefton was from Washington, D.C. and was a singer and actress before marring her first husband Vincent Benjamin Thomas.  Miss Sefton had appeared in a production with the daughter of Harriet Hubbard Ayer.  Harriet Hubbard Ayer had started a cosmetic company in 1886 to sell her cosmetic cream.  Ayer ended up losing control of her company to her business partner, but regained control through the courts.  Unfortunately, the bad publicity caused sales to crash.  Four years after Ayer’s death Benjamin Thomas purchased the company in 1907 for his wife when the beauty business was taking off.   Although Mr. Thomas was the president, it was Lillian that ran the company.  She became president after his death in 1918 making her the highest paid female executive in America earning $100,000 per year in 1937. Lillian remarried in 1925 to American Artist, Robert Leftwich Dodge whose works appear on the walls of the Library of Congress.  Mr. Dodge died in 1940 and Lillian sold the company in 1947 to Lever Brothers for $5,500,000, a low price considering the company had been grossing between six and eight million dollars annually.

Lillian Sefton Thomas Dodge

What you need to know to tour the Mansion

Tours are held once a month and can be booked on-line.  Each tour consist of a group of twenty-five and the admission fee is $25 for adults.  The tour is approximately an hour and a half.  Upon the conclusion of the tour, tea and scones are served.  If you enjoy touring historical homes, I highly recommend making a visit to Mill Neck Manor, but do so in the spring or fall because the house of course does not have air-conditon and it is very warm during July and August.

Mill Neck Manor is faced with brown Westchester granite and trimmed in tawny limestone.

Have you visited the Gold Coast?  What is your favorite historical home tour?

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Atlantic City’s Miss America

This past summer on our road trip down the east coast we spent some time in Atlantic City, New Jersey.  When we arrived we really didn’t have a plan and figured we would just stroll down America’s first and longest boardwalk.  I was excited to enjoy some saltwater taffy and my son was excited to play miniature golf and enjoy the rides at Steele Pier.

One thing I wasn’t expecting to do was to learn about the Miss America Pageant.  I was quite surprised after checking into to our hotel to find the world’s largest Miss America memorabilia collection in the lobby of the Sheraton Atlantic City Convention Center Hotel.  Now I’ll admit my son could have cared less about the collection, but I was swept away in memories of when I was a young girl watching the Miss America Pageant on television.  Honestly, until I was standing in the middle of the collection I had forgotten that the Miss America Pageant was held in Atlantic City from when it started in 1921 until 2005.  In 2006,  the pageant moved to Las Vegas after disputes over local funding and network television coverage.

The Collection

There were several dresses on display including the first Miss America, Margret Gorman’s sea green chiffon and sequined dress and the Statue of Liberty crown she wore in the 1922 competition.

The first Miss America, Margaret Gorman (1921)

Marian Bergeron was crowned Miss America in 1933 and wore a dress that resembled a Mardi Gras gown which is pictured below.

Marian Bergeron, Miss America 1933

The 1943 Miss America was Jean Bartel and is known for starting the Miss America Scholarship Program.

Jane Bartel, Miss America 1943

Lee Meriwether became Miss America in 1955.  She was the first Miss America to be crowned on television.

Lee Meriwether, Miss America 1955

In 1967, winner Jane Jayroe wore the blue dress below.  During her time as Miss America she traveled to entertain the troops that were serving in the Vietnam War.

Miss America 1967, Jane Jayroe

The 1971 winner of the Miss America Pageant was Phillis George who also went on to become the first female sportscaster on national TV.

Miss America 1971, Phyllis George

Below is the dress of  Miss America 1986, Susan Akin.  Her dress actually reminds me of one of my formals I wore my freshman year in college.

Miss America 1986, Susan Akin

Also showcased were nostalgic pageant treasures like the Golden Mermaid Trophy and the Miss America Crown and Scepter.

The Golden Mermaid Trophy

Miss America Crown and Scepter

Through out the hotel there were photographs of past bathing beauties and the parade on the boardwalk which was referred to as “America’s Playground” in 1926.

History on the Sidewalk

The history of the Miss America Pageant continues upon leaving the hotel.  Along the side of the building there were plaques and shadow boxes with interesting facts about past winners like Vanessa Williams who became the first African-American Miss America in 1984 and Heather Whitestone who became the first woman with a disability to win the crown in 1995.

For fun you have to check out the statue of Bert Park, the original master of ceremonies of the Miss America Pageant.  Make sure you step under the crown for a photo op.  My son thought it would be silly, so he vetoed my “Here She Comes” moment.

Bert Parks Statue

Sadly, the Miss America Pageant is no longer held in Atlantic City.  In addition to the Sheraton Atlantic City Convention Center Hotel’s collection, the pageant is also remembered via “Miss America Way”.  Diamonds along the sidewalk are assembled like the Hollywood Walk of Fame with each winner’s name from 1921 to 2005.

Miss America Walk of Fame

Good News

If you have a thing for beauty pageants or just find the history along the Atlantic City boardwalk interesting, I have good news.  The Sheraton Atlantic City Convention Center Hotel was unscathed by Hurricane Sandy and the Miss America collection is still displayed in their beautiful lobby.  I am sure the Jersey Shore, specifically Atlantic City will be doing everything they can to rebuild the historic boardwalk community and it’s landmarks in the aftermath of the storm.  I hope many people will support their tourism.  Just remember to check out the amazing Miss America Exhibit after you hit the casinos and enjoy a meal at the historic Tun Tavern.  I am sure you will leave singing “Here She Comes, Miss America”!

Do you plan to visit Atlantic City?

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Coe Hall Mansion at Planting Fields State Historic Park

Coe Hall

Camellia Greenhouse

Last week while roaming Barnes and Nobel, I stumbled upon what many people consider to be the “Great American Novel” on the summer reading table, The Great Gatsby.  I ended up purchasing The Great Gatsby wanting to re-read it from my high school days before the new movie comes out on Christmas Day.  Reading through F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel made me want to go visit the Long Island Gold Coast and step back into the time of the “Roaring Twenties”.  So after a little research this morning, I came up with a list of seven mansions that were retreats of the rich and famous during the turn of the century to the 1930’s. From the Gugggenheims and Vanderbilts to the Pratts and Coes, the Gold Coast was the place to be for high society and notable Americans.  Despite the heat and oppressive humidity, I decided today the place to be for me was at William Robertson Coe’s mansion which was built in 1921 and is more commonly known as the Planting Fields Arboretum.

Here is a recap of my visit to a great 1920’s Gold Coast Estate and what to expect for those who want to revisit a decade where everyone wore a hat and many carried a flask during a time of prohibition and prosperity.

M.O. & M.E. Hoffman Visitor Center

The former Hay Barn of this 409-acre estate now houses the visitor center.  With so much property to explore this was a great place to get my bearings.  I found a model display of the property, so I could easily locate everything I wanted to see.  In addition, there was a nice display and short videos narrated  by Mr. Coe’s grandson Michael, that provided me with the history of the Coe Family and their estate.  One fun tidbit that I picked up from the video was that the gates at the main drive entrance was originally created in 1712 for the Carshalton Park Estate in England and Mr. Coe had them transplanted to his estate.  You can see these gates on the silver screen in the movie, Love Story and Sabrina.  The visitor center was also a great place to cool off since there was air conditioning, so I browsed the gift shop and decided to get a drink from the Garden Cafe’ before heading back out in the 86 degree humid weather.

The Visitor Center, formerly the Hay Barn.

A great place to start your tour of the estate.

History of the Coe Family

William Robertson Coe moved to the United States with his family at the age of 14 from England. At age 15 he worked as an office boy for an insurance broker in Philadelphia and in 1910 he became president of Johnson and Higgins Insurance Company and was involved in insuring the RMS Titanic.  Mr. Coe was married three times.  He lost his first wife who died on a cruise to England.  His second wife was Mai Rogers, who was the daughter to the Vice President of Standard Oil and builder of the Virgininan Railway.  It was Mai’s fortune that went into the estate.  William and Mai had three sons and a daughter.  Their passion for horticulture, specifically interest in rare species of plants and trees led to botanical bliss. Mai passed away in 1924 and Mr. Coe quietly married a divorcee from Texas, Caroline Graham Slaughter.  Mr. Coe passed away at the age of 85 from an asthma attack in 1955. Caroline stayed in the home until her passing in 1960.

Coe Hall Mansion

The style of this beautiful mansion is of an English 16th century Elizabethan country house and was decorated by an interior designer from Charles of London.  I toured the mansion for $3.50 and the sweetest widow was my personal tour guide.  The entrance was grand with Romanesque arches.  I particularly enjoyed exploring the den which was Mr. Coe’s study that had a safe hidden beyond the wood paneling and a hidden bar off to the side. The Reception room  which was decorated in a 18th century French style  was used by both the second and third Mrs. Coe to entertain their lady guest.  Taking in the grand fireplaces, chandeliers and artistically carved doors was wonderful, but seeing family pictures in the Great Hall where the Coe’s only daughter was married made me feel like I knew the family.

The Reception Room

The Dining Room

The Den

The Mud Room where the family would mount their horses.

 Exhibit

Cocktail Culture – The Glamorous Gold Coast Years from Prohibition to 1960 – This exhibit can be viewed until September 30, 2012.  Coe Hall was built in the same year that the Prohibition Amendment became law which was appealed in 1933.  Long Island was one of the most notorious routes that liquor was smuggled in by boat in then by road to New York City.  Mr. Coe stockpiled liquor in 1918 and 1919 and spent $35,349.72 which today would be slightly under a half a million dollars.  I really enjoyed this exhibit and didn’t realize Long Island’s history in the prohibition era.   The exhibit also had several dresses from the 1920s reflecting the flappers independence and the birth of the “cocktail dress” around 1935.  The “little black dress” made its debut when speakeasies became legal restaurants such as the 21 Club which still exist today in NYC.  There was a picture of the Coe’s daughter in front of the bar  of the 21 Club in the early 1930s.

Cocktail Culture Exhibit

Radio Bar

Planting Fields Arboretum 

Gardens 

Hydrangea

Lily

The Italian Blue Pool Garden  is surrounded by spring-blooming perennials and a darling Tea House sits at the end of the pool.

Italian Blue Pool Garden

Tea House

The Rose Arbor and Rose Garden contain over 600 Tea, shrub, and miniature roses.  The Children’s Playhouse is not to far from the Rose Garden.  The Green Garden features a circular pool and the Azalea Walks and  the Vista Path are nearby.

Rose Garden

The Playhouse

The Synoptic Garden displays over 500 types of tree and shrub with little signs arranged in alphabetical order by botanical name.  I saw a few chipmunks in the Synoptic garden.

Greenhouses

Main Greenhouse  The Main Green house orchids, cacti hibiscus, begonias and more.  Kids can be a plant detective and collect stamps at plant stations.

The Main Greenhouse

Plant Detective Children’s Activity Map

Hibiscus House

Cactus House

Camellia Greenhouse – This is the largest collection of camellias under glass in the Northeast.

Camellia Greenhouse

Woodlands

There are over 200 acres of woodland at Planting Fields, with miles of walking trails through the woods.

Information needed to plan your visit

Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park is located at 1395 Planting Fields Road in Oyster Bay, New York.

• Grounds are open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except December 25.
• A $8 per car from April 1st to Labor day, 7 days a week and weekends only from September 10th thru October 31st. Admission free during winter season.
• Mansion Tours are an hour-long and are offered twice daily at 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m from April 1 – September 30.
 $3.50 Tour Fee for Non-Members / Members and all children under 12 are FREE .  THe guided tour focuses on the work of the servants during the 1920s.  The tour will lead visitors through the servants living quarters, kitchen areas, the flower room, and wine vaults.
• The Main Greenhouse and Camellia Greenhouse are open year round from 10:00 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• The Visitor Center is open April 1st thru October 31st 11:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m daily.
 November 1st thru March 31st, Friday, Saturday and Sunday only.
11:00 a.m. – 4: 30 p.m.

While in Oyster Bay, you might also like to check out Sagamore Hill National Historic Site, the “Summer White House” to the 26th President, Theodore Roosevelt. Another site to explore is The Raynham Hall Museum which was once used as British headquarters during the American Revolution and was home to the Townsend family.  Robert Townsend was the first link in a chain of agents in the Culper Spy Ring.

If you are hungry check out Canterbury Ales Oyster Bar & Grill and then afterwards walk down to Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park to take in views of the Long Island Sound.

Are you ready for a day trip to explore the Gold Coast?

Stay tune for future post on other mansions like the Eagle’s Nest, Oheka Castle, Old Westbury Gardens, Mill Neck Manor, Condrie Hall and Falaise.

If you enjoyed this post, you also might like 12 Long Island Family Day Trips to Experience in 2012 and Touring the Top Five Presidential Homes.

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Step back into the 16th Century at the New York Renaissance Faire

An hour north of NYC you can spend the day as if you were living in the 16th Century at the New York Renaissance Faire.  My son and I had a great time a couple of years ago in the woodlands of Sterling Forest in Tuxedo Park, New York.  We spent a full day enjoying the medieval village and really felt like we were in Elizabethan England!

We played countless century games and my son was amused on the rides like the Dragon Swing.  What was great is that all the games and rides were included in the admission ($22 for adults and $11 for kids), so you could play and ride as much as you wanted!

Entertainment was endless!  We enjoyed seeing the actors and visitors in costumes and it really was “people-watching” at it’s best!  If you want to have the full experience, you can always rent a costume in the shop called The Bellrose, that is if you don’t have one of your own.  It is conveniently located by the information booth when you go through the admission gates.

We also saw several shows which were also included in the admission!  The Faire has 125 shows that range from comedy, adventure and for children.  Our favorite was the joust!  Where else can you see knights on horseback swinging swords!  Another favorite was the Living Chess Match.  It was really neat to check out the feud on the massive chessboard.

I am sure you are thinking, “Wow, what a full day!”, but believe it or not there is plenty of other things to do and see.  No place would be complete without shopping and dining!  The kids can try Renaissance food by chomping on a roasted turkey leg.  If they are not that adventurous, no worries because there is plenty of traditional kid food like pizza and french fries.  Parents also have the opportunity to try a true-brewed mead!

If you want to do a little shopping, there are over a hundred artisans who sell their handcrafted items.  Just a few things you will find in the Artisan Crafts Marketplace are jewelry, clothing, blown glass and exotic leathers.  There is also face painting and hair braiding in the market place too!

     Events like these are fabulous to teach your kids about a time in history.  Let’s face it, reading about 16th century history makes me want to snooze, so I can only imagine what a kid would think.  Being a spectator at an armoured joust tournament in a period costume followed by a renaissance meal really brings medieval times alive!

Writing this entry has brought back so many fun memories that I think I want head back to the faire again!  The Faire is only open August 6th through Sept 25th.  I am thinking about heading back with my sister and her four kids the weekend of August 20th for the Pirate Weekend!

I am sure if you check out the video below that was on You Tube, you will be planning a day trip to the medieval forest soon too!

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The National Baseball Hall of Fame – Cooperstown, New York

For any baseball fans out there, a trip to Cooperstown, New York should be in your future.  My son LOVES baseball, so there was no better way to honor one of his favorite sports than with a visit to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.  When we visited last summer, we started our day early and were there when the doors opened at 9 a.m. and was ready for everything baseball.

The museum was three floors and we started on the second floor which was recommended when we purchased our tickets. ($19.50 for adults & $7.00 for children) We enjoyed exhibits that honored the greats of baseball and history of the game.  One of our favorite things was the Baseball Experience which was a presentation in the Grandstand Theater.  My son also liked the Today’s Game exhibit which displayed artifacts from the major league teams of today.

The exhibits continued on the third floor.  The Records Room and the Baseball Cards exhibit was a hit with my son and nephew.  On the first floor, I really enjoyed the Baseball at the Movies and the boys liked the Sandlot Kids’ Clubhouse.  

Going through the Hall of Fame Plaque Gallery gave the boys an idea of the history that is behind the game that they play in Little League. When they looked in awe at the oversized stature of Babe Ruth and posed for their best swing, I could tell they realized that they were somehow connected to the greats of our nation’s favorite past time.  Baseball really is more than a sport, it connects generations.

Visiting the National Baseball Hall of Fame was so much fun.  We also enjoyed checking out the Main Street of Cooperstown too!  There were many places to eat and several shops.  We had no problem parking, but it is recommended that you park at the Doubleday Field Parking lot and take a trolley.  Parking is only two hours, but you can leave the museum to feed the meter if your hand is stamped.

You can definitely make your visit to Cooperstown a weekend trip. There are other attractions you might want to check out, like The Farmers’ Museum or Fenimore Art Museum.  For a small town, there is a lot to do.

If you head to the home of Baseball, I hope you have as much fun as we did and your baseball fan imagines themselves in the “Field of Dreams”.  After I publish this post, I am headed outside with my pink glove.  My son is calling….time to PLAY BALL!

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Celebrating the 4th of July at Old Bethpage Village Restoration

One of my favorite things to do is celebrate true meanings of holidays.  The Old Bethpage Village Restoration, located on Long Island, NY is a recreation of a 19th-century village.  This living museum is a smaller scale Colonial Williamsburg or Old Sturbridge Village.  With that said there is not as many live demonstrations, but you do receive more  individualized attention since the crowds are smaller.  This living museum host many events through the year, one being an Independence Day celebration set in 1865, so we decided to do something a little different on the 4th of July and took a step back in time to the explore the past.

The day was filled with fun events like the reading of the Declaration of Independence, a brass band concert, and a parade.  There was also Civil War military drills celebrating our country’s 89th Independence Day.  The actors were great , taking pictures with my son and answering his questions. You can enjoy your own picnic lunch and attend the “Temperance Society Picnic”  which is behind the Noon Inn while listening to fiddle music.  If you are in the mood for a cold cider, you can pick one up in the Noon Inn along with some pretzels.

Another fun thing to do is watch a 1860 period All Star Baseball game. The game is a recreation of League Baseball Clubs that were held in Brooklyn and Queens in the 1800s.  My son really enjoyed learning how much the game of baseball has changed.  He revealed how grateful he was that his Little League uniform doesn’t have long sleeves and is not made of wool.

We had so much fun spending the day back in time celebrating the 4th of July. We visited many different types of homes, a school, a church, stores and the farm.  Each building had someone to share information about the history and the actors were in period costumes.  We really enjoyed the farm and learned about the farming skills from years ago.  There were several animals on the farm like sheep, cows and hogs.  The hogs really seemed to be having fun in the mud.

This is a fun family outing that only cost $10 for adults and $5 for kids.  Just keep in mind  that the village is set on 209 acres, so there is a lot of walking.  Most of is flat, but there are a few hills.  Also, make sure you pack some water in those picnic baskets because there was no air conditioners in those 19th century buildings!

I know the 4th of July is usually reserved for barbecues and beach days, but doing something in the true spirit to celebrate our nations birthday really turned out to be a better than expected experience and was also educational.  I definitely think this is worth the visit and believe you will be singing “God Bless America” upon your departure!

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Fun Times at the Crayola Factory

 

Do you have children who love to color and be creative?  Well if you do, I highly recommend making a trip to the Crayola Factory in Easton, Pennsylvania.  My son and his cousins had such a great time here!  They were able to make sculptures with the modeling materials, draw with chalk on the Chalk Walk and of course there were several opportunities to complete color and painting projects.  There were several exhibits, but the crayola experience was our favorite because we were able to see how the crayons were made.  This is a great place for you and your kids to unleash their creative side and the best part is you don’t have to clean up!

In addition to being a great family experience, the admission is really reasonable at $9.75.  Included in the admission is the National Canal Museum, which is in the same building on the third floor.  My son really liked the water table.

If you have read any of my previous posts, I am sure you realized I am a big fan of unique, educational and affordable activities for families.  If you find yourself near the Lehigh Valley region in Pennsylvania, I highly recommend paying the Crayola Factory a visit.  I promise you won’t hear “I am bored” once!  Happy creating!

 

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Birthplace of the National Anthem: Fort McHenry

I have a whole new appreciation for our national anthem when I sing along at a baseball game since visiting Fort McHenry a year ago.  Not wanting to miss a history lesson opportunity, I took my son and his friend to Fort McHenry when we had visited Baltimore for a Oriole and Yankee game.

When we arrived at this massive five-pointed star shape fort, our first stop of course was the visitor’s center where there was a exhibits and a short film, The Defense of Fort McHenry.    We learned about the Battle of 1812, why the flag was so large and the song which became our nation’s anthem.  We discovered the reason for the size of the  flag was because Major George Armistead, who was a commanding officer in the War of 1812 wanted the flag to be “so large that the British will have no difficulty seeing it from a distance”.  The flag was 30′ x 42′! Normally  a replica of the over sized flag is flown at Fort McHenry (we saw the original in the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.), but the day we were there the flag was flown half-staff for the civil rights activist, Dorothy Height. The large flag couldn’t be flown at half-staff because it would have touch the ground.

We soon learned it was the 30′ x 42′ flag that Francis Scott Key witnessed in the “dawn’s early light”of September 14, 1814.  He was moved by the sight and was inspired to compose “The Star-Spangled Banner”.

After learning about the flag we really had fun taking in everything from the tunnels to the cannons in the fort.  There were exhibits in the barracks that gave us the history outside of the War of 1812.  We were really surprised to find out that Francis Scott Key’s grandson, Francis Key Howard was arrested and imprisoned at Fort McHenry during the civil war.

The boys in the cell where Francis Key Howard was held during the Civil War.

I really love visiting historic landmarks that are run by the National Park Service.  We spent hours on a beautiful day that offered an educational experience.  Like many of the National Park Services we visit, the entrance fee was inexpensive, $7.00 for adults and free for 15 and younger.  Of course a junior ranger program is also available for the kids, but plan on allowing two hours to complete the program.  I also recommend going early or late, so you can witness the change of the flag at either 9:30 a.m. or 4:20 p.m. Another tip is to check the calendar at www.nps.gov/fomc/index.htm for events, especially in the summer.  There are usually events where you can experience the daily life of a War of 1812 soldier, sailor or citizen.

The best part of  our historic adventure was that the boys had fun and it didn’t really seem like learning. As a Mom, I am really excited that I can provide my son with opportunities that allow him to see the bigger picture.  In the future, I know when he sings the National Anthem at a school function or a ball game, he will be reminded of the true meaning of America’s triumph and endurance.

            

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Sleepy Hollow…Where the Legend Comes Alive

Sleepy Hollow

Every year  in Sleepy Hollow, New York,  Washington Irving’s classic tale, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow comes alive.  The event takes place the last four weekends of October.  This is a popular event, so it is helpful to purchase tickets ahead of time online at  www.hudsonvalley.org.

There are several events in Sleepy Hollow that makes celebrating Halloween spooky and fun.  In the daytime there is a festival called the Legend Celebration.  The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze, with its illuminated  4,000 hand-carved pumpkins is also very popular, and we were unable to purchase tickets weeks in advance.  Irving’s Legend is where you can experience  the Headless Horseman terrorizing Ichabod Crane.

The daytime event, Legend Celebration is perfect for younger children and they can be entertained by live music, magicians and games.  For literature enthusiast, a tour of  Washington Irving’s home is available.

When darkness settled in we headed over to Irving’s Legend where we actually saw the Headless Horseman!  Legend Nights is held at Phillipsburg Manor.  This 18th

Hanging with Katrina

century farm and gristmill is turned into haunted area with the cast of characters from Irving’s tale roaming the area.  The grounds are lit by candle lanterns and bonfires to give it a ghostly feel.  The boys who wore their skeleton shirts fit in with many of the other visitors in costume. We watched  Washington Irving’s Headless Horseman take his fabled ride on a black steed and ran into witches, pirates, and spooky ghost.  Listening to the  rendition of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” allowed the boys to experience a classic tale in a way that couldn’t be done in the pages of a book.

The Headless Horseman

Posing with the Troll

This was such a fun and different way to spend Halloween!  The characters and re-enactments were great and it was an exciting way to introduce one of the “classics” to my son and his friend.  If you are looking for another option to celebrate Halloween, this is a great alternative than the local haunted house. Just make sure you plan this day trip well in advance!  Happy Haunting!

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A Visit to Thomas Edison’s National Historic Park

On a Saturday in the early autumn my son and I headed out for another day trip.  Thomas Edison’s National Historic Park was our destination in West Orange, New Jersey.  We started our seven dollar tour in the complex by visiting the large three-story main building that housed the research library, machine shops, areas for experiments, and Edison’s office.  Our five dollar audio tour gave us interesting facts and park rangers did different demonstrations like teaching us about the phonograph.  We learned the first recording was “Mary Had A Little Lamb”.

After checking out the main building we toured the chemistry lab which is left like Edison just left the building.  We actually saw one of his alkaline storage batteries.  Before leaving the campus, we checked out the “Black Maria”, the world’s first movie studio.  We couldn’t believe the first films came out of  New Jersey and not New York or Hollywood.

Chemistry Lab

Glenmont

Once we finished taking in everything at the West Orange Complex we drove a short distance down Main Street to Glenmont, the home of the Edison’s.  Edison had bought the home in 1886 as a wedding present for his wife Mina.    Our tour guide was knowledgable and shared many stories like the guest that they entertained.  Some of the famous visitors including Helen Keller, Orville Wright and Henry Ford.

Typical of our many historical family field trips, we left learning more than expected.  Edison was truly an inspiration for innovation.

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