The Heat Is (Still) On

We spent Wednesday night in Canton, while K went back to Cleveland since he had appointments with customers on Thursday and Friday. I stopped looking at the weather forecast because, really, what difference does a few more degrees make once you've moved beyond "cooked" on your way to "well done"?! Ugh. So thankful that the A/C works well in the car and that most of the places we're going to are indoors!

Ida Saxton McKinley's home

Our first stop for today was the First Ladies National Historic Site in Canton. The site is managed by the National Park Service and operated by the National First Ladies Library. Despite what the name suggests, the site really only covers the First Ladies from Ohio in any detail. Photography was not permitted inside either building, so this is really the only pic I have to illustrate our visit.

We started our docent-led tour in the Education and Research Center, housed in the 1895 City Bank Building, where there were just a few exhibits on display and some brief video vignettes on the Ohio First Ladies to view. Then a ranger walked us over to the Saxton House, where we were met by a costumed volunteer who took us through the home.

Since they didn't have a Jr. Ranger program here, the boys didn't have much to occupy them during the tour. But we were very proud of them for paying attention the whole time and not being disruptive. Good job, sons!

I'd have to say that this site was probably the most underwhelming of all of the NPS units we have visited. The thing that did impress me was the character and fortitude of the Ohio First Ladies -- they were accomplished, talented, and educated women during times when women didn't necessarily have the opportunities we take for granted today.

Pricey ice cream, but very good!

From Canton, we hit the road again, making our way towards Dayton. But we had to make a quick detour outside of Columbus for Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream, a place that we saw highlighted on History Channel's "How the States Got Their Shapes".

When we arrived in Dayton, we went straight to the Huffman Prairie Flying Field Interpretive Center, one of the sites in the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park. The boys went right to work on their Jr. Ranger booklets, but not before they took a spin on the Wright Flyer B flight simulator.

Successful take-off and flight!

Because the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force closed an hour before the Huffman Prairie VC did, we left and drove right over to the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. What a cool museum! So many aircraft and other interesting things on display!

We only had about 90 minutes to zip our way through the exhibits before the museum closed -- I really wish we would have had more time to spend there! Guess we'll just have to come back again!

After the museum closed, we went back to Huffman Prairie VC so that the boys could finish up their booklets and earn their *wings*! What else would a Junior Ranger earn at the birthplace of aviation?!