Monday we headed back to the Harry S. Truman National Historic Site
When we were last here, we didn't get a chance to tour his home, there are lots of Truman related sites really close together!
We did go over a few blocks and see where his boyhood home was
We also headed back to the Community of Christ temple, which we also did not get to tour last time
So many artistic details throughout the building
The burning bush
Inside the sanctuary
Looking up at the spiral roof--modeled after a nautilus
More beautiful artwork
We hit the road and went to the Far West Temple site, where a temple was to be built, but then the Mormons headed West, to Utah
Looking in at the site from the entry gate
Each corner stone was in a glass box--people came and took souvenirs so they aren't very square anymore
These panels were in the middle of the back between the two cornerstones on that end
We drove to Adam-Ondi-Ahman next, another proposed temple site
On our way out of Missouri, we headed along the Pony Express route to the National Pony Express Museum
This marker was at the park across the street from the museum
This was an actual stable used, the first Pony Express stop from the east end of the route
This "saddle" was called a mochila and had the four pouches on it to hold the mail
Not very big!
The options for sending mail at that time were around South America or through Central America and up the west coast
St. Joseph, Missouri was in the running for the first station, against Leavenworth and Atchison
It won because it had all the requirements needed
We made it to Atchison, Kansas that night
Tuesday we drove straight through Kansas to the western edge. We've seen these signs a lot as we have driven through the Midwest
The very west edge of Kansas is Mountain Time Zone
Wednesday we made it to Colorado!
We saw the first glimmers of mountains and we were all thrilled to see the Rockies again
We stopped at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
Cool fact: they had redwoods there! All that is left is the stumps, fossilized in a volcanic eruption
The stumps are monitored and have the straps around them to make sure they don't erode too quickly
This nest was tucked in on the side of one of the stumps
Our campground for the night was a regular farm! Goats, a very large pig
Swallows nesting in the eaves of the bathroom building
And a donkey who loved to be petted
Thursday we stopped at Curecanti National Recreation Area
The Dillon Pinnacles
It is a reservoir, with several dams along the river
We saw more birds nesting!
And the rest of the eaves at the visitor center had these, to keep the birds from building more nests up there
Seriously amazing (and deep!) canyon
Also, some crazy curves driving up and down
Our campground that night had free outdoor movies, both kids were thrilled to go watch
And past amazing views
This is part of the Colorado Plateau
This was J's favorite sign he saw on the entire drive
Today we attended the Sterling Ward, forgot to get a photo of the chapel!
When we were last here, we didn't get a chance to tour his home, there are lots of Truman related sites really close together!
Photo from last fall, forgot to take a photo of the outside this time and no photos were allowed inside!
We did go over a few blocks and see where his boyhood home was
We also headed back to the Community of Christ temple, which we also did not get to tour last time
So many artistic details throughout the building
The burning bush
Inside the sanctuary
Looking up at the spiral roof--modeled after a nautilus
More beautiful artwork
Looking in at the site from the entry gate
Each corner stone was in a glass box--people came and took souvenirs so they aren't very square anymore
Each corner stone also had a marker next to it, stating which group it was dedicated to/for
These panels were in the middle of the back between the two cornerstones on that end
Really beautiful flowers at the temple site
We drove to Adam-Ondi-Ahman next, another proposed temple site
On our way out of Missouri, we headed along the Pony Express route to the National Pony Express Museum
This marker was at the park across the street from the museum
This was an actual stable used, the first Pony Express stop from the east end of the route
This "saddle" was called a mochila and had the four pouches on it to hold the mail
Not very big!
The options for sending mail at that time were around South America or through Central America and up the west coast
St. Joseph, Missouri was in the running for the first station, against Leavenworth and Atchison
It won because it had all the requirements needed
I did not realize that not only did the transcontinental railroad meet in Utah, so did the transcontinental telegraph!
We made it to Atchison, Kansas that night
Tuesday we drove straight through Kansas to the western edge. We've seen these signs a lot as we have driven through the Midwest
The very west edge of Kansas is Mountain Time Zone
Wednesday we made it to Colorado!
We saw the first glimmers of mountains and we were all thrilled to see the Rockies again
We stopped at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
Cool fact: they had redwoods there! All that is left is the stumps, fossilized in a volcanic eruption
The stumps are monitored and have the straps around them to make sure they don't erode too quickly
This nest was tucked in on the side of one of the stumps
Our campground for the night was a regular farm! Goats, a very large pig
Swallows nesting in the eaves of the bathroom building
And a donkey who loved to be petted
The Dillon Pinnacles
It is a reservoir, with several dams along the river
We saw more birds nesting!
This was one of the parents
And the rest of the eaves at the visitor center had these, to keep the birds from building more nests up there
We went to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park next
Seriously amazing (and deep!) canyon
Also, some crazy curves driving up and down
Our campground that night had free outdoor movies, both kids were thrilled to go watch
Friday we went to Colorado National Monument
The road runs up along the edge of the mesa, through tunnels
And past amazing views
This is part of the Colorado Plateau
This was J's favorite sign he saw on the entire drive
Saturday we made it into Utah and went to the Manti Temple
Today we attended the Sterling Ward, forgot to get a photo of the chapel!
We left 365 days ago on this adventure. We're not done... but we're back for a little bit!
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