The Admiral Nimitz And Pacific War Museums – Part I

Fredericksburg, Texas is, also, the home to the Admiral Nimitz and Pacific War Museums.  One ticket gets you into all three locations; the Admiral Nimitz Museum, the National Museum Pacific War, and the Pacific Combat Zone.  We spent close to five hours touring these museums which should be on your bucket list of things to see.

Chester M. Nimitz was born in Fredericksburg in 1885.  He attended the U. S. Naval Academy and was a flag officer during World War II.  He rose to the rank of five star admiral and was the Chief Naval Office (CNO).  His grandfather’s hotel has been converted into the Admiral Nimitz Museum with architecture that somewhat resembles a ship.

The Admiral Nimitz Museum highlights include: the Nimitz Family, Chester Nimitz from his birth in 1885 to his early childhood in the old Nimitz Hotel, Nimitz's appointment to the US Naval Academy, his role during World War II, and the years until his death in 1966. There is a fifteen-foot model of the carrier, Nimitz (CV-68) on display.

Next it was onto the George H. W. Bush Gallery which features a 33,000 square foot exhibit of the story of World War II in the Pacific.

The tour begins with a time line history of East Asia centering on China and Japan bringing us up to the attack on Pearl Harbor.  One of the Japanese Small Submarines used in the attack on Pearl Harbor is on display with a multimedia presentation of the attack being projected on the wall above it.

From there there are many static, multimedia, and interactive exhibits that bring the history of the Pacific War from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay to life.  You can put your cursor over the pictures for the captions.

Japan’s surrender took place on the decks of the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on 2 September 1945.  Here is a model of the USS Missouri (BB 63), an Iowa class battleship that served the U. S. Navy from 1944 until 1992.

Tomorrow we’ll continue with our tour of the Pacific Combat Zone, Plaza of Presidents, and the Memorial Courtyard.  So, “Come back y’all, ya hear?”

Safe Travels and May God Bless  - - - - - - - - -

To Luckenbach And “Bach” Home Again

Luckenbach, Texas is a little hamlet located southeast of Fredericksburg with a population of, more or less, three humaniods, two katts, and a dozen or so free range chickens.  There’s a Post Office which serves as a General Store with a Bar in the back and there’s a Dance Hall that boasts of hosting big name stars in country music such as Waylon and Willie.  The beer flows freely as music rings out with continuous boot scootin’ taking place just about every evening starting at five o’clock.  You just never know what big named country singer will roll into town just to “jam” for awhile.

Mike, Peggy, Darrell, and Judy stopped by yesterday and here is our picture tour of the town –

Hey, look!!!  I think I see a country star showing up now!!  Ah shucks, it’s only Mike.

You can ride into town and hitch up your steed,

Pick up your mail right at the window,

And sit on the bench to read it.  Be sure to place all your bills in that barrel and mash them down with those sticks.

Need Money?  You can get some extra cash while doing your “business”.  Just don’t drop any of it down the hole.

Then you can stop out back to get a hat made in the Hat Shop located right behind the Post Office.

And don’t forget to grab a beer while your in town; either at the Beer Saloon or the bar in the back of the General Store.

And scuffle on over to the Dance Hall for a little boot scootin’.

We were greeted by one of the resident katts,

And several of the free range chickens who were roaming around the streets of Luckenbach.

Actually, we didn’t go right “bach” home from Luckenbach.  We continued onto Fredericksburg for lunch at the Silver Creek Beer Garden which, believe it or not, is another of the German restaurants in town.  Then began our tour of the Pacific War Museum, but we’re going back again today to finish it so, you’ll have to wait another day to hear all about that.

Until Next Time, May God Bless  - - - - - - - - -

The Big Scenic Drive

Yesterday the weather caught up with us.  It was an overcast day with on and off rain showers throughout.  After two days of doing touristy things, all the four of us did yesterday was take a scenic drive to Walmart to pick up some items.  Later we gathered together in CC for Tea Time.  So, yep, it was a slow day indeed.

The next two days is only going to be worse as far as the rain is concerned.  It looks like the serve weather is going to miss us, but it’s going to get cold with plenty of rain to plague us.  We’ll need to find something indoor to do; maybe go back to Fredericksburg and visit the Nimitz and Pacific War Museums. 

Katie and Alex were happy to have Dad and Mom home for the day.  They don’t mind us being gone, but day after day?  They feel a little more secure when we’re around more often.  Pampered Pussy Katts!!!!!  Have you hugged your katt today?  We have and have given them some treats as well.

Now, speaking of treats for pets.  GNC has developed a line of supplements that you can give your furry kids as treats.  Katie gets a vitamin treat twice a day and Alex gets a vitamin treat for urinary tract infections, which he has a tendency to get, twice a day.  Both katts come running when Dad asks, “Do you want a treat?”  You can get these products at PetSmart.

Well, being that it’s a slow news day at the Patterson household, we’ll say, “Fair Thee Well” for the time being.

Stay Warm, Keep Dry, and May God Bless  - - - - - - - - - -

The Texas White House

Yesterday’s outing was to Stonewall, Texas which is home to the Texas White House of Lyndon B. Johnson, 36th President of the United States.  We began the tour by watching a movie at the visitor’s center.  As with all National Parks, it was a very well done and informative movie.

 

The National Park Service now oversees the LBJ Ranch which includes Johnson’s birthplace, his earliest school, the Texas White House, and the Johnson Family Cemetery.  We began our tour with a stop at Johnson’s first school which is the actual school on it’s original location.

 

Next we came to the site of Johnson’s birth.  Johnson had the house rebuilt to it’s original specifications just as it was in 1908.  It is furnished with original pieces owned by the Johnson family.  This is the actual bed where Lyndon Baines Johnson first made his appearance into this world.

 

We also passed by Lyndon Johnson’s grandfather’s ranch house as well as the original entrance to the ranch.  The original entrance ran across a damn on the Pedernales river where they actually drove through the water to get onto the property.  This is one of the President’s many cars on display.

  

The drive to the house took us around the end of the 6,300 foot runway where the President’s plane would land and taxi right up behind the house – “Honey, I’m home!!”  This is still a working ranch so we encountered several herds of cattle which are offspring from the herds owned by the Johnson family.

 

Finally, we arrived at the ranch house itself.  The house is located along the banks of the Pedernales River.  The house has 28 rooms and is 8,000 square feet.  As you can see, the President and Lady Bird were on hand to welcome us.

President Johnson spent about 25 percent of his presidency working out of his office on the ranch.  He was the first President to have a satellite office outside of Washington, D. C..  This is the Texas White House portion of the house.

Pictures weren’t allowed in the house, but it was a very good tour with a National Park Service guide narrating.  Here are a couple of pictures of the house itself.

 

The President’s shuttle plane, which he dubbed Air Force One Half, was on display as well as several of his automobiles.

 

The Johnson Family Cemetery, where the President and Lady Bird were laid to rest, is located on the ranch and right next to the Pedernales river.  This ranch was a major part of Lyndon Baines Johnson’s life and it’s only fitting that his remains get to spend eternity on it.

 

It was farewell to the LBJ ranch and way past time to find something good to eat so we hustled on back to Fredericksburg for some mighty fine German cooking.  We met Jim and Ellie at Der Lindenbaum on Main Street where our hunger pangs were more than satisfied.  After lunch we took a short stroll around Fredericksburg which is a neat little city.  We’ll be back again to visit the Nimtz and Pacific War Museums and to spend sometime shopping (girls that is).

 

So, thar ya have it from the Texas Hill Country.  Hope you enjoyed the tour and be sure to check back tomorrow to see what today brings.  It’s going to be a slow paced day, but we’ll be out and about none the less.

May God Bless  - - - - - - - - -

Remember The Alamo

The four of us took a ride into San Antonio to see if there was some mischief that we could get into and we found it.  Our first stop was the parking garage at the Rivercenter Mall from which we took to hoofing.  After walking a few blocks we found ourselves in front of the Alamo.

Now, one comment here; if I was going to build a tourist attraction like the Alamo, I would build it outside of town so that there would be more parking available.  As most of you know, the Alamo is right in the middle of San Antonio which, by the way, is a clean and beautiful city.

 

Anyway, we won’t go into the story of the Alamo since most of you already know it from your history lessons during your early school days.  Also, from the movie that John Wayne directed and starred in back in the 60’s.  Here we are in front of that historic edifice.

 

Pictures aren’t allowed inside the Alamo so here are a couple more from the outside – look familiar?

 

And here’s a replica of the Alamo under siege.

After perusing the premises at the Alamo, we made our way toward the Riverwalk, one of the most popular tourist attractions in this country.

There are one or two eateries along the Riverwalk – enough so that we were able to “rustle up some grub”.  We had Mexican as every other restaurant along the Riverwalk serves Mexican dishes.  We ate under the umbrellas right on the river’s edge at the Original Mexican restaurant – excellent food.

The ducks can be a pain in the pa-toots.  They are little beggars who wander all around your feet while your eating just waiting for you to drop some crumbs.  Here’s a picture of some future little beggars in the making.

Of course, when one is on the Riverwalk, one has to go for a boat ride.  It’s a two and a quarter mile orated trip and a must do if you’re in San Antonio.

 

These bells on the Riverwalk are representative of the Missions in San Antonio.  The center bell is in recognition of the Alamo.

Needless to say, we have tons of pictures, however, these are a good representative of our day in San Antonio.  We plan to return to San Antonio to visit the Missions as well spend more time on the Riverwalk.

Today we are thinking of heading to Fredericksburg or, maybe, the LBJ Ranch.  The four of us will get together and have a “meeting of the minds” later this morning.  Rain is in the future forecast so we need to “make hay while the sun shines” and plan some indoor activities for the rainy days.

Hope Your Having A Good Day and May God Bless  - - - - - - - -