War, Bourbon and Wine

Another full day ahead of us.  Destination:  Bardstown, Kentucky.  It may well be the most beautiful small town in America.  It's also got the best deal ever on museums.  Admission to the Civil War Museum for a walloping $10 allows you into five museums.  Yes, we did all five too.

I'll tell you it felt real good to sit down after hitting all these.  But our day was not over.

I.

This is the last hat I'm trying on y'all.  Reminds me of my baby pictures.






Lots of swords and cannons.

Some helpful tactics for the infantry.

Now this is real camping out under the stars.

 And the Confederates surrendering to the Union.

II.

This little village was really interesting.  All the cabins located here are original to Bardstown.  Some have been relocated to this site for museum purposes.  The Tannery in this village was originally located about 150 yards upstream.

 The town Tannery.

The Blacksmith's Cabin

School house and church

Gail, Larry and Bill cross over the stream.

 Near the location of the original Tannery.

This cabin is called a "dogtrot", maybe the first "duplex".  This cabin contained Indian artifacts.

 Crazy Horse.  Not sure about this because when we visited Crazy Horse Monument in South Dakota they claimed there was no known photograph or painting of him.

Local Tavern

I wonder how many of my family, some from this area, responded to this post. 

Bill checking out the siding.

Nice picture of the Tannery










and the school/church.

 This building housed a strange assortment of Indian artifacts, weaving and fleas.

Our ankles itched for hours afterwards.

Finally got a picture of all of us.  And on a covered bridge no less.

III.  Wildlife & Nature Museum

This was the best display of North American Wildlife I've ever seen.  The mountings, aside from my animal activist leaning, were beautifully done.  I seriously wondered on a few of them if they were mounted or real.

My favorite.

IV.  

 Mary Surratt was associated indirectly with John Wilkes Booth, who was an acquaintance of her son.  After the assignation of Abraham Lincoln she was arrested for suspected involvement.  She was tried and found guilty and sentenced to death.  After her execution if was realized that she was most likely not involved and innocent.


Mary Surratt's execution.





Women also served in the infantry but almost always disguised as a man.  Francis Louisa Clayton joined the Union Army with her husband.

Most women's contribution to the Civil War was in the medical field, many being nuns.

There were also many women who contributed to the Underground Railroad as Abolitionists.

V. and last

Union and Confederate Army.

In this museum there was a focus on WWI, WWII, Korean War, Vietnam, Desert Storm and Enduring Freedom.  I walked through the exhibits just looking...remembering.  Some of it too fresh and recent.  A lot of it my family was involved directly.  I didn't take a single picture.

I'm war museum-ed out for today.  I need a drink.......  yep, this'll do.

We were too cheap to pay $10 a head for a tour of the distillery, especially since none of us like bourbon.  But it was a pretty neat building.

And we're going to Jack Daniels next month!

 Lot's of memorabilia.

Yawnnnnnn....bored.  Gail and I were picking up a couple of Mint Julep mini mixes for later.


These guys sure spend a lot of time sitting around.
















Jim Beam Distillery.

But hey, we still wanted something to quench our thirst....... just like this little butterfly.

Forest Edge Winery. I must be getting tired of taking pictures.  I totally missed the Winery sign.












Ah ha...Bill found the tasting bar.

We bought 4 bottles....two chocolate wines...best I've had.  Hurry Randy and Sherry....got our Czech Republic glasses ready and waiting.

Got home to Biker's night at the Eagles.  

They can sure make a racket when they leave.  We can too, but in the morning no one but us will be around to hear.

Thanks for visiting.  Come again, real soon, ya hear.