6-17-09 Wednesday (Get Your Kicks!)

We’re now in Oklahoma City!  I wonder which is more cowboyish, Oklahoma or Texas? 

Above: Groom, Texas.  A really big cross.  Here’s info on it (click here).  We didn’t stop here.

Above: Well of course he’s spoiled.  Afterall, he is cute.

 

Above: Lots of wild flowers!

We did stop at a Route 66 museum, and later found that more than one exists.  This museum is 1 of several on the property.  One fee gains entry to all the museums.  The property seems very large and had a ton of store fronts resembling an old town.  Many of the store front were set up with items relating to it.  A doctor’s office, chapel, railroad depot, schoolhouse and a hellava lot more were displayed very well.  I didn’t take many pictures.   Anyways, here’s our trip to the National Route 66 Museum Complex in photos:

Above: Egad, did women really use something like this?  Yeah, I’m talking to you.  You may think you’re too young to know but… 

Above/Below: I had to have a shot of this wartime poster at the museum.  The guy looked like a gay vampire.  I mean just look at him.  He looks like the Salem’s Lot guy or Nosferatu.

 

Above: One of the many town building that they had set up.  This reminded me of our friend, Al, the postal worker.

 

Above: A Christmas tree made of horseshoes.  Dang these cowboys are sure crafty.

 

Above: This is 1 wall of about 6 showing different types of barbwire.  I never knew there could be that many, nor that someone actually took the interest in collecting it.

 

Above: Jim has 2 of these damn electrical insulator thingies.  He thought they were precious and somewhat rare antiques until  we’ve spotted tons and tons of them on our travels.  Some are still in use in small towns and others are just sitting atop poles not being used.

 

Above: I’m not really sure why I took this photo.

We checked in at Twin Fountains RV Park, which is beautiful.  Jim picked up the brochure from Oasis RV Resort at the last stop.  They’re not related parks but they simply “help each other out”.  After setting up, heating up some dinner, surfing the net for a little while, Jim suggested to go see the Oklahoma City National Memorial.  Even though it was already 10pm, it was suggested to see it at night.  I must say, it was an amazing memorial to those involved in the Oklahoma City Bombing on April 19, 1995.  They provided a phone number to call, and then key in a corresponding stop number to hear the designers explain the symbolism of that area.  I won’t bother with my photos since it was dark.  The website I just linked to is the page with the explanations as well as photos.  I encourage you to click on that link that I just included again.  The explanation is short reading, the symbolism is perfect and because I told you so.  If you’d like to hear it, instead of read it, I’ve scanned the page of the brochure that explains what to do.

Wow, this post is long.  Hmmmm, well, one more thing.  On the way to the memorial, we spotted this:

 

The light beaming into the night sky was beautiful.  We stopped to investigate.  This is called the Beacon of Hope.

Fund-raising efforts began in 2002 to build a landmark sculpture unique to Oklahoma City and welcoming visitors to the Oklahoma Health Center.

Founders Plaza is a tribute to the five founders of the Oklahoma Health Center--Harvey P. Everest, E.K. Gaylord, Dean A. McGee, Dr. Don O’Donoghue and Stanton L. Young and 20 committee members who traveled to Houston in 1965 to visit the Texas Medical Center. Inspired and determined to create a world-class medical center, the Oklahoma Health Center emerged and has led the nation in scientific medical innovations.

Stiles Park is the oldest park in the Oklahoma Territory, first dedicated Aug. 29, 1901. Named after an early peacemaker, Captain Daniel Frazier Stiles, this unique 200-foot circular park remains a community focal point.

A 100 foot by eight foot sculpture, the centerpiece attraction of the new park is the Beacon of Hope. During the daylight hours, the Beacon is a monolithic sculpture. At night, the Beacon comes to life shining a green healing light of hope into the night sky. Other elements of the park include five stone rings and five flowering trees recognizing the five original visionaries. Twenty perimeter trees acknowledge the committee that supported the effort. One large oak tree that has survived the ages still stands to help those who visit remember the original history of the park.

Wow, I’m out of breath from talking so much.  See ya tomorrow!