OT- History Buffs

[wartknight]

I'm taking my daughter down to the Historical Society museum this weekend and I see on the third Saturday of each month they have a civil war camp reenactment. Has anyone gone to that and is there enough going on that it would keep a toddler interested?
Also, I've been to a lot of state's museums, but never Iowa's. Is ours worth the trip?

 

[CyinCo]

I'm not a history buff but the civil war has always fascinated me. I have a really good book that uses Mathew Brady's photos. Brady was Lincoln's personal photographer. The photos are incredible and the book itself is interesting. The book documents every battle and the casualties on each side. The numbers of soldiers killed in each battle is mind boggling. Here is link to the book on Amazon if you are interested.

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Matthew-Bradys-Illustrated-History-Civil/dp/051711979X"]Amazon.com: The Matthew Brady's Illustrated History of the Civil War: Books: Matthew Brady[/ame]

 

[wartknight]

Thanks for the info. I'm huge into WW1, but I've made it a goal to learn more about the "war of Northern aggression" since it did kind of happen here.

 

[Iastfan112]

While I haven't ever been to that particular civil war reenactment for the museum itself, since I lived an hour and a half away that was never the sole reason to drive to Des Moines but if your in the area its worth the trip. Overall has some nice exhibits and is fairly modern, learn some interesting things about Iowa's history. I could be biased because I actually have a paper that I wrote in 8th grade down there. Back oh say 8 years ago they had a contest about best Iowan inventions of the 20th century, it goes along with an exhibit that shows a bunch of nationwide inventions. While I didn't win, I was a finalist(top 6). Evidently those stupid jerks felt that the band aid was a superior invention to the trampoline.

 

[jdoggivjc]

Those interested in the Civil War and have the means to get to the Quad Cities should check out Rock Island. On Arsenal Island they have a Confederate cemetery (as Arsenal Island was a prison camp for Confederate soldiers during the Civil War). Plus they have a pretty sweet gun museum. However, Arsenal Island is a military instillation and I'm not sure how you would go about getting on to see the various museums.

 

[aeroclone08]

Those interested in the Civil War and have the means to get to the Quad Cities should check out Rock Island. On Arsenal Island they have a Confederate cemetery (as Arsenal Island was a prison camp for Confederate soldiers during the Civil War). Plus they have a pretty sweet gun museum. However, Arsenal Island is a military instillation and I'm not sure how you would go about getting on to see the various museums.

We went on the island over Christmas for a short drive. I think if you tell the guards that your purpose is for visiting the museum/cemetery they'll let you on and tell you to stay away from the Officer housing.

 

[Cybone]

Museums list:

Book Depository, Dallas, TX: Great Museum, kind of a quick tour though.

Denver Museum of Natural History: Lots of dead, stuff animals...but the Dinosaur exhibit is worth the price of admission.

Ford Museum, Detroit, MI: Lots of planes, trains and other modes of transportation on display. Most of the presidential motorcades on display. For me, the most impressive items displayed were George Washington's Footlocker (don't know why) and the blood stained chair Abraham Lincoln was sitting in when he was shot. You read about the assassination, but seeing that chair made it real to me.

Clive Cussler Auto Museum, Arvada, CO: Clive Cussler is a rare car/motorcycle fanatic. His collection is on display in a warehouse off the beaten path in Arvada. The room with the classic cars was awesome. Cussler Museum

 

[CyinCo]

Museums list:

Book Depository, Dallas, TX: Great Museum, kind of a quick tour though.

Denver Museum of Natural History: Lots of dead, stuff animals...but the Dinosaur exhibit is worth the price of admission.

Ford Museum, Detroit, MI: Lots of planes, trains and other modes of transportation on display. Most of the presidential motorcades on display. For me, the most impressive items displayed were George Washington's Footlocker (don't know why) and the blood stained chair Abraham Lincoln was sitting in when he was shot. You read about the assassination, but seeing that chair made it real to me.

Clive Cussler Auto Museum, Arvada, CO: Clive Cussler is a rare car/motorcycle fanatic. His collection is on display in a warehouse off the beaten path in Arvada. The room with the classic cars was awesome. Cussler Museum

Hey, thanks. I never knew about the Cussler museum. I'll have to get down there and visit before we relocate.

 

[jdoggivjc]

We went on the island over Christmas for a short drive. I think if you tell the guards that your purpose is for visiting the museum/cemetery they'll let you on and tell you to stay away from the Officer housing.

I go on the island everyday - I have proper identification :wink: