Wasa-Tusa

When we visited the Eisenhower Presidential complex last Sunday, we saw the traveling exhibit of the 8 Wonders of Kansas, including the 8 Architectural Wonders.  This is an interesting display and a perfect place for it.  Out of state visitors will see Kansas is an interesting and diverse State.  The Seelye Mansion located down the street in Abilene was chosen as of the architectural wonders.

Mr. Seelye became a wealthy man selling cure-all concoctions including Wasa-Tusa out of the back of a wagon traveling town to town.  The fact that he was able to make so much money doing this makes me wonder if he actually was on to something. 

So, I invite you to check out the ingredients.   Honestly, I wonder if the mixture of Alcohol, Chloroform and Ether wouldn’t make a person numb and, in turn, feel pretty darn good.  Don’t miss the instructions for use—good for humans and animals alike.

Cemetery visits

We headed to rural Geary/Dickinson County Kansas this morning to adorn our parent’s burial sites with colorful artificial flowers.  (I’ve finally resigned myself to artificial.  They are brighter and last longer.)  Before visiting the cemeteries, we stopped by my brother Wayne and Ruth’s for lunch.  We were able to visit with Deb and Rod as well.  It was wet in the fields or they would have been busy. It was a good day to visit.
We distributed flowers to three cemeteries.  This year we visited Liberty Cemetery where Dan’s mother’s  Sollenberger family are buried.  Last year we found his dad’s grandparents at the Curtis Creek cemetery.  All of my close family are at St. John Cemetery.  Actually, though, there are distant relatives of both of us in all three we visited.
The cemeteries are small so I tried to pay respect at veteran markers.   I managed to find representatives of all wars.   The oldest is this Civil War veteran. There is an interesting story about this man that I will tell another time.

Another marker I have not seen before:

I think this is especially beautiful:

Dan’s first cousin

You should have seen me, but I got it

I looked out my kitchen window and saw it.  I grabbed my camera, slipped on my rubber shoes and ran out the door.  He was intent on finding milkweed.  And, he was feeling too good to sit still very long, but finally….

Eisenhower Library and Museum Abilene, KS

Actually, between the KU and Eisenhower museums we spent an afternoon at Cabala's in Kansas City.   The animal exhibits are impressive as are the fish. 

Sunday we ate at Cracker Barrel and then on to Abilene.  All of us but Kay have been to the Eisenhower complex, but we didn’t think we should count a visit made in grade school.

Also, all of us have seen him in person.  We were kids when he was elected president.  He visited Abilene several times and we lived close by.  Dan’s dad went down to the railroad track near their home and stood, head bowed, as the train went by carrying his body for burial. 

The chapel is the final resting place of the Dwight and Mamie and a child that died in childhood.  Inside is this 1953 quote from then President Eisenhower which still holds meaning today.

This building truly is a

The house and library are certainly worth the time, but it was the museum where we spent most of our three-hour visit.

This mural is in the entrance to the museum. From here, General Eisenhower’s role in World War II is depicted in film, audio and physical example.  One whole room is devoted to Mamie, including dresses and dishes.  His presidential years included clips and sometimes whole speeches. 

All four of us were totally impressed with the Eisenhower complex.  I would call it a stop each person in the United States should make, if for the War history alone. 

Museum of Natural History Kansas University

An appropriate description of our activities last week with our Arizona friends might be , “It’s about time.”  We expressed this phrase or something like it  about each of our visits to local museums and attractions. 

Nearly every local school age child visits the  KU Museum of Natural History.  Proudly,  we have joined their ranks.

Entering through the basement door,  we immediately encounter a  bug’s world.  It has interesting “bug” exhibits, including huge cockroaches that are just plain scary.

Also in the basement are fossil displays—many excavated right here in Kansas.  The 85 million year old Cretaceous seas covering essentially the Flint Hills section of Kansas harbored many  large dinosaurs of North America.  There is a fish that is at least 30 feet long as well as this long-tailed specimen that hangs above the entrance.

 

Comanche is the only horse that survived Custer's Last Stand, if standing stuffed in a atmosphere controlled grass case in the museum is surviving.  Actually, many of the horses survived but were taken by the victors after the battle.  (Just so you know, Kay fell and bruised her face, thus the black eyes.)

Comanche was rescued from the battlefield a few days after Custer’s defeat.  He was owned by Myles Keogh, not Custer as some have thought.  He was transported by steamship down the Missouri to Ft Lincoln.  Eventually he was cared for at Ft. Riley and allegedly liked to slurp a pale of beer once in a while.

If you have two to three hours, I highly recommend a visit to the KU Museum of Natural History on the KU campus. 

Why I haven’t posted

Our friends Kay and Lynn Cook have been here for a busy week.  Lots of fun, food and local destinations.  More about our last week in the next few days.