It was to be a day of sweet memories for Jay and Miss Bob. Their grandfather used to bring
them here at various times, when they were wee children. The Mariners Museum in Newport
News, Virginia, the city where Jay was born, offers a history of the nation, the Civil War, and
especially of the Tidewater-Hampton Roads area of Virginia. As with all things, there have been
many changes in the museum. The huge brass doors that adorned the old entrance are now in
storage, having been replaced with aluminum and glass. So, the building is "new", but the
memories are life-long.
them here at various times, when they were wee children. The Mariners Museum in Newport
News, Virginia, the city where Jay was born, offers a history of the nation, the Civil War, and
especially of the Tidewater-Hampton Roads area of Virginia. As with all things, there have been
many changes in the museum. The huge brass doors that adorned the old entrance are now in
storage, having been replaced with aluminum and glass. So, the building is "new", but the
memories are life-long.
It's Thanksgiving weekend, and the flowers on the museum grounds are still in bloom. The
giant golden eagle figurehead has been part of the museum from its beginning, taken from
the bow of the mighty ship, USS Lancaster, around 1880. The lighthouse beacon is from the
Chesapeake Bay. Did you know that all lighthouse lenses are different? Their varying
pattern assisted mariners in knowing where they were.
giant golden eagle figurehead has been part of the museum from its beginning, taken from
the bow of the mighty ship, USS Lancaster, around 1880. The lighthouse beacon is from the
Chesapeake Bay. Did you know that all lighthouse lenses are different? Their varying
pattern assisted mariners in knowing where they were.
Figureheads were true works of
art, wooden sculptures to adorn
the bow of sailing ships.
art, wooden sculptures to adorn
the bow of sailing ships.
The Mariners Museum features
replicas of the great Civil War
Ironclads, the Monitor and the
Virginia. The sailor wears the
uniform of the era. The
cannon is within one of the
ironclad replicas.
replicas of the great Civil War
Ironclads, the Monitor and the
Virginia. The sailor wears the
uniform of the era. The
cannon is within one of the
ironclad replicas.
The museum has huge models, some eight to ten feet in length, including the Titanic
(above) as part of a marvelous exhibit, which includes replicas of staterooms on the
ship and the lifeboat "Liverpool."
(above) as part of a marvelous exhibit, which includes replicas of staterooms on the
ship and the lifeboat "Liverpool."
And there are exhibits of
full-size boats, too, such as
you'd find on the Chesapeake
Bay and on the James River,
which feeds into the bay
between Newport News
and Norfolk.
full-size boats, too, such as
you'd find on the Chesapeake
Bay and on the James River,
which feeds into the bay
between Newport News
and Norfolk.
It was a tearful and joyous moment for Jay and Miss Bob as they stood in
front of one of the lions adorning the entrance to the museum park. Their
grandfather had brought them many times to the park to feed the swans in
the pond in the background. Immediately behind Jay and Barbara, at the
feet of the lion, is a huge marble ball, on which they used to sit when they
visited the park more than half a century ago.
front of one of the lions adorning the entrance to the museum park. Their
grandfather had brought them many times to the park to feed the swans in
the pond in the background. Immediately behind Jay and Barbara, at the
feet of the lion, is a huge marble ball, on which they used to sit when they
visited the park more than half a century ago.
Next day, a return to Richmond, where Jay
had been part of the community so many
times. Two real indications that you're in
Richmond: the enormous statues of
Confederate generals that adorn most of
Monument Avenue, and Krispy Kreme.
had been part of the community so many
times. Two real indications that you're in
Richmond: the enormous statues of
Confederate generals that adorn most of
Monument Avenue, and Krispy Kreme.
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