{"id":4013,"date":"2015-06-15T13:35:13","date_gmt":"2015-06-15T13:35:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bucksurdu.com\/blog\/?p=4013"},"modified":"2015-06-15T14:28:39","modified_gmt":"2015-06-15T14:28:39","slug":"the-final-cross-state-romp-days-4-and-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bucksurdu.com\/blog\/?p=4013","title":{"rendered":"The “Final” Cross-State Romp (Days 4 and 5)"},"content":{"rendered":"

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We began Day 4 with a visit to the Overholtzer Mansion in Oklahoma City. \u00a0It was built in the early 1800s and remained in the same family until it was turned into a museum in the 1950s. \u00a0Interestingly, through three generations, almost nothing in the house had been changed (other than the kitchen) since it was built.<\/p>\n

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The old television is one of the few updates to the house.<\/p>\n

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Our next stop was the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. \u00a0We had been here once before when Tom was young and “before Sammy.”<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The Duke!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There were some very nice displays of western themed art as well as excellent static displays on Indian life, ranching, the Army in the old west, and the Indian Wars.<\/p>\n

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\"Not<\/a>
Not much has changed!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"The<\/a>
The recreation of a typical cowtown street<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

One are that was neat was a recreation of a typical western town street. \u00a0Each of the buildings could be entered and had nice staging with props. \u00a0There were not plaques or explanatory signs. \u00a0At first I thought this was a bit funny, but I guess those signs would have broken the ambiance of the street.<\/p>\n

\"Give<\/a>
Give me a sarsaparilla in a dirty glass, pardner!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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\"Camerawoman<\/a>
Camerawoman Candy had had too much Redeye when she took this one<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There was also a large area dedicated to Western movies.<\/p>\n

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The displays about the life of the cavalry and infantry on the plains were quite good. \u00a0This is one of the few places I’ve seen any real mention of the infantry in the Indian wars. \u00a0Most of the focus is usually on the cavalry.<\/p>\n

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\"Home,<\/a>
Home, home on the range!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Smile,<\/a>
Smile, when you say that, pilgrim!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After this museum we headed down to the stockyards district and had huge hunks of cow before heading out of town toward Arkansas.<\/p>\n

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We began Day 5 at Fort Smith in Arkansas. \u00a0The fort’s history goes back to 1803 when two companies of the US rifle Regiment established the fort to try to quell unrest between Osage and Cherokee Indians. \u00a0We didn’t expect to spend much time at Fort Smith, but there was enough to see that we stayed two hours.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A view of the Ft. Smith Commissary from across the parade ground<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By the time of the Indian Wars, Fort Smith was the major supply depot for the various forts in the Indian Territory (what is now Oklahoma). \u00a0It was also the Federal Courthouse for a huge region of untamed territory. \u00a0As such, Judge Parker’s court, assisted by hundreds of deputy marshals who scoured the Indian Territory for outlaws, dispensed sure and swift justice.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A reconstruction of the Ft. Smith jail in the visitor's center<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The visitor’s center has a nice movie about the history of the fort and a number of very interesting static displays. \u00a0The recreation of the overcrowded jail facilities was quite interesting.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A view inside the commissary<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There was also an interesting display of the commissary, from which supplies were distributed to Indian reservations, Indians traveling the Trail of Tears, and the various US Army forts within the Indian Territory.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The entrance to Petit Jean State Park, Arkansas<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We then travelled to Petit Jean state park, Arkansas. \u00a0Though a state park, Petit Jean has the feel of a National Park, including a grand lodge, hiking trails, boating, fishing, etc. \u00a0We stayed in a “rustic cabin” that might be nicer than our house.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The lodge<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After checking into our cabin, we hiked to Cedar Falls. \u00a0It was only two miles, but there was quite a bit of elevation change, and the humidity was terrific.<\/p>\n

\"We<\/a>
Waiting out a rain storm on the back porch of our cabin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Cutthroat<\/a>
Cutthroat dominoes!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"A<\/a>
A view of Cedar Falls from above<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Sam<\/a>
Sam and Tom at Cedar Falls<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After our hike, we had dinner in the lodge restaurant. \u00a0The food was excellent and very reasonably priced. \u00a0We bought a bottle of muscadine grape juice and toasted to the fact that when this trip is completed we will have been to all fifty states as a family.<\/p>\n

\"Toasting<\/a>
Toasting all 50 states with muscadine grape juice<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After dinner we spent a couple hours at the pool, staying until almost dark. \u00a0Then we returned to our cabin to relax for the evening.<\/p>\n

\"Tom<\/a>
Tom and Sam frolicking at the pool<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Tomorrow we are off to Mississippi.<\/p>\n