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We based ourselves out of Leavenworth, Kansas, to explore the
northeastern part of the state, including a jaunt over to Missouri to visit
the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum. I was deeply impressed by
Truman’s sense of accountability; he famously kept a plaque on his desk that
read, "The BUCK STOPS here." Our campground featured a beautiful large lake,
and we felt lucky to snag the very last available site.
Back in Leavenworth, we visited the Frontier Army Museum
located on the grounds of Fort Leavenworth—the oldest continuously active
military installation west of the Mississippi and the U.S. Army’s
"intellectual center." I was surprised to learn through their extensive
display that the Lewis and Clark expedition was actually an Army mission. It
seems much of the mapping of the American West was conducted by the military;
if I was taught that in school, I certainly missed it! While on post, we also
made sure to see the Buffalo Soldier Monument. |
click photo to enlarge |
In Kansas City, we visited the Arabia Steamboat Museum, which
houses the world’s largest collection of pre-Civil War artifacts. The items
were salvaged from the Arabia, a steamboat that sank in the Missouri River
in 1856 and was excavated from a Kansas cornfield 132 years later. It was
truly one of the most fascinating museums I’ve ever seen. To cap off the
trip, we ate at Slap’s BBQ (short for "Squeal Like a Pig"). As a regular
competitor on the professional circuit, their food has a level of
consistency and quality that made for a perfect Kansas City meal. |
