Friends and activist artist

We next headed to Tickfaw State Park, LA to meet with some long time friends Dan and Corrie. Dan and I were stationed in Rotterdam, the Netherlands in the late 70's and as things turned out, we both left the country with our new wives..  Tickfaw is not exactly along the beaten path, but it proved to be a nice park, including a nature center and boardwalk.  After catching up on news, we first visited the park nature center and walked the boardwalk.  It was a pleasant stroll but given that this was a swampy area, I am always looking down for those creepy and sometimes dangerous critters.  Sure enough, we spotted a good size Cottonmouth snake. 

Dan wanted to head into the city of Hammond to visit an artist mentioned in Roadside America.  Dr. Charles Smith began his art depicting the African American history from slavery to the present while living Illinois.  When we arrived at his studio/home, he was sitting in the front yard.  We introduced ourselves and he offered us a guided tour and explanation of his work.  He says he was inspired by God to create this art and to inspire his fellow African Americans to understand their history and work for a better future.  We spent the better part of an hour with him.  He is a very interesting person totally dedicated to his art and mission. 

Next on the list is a trip to the LA State Capitol.

Stennis Space Center

After spending the night at the campground on the Naval  base in Gulfport, MS, we visited another of those places we have driven by many times. The Stennis Space Center is located off exit 2, in Mississippi along I 10.  A couple of  years ago, the Infinity Center was built next to the state welcome center.  Here you can see a display of exploration before tackling space, along with a brief summary of the space program.  Most of the center is oriented towards the younger set.  This is a good place for them to have some fun and learn about the space program.

You can also take a bus tour of the space center itself, which is located just north of the Infinity Center.  This is a vast 140,000 acre complex which hosts multiple government agencies. The largest amount of land is part of the space center buffer zone, which is a noise barrier for the engine tests.  Its best known for being the place where are space shuttle engines are tested before they are used on the shuttles.  You can sign up to observe the engine tests.  Some of our friends have done this and said it was an exciting experience.  During the bus tour, you will get to see the test platforms for the various engines and get a general idea of what other facilities are on the grounds.  You only leave the bus at the engine test platforms.

We thought the tour was worth the time and certainly the infinity center is worth the stop. especially if you have young kids.

Beauvoir

We are back on the road  headed to Texas to be with our youngest daughter for her birthday.  Along the way, we plan to do some sightseeing and spend time with friends.

Our first stop was Biloxi, Mississippi.  We have been here several times and have passed the Beauvoir estate with the comment that we really need to visit this place.  So this trip was the charm.  What makes this estate, sitting on the Gulf of Mexico, so compelling is the fact that it was the last home of Jefferson Davis.  He had a long career in service to the United States, but nearly everyone remembers him only as the first and only President of the Confederate States of America.  

The estate itself has a long and interesting history,  The estate was first built in 1848 and contained over 600 acres from the Gulf of Mexico to the inland waters behind it. Unfortunately, hurricane Katrina caused major damage to all the structures and the remaining 51 acres of the property.  The restoration to the pre Katrina condition is ongoing but the main house and two smaller structures and been mostly restored and a Jefferson Davis library has also been built on the property.

After looking through the library, we signed up for the house tour.  As luck would have it, we found ourselves to be the only two waiting for the tour at 11AM.  Our tour guide indicated that since it was just the two of us, we could take the standard house tour or we could talk about anything we might be interested in.  So we spent a very interesting hour listening to a detailed history of Jefferson Davis from his early days through his time at Beauvoir and death.  It was particularly powerful to hear this in the last place that he lived. 

After this, we joined the next large group for the standard tour with a general history of the home and its owners thru the years.  I have included several links for those that might be interested in more details of this history.  In 1876, the estate owner became aware of the difficulties that plagued Jefferson Davis since his release from federal prison and offered him a home.  He accepted and in 1879 arranged to purchase the estate.  He lived here with his family until his death in 1889 during a trip to New Orleans.  

After his death, his family lived in the home for several years and then the property was sold to a organization known as the Sons of the Confederacy. For a number of years the property was used as an old age home for former Confederate soldiers and veterans of other wars.  Many of them and their family members are buried in a cemetery on the property.

The cemetery is also the site for the grave of the unknown Confederate Soldier of the Confederacy. 

  

You are free to explore the entire 51acres and enjoy some of the animals that currently have the run of the property.

This is truly a gem that should not be missed.