We started yesterday (Day 5) in St. James Missouri. We stayed at an old (but impressively clean) roadside motel that was mentioned in one of our travel books. They’ve updated their sign to be more modern now.
Finn's old sign.
D&K at Finn's in front of the new sign.
While here, we sliced up the buffalo sausage we bought from the Native American couple at the roadside teepee. This made great road food.
Dan prepares to take a bite of buffalo!
Katie tries the buffalo sausage. Yum!
On our way out of St. James, we ran across the old City Hall which currently serves as the Chamber of Commerce as well as small museum of the town. Judging by the reception we received from the friendly lady there, we were the first visitors they’ve had in a while. She showed us the old jail cell which was in operation while the small building served as town hall. She said that there was a special light on the front of the building that would be turned on by the city hall worker if there was a prisoner being left alone in the building at night (if there happened to be a fire, they would know someone was in the building). She recommended that we go 5 miles up a windy road to Maramac Spring Park — a natural spring, trout hatchery, and old iron works facility.
Dan with the ball and chain at an old jail cell in St. James, MO.
A small original city hall still in operation — which also housed prisoners!
D&K at Maramec Spring Park (and trout hatchery) just outside of St. James, MO.
D&K at Maramec Spring Park.
Katie at the Maramec Spring Sign. The spring produces 96 million gallons a day!
Amazingly clear water! These lucky trout had made it upstream to the fish sanctuary where they are safe!
D&K in a recessed cave area at Maramec Spring Park.
Picnicking (with buffalo sausage) at Maramac Spring Park.
D&K at the old iron casting area used in the mid-1800′s.
After leaving the park, we headed west on Rt. 66 (which can be frustrating to try to follow in Missouri since it has many different names — none of which are 66!)
Dan pumps gas at the Totem Pole gas station on Rt. 66 in Missouri.
The Totem Pole gas station and store in Rolla, MO. The oldest business in MO still in operation on Rt. 66 – est 1933.
Katie outside of “The Totem Pole”
Rolla, Missouri — Took its name from Raleigh, NC, the hometown of one of the town founders. They liked the name, but decided against the “funny spelling.”
Katie at a Stonehenge replica in Rolla, Missouri. 50% of the size of the original. Planned and built by the engineering team at University of Missouri Rolla.
The Stonehenge replica in Rolla, MO
Road food!
Welcome to Oklahoma!
The largest McDonald’s in the US. It straddles the Oklahoma turnpike.
This is the kind of stuff you see at gas stations in Oklahoma.
Day 6 began in Tulsa Oklahoma. We started our day with a visit to the Thomas Gilcrease Western Art Museum, which has an impressive collection of Native American art and artifacts. A few hours drive from Tulsa brought us to Oklahoma City. Just outside of Oklahoma City, we stumbled upon Pop’s Soda Shop. Here they sell more than 500 different varieties of sodas — most of which we had never heard of. We couldn’t resist buying two — which we suspect is what keeps their business booming. Once in Oklahoma City, we spent nearly an hour at the Oklahoma City Memorial.
Katie takes pride in the Sinclair family name!
D&K at the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa OK
Katie examines a few of the over 15,000 Native American artifacts at the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa.
D&K examine Native American artifacts
D&K examine Native American artifacts
Dan with some traditional Native American vests decorated with beads and porcupine quills.
Brick roads in Barstow, OK
This is what Oklahoma looks like for hundreds of miles.
Katie having fun with a car cutout along the road in Stroud, Oklahoma
Dan poses at an old gas station somewhere along the road in Davenport, OK.
In front of the giant soda bottle at Pop’s Soda Shop on Rt. 66 — about 30 miles outside of Oklahoma City.
Dan with two of the 500 different sodas available at Pop’s Soda shop.
Katie with her pick of the sodas at Pop’s soda shop.
D&K outside of Pop’s.
At the front of the Oklahoma City Memorial.
Looking between the pillars at the Oklahoma City Memorial. Inscribed on the first pillar is “9:01” and on the second pillar “9:03.” These represent the minutes before and after the bombing.
Chairs at the Oklahoma City Memorial represent the people who died in the bombing. The smaller chairs represent the children. 168 chairs total.
The chairs at the memorial illuminate at night.
A tree that survived the blast is now named “The Survivor Tree.” Saplings are grown from its seeds each year and planted in memory of those who died.
“More windmills in more places.” (Get it?)
It looks like so much fun! I just showed jackson the picture of katie in the blue car – it’s Sally from the movie Cars, which happens to be his favorite movie. He wants me to take him there so he can ride in Sally too.