The last day of the trip started early. On the agenda were the final two stops prior to our turning for home. Unfortunately we would only make one of the two since time required us to cancel the latter. But the stop we did make turned out to be a great success.
As we drove through the Texas Hill Country I reflected on how much of the state we had seen. From the Piney Woods and Spanish moss of East Texas and Brazoria, to flat farm land and palm trees of the Gulf coast, and passing at last over the high hill country, we traveled over a thousand miles of Texas geography. This state is truly is like a whole other country. like a whole other republic.
The final visit of our trip took place at the Chester Nimitz National Museum of the Pacific War, in Fredericksburg Texas. It is named for the Admiral who was born in the town and is thus its most famous resident. The facility is surprisingly large for a smallish town like Fredericksburg. It (the museum) is contained in three buildings the largest of which is the George H. W. Bush Gallery. This site was another first for us. I was amazed at how much information and how many artifacts were contained in a moderately sized building. When I say moderately sized, I mean compared to someplace like the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. The Gallery alone is actually quite large, (about six acres I’m told).
The Nimitz Museum was a bit of a sacrifice for us being that it left us with a long drive, and necessitated us cancelling our visit to the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame in Waco. That is also a great little museum and much, much more than meets the eye from the outside. Despite the long drive home and the cancellation, Fredericksburg was a great stop. Some of the students named it as a high point of the trip. It is certainly a stop that will be included in future years.
The Tour of Texas has now completed its seventh year! Each trip has been just a bit different. Hopefully they will continue to be an exciting and unique part of the learning experience at King’s Academy. For more information Chester Nimitz National Museum of the Pacific War, visit their web site at http://www.pacificwarmuseum.org/index.asp or call their office at (830) 997-8600.
I have visited both the Texas State Capital and the Bob Bullock, State History Museum enough times that I could just about give the tours on my own, (only admittedly in watered down form, but I know the things that are significant for my students to learn). The fourth day of the Tour of Texas was a Sunday. The weather continued to be beautiful. We walked around the outside of the building and I pointed out monuments pertaining to periods we’ve studied in the course of the school year. We also made a point to stop by the plot where Tyler Roses grow. Most States have capital gardens. My understanding is that Texas is the only state with a divided campus for its garden. The Tyler Rose Garden is considered a wing of the State Garden and thus has a small area set aside next to the capital in Austin, to grow Tyler Roses.
It might seem silly but for me the event of the day was checking off the last box on the list of great Texas food, namely bar-b-que! That evening we ate at Austin (actually Driftwood), barbeque legend, “The Salt Lick.” The restaurant is well known and has been featured in magazines and on television shows like the Travel Channel’s Man vs. Food. Its great Texas bar-be-que, and we all had more than our fill. Particularly some of the young men in the group. The following morning I was unable to eat breakfast finding that I was still full from the previous evenings feast. I guess Fat Tuesday came a couple evenings early for me.