Picked up the National Highway in western PA and ran into a couple of old friends, two Madonna of the Trail monuments honoring the pioneer women who crossed the plains - one in PA and the other in WV.  Remember seeing one in AZ.  It was a short trip thru WV before I reached the Ohio side and headed north along the river.

Passed a couple of signs that told me a yearning for prohibition was still alive and also  one advertising what I thought was an unusual combination of activities.

Stopped at Carrollton for a great bowl of split pea soup and took a tour of the Halloween displays decorating the town square.  The clever characters were all sponsored by community organizations and despite the soggy weather, were holding up very well.

My intention was to see the Presidential Ladies Library in Canton but the shutdown was still in effect so had to settle for the Football Hall of Fame.  Was a huge fan of the Packers during the Lombardi days so enjoyed my wanderings thru the displays, history clips of early players and the culmination event, a quick stadium-style video of the 49er/Ravens Super Bowl game coached by the Harbaugh brothers. 

Finally, the shutdown is over so drove down to Chillicothe to see the Hopewell Culture site.  It’s actually a series of 5 sites, the main one being Mound City along the Scioto River.  It’s a group of burial mounds and possibly a ceremonial site.  There’s no evidence that the early Indians lived in large villages there, like Cahokia.  Most housing sites scattered along the river indicate two, maybe three homes max.  The most remarkable aspects of the sites are the

common geometrical outlines each of them share.  I was lucky to sit in on a presentation by the ranger given to people on an archeological tour.  Although they were inhabited 2000 years ago, the outlines of circles and squares are repeated on each site in the exact dimensions.  We’re still scratching our collective heads to figure out why and how they did it.  Many sites were destroyed by farming but the use of new technology has been able to help to uncover the patterns.  Luckily, the burials were cremations and remains were placed well below ground level.  Also included in the burial sites were beautiful (and very sophisticated) pieces of artwork; carvings made of materials that could only have come from places far from their villages. 

Serpent tail

Serpent Mound is a little further southwest and is the largest known effigy mound with a serpentine figure winding almost 1400 ft. on a ridge-top overlooking the Brush Creek.  Again, since no artifacts were found, the builder remains a mystery as well as its intended use 

Back down to the southern edge of Ohio and another drive along the Ohio River which landed me in Cincinnati/Kentucky/Cincinnati.  Took me a while to get my compass adjusted as the river twists thru the area and I loved crossing the bridges. Can’t go to Cincy without stopping at Skyline for chili.  Sat next to a mom and daughter who helped me place my order.  Big mistake if you just order the chili.

Another drizzly day so began with a visit to Grant’s birthplace in
Mount Pleasant.  At the time, it was a one room house and the Historical Society has collected both personal and period items for it. Found it interesting that at one time the house was hauled around the country as an exhibit and even spent time at the Ohio State fairgrounds.

On the way back, stopped off at New Richmond, an important site in abolitionist history and a stop on the Underground Railroad.  The Philanthopist, an abolitionist newspaper began here before it moved to Cincinnati.  It’s also the current (temporary, until the river rises) home to the Log-Ness Monster.

The Tafts came from the Vermont area to Cincinnati and William’s father, Alfonso, began the Republican Party in Ohio and then became Secretary of War & Attorney General under Grant.. When Alfonso’s first wife died, he went back to Vermont to find a replacement; Louise, William’s mother. Alfonso moved his family to the Auburn Hills home to escape the industrial air pollution in downtown Cincinnati.  Appearances were very important at the time and the parlor is furnished with expensive and fashionable (for the period) furniture and most of the originals have been returned to the home. Taft and Teddy Roosevelt were great friends (political and personal) until Taft was elected president. Teddy had taken the Progressive path while Taft followed a conservative one and gained a reputation for being anti-labor and pro-business.  Teddy’s decision to run on the Bull Moose Party ticket deprived Taft of his second term but he achieved his dream tho when Warren Harding appointed him Chief Justice to the Supreme Court.   

Attended services at the Unitarian church which was built in the 1888 and is decorated with huge, beautiful Tiffany windows. Was surprised to see that Taft was a member of the church but a member explained that this was the church attended by Cincinnati’s elite.

Will have to come back as the Underground Railroad Museum and Harriet Beecher Stowe’s house were closed on Sunday. Was a beautiful day so took a walk across the Roebling Bridge and a short stroll along the river by the murals in Covington, KY.  Downtown Cincinnati is overpowered by 2 huge stadiums (football & baseball), almost side by side along the river. When I was there, both were empty so no parking problems.

Patience passed a milestone; got her 50,000 mile check-up. Hard to believe we've traveled that many miles and still going!