25.08B - Ohio & Pennsylvania | from rscottjones
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25.08B - Ohio & Pennsylvania

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    Visiting the Flight 93 National Memorial

    Nine days ago, we visited the Flight 93 National Memorial, the site of the plane that crashed en route to the Capitol Building on September 11th, 2001. This was my second visit, and it hit just the same as my first time there.

    As you’d imagine, it’s an incredibly somber place, especially for anyone who remembers that day. The exterior of the memorial is angled to align with the flight path, capped by a memorial plaza and a solitary stone in the field where the plane crashed—killing everyone on board, but saving so many others.

    The visitor center is relatively small but quite powerful; it feels weird to have a park bookstore there, or even a passport stamp available. No photos or videos are allowed inside, and most people have shed at least a tear or two by the time they depart. I opted not to listen to the phone calls left by those on the plane this time, a good call given how it crushes rushes you.

    The approach

    A pathway leads between two towering concrete walls under a cloudy sky, with a grassy area to the left and a black barrier on the right.

    The end of the approach, overlooking the memorial plaza and crash site in the distance

    A scenic view of a vast field is seen through a glass balustrade inscribed with the words, A common field one day. A field of honor forever.

    The angles here are piercing. This is the edge the visitor center, as seen from near the end of the approach above

    A tall, curved concrete structure stands against a backdrop of a blue sky with scattered clouds.

    Along the memorial plaza walkway

    A memorial plaque with photographs and text is mounted on a sloped concrete surface in a park setting with grass, trees, and a cloudy sky in the background.

    Deer wander near the crash site, denoted by the large boulder

    A grassy field with a few deer grazing is bordered by a forest under a partly cloudy sky.

    The Wall of Names, Ceremonial Gate, and boulder in the distance

    An expansive concrete area with a wall and a solitary tree in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

    The Wall of Names, looking back up at the visitor center and approach. The gate and boulder are behind you, all lined up with the flight path.

    A row of white marble panels with engraved names marks a memorial under a partly cloudy sky.

    The Ceremonial Gate, with the boulder visible in the distance.

    A rustic wooden gate made from vertically aligned uneven planks opens to reveal a grassy field under a cloudy sky.

    Two of several outdoor interpretive displays near the memorial plaza—a small nod to the more complete interpretation in the visitor center museum.

    A memorial display features photographs and names of the crew and passengers of Flight 93.

    A memorial board features an image of an aircraft interior and text describing the events and passenger actions during a hijacked flight.

    The Tower of Voices, which had yet to be built during my 2016 visit. This was designed as a musical instrument, built with 40 wind chimes to sound in the breeze. Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough sustained wind to hear much during our visit, though you can hear what it sounds like thanks for a nearby push-button speaker.

    A tall, slender tower stands in a grassy area under a cloudy sky, with an informational plaque in the foreground.

    A tall, modern concrete tower with a geometric design stands against a backdrop of a cloudy sky.

    A modern architectural structure features a series of vertical columns and cylindrical elements set against a partly cloudy sky.

    There’s more to the site, of course, but I didn’t capture it on this visit. Besides, photos don’t relate the feeling you have in reliving this day, you just need to go there yourself. So if you find yourself in western Pennsylvania, I recommend you stop by.

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    The Pro Football Hall of Fame

    A white football helmet with a Pro Football Hall of Fame logo is displayed in front of a modern building with the same logo and large glass windows.

    Our first stop on Sunday morning was the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton. I enjoyed my visit back in 2013, but Jen hadn’t yet been. She’s a Lions fan, so there wasn’t much for her there (😂 I kid).

    Anyway, it was especially fun to visit this year because Eric Allen, who played at ASU, was just inducted this year. Needless to say, nearly all of my photos feature former ASU or 49ers players—my two beloved teams. I won’t post too many photos, as I took plenty…

    ASU

    A sports memorabilia display features Eric Allen's jerseys and an award in a museum-like setting.

    A military jacket with various insignia is displayed in a glass case, labeled with the name Tillman.

    A red football jersey with the name TILLMAN and the number 40 displayed in a glass case.

    Colleges are listed with notable NFL players, accompanied by a tally of institutions with the most Hall of Famers.

    49ers

    A display featuring Joe Montana celebrates the San Francisco 49ers' success, showcasing memorabilia from their victories.

    A red football jersey with the number 80 and the name RICE on display.

    A locker display showcases Joe Montana's football jersey, helmet, shoulder pads, and personal items.

    Of course, I could have added about two dozen photos of busts, but I’ll spare you those. Needless to say, it’s a spot that football fans should visit.

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    Stopped for a beverage on our way to the airport. Picked the best rated brewery we could find in the region, which is in downtown Cleveland. Had trouble parking, didn’t realize it’s gameday for the Browns. (Side note: almost illegally parked in front of topless unhoused woman.) Apparently the dejected crowd will soon make their way in (“look for the sad zombie walkers, they’re the Browns fans,” explained the helpful bartender. “Come order your food as soon as they start trudging in.”). 😂 Anyway, they have a decent hazy here.

    A vertical sign featuring a glass of sparkling red liquid with the word Masthead prominently displayed above it is mounted on the side of a building.A plastic cup filled with beer sits on a wooden table in a bar, with a television displaying a sports event in the background.

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    Arrived at our last planned stop of the trip: Cuyahoga Valley National Park. This marks Jen’s 394th national park unit (of 433). After two plus decades of park visits, she’s now in line to finish this goal in summer 2027. 👏

    Cuyahoga Valley National Park sign

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    A few shots from Port Clinton. Posting this tiny lighthouse in case I adopt a “lighthouse in every state” quest. Also, I love this little free library, which is adorned with a fighter plane and dedicated to a specific member of the Tuskegee Airmen.

    A historic cannon is displayed on a concrete platform in a park, surrounded by grass and trees.A small blue Little Free Library with a transparent roof featuring a model airplane on top stands near a lake with a lighthouse and tree in the background.A small blue Little Free Library with a transparent roof featuring a model airplane on top stands near a lake with a lighthouse and tree in the background.

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    We visited the River Raisin National Battlefield Park today, which features a nice new visitor & education center, which is good because there’s not a whole lot to see otherwise. But I was disappointed to see the corporatization of the site, with dedicated sponsored rooms for LEGO & Cabelas

    The entrance to River Raisin National Battlefield Park features signage and the National Park Service logo above its doors.A large map on the floor depicts the Western District in Upper Canada inside the visitor center of River Raisin National Battlefield Park.A historical marker detailing the Battles of the River Raisin is set against a background of green grass, trees, and a partly cloudy sky.A longhouse interior features wooden beams, animal skins, and a central pathway leading to a distant figure.A display showcases a LEGO tribute to Wampum history, featuring a work-in-progress mosaic with bins of red, blue, and white LEGO pieces.A room is visible through a glass door with a sign indicating the archery range is closed, and a display stand is situated in the foreground.

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    Stopped by a couple breweries, and even managed to enjoy me some Broccoli 🥦 (one of my fav hazies)

    A brewery entrance shows outdoor seating with tables, stools, and a sign for Hoptometry Brewing Company.A pint glass filled with amber-colored beer sits on a coaster from OhioCraftBeer.org on a bar counter.A gray building with the name Voodoo Brewing Company displayed prominently on the side, surrounded by landscaping and American flags, under a clear blue sky.A glass of hazy, golden beer sits on a black napkin at a bar counter, with a decorative logo on the glass.

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    We (somewhat unexpectedly 😂) found ourselves heading into Indiana last night. This morning, we stopped by some local “attractions:” the site of the first professional baseball game, Johnny Appleseed’s grave, and the state tri-point of Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio.

    A dark monument surrounded by grass and trees commemorates the Kekionga Ball Grounds, detailing historical dates and events from 1869 to 1871.A sign and informational plaque mark the gravesite of Johnny Appleseed, surrounded by trees and grassy landscape.A historical marker describes the life and legend of Johnny Appleseed, accompanied by an illustration of him holding a sapling.A commemorative stone marker in a grassy field indicates the nearby junction of Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio, marked by the Hillsdale County Historical Society in 1977.A weathered wooden block with the letter "M" is embedded in a sandy, gravelly surface.

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    Today we visited James A Garfield National Historic Site—famous for the Front Porch campaign, as well as serving as the first “presidential library.” Garfield had one of the oddest Presidencies; unexpectedly nominated, then assassinated by a patronage seeker just months into his term.

    A large Victorian-style house with a wraparound porch and red gabled roofs is surrounded by greenery.

    A luxurious, vintage-style room features elegant wooden furniture, intricate rugs, and an impressive ceiling design, with classic decor and roped-off sections.

    A cozy study room features wooden bookshelves filled with books and decorative items, framed artwork on the walls, and a wooden floor.

    A historical library or study room features wooden furniture, bookshelves filled with old books, and desks with vintage lamps and paper documents.

    A stained glass piece featuring a portrait is displayed on a stand in a room with decorative ceramic items on a cabinet.

    A covered porch features red chairs and doors, wooden siding, and overlooks a grassy area with trees.

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    With yesterday’s park visits, Jen now has less than 10% remaining on her national parks quest (391/433), with three more park visits likely before we fly home on Sunday night.

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    I had some questions during the baseball game, so I texted my buddy Jeff.

    A text conversation discusses the best inning to streak on the field, with a humorous reply and an image of a person being escorted off a baseball field.
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    Had an unexpectedly good time at Pittsburgh’s PNC Park for Jen’s MLB Ballparks quest. Such an intimate stadium! So far, I’ve only seen home wins.

    A baseball game is taking place in a large stadium with spectators filling the stands and a cityscape visible in the background.A nighttime baseball game is taking place at PNC Park with the city skyline visible in the background.A baseball field is set for a game under a clear sky with a large American flag displayed in the outfield and a city skyline in the background.A statue of a cartoonish baseball player in a Pittsburgh Pirates uniform is set against a nighttime cityscape with a yellow bridge in the background.A brightly lit yellow bridge spans over a river, with a grassy park and decorative structures in the foreground.A can of Full Squish Hazy IPA is held up in front of a baseball stadium during a game.

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    Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site was our second stop today. The portage essentially functioned as a “canal lock” for raising the railroad up various steep grades in crossing the Appalachian Mountains—an important advancement in moving goods westward.

    A sign for the Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site is displayed outdoors, surrounded by greenery.A historical information sign describes Inclined Plane No. 6 of the Allegheny Portage Railroad, with rail tracks and trees visible in the background.A railway track leads into a lush forest setting under a clear blue sky.A white building with large doors sits behind a historical information plaque about Engine House No.6, surrounded by grassy lawns and a short railway track.A large stone building with multiple windows sits behind a historical information sign on a grassy area under a blue sky with clouds.

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    Our first stop today was Johnstown Flood National Memorial, the location of a major dam disaster that killed more than 2200 local residents due to the carelessness of a Guilded Age sportsman club.

    A historical information sign overlooks a scenic landscape with a house and rolling hills in the background.A historical plaque narrates the 1889 danger of a dam becoming unstable, with accompanying text and images depicting the event and individuals involved.A historical information sign overlooks a scenic landscape with a house and rolling hills in the background.A scenic landscape featuring a lush green hillside, a winding road, and a clear blue sky.

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    Tucked away near the railroad tracks on the edge of the small Pennsylvania town of Lilly lies a memorial to the time local residents kicked the KKK out of town.

    A brick monument features a relief of hooded figures with a plaque describing the Ku Klux Klan riot of April 1, 1934, surrounded by colorful flowers.A colorful illustration accompanies a text discussing the Ku Klux Klan's attack on Lilly, Pennsylvania, under the heading "The Brave Chaos."

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    An adequately funded National Park Service sure would have made our visits better today. Both visitor centers are now closed for multiple days each week. These places protect and interpret our national heritage—you’d think that national pride alone would fund them to be open every day of the week.

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    We’re roughly halfway thru the trip, with our general route in red. My county map is rather convoluted, given how this trip overlaps with where I went in May; dark green counties are new ones I’ve passed thru in 2035, light green areas are this year’s “repeats.”

    A map of OH and PA highlights regions in different colors, with a red line demarcating a specific path.
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    Stopped at a beer bar next to our hotel tonight to plot out the next few days. We’re one full day ahead now, which means we can hopefully tackle two additional national park units (and one affiliated site) and thereby eliminate the need for a future trip. Cautiously optimistic! 🤞

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    Our next stop was Fort Necessity National Battlefield, where George Washington (then fighting for the British) got his ass handed to him by the French and Indians. The site also serves as the interpretative center for the National Road, the first federal roadway.

    Fort Necessity National Battlefield's interpretive and education center is displayed with its logos on a brick building facade.An informative display describes the historical context and construction of Fort Necessity, set against a backdrop of lush greenery and a partly cloudy sky.A circular wooden structure is set in a grassy field with trees and a cloudy sky in the background.An informational display about the history and significance of the National Road, detailing its impact on American settlement and trade.A curved pathway leads to a circular wooden structure in a grassy open area surrounded by trees and clouds.

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    Our second destination today was Friendship Hill, the home of Albert Gallatin, often regarded as “America’s Swiss Founding Father.” He was the longest serving Sec of Treasury, during which he reduced the national debt, purchased the Louisiana Territory, and funded the Lewis & Clark exploration.

    A historic stone and stucco house with a large porch is set against a backdrop of trees and a partly cloudy sky, surrounded by a well-kept lawn.A bronze statue depicts a man in period clothing looking through a surveying instrument on a tripod, holding a hat in his hand.A marble fireplace is beneath a framed portrait of a man with dark hair, alongside a standing flag on the left.

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