Griswold’s Road Trip

[Solid]

A Crystal ball made from a solid crystal, Chinese from the 1900s

 

[drron]

If you are still in Philly and love art this is the place to go.

The Barnes Foundation

Explore the Barnes Foundation’s renowned collection of impressionist, post-Impressionist, and modern art. Plan your visit to this Philadelphia treasure.

www.barnesfoundation.org

 

[Solid]

If you are still in Philly and love art this is the place to go.

The Barnes Foundation

Explore the Barnes Foundation’s renowned collection of impressionist, post-Impressionist, and modern art. Plan your visit to this Philadelphia treasure.

www.barnesfoundation.org

Thanks @drron a friend who has spent a bit of time in Philly also recommended the Barnes foundation, unfortunately due to losing some sight seeing time due to the winter storm we didn’t get to it.

 

[Solid]

A visit to Monticello in Virginia, main plantation of Thomas Jefferson, third president of the US and principal architect of the Declaration of Independence.

A couple of years ago I read “How the Word is Passed” by Clint Smith which is a non-fiction book re-telling American history from a slavery perspective. It is a fascinating read and thought provoking. Link to the Wikipedia description is below.

How the Word Is Passed - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

In the book Smith visits Monticello, and being nearby the Griswold’s had to as well.

After a quick walk through the grounds we joined a walking tour discussing slavery on the plantation. The guide wasn’t afraid to address some of the dichotomies of Jefferson describing “all men as equal” in the Declaration of Independence and that slavery was “morally wrong” however owning over 600 slaves in his lifetime.

It was an interesting tour and eye opening for Rusty, who learnt that the concept of consent for female slaves didn’t exist and that following the death of his wife that Jefferson fathered four children with a young slave girl who was in effect his sister in law, herself being fathered by his father in law who he inherited when his father in law died.

Jefferson was quite the wine buff, particularly from his time as effectively the ambassador to France, and if you are interested in a good non fiction read involving the sale of some Chateau Lafites allegedly owned by Jefferson I recommend “The Billionaires Vinegar” by Benjamin Wallace linked below.

THE BILLIONAIRE'S VINEGAR — BENJAMIN WALLACE

www.benjaminwallace.net

 

[Solid]

The main house

 

[Solid]

Parts of the 1000 yard vegetable patch and some of the cellars.

 

[Solid]

Jefferson’s grave on the property on what appears to be an active cemetery, you can’t enter however the most recent gravestone I saw was dated 2022.

On his death 5 of Jefferson’s then slaves were freed, with around 130 remaining sold to pay his debts. The construction of Monticello went over a 40 year period.

 

[Solid]

On to Raleigh and a quick visit to the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. Audrey Jr has always been a fan of dinosaurs and they have an exhibit here called Duelling Dinosaurs, which is built around one fossil found in Montana that had a Triceratops and a Nanotyrannus (new species originally thought to be a juvenile t-Rex) wrapped around each other.

After some initial information rooms and short video, you end up in the lab where they are working on the bones. You can talk to the palaeontologists working on the project. Rusty thought it was his idea of hell to have random people asking you questions as you worked about what you were doing.

 

[Solid]

Giant ground sloth which could stand up to 20 feet tall and another dinosaur exhibit.

 

[Solid]

New York has Times Square Ball Drop at midnight.
Raleigh, North Carolina has the Giant Acorn drop.

Best thing about the Giant Acorn drop is they do one at 7pm for families and then repeat it at midnight.

The two most junior Griswold’s will think they are attending the midnight version…..

Streets are closed, they have amusement rides, kids activities and concerts / parades. Can’t wait, event details below.

Events — Artsplosure

www.artsplosure.org