A Slice of Life
Bill Lites
Day 5 – July 19:
After breakfast this morning, I headed northwest on I-65 & I-90, across the border into Illinois, and for an hour or so toward Chicago, where I visited the Chicago Maritime Museum located in the Bridgeport area of the city. This museum displays a widely integrated history of how the early indigenous tribes used the many waterways for transportation and communications, and how much of this early knowledge has evolved into the maritime system we enjoy today. The museum’s many exhibits, artifacts, and memorabilia bring to life how the early maritime influence has changed modern day transportation systems growing society.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
After leaving the Maritime Museum, it wasn’t too far to where I visited the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry located in the Jackson Park area. This huge museum has the distinction of being housed in the only remaining building (one of the “White City” buildings) from the 1893 World’s Fair, and was built to house the Palace of Fine Arts for the Columbian Exposition. After the fair, the building was restored in 1923 and again in 1933 for other museums that came and went. This building is big enough to accommodate vary large exhibits such as half of a full-sized United Airlines Boeing 727 airliner and the captured WWII German submarine U-505 and others. I was impressed with the amount of free open space between exhibits, unlike many large museums. It is a “Must See” museum if you are ever in the Chicago area.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
I had to kind of rush thru the MOSI because I my plans were to visit my niece Karen and her husband Brian this afternoon and I wanted to save as much time as possible to spend with them. So, after that amazing museum visit, I headed north on I-94 & US-41 to visit the National Museum of the American Sailor located in Great Lakes, IL. However, Brian had informed me about Fort Sheridan, located in the Highland Park area of North Chicago, and since it was on my way up US-41 to visit the Sailors Museum I decided to stop there first. As it turns out, an original French trading post was built at this location in 1670 and was enlarged and named Fort Sharidan in 1840. Used as a military base until 1968, it was deactivated and taken over by the U.S. Navy and now includes parts of the U.S. Naval Training Center Command. I was impressed by the design of their 1891 “Water Tower” located in the center of the base.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
There was some confusion (with Greta my Garmin) about the address for the Sailor’s Museum, and I never did find the museum (I think it is on the naval base and not open to the public) but I did end up finding the Main Gate to the U.S. Naval Training Center, there in Great Lakes, where I did my original 13-weeks of Basic Training (Boot Camp) in the winter of 1956.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
Just seeing the words on that entrance wall brought back memories that replayed in my mind. I was young and thought I knew where I was going and what I wanted out of life when I got there. Boot Camp was a rude awakening! It was a grueling period in my life, but I learned a lot about friends, discipline, my duty to my country, and responsibility there during those 13-weeks. I must admit, I really needed that.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
After that short trip down memory lane, I headed northwest a short distance to visit Brian and Karen, who live in Lake Villa, IL. We had a wonderful visit and Brian cooked a delicious meal, so we didn’t have to go out for supper. We spent the evening reminiscing about the good-old-days, my Road Trip, and their European Christian Ministry. As it happened, they were leaving for Budapest in two days and would include a long-needed vacation there after their European business conference was over. Since Karen had to work and I wanted to get an early start after breakfast the next day, Brian helped me get my things into their guest room and we called it a night. A family visit like that is so great!
Photo Credit: Judy Wills
—– To Be Continued—–
Bill is a retired Mechanical engineer living with his wonderful artist/writer wife, DiVoran, of 65 years in Titusville, Florida. He was born and raised in the Southwest, did a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy, attended Northrop University in Southern California and ended up working on America’s Manned Space Program for 35 years. He currently is retired and spends most of his time building and flying R/C model airplanes, traveling, writing blogs about his travels for Word Press and supporting his wife’s hobbies with framing, editing and marketing. He also volunteers with a local church Car Care Ministry and as a tour guide at the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum there in Titusville. Bill has two wonderful children, two outstanding grandchildren, and a loving sister and her husband, all of whom also live in Central Florida, so he and DiVoran are rewarded by having family close to spend lots of quality time with.
One of Bill’s favorite Scriptures is: John 10:10
Old Things R New 