The unusual square looking bridge over the Tennessee River. The bus at the commercial Victory RV park near Paducah, Ky. No tree,picnic table, a small patch of grass. We would be close to the neighbors, but there are none on this side. Notice how high the electrical plug in is- it is because we are in a flood plain near the Ohio river. But quiet, mostly dark and enough power to run the AC.
In downtown Paducah at the confluence of the Tennessee and Ohio rivers there are 50 murals along the flood wall depicting the history of the area. Also this flood gauge on the flood wall showing the high water marks for the past floods. It tops out at 61 feet. Looks like the highest flood in 2011 was 55 feet above river level. A big thunder storm is rolling in over the Ohio river.
Historic buildings along the river front. It was Memorial day, everything was closed so it was pretty deserted. An area of the street is still brick by the flood wall.
During the thunderstorm we went into the River Discovery center. It is in the only antebellum building in Paducah meaning it was not destroyed in the Civil War. Lots of battles here. All sites along the rivers were big battles over control of the rivers since they were the main transportation at the time. John drove the ship simulator. He drove a coastguard vessel and crashed it. This interesting chart shows how much a barge can carry compared to train cars and semi's. One barge equals 15 jumbo hopper train cars and 58 semi trucks. One tow of 15 barges equals 225 jumbo rail cars and 870 semi's. If possible most goods are transported on barges. Three historic buildings in downtown. The Columbia theatre, a church and a huge hotel. Three historic buildings in downtown. The Columbia theatre, a church and a huge hotel.
John standing before the high flood water marks downtown holding his breath since he is below the highest in 1937. All are before the flood wall was built. John with his Under tow double IPA in front of a tank of the same at the Dry Ground Brewery.
A tux rental place called Mister Penguin, peanuts at the brewery with a notice that product contains peanuts, a sign for Rocky Point Copper Stills and John in front of a Mikado train engine built in 1923. Paducah Locomotive Shops started building locomotives in 1929, later rebuilding and updating diesel locomotives.
Today we went to Metropolis, Illinois to go to the Superman Museum. Welcome to Metropolis, Home of Superman, Giant Statue and Super Museum, Supernirs-Largest selection of currently licenced gift items and souvenirs on this planet. The 15 foot Superman statue in front of the court house.
John and I as superman and superwoman. Superman changing in the phone booth, It's a bird, it's a plane, It's Superman! The bathrooms at the Super museum.
The museum 40,000 Superman items worth $2.5 million. They chronicle the life of America's comic, television and movie hero from the time when the Superman comic strip was in the paper in 1940 to Lois and Clark television series in the mid 1990's. Original Superman costumes worn in the movies and on TV. Superman's cape that Christopher Reeve wore, the Clark Kent break away shirt that George Reeves wore for quick changes, and the flying harness worn under Christopher Reeves costume when he was hoisted up on wires by a 200 foot crane in 1978. The crane would slingshot him through buildings and landscapes. These were risky performances all done by Christopher Reeve himself rather than stuntmen. And many many more things, including almost every superman toy made.
Darn we will miss the Superman Celebration next weekend here in Metropolis. John was not happy when I asked him to model the Clark Kent glasses, glow in the dark kryptonite and Lex Luthor's lab computer. Superman with me at the museum and John with the Lois statue downtown.
An original 5, dime and dollar store. We had lunch at the 718 BrewCafe, a brewpub in Metropolis. It was more of a cafe than a brew pub, the food was pretty bland. There were only two beers, a wheat and a dark.
Back in Paducah, Ky are these two statues. The first one is titled Wacinton (to have understanding) hand chiseled from a local 56,000 lb red oak to honor the Chickasaw Indians who lived and hunted in this area by sculptor Peter Toth. We have seen numerous Indian sculptures by him across the nation. The second on is a marble statue of Chief Paduke for whom Gen William Clark (of Lewis and Clark) named Paducah. The National Quilt museum was phenomenal. It had an amazing display of really intricate quilts. Also some of the museums miniature quilts were shown. They were all less than 24 inches per side and the pieces in those are microscopic. They will not allow photos inside the exhibits. Good thing because I would have taken numerous ones of each quilt. I took this one in the lobby-allowed there. The two on the bottom are stained glass windows of scenes that have inspired some of the quilts. There are 16 of them.
We visited the last brewery in area, Paducah Beer Werks. John with his pale ale. They were out of their IPA which is what he usually tastes. My masterpiece is taking shape. Only one more row planned. Then the finishing touches.
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