Museum recomendations?

[vettim89]

ORIGINAL: Historiker

Where's that?

ORIGINAL: vettim89
3. Mystic Sea Port

What can I see at the ACW-sites? Are there just plain fields, or is there something more specific to watch?

Mystic is in CT. While normally not a "must see", it would be directly on your path if you were traveling from Boston to NY via car (esp if you juke south to see the Massachusettes). It is a collection of sailing vessels from the 18th and 19th centuries.

The ACW sites are so varied. Some are not a whole lot more than a parking lot and a few signs saying a battle occured here. That and the obligatory cannon or two (which may not be period) is all you get. Others are much more detailed with interactive exhibits with either docents or reenactors. I would suggest researching any sites you are considering. Of the ones listed that I have visited, I would say the Constitution, Gettysburg, the U-505, and the AF Museum are my "must see's".

Of note, especially east of the Mississippi, there are museums and historical sites almost everywhere. I live in a small city of c. 300k. Within an hour of my home there is Ft. Meigs (War of 1812 fort), Fallen Timbers Monument (French-Indian War battle site), Perry's Victory Monument (War of 1812 Naval Battle site), and two small battle sites in Monroe, MI (Home of George Armstrong Custer). I think that is typical of most places.

Of note, the Perry's Victory Monument is a spire. The top may be the only place in the world where you can view the entire battle area of a major Age of Sail naval engagement.

[Mynok]

Honestly, the ACW sites aren't going to be much interest unless you really know the battle well and understand the significance of the locations. You can stand on Little Round Top at Gettysburg and say it is a nice view, but you have to know what happened there to really get goose bumps.

You would be best served I think by visiting more museums and ships than ACW battlefields. Unless for some strange reason you have an interest and knowledge of that war. It would kinda be like me visiting 100 years war battlefields frankly. Not much relevance.

[Historiker]

You would be best served I think by visiting more museums and ships than ACW battlefields. Unless for some strange reason you have an interest and knowledge of that war. It would kinda be like me visiting 100 years war battlefields frankly. Not much relevance.

thx. In fact, I read quite a lot about the civil war, but there are things more intersting.
Is there a website - or can someone write it here - what can be seen on which battlefield? Where are re-enactments, museums etc...

[lazydawg]

ORIGINAL: Historiker

You would be best served I think by visiting more museums and ships than ACW battlefields. Unless for some strange reason you have an interest and knowledge of that war. It would kinda be like me visiting 100 years war battlefields frankly. Not much relevance.

thx. In fact, I read quite a lot about the civil war, but there are things more intersting.
Is there a website - or can someone write it here - what can be seen on which battlefield? Where are re-enactments, museums etc...

The ACW battlefields are run by the National Park Service. Here is their website:

http://www.nps.gov/index.htm

Use the "Find a Park" to choose the State & then you can choose the battlefield you are interested in by pointing at the battlefield name on the state map. For example, here is the webpage for Antietam:

http://www.nps.gov/anti/index.htm

The battlefield webpages have all the information you need. Most of the parks will charge a fee. If you plan on visiting a lot of the locations that are run by the National Park Service, it might save you money by purchasing what is called an "Interagency Annual Pass". The pass will give you unlimited access to the National Park Sites for up to 4 people. These can be purchased at most of the National Park sites:

http://www.nps.gov/vama/planyourvisit/i ... l-pass.htm

[John Lansford]

Here's the Tank Museum's website if you're interested.  Danville isn't far off your path if you are heading south from DC towards Wilmington and Charleston.
 
http://www.aaftankmuseum.com/

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: vettim89

Have to agree with those who are suggesting planning. I was thinking about this and thought about what would be unique to the States. Thinking about things you might have a hard time finding elsewhere

Just a suggested iternary where you might get the most bang for your buck as far as travel.

From Boston

1. USS Constitution (shame on you all for not mentioning it)
2. USS Massachusettes
3. Mystic Sea Port
4. USS Intrepid in NY harbor
5. Ground Zero
6. Valley Forge
7. Washington DC - you could spend your whole time within 150 km of this central point

Smithsonian, Aberdeen, Dozens of ACW Battlesites (Gettysburg, Antietam, etc), Ft McHenry, USNA, and all the rest mentioned here

8. Norfolk, VA - USS Wisconsin here plus a boat tour of the naval base, Cheasapeak Bay Bridge/Tunnel, Eastern shore, etc

There are a lot of other good museums scattered across the country but you will not get the concentration you will in that small space anywhere else

The USAF Museum in Dayton is worth the trip. Yes, there is an Armor Museum at Ft. Knox which is only about a four hour drive from Dayton. U-505 is VERY cool. There is a USN sub in Pittsburg that was used for intel gathering in the cold war - it is in its cold war configuration as a museum but still cool (still has the sub smell no matter how hard they tried to clean it up)

Lastly a non-military stop would be the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

This is an excellent list. The Constitution is top on my list. She is the embodiment of American Naval History. Great tour, beautiful ship, and a plum assignment for active-duty sailors.

Agree with hitting some of the Revolutionary War sites listed above as well as Civil War battlefields. Gettysburg is THE place to see...

The Air and Space Museum is spectacular also...

Distance is something to believe here. So many Europeans never quite grasp that until coming here. I'd put together a reasonably short list and then focus on doing that so you don't stress too much getting from place to place.

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Distance is something to believe here. So many Europeans never quite grasp that until coming here.

I once had a Usenet friend from the UK who wanted to see NYC, Hollywood, and Disney World. His trip was five days, and he didn't understand why he couldn't just train to each overnight and spend the day touring.

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: Historiker

You would be best served I think by visiting more museums and ships than ACW battlefields. Unless for some strange reason you have an interest and knowledge of that war. It would kinda be like me visiting 100 years war battlefields frankly. Not much relevance.

thx. In fact, I read quite a lot about the civil war, but there are things more intersting.
Is there a website - or can someone write it here - what can be seen on which battlefield? Where are re-enactments, museums etc...

Just search the specific web sites for each battlefields. The should list any interesting events. Of all the East Coast battlefields Antietam (Sharpsburg) is my favoite and the most unspoiled. You can make a trip to Harpers Ferry, South Mountain and Antietam in one day. The scenery is lovely-nothing wrong with that. Especially if you have your wife with you...[;)]

[The Gnome]

Have to agree with everyone who says "don't underestimate the distances". I live in Philadelphia and my brother lives in San Francisco, for all intents and purposes he's on another planet.

Including getting to the airport, checking bags, and going through security it takes me about 8-12 hours to change coasts. The four hour difference includes whether you have a direct flight, and if not how long your layover takes.

Compare that to driving to Pittsburg on the other side of Pennsylvania which is also about 8 hours (assuming no traffic).

So here are some sites close to Philly:
Valley Forge: 1-2 hours by car (should only take 30 minutes but the road is always jammed)
Gettysburg: 4-5 hours by car - same road as to Valley Forge but it gets to be very rural passed VF, so there wont be much traffic.
New York City: 1-2 Hours by train, bus, or car (prefer bus, $10 roundtrip on bolt bus which includes wifi)
Washington DC: 2.5-3.5 Hours by train, bus, or car (prefer train)
Boston: About 6-8 hours by train or plane, I prefer train since I dont have the headaches of the airport.

[Historiker]

Was there something in Cold Spring Harbor NY? I have marked it, but I'm not sure why...

What's at Fort Monmouth? Can I gain access to the barracks ?

What is in Baltimore Harbor?

[John Lansford]

I notice you don't have Charleston on your list of places to see.  Patriot's Point and Fort Sumter are both 'must see' locations.  The USS Yorktown is there, as is one of the WWII fleet subs, and Fort Sumter is where the US Civil War began.  Plus, the seafood in Charleston is unmatched anywhere except perhaps New Orleans; if you go make sure you stop at Hymans' Seafood Restaurant for dinner.

[Historiker]

New Orleans will be hard. With Charleston, I'm already at 25 days of full program - not a single day of relaxing planned so far...
Somewhen, even I have to restart working [;)]

[spence]

The USS Massachusetts Museum in Fall River, MA also has a late WWII DD, a WWII Fleet sub, the PT Boat Museum and one of your former eastern countrymen's missile boat (Komar class maybe?). Cool place. Sets you up for going to Mystic Seaport (where there is a Japanese midget sub along with the whalers and schooners and clipper ships {well there was 40 yrs ago anyways)). And a mere 10 km to the West is the Submarine Museum at Groton. There's a fleet boat there along with the USS Nautilus (first atomic sub).

[USSAmerica]

Baltimore's Inner Harbor has lots of shops and restaurants, the USS Constellation (Civil War era sailing frigate), USS Torsk (WWII US submarine), and the fabulous National Aquarium.  The baseball stadium where the Baltimore Orioles play is also a few blocks away.  About 2-3 miles along the shoreline is Fort McHenry, where a battle took place between the defenders and an attempted invading British fleet in the War of 1812.  Francis Scott Key was being held on board the British flagship during the battle and was inspired to write "The Star Spangled Banner", which became our National Anthem. 

When I was a young boy, I lived about 5 blocks from the Inner Harbor, before anything was there except the Constellation.  We used to walk or ride our bikes to play on the walls of Fort McHenry.  [8D] 

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: John Lansford

I notice you don't have Charleston on your list of places to see.  Patriot's Point and Fort Sumter are both 'must see' locations.  The USS Yorktown is there, as is one of the WWII fleet subs, and Fort Sumter is where the US Civil War began.  Plus, the seafood in Charleston is unmatched anywhere except perhaps New Orleans; if you go make sure you stop at Hymans' Seafood Restaurant for dinner.

As a member of the "Friends of the Hunley" Musuem Society that is also something WAY COOL to visit while in Charleston. The first operational SS to actually sink an enemy target is a neat thing to see!

[TOMLABEL]

I can't believe after all these post that no one has mentioned the Bama! Historiker, if you are planning to try to visit the Texas, then I would highly recommend that you visit the USS Alabama BB-60 in Mobile Alabama. Mobile a is only 45 minutes from the Pensacola Naval Air Museum - which is a must see too! Gotta go to both man!

If you have the time, my top must see's on the east and Gulf Coast are:
BB-59 Mass
CV-10 Yorktown- Charleston, SC
BB-55 North Carolina - Wilmington, NC
BB-60 Alabama - Mobile, AL
Naval Air Museum - Pensacola, FL

If you are going to see the Tex and Lex, then the Bama should not be too far out of reach!

TOMLABEL

[Historiker]

Damn...
I think I should spend half a year there...

[John Lansford]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

ORIGINAL: John Lansford

I notice you don't have Charleston on your list of places to see.  Patriot's Point and Fort Sumter are both 'must see' locations.  The USS Yorktown is there, as is one of the WWII fleet subs, and Fort Sumter is where the US Civil War began.  Plus, the seafood in Charleston is unmatched anywhere except perhaps New Orleans; if you go make sure you stop at Hymans' Seafood Restaurant for dinner.

As a member of the "Friends of the Hunley" Musuem Society that is also something WAY COOL to visit while in Charleston. The first operational SS to actually sink an enemy target is a neat thing to see!

I can't believe I forgot the Hunley; my wife and I are both members as well after seeing the sub last October. Driving through the mostly abandoned Navy Yard to go see it is definitely an experience as well!

[Steely Glint]

National WWII Museum-New Orleans-no doubt about it!

If you only see one museum, this should be it.

[afspret]

Ain't there a US Army Aviation Museum at Fort Rucker, near Dothan, AL?  There's also the Patriot Points Museum in Mt Pleasant, SC (near Charleston).

And if you're going to be in Florida, check the Fantasy of Flight Museum at Pike, FL, which is west of Orlando.