Exploring Arizona: Wupatki

Filling out his Junior Ranger packet  

Working with friends on the Junior Ranger packet

Checking out the blowhole near the ball court at Wupatki

Wupatki Ballcourt

Getting their Junior Ranger badge for Wupatki

A short drive from Sunset Crater is Wupatki National Monument. In this seemingly barren desert people lived, building homes and raising families. The pueblos clustered in this area are from the ancient ancestors of the Hopi, Zuni and other puebloan people. The structures are truly fascinating. The main pueblo would have had 100 rooms. The people who lived here were farmers as well as hunters. There is evidence of trade among the ruins, and the existence of a ball court shows that peoples in the area traveled and shared cultural interests. It became a gathering place for people within fifty miles. While walking through the site, the kids found pottery shards by one of the gathering places. It was an amazing discovery that they were able to share with the Ranger, who encouraged their interest. The shards were set back where we found them once we looked at the design and felt the smooth face. I found it interesting that this pueblo housed different peoples over the course of time. They maintained the pueblo constantly and had areas for food stores preparing for eventual crop failures. Water would have been scarce even then, so buildings were erected with water preservation in mind. Archeologists have found huge ollas that were used for water storage and collecting runoff from the buildings. We spent a bit of time talking to the ranger. He was full of interesting information and even shared his journey to becoming a park ranger. We would like to come back and explore again in winter to see how the landscape changes.

The Other Side

Paired with the quirky Americana of South Dakota is true natural beauty. Our family took in the visual treats of the state in the prairie as well as in Mount Rushmore and the Badlands.

The Badlands were such a different landscape. Eamon and Aine compared it to their view of the moon or Mars. The rocky formations were white and rugged. We hiked around one trail to get a better sense of the area. It was breathtaking. The kiddos continued their space exploration game, calling out to one another as if they were astronauts. We jumped from rock to rock finding our way along the trail. Dave took many photos trying to capture the beauty.

 

From the Badlands, we ventured toward Mount Rushmore. I had never been to this national memorial. I am glad we went. The black hills were a much different environment from the Badlands despite their close proximity. Eamon determined that the place was called the Black Hills due to the dark pines which covered the mountains. From our park ranger, we found out he was right! We participated in the tour of the memorial as well as the Junior Ranger program. The kiddos enjoyed hunting for the answers to the program questions. We talked about the artist, Gutzon Borglum, who created the original casts for the presidents. Dave and I were impressed to see the original design included more of the presidents' torsos, but the actual rock did not lend itself to such carvings. We also wondered about the people who executed the design swinging from bosun chairs high in the air. It is such an amazingly impressive stone carving, and we were all glad to have seen it.

On the Prairie

Dave and I decided that we have driven the standard route from Michigan to Arizona a few times, so we needed to change it up. We also wanted to visit with friends in Portland, Oregon. We laid out the map and set to planning. Dave was the chief navigator. He visited much of the U.S. as a kid, so he knew of many spots of interest. While planning the ride, I looked at his route and mentioned really wanting to visit Laura Ingalls Wilder's home in De Smet, SD. I noticed we would be driving across South Dakota and thought it might work. Fortunately it did.

Our main focus in De Smet was the Ingalls Homestead. We arrived late in the year, so the planned activities were over. Instead we were able to wander the original quarter section of land Pa homesteaded back in 1880. We walked through many historical buildings, which were indicative of the time. We saw a historical recreation of the home Pa built for his family as well as the hay barn. The kiddos recalled excerpts from the Little House books as we toured. They wondered about certain aspects of the books and inquired about Almonzo's childhood home (we were listening to Farmer Boy at the time). We sat in a one room schoolhouse and rang the school bell many times.

 

The prairie grasses were still prevalent, and we saw the slough first hand. I remarked about how easy it would be to lose a child in such tall grasses. Aine remembered that tale from one of the books as well, although we couldn't remember if it was Carrie that was lost. The kiddos talked about how they would jump and yell, so someone would find them. Dave mentioned the sound of the wind through the grasses and their continual movement. It would have been tough to find a little person in such an environment.

To top off the visit, we spent the night camping at the homestead. This was no little feat as temperatures dipped into the low 30s. To make it easier, we opted for a covered wagon. The wagon was such a treat. The kiddos marveled at traveling across the U.S. in one. They noticed the tiny space and remember the list of good the settlers would have carried. I wondered how it worked and felt fortunate that my family doesn't have to rely on a wagon for transportation. All of us fit nicely into the wagon, but there would have been little spare room.

The homestead was so quiet at night. There were no other visitors and it was quite peaceful. I am so glad we were able to stop and see this piece of history. It was a great visit that really brought so much of what we had read to life.

A Return Trip

When we first arrived in Michigan, we headed out to Greenfield Village with my brother-in-law's family. We had such a good time that we decided to take a return trip yesterday. The village is a mix of older historic buildings and living history players. The first time we visited we saw many of the older buildings. A few have curators in them who answer questions and provide information about the time and practices. We also rode the carousel, train, Model T's and horse drawn bus due to the generosity of a stranger who gave us their extra wrist passes (these allow unlimited rides throughout the village). This time we ventured out the other direction to the working Victorian farm. 

We arrived right at dinnertime for the family who resides at the farm during the day. Six of them were sitting down to their midday meal. It was a hearty one full of potatoes, canned peaches and a lot of other goodies. It made most of our bellies rumble. The character actors then told us all about their lives, the home and how they lived during this time period. We walked by the hot wood stove on which their meal was made and helped with the pump outside from which they got their water. They talked about the carpet on their floor. It was woven from rags into rugs. These individual rugs were them sewn together to make the flooring.

We asked questions about how the home made its way there from the original site of the Firestone home in Ohio. The older woman told of moving the home brick by brick. She spoke of layers of wallpaper and fun discoveries about the past. Inquiries were made about the basement food storage and washing practices. Another replied with all the items they preserve while the others chimed in with additional information. It was very interesting to hear about their daily lives and the time. They mentioned the social status of the family and that they were not rich, but rather wise about their finances. This acumen allowed them a surplus to save for more lean times and even loan to their neighbors. 

The barn was next on the path. Merino sheep had just been brought into the shelter. Dave remarked about all the potential yarn. He then talked with Benton and Aine about the horns on the rams. We also saw turkeys and chickens in the farmyard, a cow near the barn and beehives in the pasture. Green beans, yellow squash and okra that had just been harvested sat in a basket by the garden. 

From there we walked toward the artisan area to watch potters, weavers, glassblowers, a tinsmith, and a printer. At each stop we were welcomed and told about the industry. Any questions were met with enthusiasm and interest. The kiddos were shown a hurricane lamp and attempted to blow out the candle with no luck. Eamon was able to work the printing press, and each kiddo received a print. We learned about the individual crafts/arts and the artists who made them.

Dave has rejoined us after a month back at work in Arizona, so he shared his memories of his last visit to the Village. He was in first or second grade and had school for the day in the one room schoolhouse. The kiddos thought it was a bit odd. We decided to find it next. As we looked for the school, we walked and talked to other Village employees enjoying a few facts about the Wright Brothers and their ingenuity as we walked through their home and shop. The kiddos ground herbs int he doctor's office and talked to the person there about medicine during that time and the high fees he charged (despite the fact that he never graduated from medical school). We saw another period farmhouse/plantation and talked to the woman there about slavery during the time period. 

The park was closing, and we still hadn't found the right schoolhouse. As we walked back to the entrance I remembered the big schoolhouse we saw the first time we came. We were going to walk right past it. It was the one. Dave and the kiddos looked in the windows. He recalled the wooden seats and floors. He told the kiddos a few more memories of that visit as we ambled toward the gates. We again closed the place down staying well after everyone else.

The weather was beautiful and the company was perfect. We were again joined by my brother-in-law's family and the addition of Dave could not have been better. I think though we may need to go again. We still have a few things to explore.