Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Trailblazers Return From 12 Day Trip To North

The Prescott Trailblazers took a 12-day trip to six states and to Ontario, Canada, in June, leaving on Saturday, June 13. The group visited Missouri, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa.

In Hannibal, Mo., the Trailblazers toured the authentically restored boyhood home of Mark Twain and experienced the inspiration for The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. The moment they walked through the door of this quaint, two-story dwelling they were reminded of years from long ago.

Mark Twain's Museum is filled with memorabilia and displays including a video presentation introducing one to Twain's life, photographs of the actual people who provided the models for Mark Twain's life, and his famous white suit jacket and much more.

The group also visited Grant's Drug Store and the Pilaster House which date back to the 1830's and was home of the Clemens family until 1846. They saw J.M. Clemens' law office where Twain's father presided as justice of the peace in 1841. The courthouse provided the setting for the trial of Muff Potter in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.

Afterwards they went to the new Twain museum which has 15 original Norman Rockwell paintings that were used as illustrations for special editions of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.

When the group arrived in Springfield, Ill., they were met by a tour guide and toured Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site.

Under the seven-foot granite obelisk, a belvedere accessible via exterior staircases offers a view of the 10-foot statue of Lincoln and four heroic groupings representing Civil War Armed Forces.

The tomb interior follows a circular route lined with statues commemorating periods of Lincoln's life. In the center of the domed burial chamber is a monumental sarcophagus. Lincoln is buried 10 feet below.

The Trailblazers also toured the Lincoln Home National Historic Site, which includes four city blocks restored to 1860 appearance. The interior has been refurbished and restored with Lincoln family furnishings and period artifacts, etc.

Trailblazers also visited the state capitol. It is one of the tallest buildings in central Illinois. The capitol dome, 405 feet high, can be seen for miles across the prairie. The State House is a Victorian combination of Renaissance Revival and Second Empire.

In Middlebury, Ind., the Trailblazers were treated to a family style Amish country dinner at Das Dutchman Essenhaus.

After dinner, a step-on guide took the group on an Amish country tour, which allowed the quiet of the country to refresh their spirits. As they traveled through the heart of Amish country they observed farms and rolling land, toured a cheese factory, a buggy factory and an Amish furniture store.

The guide gave the group the background of the unique history of the Amish in the area and shared some of the history of Northern Indiana Amish country.

The trailblazers enjoyed visiting the Gerald Ford Museum in Grand Rapids, Mich. There they learned more about our 38th president's dedication to public service, as well as a view of the man at informal moments.

In Traverse City, Mich., the group toured the Music House, a performing museum of beautifully restored rare, antique musical instruments inauthentic turn-of-the-century decor. They discovered the joyous sounds of yesterday and the wonderful devices which produced them.

One of the most interesting and enjoyable things the Trailblazers did was board the Arnold Mackinac Island Ferry and going to Mackinac Island.

When they arrived on the island they were met by comfortable, charming horse-drawn carriages with fringes on top to tour the beautiful island. The tour was expertly narrated. There is no better way to visit this historic isle and see the legendary points of interest than by carriage. The carriage stops were at the Grand Hotel, Surrey Hill, Arch Rock, Fort Mackinac, historic Market Street, Governor's Mansion, Island Cemeteries, Skull Caves and more than 20 other points of interest.

Mackinac Island retains the atmosphere of the 19th Century. If one yearns for a simpler time and place, Mackinac Island is the perfect spot for you. There are no cars or buses, only horse-drawn carriages, bicycles and footpaths on the three-mile long and two-mile wide island.

The group toured and dined at the Grand Hotel, which operated in 1887 and is one of America's finest examples of tradition.

In Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., the group boarded a Soo Locks Tour Train and had a fully narrated ride in a relaxing, educational historic experience. The Soo Locks Train climbed 135 feet above the gigantic lock system on the 2.5-mile-long international bridge.

The view from the train as it crossed the bridge to Canada was a photographer's dream. One could see 10 miles up the river and see ships locking through five of the American and Canadian locks. The roar of the water could be heard directly above the St. Mary's rapids.

After crossing the bridge they boarded a double-decker bus for viewing historic sites in Ontario.

The group had reservations in Wisconsin Dells, Wis., for a boat tour. They traveled through 15 miles of magnificent sandstone cliffs, unique rock formations and hidden canyons offering a glimpse of nature up close. They explored shore landing walks at Stand Rock and Witches Gulch.

They traveled to Spring Green, Wis., and toured the House on the Rock, a multi-level residence of magnificent architectural design. The outstanding attraction stands above the tree tops where it sits atop a chimney rock, 450 feet above the valley. In the early 1940's Alex Jordan discovered a 60-foot chimney rock in the beautiful Wyoming Valley and decided to build a 14- room house on the sandstone formation as a weekend retreat. He never intended it to be a tourist attraction, but people kept coming to see the architectural wonder.

Here exhibits can be seen that are found nowhere else in the world.

Another highlight of the trip was going to Bloomington, Minn., home of the Mall of America. This is the largest fully enclosed retail and family entertainment complex in the United States.

The group enjoyed their tour in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Some of the twin cities' highlights were the Sculpture Gardens, the Lake Area, Minnehaha Falls, the state capitol, a cathedral, the downtown area and many Victorian homes.

In Des Moines, Iowa, a tour of the city was another interesting highlight of the trip. The guide took the group on a tour of the Basilica of St. John with its 46 stained glass windows and gold-leafed coffered ceilings. They also saw the beautiful 1869 Victorian Terrace Hill mansion which overlooks downtown Des Moines.

When the group arrived in Carthage, Mo., a tour guide boarded the bus for a look at the courthouse that was built in 1895 and is made of Carthage marble. Th