Wednesday Wandering

 The "Hands Off" protests this past weekend struck a chord in me. I was encouraged to see such widespread concern about the direction that our country is headed. The Supreme Court decisions of yesterday continue to concern me as the justices seem more concerned with procedure than addressing fundamental constitutional questions.

Liberty is hanging in the balance. 

I was reminded of something Thomas Jefferson wrote:

“The tree of Liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.”― Thomas Jefferson

I never thought that refreshing the tree of Liberty would be required in my lifetime. It is frightening. The path we are on is sooooooo wrong!

I am NOT advocating insurrection, but rather that we must make a stand for the Constitution, freedom and liberty. There may be a cost involved! Working through the legal avenues is a start as is protesting and showing the depth of concern that people have across our country.

Some random thoughts: 

A nation should not do harm to its friends. 

A nation devoted to a constitution should not allow its leaders to depart from the principles espoused within.

We are a nation of immigrants--who is to say who is better or more deserving? 

One person should not have the power to upset the economies of the entire world. The situation was likened to a Roman emperor who with the flick of his finger could cause markets to rise and fall. 

One my my presidential heroes defined America as follows:

“[I]n my mind it was a tall, proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, windswept, God-blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace; a city with free ports that hummed with commerce and creativity. And if there had to be city walls, the walls had doors and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here.” 

He continued later:

“For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us. So that if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken, and so cause Him to withdraw His present help from us, we shall be made a story and a by-word through the world.”

Ronald Reagan

The eyes of the world are upon us!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Manifest Destiny - A Short Review

I was concerned by what I heard our president say during his inaugural speech on Monday in reference to Manifest Destiny. I was particularly concerned because he used this concept while referencing his designs on the Panama Canal, Greenland, and he specifically mentioned Manifest Destiny with his plans for the planet Mars.

The concept and application of Manifest Destiny attempts to cover a host of transgressions by believing we have a God-given right to take what is not rightfully ours and eradicating those who stand in our way. I researched Chat GPT for a short history of the abuses of Manifest Destiny, just to refresh myself about what I learned so very long ago. Mind you, I was not taught the abuses of Manifest Destiny in school because I grew up in a time when America could do no wrong. I learned, over time, the reality of the ugly American past and in which our nation had broken countless treaties and committed genocide which many on the far right now want to omit historical fact and hide. 

The concept of Manifest Destiny, the 19th-century belief that the United States was destined to expand its territory across North America, has been associated with several historical actions and policies that many now consider unjust or criminal. While these actions were often framed as inevitable progress at the time, they led to significant harm to indigenous peoples, other nations, and marginalized groups. Here are the main categories of crimes and injustices linked to Manifest Destiny:

1. Displacement and Genocide of Indigenous Peoples

• Forced Removal: Policies like the Indian Removal Act of 1830 led to the forced relocation of Native American tribes from their ancestral lands, most infamously through the Trail of Tears, during which thousands of Native Americans died.

• Land Theft: Indigenous lands were seized without fair treaties or compensation, violating existing agreements and the sovereignty of tribes.

• Genocide and Violence: Armed conflicts such as the Indian Warsand massacres like those at Wounded Knee resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of Indigenous people.

• Cultural Erasure: Efforts to assimilate Native Americans through forced schooling, bans on cultural practices, and suppression of languages can also be seen as crimes against humanity.

2. War and Imperialism

• Mexican-American War (1846–1848): Driven by Manifest Destiny, this war resulted in the U.S. annexing a significant portion of Mexico’s territory (modern-day California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and more) through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Many view this as an act of imperialism, with the war itself being provoked under questionable pretenses.

• Annexation of Texas: The annexation of Texas in 1845, a precursor to the Mexican-American War, involved disputes over borders and challenges to Mexico’s sovereignty.

3. Exploitation and Enslavement

• Expansion of Slavery: The push to expand U.S. territory also expanded slavery into new regions, exacerbating the exploitation of enslaved African Americans. Debates over whether new territories would allow slavery contributed to tensions leading to the Civil War.

• Exploitation of Workers: As new territories developed, many marginalized groups, including Chinese immigrants, Mexican laborers, and freed African Americans, were exploited for labor, often under harsh conditions.

4. Environmental Exploitation

• Manifest Destiny often involved the unregulated exploitation of natural resources, such as deforestation, overhunting (e.g., the near-extinction of bison), and mining practices that devastated ecosystems and indigenous ways of life.

5. Racism and Cultural Supremacy

• Manifest Destiny was fueled by the belief in white supremacy and the notion that European Americans had the right to dominate and “civilize” other peoples. This ideology justified numerous acts of violence, discrimination, and systemic oppression.

These actions and their justifications under Manifest Destiny are now widely studied as part of the darker side of American history, highlighting the human and moral costs of expansionism.

OpenAI. (2025). What Crimes are Associated with Manifest Destiny. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Gilbert's Bar House of Refuge

Tower
Gilbert's Bar House of Refuge
Stuart, FL
October 3, 2024

Chris and I visited the Gilbert's Bar House of Refuge yesterday. No, it is not a bar in the sense of adult beverages. It is located onshore near a sandbar called Gilbert's Bar.

We learned the history of the U.S. Life-Saving Service, which eventually was rolled into what is now the U.S. Coast Guard during 1915, becoming U.S. Coast guard Station #207. 

It turns out that during the mid-late 1800's and into the early 1900's, Florida was mostly inhospitable. It was also treacherous for merchant ships. Many ships were lost on the bars and shoals along the coast. A series of refuge houses were established to guide survivors to places where they would receive care and shelter. Interestingly, there were actually signs posted on the beaches directing the survivors to the houses. 

The Rocky Coast
Gilbert's Bar House of Refuge
Stuart, FL
October 3, 2024

The Gilbert's Bar house was close to the site of more than a few wrecks. The stories of those saved and their vessels is very interesting. There are many artifacts from the period and a few of the wrecks. The wreck of the Georges Valentine just 100 yards offshore that Chris and I may snorkel on a good day when the ocean is calm. 

We enjoyed the visit and the history, especially the stationing of U.S. Navy personnel at the site during WWII to help combat the German submarines patrolling off the coast and sinking merchant shipping. 

Cancer Society 300-mile Challenge Update:

I completed my third ride yesterday. I cycled 18.72 miles and have logged 62.5 miles for the month. I have 237.5 remaining to reach my 300 mile goal. Next week looks to be a tough weather week for riding as we are expecting tropical rains all week. Finn has an appointment this morning and I may not be able to get a ride in before the rains.  

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Baseball and History

LoanDepot Park
Miami, FL
July 25, 2024

 Chris and I along with friends made the journey to LoanDepot Park in Miami yesterday to see the Orioles defeat the Marlins, which they did in the 10th inning, 7-6, after blowing a 6-run lead. 

Memorial to the Orange Bowl
LoanDepot Park
July 25, 2024

It was not until Chris and I walked around LoanDepot Park that we realized the park was built upon the site of another stadium in which we attended pro and college football games in during the mid-70s. Yes, the park is built on the site of the Orange Bowl. While I attended the University of Miami, both the Miami Dolphins and the U of M Hurricanes called the Orange Bowl home. I remember attending two NFL games: Dolphins vs Jets and Dolphins vs Chiefs.  We saw Joe Namath, Len Dawson, Bob Griese, Larry Csonka, and many other great players. We also attended Hurricanes football games there, although I do not remember any of the great players we saw. I remember, however, my first game in the Orange Bowl in September 1973. I saw the Hurricanes defeat then number 6 ranked Texas! The school went crazy because that was one of the biggest wins for Miami in years.

Loans Depot Park
Miami, FL
July 25, 2024

But back to LoanDepot and baseball. The park is beautiful and it is enclosed. The stadium has a moveable roof, which was closed, and we enjoyed a very cool 72 degree atmosphere for the game. That made it very pleasant because the outside temperature was 90 with a bright and hot sun. Parking was great and easy. There are parking garages which is nice because the car was not hot when we left the game. The stadium is among the smallest in MLB, but being enclosed amplifies the noise. There were just shy of 18,000 in attendance yesterday, but I took this image to show that Orioles fans represented the team very well--there was plenty of Orange and I almost believe that a good 40 percent of the attendees were wearing Orioles colors.

Traffic on a Hot Day
Miami, FL
July 25, 2024

The Orioles at made the day interesting. After jumping to a 6-0 lead, a few bad breaks allowed the home team to claw back into the game and saw them tie the score with 3 runs in the bottom of the 9th, fortunately stranding the winning run at 3rd base. The Orioles managed to get runners at 2nd and 3rd before scoring the eventual winning run in the top of the 10th--the Marlins executed a difficult double play throwing out a runner at the plate and then the batter who tried for 2nd to end the top half of the inning. Fortunately, the Marlins had no viable pinch hitters remaining on their bench and the Orioles sent a lefty, Perez, in to pitch and he set the Marlins down in order to secure the victory.

The Orioles faithful breathed a huge sigh of relief as the game ended with win.

It was a long day. First pitch was at 12:10 PM and we departed the house at 9:30 AM to arrive at the stadium at about 11:20 AM. The game lasted until about 3:00 PM and because of traffic we did not get back home until 5:40 PM. That made for a long, but fun, day of baseball. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

#orioles #loandepotpark 

Plying the Intracoastal and Finding History

Former Presidential Yacht Honey Fitz
Jupiter Island, FL
October 19, 2023

 Chris and I took our friends out on a pontoon boat yesterday to see and enjoy the sights along the intracoastal waterway (ICW). 

We checked out a different boat for the day than my usual deck boat. It was a pontoon boat and it was perfect for the six of us, plus Finnegan, to enjoy a day on the water. 

Godfrey Pontoon Boat
ICW
October 19, 2023

As we were exploring the ICW, we came upon a piece of nautical history that has only recently arrived. We passed the former Presidential Yacht, Honey Fitz. There she was, tied up along the ICW for us to enjoy. It is funny that I recognized it immediately. Historically, Honey Fitz, which was given that name by President Kennedy, served five presidents: Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon. It was recently purchased and restored making it post-restoration debut at the Palm Beach Boat Show this past March.

Chris and Finnegan Aboard our Boat
ICW near Jupiter, FL
October 19, 2023

Our vessel for the day was not nearly as elegant, but it provided reliable transportation as we explored the ICW and visited a sandbar in the Loxahatchee River before finally landing on a beach to enjoy the mid-day sunshine.

Finnegan accompanied us for the day and enjoyed being out on the water. He was a very good dog and never needed to use his live preserver. 

I found that the pontoon boat is not nearly as agile as the deck boats I usually check out, but for a group of people to be comfortable and enjoy a lazy day on the water, pontoon boats are the way to go.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL 

Valentine's Day 2023

 

Happy Valentine's Day!

Yup, it is mid-February and the day none of us dares forget is upon us. 

I bought a card! Well, and there might be some flowers this afternoon.

It is a good day to remember the ones we love and also our close friends who help us over the hard times. 

Sometimes it is good to review the history of the days we celebrate. I invite you to read about Valentines Day on Wikipedia. A short excerpt follows:

Numerous early Christian martyrs were named Valentine.^[16] The Valentines honored on February 14 are Valentine of Rome (Valentinus presb. m. Romae) and Valentine of Terni (Valentinus ep. Interamnensis m. Romae).^[17] Valentine of Rome was a priest in Rome who was martyred in 269 and was added to the calendar of saints by Pope Gelasius I in 496 and was buried on the Via Flaminia. The relics of St. Valentine were kept in the Church and Catacombs of San Valentino in Rome, which "remained an important pilgrim site throughout the Middle Ages until the relics of St. Valentine were transferred to the church of Santa Prassede during the pontificate of Nicholas IV [1288 - 1292]".^[18][19] The flower-crowned skull of Saint Valentine is exhibited in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Cosmedin, Rome. Other relics are found at Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church in Dublin, Ireland.^[20]

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Cinco de Mayo 2022

 

Happy Cinco de Mayo 2022!

Let the festivities begin as my favorite foreign holiday arrives. 

Cinco de Mayo is actually a holiday in Mexico--but it is more widely celebrated here in the U.S. 

Many people wonder why I enjoy the holiday. Well, it is one of those holidays, complete with a celebration, which although considered minor by many has incredible significance to the American experience. 

Cinco de Mayo is NOT Mexican Independence Day, which is celebrated during September, and it also is NOT a Mexican Federal Holiday. The Battle of Puebla where out-manned and out-gunned Mexican forces defeated a larger French force (sounds a bit like Ukraine and Russia), was also not a turning point in the War, which the French ultimately won. The Battle of Puebla, however, may have helped prevent the Confederacy from winning the American Civil War. 

An excerpt from a History.Com article, titled How Cinco de Mayo Helped Prevent a Confederate Victory in the Civil War, provides the historical perspective. 

Some contend that the year-long delay of the French invasion gave Abraham Lincoln’s generals just enough time to win decisive Union victories before Napoleon could provide upgraded artillery and munitions to the Confederacy. 

“By the time the French occupy Mexico City in June of 1863, the battle of Vicksburg was already underway," says Eric Rojo, a retired U.S. Army Colonel and commander-in-chief of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, an organization composed of descendants of Union officers in the Civil War. Rojo points out that the Battle of Gettysburg was about to begin and that Union victories were "signaling the beginning of the end" for the Confederacy. “Even if French were able to set their supply lines by mid-1863, it would have made very little difference in the outcome of the Civil War.”

So I celebrate today not only for the fun and revelry, but for the true historical significance of the Battle of Puebla and in memory to the brave Mexicans who played a role in preserving the Union and these United States.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Eighty Years

 

Sailors, planes and a huge ball of fire and smoke atwreckage-strewn Naval Air Station, Hawaii, following 

one of the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.

The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock

A date that will live in infamy forever.

 - Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Eighty years ago today the Japanese Empire conducted a largely successful surprise attack upon the the U.S. forces stationed in Hawaii that brought the United States fully into World War II.

2,400 Americans were killed and another 1,200 wounded during this surprise attack which began before 8 AM Hawaii time on a Sunday morning. 

Pause today and think about how lives were transformed in just a few minutes as the idyllic tropical islands were transformed and thrust onto the frontline of the world at war. 

The attack on Pearl Harbor remains an event that must never be forgotten, not so much for who conducted the attack, but more because of how and why it happened.

Take a moment today and read or reread an account of the attack in memory of those who served and lost their lives, whose world was turned upside down within a few moments on what served as a gateway for the U.S. to fully engage and enter World War II. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Outlaws and Doctors

Photo by Patrick Doan

 My family, which came to America during 1629, has a checkered history. Yesterday my son Patrick visited the grave of a long dead Revolutionary War relative and it reopened a chapter in our family's history that we probably should forget, but it is incredibly interesting and at times confusing. 

The site of Levi Doan's resting place, along with his cousin Abraham, is just outside of a Quaker Cemetery near Doylestown, PA. They were part of the Doan Gang, a group of five brothers and one cousin who supported the British during the Revolution by spying on the American forces and stealing horses to support the Redcoats. But they were very complicated. The stories make them sound like a cross between Robin Hood and common thieves. 

The following story, from the referenced history of the gang, shows how the Doan's were more than common thieves and murderers:

A young mother whose husband was with Washington at Valley Forge could not obtain a travelling pass from the British in order to buy food for her children. Despite repeated petitions to the British leaders, the pass was not forthcoming. Spurned on by the cries of her hungry children, she finally set out for the mills along a series of back roads that would keep her from the sight of the British sentinels. The woman was so exhausted from hunger and the long journey that she was near death the following day when she endeavored to return home. Burdened by her sack of flour, she struggled along the road, periodically dragging her cargo through the woods to skirt the British guards along the way. Suddenly she was stopped by a man. She immediately assumed from previous descriptions that he was one of the Doans. She told him of her husband at Valley Forge and her hungry children and the stranger, Moses Doan, gave her his purse with all the money he had in it. He then warned her of another sentinel just ahead on the road and disappeared before she could thank him. She pressed on and was almost home when a British guard challenged her and demanded a pass. When she could not produce it, he demanded her sack of flour which the woman, weak from her journey, gave up meekly. At that moment Moses Doan appeared from the woods. She knew it was Moses by his clothing but his demeanor was quite different from the man she had met only minutes before. He shambled over to the soldier like an old man and asked that he return the woman's flour, even offering twice its value in gold. When the guard refused and then threatened to arrest Moses, he seized him by the throat and told the woman to grab her flour and run. As soon as she was safely away, Moses drew a pistol and shot the guard in the head. Instantly, the alarm went up from the guard house and along the line of pickets. Moses escaped into the woods where he found his horse and rode for the safety of the river. Before he was to finally escape he would shoot another guard and kill a British officer who was in the lead barge pursuing him across the Delaware. Having failed to capture him, the British soldiers later attributed his escape to supernatural reasons which served to further escalate the legend of Moses Doan.

-- The Doan Outlaws of Bucks County:The Life and Times of the Plumstead Cowboys, by Peter Mulcahy

Sometimes as we search for family history, we find more than really want to know. I was encouraged, however, since the Doan's who settled in Buck's County, PA, were from Israel's side of the family. My branch is from his brother Daniel who became a respected Doctor in the Barnstable, Massachusetts, area near where the family came to America. Daniel married Constance (Hopkins) Snow whose mother, Constance Hopkins, came to America aboard the Mayflower. Yes, they were both named Constance.

So wet are not all outlaws! Just a few of us!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Discovering History in my House

Junghans Ships Clock
M/V Usarmao on Reverse

 I have clocks. Many sizes and kinds from small alarm clocks to towering grandfather clocks. And wall clocks. While stationed in Germany with the Air Force, Chris and I began collecting clocks and I learned how to repair them. So we would buy non-functional clocks and I would make them run again. At one point I though it would be a good second career, but that urge has passed. 

One of the clocks in my collection is a ships clock made by Junghans--a solid German clockmaker to this very day. The clock measured about 7 inches across the case. Oh yes, the clock works.

I never though too much about the clock or if it had ever been on a particular vessel until the other day when Patrick and I were talking. He asked if I knew what ship the clock may have been associated with. I remembered there was some almost unintelligible writing on the back of the clock and we turned it over to find M/V Usarmao written on the back. I remember looking at the back when I bought the clock and Have to admit I was not familiar with the designation M/V (not being a sailor) and thought it was someone's signature or the name of the owner. 

SS Usarmao
In Dar es Salaam
Date unknown

Now, however, many decades later I recognize the M/V as either Motor Vessel or Merchant Vessel. So, of course, we immediately checked the internet and discovered that the M/V Usarmao has a history as a passenger and cargo ship and was last operated by the German Navy before being scuttled in 1944. The ship was built in 1920. The website has some interesting history of the vessel and the location of the wreck.

The website reports:

Passenger ship requisitioned by the German Navy to base crews and supplies. 12/09/1940: Sunk by Allied aerial bombing in the port of Bordeaux. Then handed afloat. 25/08/1944: Scuttled by her crew in Lagrange, Gironde (France) Read more at wrecksite: https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?2083

Fascinating. I have this piece of history connected to a ship that was part of WWII action.

OK, now for the disclaimer. 

I have no idea if the clock is genuinely from the M/V Usarmao. All I know is that the name, for some reason, is written on the back of the clock. I do not remember where Chris and I purchased the clock, it was likely from a flea market in Germany. No mention at the time of purchase connected the clock to a ship. Although my German is pretty poor and even if the seller mentioned the history of the clock, I did not understand it. 

So, I will live with the illusion that the clock is in fact from the ship. There is a serial number on the clock which may provide a definitive clue, should I wish to pursue it. 

History in my house! Wow!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

75 Years Ago Today

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park
Wikipedia

Seventy-five years ago today at 8:15 AM local time in Japan, the first atomic weapon to be used during conflict detonated above the city of Hiroshima, Japan. 

On this day seventy-five years ago, the United States became the first, and thankfully so far, the only country to use these most powerful weapons that mankind has been able to produce. It devastated the city of Hiroshima and three days later the second atomic weapon devastated Nagasaki, Japan. Many of us know even the names of the weapons that caused the widespread devastation and destruction-- Little Boy and Fat Man. 

In remarks at the ceremony, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan delivered a cautious statement in which he vowed to gradually work toward the elimination of nuclear weapons.

“As the only country to have experienced nuclear devastation in the world, this is our unchanging mission to step by step and steadily advance the efforts by the international community for a world free from nuclear weapons,” he said. He added that nuclear and non-nuclear states should pursue “common ground” to address severe security challenges.

(Hiroshima 75th Anniversary: Preserving Survivors’ Message of Peace - The New York Times, August 6, 2020)

We should remember the devastation of these two bombs and continue to work to ensure the world can be free from the threat of the use of nuclear weapons. The explosion in Beirut yesterday, reminds me that devastation of our society and planet is always close at hand as long as nuclear weapons continue to proliferate. According to one article, the explosion in Beirut yesterday measured 2.75 kilotons. The bomb dropped on Hiroshima was estimated to be between 12 and 15 kilotons. 

Take a moment on this anniversary of the devastation of Hiroshima and pray for peace. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Encouragement from the Past

I watched movie set during WW2 the other day, no it was not Patton. 

Churchill studies reports of the action that day
with Vice Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay,
28 August 1940, © IWM (H 3508)

I was, however, reminded of the dire circumstances being faced by the British, especially after Dunkirk, and I recalled a very famous speech made by Winston Churchill to demonstrate the resolve of the British people in the face of Hitler's armies. So I went and found a transcript to read.

It was an inspiring address--but it was the last paragraph which spoke to me. As I hunker down now, alone but yet still inextricably entwined with my community I felt a sense of encouragement in reading the words and changing, in my mind, references to the Germans to COVID-19. And even the very last sentence apparently still rings true given what is happening with COVID-19 across Europe.

Winston Churchill's complete address delivered on June 4, 1940,  to the House of Commons, titled We Shall Fight on the Beaches is at the link.

I have, myself, full confidence that if all do their duty, if nothing is neglected, and if the best arrangements are made, as they are being made, we shall prove ourselves once again able to defend our Island home, to ride out the storm of war, and to outlive the menace of tyranny, if necessary for years, if necessary alone. At any rate, that is what we are going to try to do. That is the resolve of His Majesty’s Government-every man of them. That is the will of Parliament and the nation. The British Empire and the French Republic, linked together in their cause and in their need, will defend to the death their native soil, aiding each other like good comrades to the utmost of their strength. Even though large tracts of Europe and many old and famous States have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Gestapo and all the odious apparatus of Nazi rule, we shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this Island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God’s good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old. 

I highlighted a couple of really important points that the Prime Minister made.

We must each do our part and we must also consider how the actions we take today could affect ourselves or others tomorrow or in two weeks.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Return to the Flagler Museum

Christmas Tree in the Main Room
Flagler Museum
Palm Beach, Florida
November 13, 2019

I do enjoy good museums and the Flagler Museum in Palm Beach is a good museum. It provides a detailed look into the Gilded Age and how the very upper crust of American Society lived. 

Christmas Tree in the Drawing Room
Flagler Museum
Palm Beach, Florida
November 13, 2019

Unlike when Chris and I visited during out last trip here, the museum is now decorated for Christmas. That surprised me a bit when I first entered, but then upon reflecting a bit, it made sense. The decorations were not lighted--that happens after Thanksgiving. 

It was nice to tour the museum again after seeing it only a few months earlier. I was able to go deeper into some of the exhibits and gain a better appreciation for Henry Flagler and how he created modern Florida in his vision. The key was building a railroad to connect the villages of St Augustine, Palm Beach, and Miami. He then built the Overseas Railroad to connect Key West to the mainland. It was an extension of the Florida East Coast Railway. 

As it rained during most of the day which precluded going to the beach, visiting the museum was a great way to spend time and gain a better appreciation of history as well. 

I recommend visiting the Flagler Museum. It is a must do when in the West Palm Beach/Palm Beach area.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Santa Maria

2018 Replica of the Santa Maria
Baltimore Inner Harbor
November 2, 2019

It was sitting the Baltimore Harbor last night and I recognized her as soon as I saw her tied to the pier. 

2018 Replica of the Santa Maria
Baltimore Inner Harbor
November 2, 2019

It was the full scale 2018 replica of the Santa Maria, Columbus's flagship of the squadron that with the Nina, Pinta are famous for carrying the discoverer to the "New World."

Discovering history through the replicas is a fantastic thing. The Santa Maria is only about 161 feet in length. That is roughly one tenth the length of Oasis of the Seas at 1186 feet. Oasis is a ship that Chris and I have had the pleasure of sailing upon a couple of years ago. The crew of the Santa Maria was estimated to be between 35-45 men. Who sailed across the Atlantic Ocean in a small wooden ship. 

Looking Down on the Main Deck
2018 Replica of the Santa Maria
Baltimore Inner Harbor
November 2, 2019

She is beautiful, however, The woodwork is amazing and the ship appears sturdy. It, of course, is a floating museum. It is important to understand the conditions that the crew faced on a daily basis. It was not a lot of fun to be a seaman during the late 1400's. Life was tough and perils were found everywhere.

Yet, the small ships and crews found their way around the world. 

I enjoyed coming aboard and exploring the portions of the ship that were open to the public. I was amused that the ship was sporting extensive Halloween decorations, some of which are evident in the images that took. 

It was an enjoyable time delving into history. And after visiting the ship, Chris and I proceeded to enjoy the festivities adorning the Baltimore Inner Harbor for the remainder of the evening.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD