We have discovered that various insects must love the wheat fields. To prove it, just look at our windshield. Our reason for coming to Abilene was to visit the Dwight Eisenhower Presidential Library. This is a little different from some other presidential libraries in that it is a complex over several acres and consisting of several buildings and monuments. The Old Boyhood Home is original and in the same place (not been moved). It is a small house, about 600 sqft on each of two floors. The six brothers slept on the second floor – 3 to one room, 2 to another, and one a little bit bigger than a closet for the oldest son. The family was poor, and the only way Dwight could get a college education was to go to a service academy. He wanted to go to the Naval Academy at Annapolis, but couldn’t get in and had to settle for West Point. (another WWII hero, Admiral Nimitz, wanted to go to West Point, but settled for Annapolis. Worked out kinda well, don’t you think!) The actual library building housed all the presidential papers and is used mainly for research. The main focus for tourists is the museum. As it is with museums, there is way too much to read in a short time. All interesting and relevant, but too much. Of course there are some displays and interactive features. There is much to cover, from early years, military service in WWII, and the Presidency. Didn’t take any pictures in there, but here is looking in from the entrance. In another ‘chapel’ building on the grounds, President and Mrs. Eisenhower (Mamie) are buried. And finally, at the end of the grounds, overlooking the whole thing, is the great man himself. So, at the end of a long day spent mostly on our feet, we checked into a nearby campground and finally relaxed. Until noon the next day. The morning was spent on chores like scrubbing the bugs off the front of the RV. Preparing to leave, something unheard of happened. Mary Lou volunteered to drive!! Invited and declined many times, this time she knew getting through small town Abilene and heading east to Topeka on I-70 would be straight and uncrowded. She did well. White knuckles? We hadn’t picked Topeka as a destination, but we were heading east anyway and ML had discovered the Great Overland Station, which is the grand old train station built in 1927. Topeka is a prominent railroad hub for several rail lines. Oldsters among you may remember the song ‘Atchison, Topeka, and the Santa Fe. The station is no longer an active train stop, but over 125 trains go by each day. Upon entering the station in what was the baggage area on the left, there is a huge model city with trains (gauge 10, I think) circling the ‘city’. Check out the detail of the buildings and other features. Rail travel back in those days can be described in one word – elegant. For people of means, anyway. Train cars and stations were elegantly appointed, and dining was on white linen with fine china. Below is the main waiting room, minus the benches, and is now available for weddings and other functions. Different patterns of china were used in different areas and on different trains. Railroads often sponsored hotels at stops along their line. Across the street from the station is the Veteran’s Memorial. The large spiral scupture actually turns a bit, by the wind I guess. Well, lets see. We left Abilene around noon, toured the train station in Topeka, and will spend the night in Independence, Missouri. Stay tuned. Here's a map of our route to Toledo. (Not particularly interesting). View Midwest route 1 in a larger map
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Who are We?Chuck and Mary Lou have been traveling Trip Reports
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