The Henry Gun Factory, near Nazareth PA, manufactured flintlock and percussion-cap rifles for sporting, trade, and the local militias, from before the War of 1812 to after the Civil War. Here are some photos from a visit to the Pennsylvania Long Rifle Museum, on the grounds of the Henry Gun Factory. Inside the museum The process … More The Henry Gun Factory

In 1777, the British forces captured Philadelphia, forcing the evacuation of the Continental Congress. To prevent the British from also capturing the Liberty Bell (and probably melting it down into bronze cannons), the colonials loaded it onto a wagon driven by militiaman John Jacob Mickley and took it to Allentown PA. Just before reaching their destination, … More Liberty Bell Shrine, Allentown PA

The Lehigh Valley contains the cities of Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton. When I was a kid growing up here, this was a booming area of steel mills and cement kilns. Now, it is an economic dead zone. I’m only here a short time, to visit my sis and get the annual inspections for the van … More Greetings From the Lehigh Valley PA

The Wright Brothers National Memorial, at Kitty Hawk NC, is the site of the first powered airplane flight in 1903. For a fan of aviation history, this is holy ground. Here are some photos from a visit. Kill Devil Hill. In 1901 and 1902, the Wright brothers launched a series of unpowered gliders from this … More Wright Brothers National Memorial, Kitty Hawk NC

The State Capitol Building in Raleigh NC contains a small museum with some historical rooms and artifacts. Here are some photos from a visit. The state capitol The Civil War memorial. They lost, ya know. George Washington statue in the rotunda The rotunda dome The historic Senate chamber The House Chamber The state library The … More State Capitol Museum

The Museum of Natural Science is in Raleigh NC. It is very large and very nice, with two buildings of displays. Here are some photos from a visit. A collection of whale skeletons Herpetological specimens   Carnivorous plants Snapping Turtle Acrocanthrosaurus Giant Ground Sloth Giant Cave Cockroaches A nymph molting into an adult Timber Rattlesnake … More North Carolina Museum of Natural Science

The Videri Chocolate Factory is a small shop in Raleigh NC which specializes in dark chocolates. All the chocolate is made on site. Here are some photos from a visit. Cacao pod and raw beans. The Sorting Room. The beans are divided by size and type. Winnowing. The cacao seeds are crushed and the hulls … More The Videri Chocolate Factory

The Duke Botanical Garden, on the campus of Duke University in Raleigh NC, has hundreds of different plants on display. Here are some photos from a visit.

The Duke University Lemur Center, located near campus, keeps colonies of several different species of Madagascar Lemurs as study subjects. Lemurs are primitive primates, found only in Madagascar, all of which are All of the research is non-invasive, and centers around social interactions, physiological activities such as scent-marking, diet, and sensory acuity. There is also a captive-breeding … More The Duke University Lemur Center

The North Carolina State Museum of History is located in Raleigh. It has a very nice collection of historic artifacts and exhibits on three floors of museum space. Here are some photos from a visit. Replica of the Wright Brothers 1902 glider, in the museum atrium Items traded to North Carolina native tribes A British … More North Carolina State Museum of History