Continuing On With Places To Visit This Summer With All The "M" States

Road trip!

There are many great places to visit in the United States....however my goal here is to give you ideas of places to visit that you might not normally think about visiting.

Maine - Portland Head Light

Not many of us get to see a light house from afar let alone actually go visit one. So why not take the opportunity while you can!

After 74 merchants petitioned the Massachusetts government (Maine was part of Massachusetts) wanting a light house at Portland Head to mark the entrance to Portland harbor in Cape Elizabeth's northeast coast. After 2 people died in a shipwreck in 1787, near Portland Head at Cushing Island, known back then as Bags Island, the government appropriated $750 (which would equal $16,587.17 in 2016) to build a light house. Construction was delayed for a short time as they ran out of money. In 1790 the government allotted and additional $1500 just over 2x's the original amount given, ($37,818.74 = 2016) for its completion. Shortly after being completed, it was America's 6th busiest port.

Besides being on the 18¢ stamp in 1981, Portland Head Light would be a great place to visit and learn about it's history. It is open from June through October from sunup til sundown.

Maryland - Historic Ships in Baltimore

Young or old who wouldn't want a chance to step a board an historic battle ship? At Maryland's Historic Ships - located in Baltimore, you can do just that.

For instance you can tour the U.S.S Torsk towards the end of Pier 3. This ship patrolled two wars on Japans waters sinking two ships. The U.S.S. Torsk served in WWII, and the Vietnam War. This ship also hunted hurricanes and also drug bust....including the largest marijuana bust in history in 1985 with 160 tons of marijuana! The U.S.S. served 24 years with the U.S Navy.

Each ship has it's own history but I don't want to tell you everything!

They do have limited accessibility and not all ships are open at the time time. It is best to call a head or check their website for more information.

Massachusetts - Old Sturbridge Village

Old Sturbridge Village brings you back to how life was in the 1800's. OSV is one of Massachusetts most popular tourist attractions. It has many activities for kids that are hands on. You will see a real working farm as it would be back then. Also there are two working mills using water power. It is what is called a "living museum". There are shops and dinning and even lodging right there. They also do weddings! Another great place to bring the kids to learn of our history.

Michigan - Fisher Building

Built by the Fisher brothers over 88 years ago, the Fisher Building is Detroit's largest "art object". A masterpiece by renowned architect Albert Khan.

It was is beautifully crafted in design with gold leaf mosaics, of which three of them are from Gezo Marati fancy marbles from all over the world, brass and bronze and painted ceilings that practically reach the sky.

Inside there is the famous Fisher Theater and a lot of shops, restaurants, banks, offices and other services. The National Park Service is quoted as saying "a superbly designed complex which displays some of the finest craftsmanship in any Art Deco style building constructed in the U.S. in the 1920s."

In 2006-2007 it was awarded the BOMA TOBY then again in 2009-2010.

The central tower is 28 stories high and the two sides are 11 stories tall. Fred Fisher the eldest brother broke dirt on Aug. 22, 1927 and it took only 15 months to complete. It has 1.13 million square feet of floor area.

There is even an underground tunnel that connects the Fisher Building, General Motors and New Center. Many of the storefronts that lined these tunnels are no longer open. They made these tunnels to make it easier for New Center workers to get to each building in the winter time.

Minnesota - Twin Cities River Rats Water Ski Show Team

The River Rats is a non-profit organization with over 100 members. With four power boats, docks, trailers, ski's and a whole bunch of other equipment needed for their shows, every Thursday evening in the Summer they perform their show. All their equipment is taken care of by volunteers.

A lot of their shows are themed based. Recently they did a Mario Bros. theme. They have also done a Saturday Night Live, Survivor and Fantasy Island themes.

The River Rats Water Ski Show always ends with a 24 person, 4 tier pyramid. A great family event and best of all, its FREE!

Mississippi - Riley Center

In the late 1800's, half brothers I. Marks and Levi Rothenberg built the Grand Opera House and the Marks Rothenberg department store.

A lot of people think that only operas are held in in the theater. When in fact it would host silent movies, minstrel shows, vaudeville as well.

To be called Grand Opera House it had to meet certain structural criteria.

Like many other opera houses of that day it was affected when movie theaters moved in. It closed it's doors in 1927. Being closed for decades and untouched, it made restoring it to its original state pretty easy. Including the lambrequin hanging over the stage.

With the stipulation that the Mississippi State University own and operate the center, the Riley Foundation contributed $10 million to restore the buildings. Other donations were made by other agencies totaling $25 million. The center opened in September 2006.

What a great place to visit!

Missouri - Giant Book Shelf

What once was a country town, Kansas City giant step into a metropolis can give thanks in part to the Giant Book Shelf!

In 1873, this was once the Public School Library holding only a set of American Encyclopedias placed on bookcase made of oak. They are still there!

With in 10 years the library out grew its home on 8th and Oak Street. It didn't move too far. It found it's new home on 9th and Locust, which opened it's doors in 1897. In only 2 days of being opened, almost 20,000 people visited the library in it's new location.

In 1898 the library became open to the public and free.

In 1901 William Rockhill gave the library a collection of pictures from the Western Gallery of Art.

The library grew again after just over 50 years. It moved to what was considered a "space age" building in 1960. In 1999 plans were in the making to move the library again. After raising almost $50 million the library opened it's new doors in 2004. It is state-of-the-art just about everything!

A great place to visit with or with out the kids!

It looks like you can pick a book right off the shelf from the outside!

Montana - The World Museum of Mining

There are many beautiful places to visit in Montana, but my goal here is to give you ideas of places to visit that you might not normally think about visiting. For instance......The World Museum of Mining in Butte, Montana.

For about 100 years Butte mining had the reputation of being one of the world's most productive copper mines ever. Also once known as the copper capital of the U.S.. The museum is one of only a few that are located on an actual mine yard.

Here you will get a little feel of just how hard a miners life was. There are 50 exhibit buildings. They also have more than 1,300 mineral specimens including a 27.5 oz gold nugget and a 400 lb quartz crystal.

If you are the type that likes to visit museums......you might want to add this one to your list.