SUTTON Travels: American History

Showing posts with label American History. Show all posts

30 May 2022

Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial England UK

I was honoured to visit Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial with my cousin's husband, John McClaran who served with the US Air Force.

Inside, we followed the story of the American forces in England during World War II.

Outside is a stunning and sobering memorial to those who died.

On the right is a wall with 5,127 names of those who are missing. Most of these died in the Battle of the Atlantic or bombing raids over Europe.

On the left are the remains of 3,811 Americans who died during the war.

Thank you America.

A chapel offers a chance to reflect and remember their sacrifice.

About the Cemetery and Memorial

Land: Donated 30.5 acres to the United States by the University of Cambridge

Dedication: 1956

Addition: 4,000 square-foot visitor center, May 2014

Address

Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial

Madingley Road

Coton CB23 7PH

Cambridge, UK

Tel +44 1954 210 350

Learn more

website: https://www.abmc.gov/Cambridge#cemetery-info-anchor

App information

Visiting notes

Open daily

Free entry

About 1 hour from London by train to Cambridge

Bus service to the cemetery

Visiting the city of Cambridge

YouTube Video

LINKS

Places to visit in the UK

World War II Remembered

World War II Memorial, Washington DC

American Memorial, Meuse, France

Chateau-Thierry American Monument, France

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20 April 2022

National Memorial Oklahoma City

I visited the memorial to those whose lives were changed on 19 April 1995 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

The full name is Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum.

The map shows the layout of the memorial.

Outside, there are flowers on the wall on March 31, 2022.

The empty chairs honor the 168 people who died. The smaller chairs are for the children.

The reflecting pool is a focal point.

Following is a video of the memorial.

Here is a map link to the Memorial and Museum

The address:

620 N. Harvey Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73102

The people who died are remembered on the museum website.

A quote from the museum

We come here to remember those who were killed, those who survived and those changed forever. May all who leave here know the impact of violence. May this memorial offer comfort, strength, peace, hope and serenity.®

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19 April 2022

LIttle Rock Nine Arkansas

In the last few years, I've been reading more about the African experience in the United States. One book, Elizabeth and Hazel: Two Women of Little Rock, spurred my interest in visiting Little Rock, Arkansas.

First, I stopped at the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site.

It's a small museum across the road from the attractive campus of Central High School where students still attend.

The museum contains storyboards, which tell the story of America's segregated schools.

In 1954, the U S Supreme Court in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, ruled that racial segregation was unconstitutional.

In 1957, nine Black students prepared to enter Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. But they were barred by the Arkansas National Guard.

The black students faced fierce opposition from the crowd. The classic photo reveals a sea of hostile and otherwise unfriendly white faces.

These black students stayed away from school until federal troops could safely escort them into the High School.

*******

Next, I went to the capitol building to locate the sculpture, Testament. It is a powerful image of the Little Rock Nine attempting to go to school. They face the capitol building, a symbol of government opposition to desegregation in many states.

See the short video of this visit.

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Government website link

Google Map Link to the National Historic Site

01 February 2022

Cherokee National History Museum Tahlequah Oklahoma

We drove the backroads over the hills and streams of the old Indian Territory, which became Cherokee Nation after the removal in the 1830s.

The Cherokee National Museum is located in a brick building in Cherokee Nation, Tahlequah, Oklahoma.

I did not realize that Cherokee Nation is the largest tribe in the United States. In 2022, the website noted 370,000 citizens--they are not just in this part of the US.

Where did they come from? As we climbed the stairs from the main floor, we saw this large display telling their origin story. Early Cherokees came to the land known as the United States.

As you enter the building, you see Sequoyah--a man honored for his written syllabary of the Cherokee language, which preserved their stories and their language for future generations. The language is supported on the internet and social media platforms.

Back to the history. On the second floor, storyboards tell the history of Cherokee Nation in chronological order.

The loss of lands in the Eastern US and the forced removal to Indian Territory mostly occurred in the 1830s following the Indian Removal Act of 1830. Several storyboards cover this heart-wrenching story. So many died and all lost their family houses and lands and their long connection to their ancestral home.

Christian missionaries were a part of Cherokee history and some traveled with those on the removal--known as the Trail of Tears.

A painting captures a grand council meeting.

There's a lot more to read so you may as well visit the museum or buy a book about Cherokee Nation. A few weeks ago, we watched a documentary on the Trail of Tears. The Trail of Tears is also available as a book.

We marveled at their survival and cheer their promising future.

Notes

In 2022, admission was free

There are interactive exhibits

There are restrooms and a gift shop

Google Map to the Museum

Link to the timeline

Link to Cherokee Nation

Learn more

Books about Cherokee Nation

Videos about Cherokee Nation

Black Wall Street, Greenwood District Tulsa Oklahoma

Black Wall Street is the name given to the prosperous community of African Americans in the Greenwood District of Tulsa, Oklahoma in the early 1900s. There were stores, theaters, restaurants, and the offices of professionals--lawyers, doctors, dentists.

The wall mural pictured above, reflects the past.

Today, as my wife and I walked along the sidewalk, we read signs telling us of the horrific destruction of so many people who lived here along with the buildings where they lived and worked.

The sign below refers to the 1921 massacre.

White terrorists attacked.
At least 36 Black people were killed.
And 36 city blocks were destroyed--
10,000 Black Americans were displaced.

The 1921 Tulsa Massacre was the worst race massacre in American history.

Signs embedded in the sidewalk preserve the identity of people and businesses.

There's an AME church where people worship. The church history dates to 1905 and it is the only building that survived the 1921 assault. The current building site was purchased in 1908. It was rebuilt following the massacre. And, it is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Near the church, another artist reminds us of the 1921 horror.

Nowadays, there are restaurants, shops, and businesses in the area. And you can visit a museum.

Learn more

Greenwood Cultural Center

Link to Google Street View

Related books

15 December 2021

Imperial War Museum-North Manchester England, UK

The Imperial War Museum-North is in Manchester England. The museum focuses on telling the story of Britain at war since the First World War.

The storyboards, photos, and objects are organised in a timeline. The museum uses more than 2,000 objects, photos and interactive displays to reveal the history and impact of war.

Large objects like the following fill spaces between large pods focused on specific topics.

A letter of welcome to Americans expresses gratitude.

Cultural events mix with war news as in this 1918 poster.

This contact sea mine is a reminder of the war surrounding the UK.

The legacy of war has many dimensions. The tower of luggage reminds us of the homeless, refugees, and immigrants.

There's a café and gift shop with some unique items.

Periodically during my visit, a special 360 presentation was announced. This takes place in a large open area where the walls of the pods serve as giant screens. Some seats are better than other to follow the action or read the captions.

As with many museums, the lighting causes a glare for items under glass and is sometimes too dim to read posted texts.

Some notable items