Thursday, July 18, 2019

Unexpected Adventure


Black skies this morning made today a chore day.  We packed up the laundry and took the truck 20 miles west to the city of Ashland, located at the edge of Chequamegon Bay.

Laundry done, we decided to drive further west to the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center for tourist information.

Inside we were very surprised at what we found.  After gathering a lot of useful information, we wandered around the beautifully done displays depicting the development of the Wisconsin lakes area from its formation by glaciers to the present.  Information was presented through movies in two different theaters, pictures, maps, print, static displays, and interactive displays,

including these puzzles, to make learning about about the area interesting and fun.

This fisherman was very realistic, with his bobber hitting the water with a splash.

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 The middle of the five-story observation tower housed the archives, and a display of watercolors by local artists.  Outside the tower is a panoramic view of the Bay area. 
Four displays invited viewers to compare four areas as they  looked when they  was  first settled and how they look now.  
Chequamegon Bay now,

and in 1890 when the Ashland was built.

Audio and printed information invited the viewer to compare the past with the present.

Along the tower walls  are two huge "community of life"  murals depicting plants,animals, people and occupations that shaped the area.

A visit to the gift shop netted a gift from Wisconsin (see Flying blog), but we delayed too long.  Outside we were greeted with a heavy downpour.

We sat on the wide porch and watched the world turn gray.

Ten minutes later everything was back to green.

A stop for lunch and a bit of shopping and we were on our way home.

Hoping for a bike ride tomorrow,

Louise and Duane

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