5.18.2013

Been Under the Weather


Member of our intrepid group started getting the four day flu in Washington DC. I thought I was going to escape this plague. But alas, I was the last one to get it.  Four days of feeling like I was run over by a Sherman Tank. Wilmington is du Pont territory. We are in Wilmington, DE. (39.63637, -75.63239) Yes, those du Pont's how made a fortune in gun powder.




This is our last day here and I finally feel good enough to visit the du Pont estate, Winterthur.


Winterthur was home to three generations of du Ponts' from 1837 to 1951, when it was converted into a museum. Henry Francis du Pont, the last du Pont to call Vinterthur hoome, was an avid collector of American furniture which fill the 175 rooms.

Guest suite


The gentleman's bedroom was connected to his ladies' bedroom by a bathroom

 My ladies' room



Breakfast was served in your room on china that matched the color of your room's decor


Another guest suite down the hall




When Henry planned the diner, he first asked for samples of flowers in bloom on the estate. Then selected the place settings to complement the table's floral arraignment.


After diner the guest might retire this oriental theme room to socialize. We were told that Henry, an avid horticulturist, would have numerous flower arraignments through out the home


He never mixed flowers in an arraignment



By the stairs, a night cap and snack for the guests turning in.



The Grounds


They have a small car show each weekend. This 1927 Rolls-Royce Phantom I would have been right at home back in the day.


family plunge





East Terrace

Henry took great joy in landscaping his 1000 acre estate (39.80617, -75.60068) . Areas were planted so that the plants all bloomed at the same time. Plants bloom year round. 

Henry was very proud of his Peony garden






The grounds are spectacular 





5.08.2013

The Smithsonian

Here is smattering of the wonderful things that you can experience at the Smithsonian


A few of the dozens of meteorites on display

Overheard a middle school student on a field trip say "hey, this is not a race, let read some of this stuff"


A terrific exhibit on plate tectonics with many hands on displays.

Sandstone showing leisegang weathering created by water carrying dissolved iron along two perpendicular sets of cracks percolated into the rock, forming iron oxide minerals that cemented the grains which then resisted weathering.


Calcite

Hubnerite with quartz


Malacite


Gold


Tourmaline

Topaz

Fluorite
Some bling for the ladies




The Evolution of Man Exhibit






The Air and Space Museum

DC-3 in the center. I have flown on one.


Air travel back in the day when you dressed up to take a plane

DC-7 cockpit mid 50s


Airbus A320 cockpit, present day

In 1977 the Gossamer Condor was the first human powered aircraft, winning the Kremer Prize. (video)


The Spirit of St. Louis that Lindbergh few across the Atlantic. The space between the door to the cockpit and the engine is a gas tank. There was no windshield for Lindbergh to look forward out of the plane


This photo shows it all. The Spirit of St. Louis, first plane to fly across the Atlantic. The Bell X-1 , first plane to break the sound barrier and SpaceShipOne, first private manned space flight. 


First powered flight, 1903, sixty six years later man walks on the moon.