October 2, 2013
October 2, 2013
Today we continue our long drive home. We stopped at the travel center on the Texas border. The Texas versions are usually very nice. This one not only has free Internet but a boardwalk over the swamp with lots of storyboards.
In Beaumont, we stop for a visit to the Texas Energy Museum. It is well done. It has a little bit on how oil-bearing formations are made from decaying algae, a bit on the technology of drilling, and lots on the refinery process. Surprisingly it has a rather lengthy but interesting summary of US history, especially as it relates to our energy usage. For far longer than I realized, wood was a major power source. The Beaumont area became famous when the gusher well called Spindletop was drilled here in 1901.
Outside town, off the highway is an enormous 67-foot white plaster statue of this famous resident. Before we can walk out to see it, we have to dodge a very friendly and talkative volunteer. The statue is pretty cool. Aimee notices a couple sayings of his that she really likes. “Govern wisely, and as little as possible”. She is turning into quite the Tea Partier.
Today we continue our long drive home. We stopped at the travel center on the Texas border. The Texas versions are usually very nice. This one not only has free Internet but a boardwalk over the swamp with lots of storyboards.
In Beaumont, we stop for a visit to the Texas Energy Museum. It is well done. It has a little bit on how oil-bearing formations are made from decaying algae, a bit on the technology of drilling, and lots on the refinery process. Surprisingly it has a rather lengthy but interesting summary of US history, especially as it relates to our energy usage. For far longer than I realized, wood was a major power source. The Beaumont area became famous when the gusher well called Spindletop was drilled here in 1901.
From Beaumont, we head northwest to Huntsville, TX. This is the former home of Texas’ most famous President and governor, Sam Houston. Interestingly he also had been a governor of Tennessee and accompanied Jackson at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. He was the general who defeated Santa Ana at the Battle of San Jacinto. We are too late to do his museum justice, so we instead do a quick look around his homes, which were all brought to this memorial park. He died in the last one in 1863.
Outside town, off the highway is an enormous 67-foot white plaster statue of this famous resident. Before we can walk out to see it, we have to dodge a very friendly and talkative volunteer. The statue is pretty cool. Aimee notices a couple sayings of his that she really likes. “Govern wisely, and as little as possible”. She is turning into quite the Tea Partier.
We spend the night at the nearby Huntsville State Park.
posted by Mike and Aimee at 10:25 AM
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