Our first stop was the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, just off 131 on Pearl St. Mr. Fords Presidential Library is 130 miles east in Ann Arbor on the University Campus, but the museum is here in Grand Rapids, the home district of Representative Ford, and his favorite town.
It's a beautiful campus, showcasing the accidental presidency of Mr. Ford. The grounds are also part of the greater Grand Rapids community, and as such is a venue for ArtPrize which is a weeklong event showcasing the work of local artists of all types. ArtPrize started today, and several works were already on display, with more being set up as we walked through the grounds.
I know about all metal bicycles, but all metal riders?
Turns out the artist of these whimsical canine door stops contributes all her earnings to the local animal shelter. Good job!
The sailboats are carved from marble and appear to float in the pool. Closer inspection revealed a clear plastic base just under the water line! Neat trick!
The museum has some extraordinary artifacts, including the listening devices used in the Watergate breakin of 1972.
Pretty crude by today's standards, but it was enough to cause a constitutional crisis in the country!
President Fords early years are detailed in a series of exhibits that showed that his parents guiding principles: tell the truth, work hard, come to dinner on time, guided him throughout his life.
Mr. Ford studied law and joined a firm in Grand Rapids. Soon after, WWII called, and Mr. Ford joined the Navy, serving aboard ship during 10 battles in the South Pacific. On his return, politics tickled his fancy, and he ran against Mr. Jonkman for fifth district representative. He met a young Betty Bloomer Warren at a cocktail party during the campaign, and the rest is history!
In a nutshell, President Nixon was elected to the highest office in the land in 1968. Rumors began to surface during the last year of his first term of improprieties during the campaign. Mr. Nixon was re-elected in 1972, and within two years, his vice president, Spiro Agnew was forced to resign as a result of admitting to taking bribes while a governor. Mr. Nixon, hoping to put a good face on a dismal situation, chose then Minority Speaker of the House Ford to be his vice president. Almost immediately, the Watergate situation began to come unraveled for Mr. Nixon, and his new vice president refused to support him. On August 9, 1974, the country came to the edge of a crisis.
President Fords administration immediately set about to eliminate the Watergate issue from national conversation by pardoning Mr. Nixon of all crimes, real or alleged. This caused a huge uproar, but almost immediately allowed President Ford to begin the healing process that he is remembered for.
World leaders were reassured at the smooth transition, and encouraged by the tone of the new president, and sent gifts of congratulation.
President Ford campaigned hard for a second term in 1976, but lost by two electoral votes to Mr. Carter.
To his credit, Mr. Carter, in his inauguration speech, gave credit to President Ford for his extraordinary service to his country, and his ability to reunite the country after a shameful chapter. The Fords retired to Palm Desert, California, to enjoy the warm weather and the warm friendship of close friends like Bob and Delores Hope. Winter vacations to Vail, Colorado brought the family together for a short time.
President Ford passed away on December 26, 2006. He will be missed as one of the last of the generation of politicians that believed that their work was for the benefit of the country, not their legacy.
In a quiet corner of the grounds of the museum, President and Mrs. Ford are buried with respect.
President Ford will be remembered by the Ford Class aircraft carriers that are due to replace the aging Nimitz Class starting in 2015.
Thank you, Mr. President.
The Bridgewater Place Building next to the museum grounds gave us an interesting view.
And the twofer?
Ninety miles east of Grand Rapids is the State Capitol of Michigan. Detroit was the location of the state's first capitol in 1847, then the "howling wilderness" of Lansing was chosen as the site of the second capitol building, a wooden structure that was inadequate from the start, but would not be replaced until after the Civil War. The third and current Capitol was dedicated in 1879, and was considered to be a modest structure with a final cost of $1.4 million.
The first floor under the rotunda, is made of 976 glass blocks, each about five-eights of an inch thick. The floor is 44.5 feet in diameter. This photo was taken from the third floor looking down.
And the rotunda, looking up.
The House of Representatives is an imposing room with lighted panels in the ceiling with the seals of all the 50 states inset. We found California about half way down the west side.
The senate chamber is a bit more subdued, as you might expect, but still has the various states seals in the lighted ceiling.
Architectural details abound in the building, including wall sconces made of wood and brass, with the original gas valves still intact, although not operational. The door hinges have the state seal cast into the bronze plate.
Back down on the first floor we got a close look at the "glass floor", and the optical illusion designed into the floor that makes the floor appear to sink to form a bowl.
The flags in the display cases are replicas of flags carried by over 90,000 volunteers from Michigan that fought for the Union during the Civil War.
And outside on the grounds we saw some of the trees beginning to show some of their fall colors!
I wish I could leave you with a picture of the largest tree on the grounds. An Eastern Catalpa tree is one of the biggest of its kind in the nation, and is certified by the American Forestry Association's Nation Registry of Big Trees. In 1992, it measured 107 feet tall, 85 feet across the crown, and more than 20 around the trunk. The tree was growing in Capitol Square when the Capitol was dedicated in 1879! Needless to say the camera took one look and gave up! I would have had to walk into the next block to get it all in the frame!
So ends our stay in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Tomorrow is yet another day in this extraordinary journey we call life, and we're anxious to see what it brings!
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