TOUR AMERICA 2022, INTERNATIONAL PEACE GARDENS, DUNSEITH, ND

Sunday, June 19, 2022

Temperature 90 Degrees, Abundant Sunshine, Clear Sky, No Wind

Foursome – Isaac, Shelia, Barbara, Myself -Sightseeing

What attractions we wondered could there be in this region to see? Could it be that the Gardens were the main and only attraction? Well, we turned to the executive secretary and trip wizard in the Republic of Newmar – meaning Ms. Barbara to answer that question. The following is the result of her internet sleuthing and our travels over the past several days.

Our first trip was to the town of Rugby in which we found the following attractions.

First up is the Geographical Center Monument. The story behind this is this: in 1931 an employee at the U.S. Geodetic Survey Office placed a cardboard cutout of the US, Canada, and Mexico on the tip of a pencil. The point where it evenly balanced was here in Rugby. It was thus determined that Rugby, in a loose sense, was the geographic center of North America! Rugby was delighted. With help from the Boy Scouts and other volunteers a year later they erected a 21 foot tall pyramid shaped fieldstone monument to donate Rugby’s Geographical distinction. American mappers have, from time to time, protested that they haven’t established the geographical center anywhere, but Rugby is having none of it. The center has to be somewhere so why not Rugby. Thousands of visitors now come each year to snap photos of themselves at North American’s Geographical Center.

This is the native America Writing Rock. The rock is said to have been inscribed by early Native Americans. It is inscribed with the imprints of a human hand, an owl, bear paws and more.

This is the Northern Lights Tower. It is an 88 1/2 foot tall steel structure dedicated to the spectacular Aurora Borealis.

The Niewoehner Bell Tower. There are about four tons of bells in the steel bell tower. The two largest bells at the top are 40 inches in diameter and weight about 1,300 pounds each. There is also a 36-inch bell, two 34-inch bells, a 30-inch bell, a 26-inch bell, and a 24-inch bell.

Our final stop in Rugby was at Prairie Village Museum. We toured 20 historic buildings and six exhibit halls filled with antique cars, farm machinery and thousands of household, trade and personal items.

Our next stop was in Bottineau where we found Tommy the Turtle guarding the town’s tennis courts. Tommy is 30 feet tall, weighs 3 tons and sits on a snowmobile that is 34 feet long. The artist who created him wishing to economize on his construction only used six colors of paint on Tommy – yellow, black, white, green, brown, red and silver. Through the cold of winter and the heat of summer Tommy survives and continues to stand tall.

One day we went for home made ice cream at Pride Dairies. Oh man, that was some delicious ice cream.

Continuing

Also on the list of must see attractions in this region.

This is a solar calendar that marks the end of a season and the beginning of another. A solar calendar gives us our seasons and year.

Winter Solstice marks the beginning of Winter

Vernal Equinox marks the beginning of Spring

Summer Solstice marks the beginning of Summer

Autumnal Equinox marks the beginning of Fall

Not sure yet how exactly it works but I’m going to try and find out.

Finally,

for Father’s Day we decided to go out to eat at a local pub that had good reviews. We were not disappointed for the food was first class.

Well, our time here has now come to an end. The four of us have had a great time together. Indeed, its not the attractions but family and friends that makes life so worthwhile. And I can think of no better friends than Isaac and Shelia. Parting will be sweet sorrow come tomorrow. We’ll not say goodbye but rather till we meet again.

Time to go there is packing to do and odds and ends to attend to. Have a good evening, sleep tight. Till tomorrow.

Thanks again for spending some time with us.  It’s always great to be able to share our story with family and friends. Comments? Feel free to share them with me. And always remember, cherish every moment of every day that God gives you and live those moments to the fullest.

Our continuing mission remains the same: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have not been before.