Today we had a whirlwind of points of interest around the city. First, we had a quick visit with my new favorite artist/artisan White Antelope.
She is holding one of her fancier dress pieces -- unfortunately, the display piece comes across too light in the picture...but the point of the picture is the wonderful spirit of White Antelope. She and her son suffered serious damages in the 1995 Murrah Building blast losing everything -- it has taken them years to rebuild their lives, home, and business. 
As you can see by this wall, people are still leaving memorials on peripheral fencing in the former Murrah Building area. The memorial park to the victims features a large granite structure with 9:03 etched above the arch -- the time the bomb exploded. You can see a few of the chairs through the trees that honor each of the victims. 
From there we visited the Oklahoma Museum of History -- probably one of the best (200interactive displays) museums I have experienced. Outside is a bronze statue of two young Apaches titled "Unconquered" by Alan Houser.
Inside the museum is a replica of Wiley Post's famous plane, Winnie Mae. Again, there is a light issue with my camera angle (and all the exterior windows). In the background, you can see the Oklahoma Capitol Building.
This museum requires a much longer visit.The last point of interest today was The Old Red Barn (1898) -- the only round wooden barn in OK -- located on Historic Route 66 in Arcadia, OK -- a short drive from Oklahoma City.
The barn is forty three feet tall and sixty feet in diameter (built of burr oak timbers). The clear spanned exposed timber framing of burr oak on the second floor is an incredible feat -- in fact, authorities say that if the builder had planned this structure on paper, he would have realized it could not be built.
Ernest "Butch" Breger, a local farm owner is the caretaker/attendant. This spry and very energetic 83-year old kept the barn open after hours to allow Jonette and me to browse the downstairs and then escorted us to the upstairs area along with two bikers who pulled up about the same time as we did. These two young men from Denmark (the Jutland area, they told me) are traveling the entire Historic Route 66 -- from Chicago to Los Angeles. One of these young men is an architect.
They are researching many points along the route -- and this Red Barn, an architectural feat, is one of them. While we were upstairs, "Butch" wanted to show me how that area served as a dance floor. So, he and I two-stepped around the room with NO music while the two Dane dudes filmed. Can't imagine how this piece of Americana will play back home. :-) This is the official end of my blogging for this trip. I already have a list of to-dos when I get home...and projects to accomplish in the next few weeks before school commences. What a ride we have had. Thanks, Jonette, for all the laughs along the way -- and for initiating this adventure.
Until the next time, safe travel mercies to all.
Rebecca
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