Field Trip Friday: Orphans and the CCC

  So what do orphans and the CCC have in common?  Nothing except the Orphan Train Museum in Concordia had a traveling Smithsonian exhibit called "How we Worked" and their museum as part of that had a special Civilian Conservation Corps exhibit of which the CCC in Kansas is Daddy's speciality.  We used the opportunity as our next Friday field trip:) 

in front of the museum

  Nana (Daddy's mom) had the day off so she came on our adventure with us, which was wonderful!  I had the kids read up on the Orphan Train on the way up for some background.  When we got there, we watched a short intro video - turns out that the Concordia museum is the the main depository for Orphan Train records, etc... - go Kansas! :)  When we got into the actual depot, we all scattered: Daddy to his CCC display, and the kids to the kids area, Nana and I just wandered where we could. 

the kids room

CCC display

  I was so impressed with the museum.  The displays were interactive and they had a scavenger hunt for the kids to fill out along with other activity pages. 
  Our next stop was the Cloud County Historical Museum where they had a local CCC collection on display in the Annex & then a research area in the main building.  While Daddy conversed with the museum volunteers about  CCC things, the rest of us investigated the vast collections. 

the coolest artifact for the kids was an antique funhouse mirror!

Margaret Emma Talady Kariger Grinstead obit.

Seriously, I've been to a ton of local museums and this was the biggest and had the largest variety I have ever seen.  Now, I couldn't let Daddy have all the fun and since his ggg-grandma was buried in Miltonvale, in Cloud County, I tried to find her obituary.  Success!  Not alot of new information, but it did verify some info that I didn't have good sources on.  A note about copying obituaries: always make note of the paper and date you got it from (either get it in the copy, or write it on the side or back).
  Our last stop was the site of Camp Concordia a prisoner of war camp for German soldiers during WWII.  Bubby had seen a display at the museum and we made his day by going to see the buildings that are still standing.  It was too cold and windy to stay long, but we did get a picture.

Camp Concordia tower

This was one of the best field trips ever!  Something for everyone! :)