Lilly Pad and Flower: Nashville, TN Cheekwood Botanical Garden & Museum of Art
Galleries
Across the Pond: Nashville, TN Cheekwood Botanical Garden & Museum of Art
Busy Bee: Nashville, TN Cheekwood Botanical Garden & Museum of Art Rachelle and I just spent a weekend in Nashville celebrating our eleventh wedding anniversary. During our trip, we spent some time walking around the gardens at Cheekwood, a 55-acre botanical garden and art museum.
Reagan Presidential Limousine: Henry Ford Museum, July 2008 This limousine entered service with during the Nixon administration. It was in this car that Ronald Reagan took refuge and was rushed to the hospital after being shot during John Hinkley Jr.’s assassination attempt. This limousine is the last in the Henry Ford Museum’s collection, and the last one to be preserved. All presidential vehicles are now destroyed by the Secret Service for security reasons.
Kennedy Presidential Limousine: Henry Ford Museum, July 2008 On November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated while riding in this limousine. The limousine was also used by his successor, Lyndon B. Johnson and remained in service through the Nixon, Ford and Carter administrations. After Kennedy’s death, the car was fitted with a permanent top due to security concerns by the Secret Service.
Dwight D. Eisenhower “Bubbletop”: Henry Ford Museum, July 2008 This presidential limousine was used by four U.S. Presidents. It entered service during Truman’s administration. Eisenhower later had it fitted with the plastic bubble top; so that, he could be seen by the public when riding in the car on rainy days. It was also used as a backup vehicle for presidents Kennedy and Johnson.
Hood Ornament: Henry Ford Museum, July 2008 They certainly don’t make hood ornaments like this anymore.
Franklin D. Roosevelt Sunshine Special: Henry Ford Museum, July 2008 This was Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidential limousine. It was a convertible, so that he could be seen from the car by the public without the need to leave the car.
The Rouge: The Rouge, July 2008 The Ford Rouge Center is Ford’s largest, single industrial complex.
Dearborn Truck Plant: The Rouge, July 2008 This is the assembly plant for the Ford F-150. The roof is covered by a plant called sedum, which is part of an elaborate system for collecting and cleansing rainwater. The roof is also dotted with ten mammoth skylights and thirty-six smaller ones which fill the assembly plant with natural light. Unfortunately, the plant was not producing vehicles during our visit, but it was still fascinating to visit, especially since my wife has a background in automotive manufacturing. It was like having my own tour guide.