Museum of History in Granite

On the other side of the I-8 freeway from the Encore Pilot Knob RV Resort was the Museum of History in Granite, along with the Center of the World, the Maze of Honor, and the Church on the Hill.

One could consider this a kitschy roadside attraction, and it is that, but it’s also a lasting testament to the passions of one man, wanting to record history in stone that’ll last for centuries. Reading about his history is interesting: born in France in 1929, moved to the US at age 11, became an investment banker, bought a war-surplus plane and learned to fly, then invented the sport of skydiving (or “sport parachuting”), and finally created the “town” of Felicity in 1985, establishing it (via a fairy tale he wrote) as the Center of the World, and created the History of Humanity in Granite. Read that history page for details.

An interactive map:

Sign

Sundial, using a sculpture of Michelangelo’s Arm of God from the Sistine Chapel:

Sundial

The official center of the world:

The official center of the world

Selfie in front of the pyramid that encloses the Official Center of the World:

Selfie in front of pyramid

Jenn standing astride the Center of the World:

Jenn standing astride the Center of the World

Looking from the pyramid past the Museum in Granite to the Church on the Hill:

Looking from the pyramid to the church on the hill

Museum of History in Granite:

Museum of History in Granite

Museum of History in Granite

Museum of History in Granite

Replica half-scale Liberty Bell:

Replica Liberty Bell

Museum of History in Granite

Museum of History in Granite

Museum of History in Granite

Museum of History in Granite

Museum of History in Granite

Museum of History in Granite

Museum of History in Granite

The Church on the Hill:

Church on the Hill

Church on the Hill

Museum of History in Granite

The Maze of Honor, where people can pay to have granite memorials (it’s mostly empty):

The Maze of Honor

The Maze of Honor

The Maze of Honor

The Maze of Honor

The Maze of Honor

Stairs from the Eiffel Tower:

Stairs from Eiffel Tower

Stairs from Eiffel Tower

Certificates for visiting the Center of the World:

Certificates for visiting the Center of the World

DC monuments by night tour

We did an evening guided tour of Washington DC from the Cherry Hill Park campground.

Selfie in the bus:

Selfie in bus

US Capitol:

US Capitol

US Capitol

US Capitol

Washington Monument:

Washington Monument

Back to our bus; there were lots of food trucks like this lining the roads in DC:

Bus and food truck

Treasury building:

Treasury building

Treasury building

The White House:

The White House

The White House

The White House

Guide talking about the White House:

Guide talking about the White House

Washington Monument:

Washington Monument:

Thomas Jefferson Memorial:

Thomas Jefferson Monument

Thomas Jefferson Monument

Thomas Jefferson Monument

Thomas Jefferson Monument

Thomas Jefferson Monument

Thomas Jefferson Monument

Sunset:

Sunset

Lots of tour buses:

Lots of tour buses

Martin Luther King, Jr Memorial:

Martin Luther King, Jr Memorial

Martin Luther King, Jr Memorial

Martin Luther King, Jr Memorial

Korean War Veterans Memorial:

Korean War Veterans Memorial

Korean War Veterans Memorial

Korean War Veterans Memorial

Korean War Veterans Memorial

Washington Monument and the Capitol beyond the reflecting pond:

Washington Monument:

Washington Monument:

Lincoln Memorial:

Lincoln Memorial

Lincoln Memorial

Lincoln Memorial

Lincoln Memorial

Lincoln Memorial

Lincoln Memorial

Vietnam Veterans Memorial:

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

World War II Memorial:

World War II Memorial

World War II Memorial:

World War II Memorial

World of Coca‑Cola museum

We previously visited the Dr Pepper museum in Waco, Texas, so it seemed only fair to visit the World of Coca‑Cola museum in Atlanta, Georgia. The Coke museum was fancier, but we preferred the Dr Pepper one, if only because the Coke museum was way too crowded. Probably our fault for visiting on a Saturday.

Atlanta:

Atlanta

Atlanta

The World of Coca‑Cola museum:

World of Coca‑Cola museum

We had lunch at the nearby Bottle Cap Café:

Bottle Cap Café

Coke and coffee floats and a basic sandwich:

Bottle Cap Café

Selfie:

World of Coca‑Cola museum

Crowded waiting area before the theater:

World of Coca‑Cola museum

World of Coca‑Cola museum

After that was a 7-minute film, basically an emotionally-manipulative ad, showing people in major life events, and happening to drink Coke at the end. Then on into the main part of the museum:

World of Coca‑Cola museum

The Vault, with exhibits of the history:

The Vault

The Vault

The Vault

The Vault

The Vault

The Vault

The vault with the secret recipe, allegedly:

The Vault

More exhibits:

The Vault

The Vault

Exhibits

Exhibits

Exhibits

Exhibits

Exhibits

The Lab:

The Lab

Tasting:

The Lab

International beverage tasting:

Beverage tasting

Beverage tasting

Thailand’s Apple Kiwi Fanta was our favorite flavor (many others were not to our taste):

Beverage tasting

Beverage tasting

Gift store:

Gift store

Gift store

Back outside:

World of Coca‑Cola museum

An interesting museum, if too crowded.

Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens

An out-of-sequence post: I noticed that I had missed posting about an attraction we visited while staying in Fort Lauderdale, Florida: the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens in Delray Beach, Florida.

We’re fans of Japanese gardens, and this was one of the better ones.

Entrance sign

Map:

Map

A slow line for lunch:

Long line for lunch

Cafe menu:

Cafe menu

Cafe menu

Jenn’s bento box:

Bento box

My teriyaki and spring rolls:

Teriyaki and spring rolls

An art:

An art

Yep, it’s Florida — caution, alligators:

Caution, alligators

Bridge:

Bridge

Turtles:

Turtles

Bridges:

Bridge

Another bridge

Gate:

Gate

Pond:

Pond

Tree:

Tree

Rock garden:

Rock garden

Rock garden

Rock garden

Lanterns:

Lanterns

Bridge:

Bridge

Waterfall:

Waterfall

Gate:

Gate

Gate

Lizard:

Lizard

Bonsai garden:

Bonsai garden

Bonsai garden

Bonsai garden

Turtle:

Turtle

Lantern:

Lantern

Courtyard:

Courtyard

Exhibit:

Exhibit

Tea room:

Tea room

Water feature:

Water feature

Lizard:

Lizard

Pond and bridge:

Pond and bridge

Waterfall:

Waterfall

Turtle and lizard:

Turtle and lizard

Pond and bridge:

Pond and bridge

A nice garden, worth a visit.