NPS Adventures 2026: Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park

 I have been trying to get us to Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park in Kentucky for several years now. I always felt it was out of the way of where we were. This year the hubby said that we are just going to go.

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park is located in Hodgenville, KY. The visitor center is open 9-5 daily. 

Because we spent too much time exploring the Obed Wild and Scenic River, we got there around 3:30 and was told that memorial building closes at 4:30. We promptly headed up the Memorial Building. The Memorial Building is the first Lincoln Memorial in DC and houses the Birth Cabin. The building was constructed between 1909 and 1911 to preserve the historic cabin.

After viewing the birth cabin, we walked the path to Sinking Spring which was a dependable water sources for the Lincoln Family. Unfortunately you can not get close enough to the spring to actual drink of the water. 

Unfortunately due to time constraints, we did not get to the Boundary Oak or follow the Pathway of a President. There is a second segment of the park which is the Boyhood at Knob Creek up the road which we did not see either. I believe is was there as a kid back in the 1990s. 

Even though it was a quick visit, it was a nice visit. It is definitely worth checking out. If you find yourself at Mammoth Cave or in Bowling Green definitely take the time to check it out.

I am up to 67 National Park Sites now. I wonder what will be number 68. Stay tuned to find out. 

NPS Adventures 2026: Manhattan Project K-25 History Center

 The last time we went through Knoxville, I wanted to stop at the Manhattan Project NPS but we didn't have any time. This time I made sure we had a chance to visit at least one of the sites throughout the Knoxville Area. There are many locations including several museums. I gave the hubby the option which museum we were going to visit. We decided on K-25 History Center.

K-25 was one of the gaseous diffusion plant that helped create the atomic bomb during WWII. It was a mile long building where they diffused the uranium. It is located really in the middle of nowhere on the outskirts of Oak Park. 

K-25 is not really a museum. It is really just a display of history of K-25 on the second floor of this building. 

There is a model of the entire mile long complex.

There are videos, timelines, and diagrams that explained how their diffused the uranium.

You can look out the windows and view the outline of the complex that has since been knocked down. 

It is not that exciting of a place in the typical museum sense. However the science and history lessons presented through video are fascinating. When I saw what little there was too see I was disappointed but it was actually worth our time. I was glad I still went in with an opened mind.

There is still a lot of places we have not seen of the Oak Park Manhattan Project, including the Y-12 plant (which I need to figure out how to actually get a tour of). I know we will continue to knock them off as we find ourselves in the Knoxville area. If you are ever in the Knoxville Area the Manhattan Project sites are worth checking out. 

Stay tuned to find out which Manhattan Project we visit next in the next few years. 

NPS Adventures 2025: Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park

 One of my 25 in 2025 items is to visit at least one National Park Site. I had four on the list for spring training and that trip got cancelled. We tried to stop and see Mississippi National River and Recreation Area when we were in St. Paul but couldn't find close parking. EAA didn't have the stamp for EAA National Park but I guess technically I was there. With the change in vacation plans, I was hoping to get to Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park while in Dayton. We had to pivot at the last minute but it ended up working out.

Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park is located in Dayton and consists of several different locations throughout Dayton. Hours vary by location. Due to our limited time, we went to  The Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center. It is open Wed-Sun 9-4. The early opening time worked in our favor. Other sites include The Wright Cycle Company Fourth Shop, Huffman Prairie Flying Field Interpretive Center, Paul Laurence Dunbar House Historic Site, Dayton History at Carillon Historical Park, and Hawthorn Hill.

The Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center is dedicated to the early years of the Wright Brothers. The ground floor shows the history of flight including a replica of the first plane.

Upstairs is a replica of the Wright Brothers Print Shop. 

I learned that the Wright Brothers were fascinating men. I would have loved to have spent more time reading and checking out other sites. Maybe in a future trip. Who knew they owned a bicycle shop and a printing business before getting into airplanes. The Wright Cycle Shop is next door to The Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center and if we had more time we probably would have checked it out.

By far the highlight of the The Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center was the Aviation Trial Parachute Museum. This small one room museum tells the history of parachuters. The docent was an amazing man to talk to. The museum is in the process of moving to bigger location so all their items can be on display. The hubby was truly fascinated by this small museum. We even got to sit in a jump seat of a fighter plane. 

I knew Huffman Prairie Flying Field Interpretive Center was on Wright-Patterson AFB along with the National Museum of the US Air Force. I secretly hoped to check it out but really didn't have high hopes since the Air Force Museum was going to take hours to go through. Fortunately we got through the museum in record time and we could go check out the Flying Field Interpretive Center.

I wasn't entire sure Huffman Prairie Flying Field Interpretive Center was going to be open but I figured we could at least see the Wright Brother Monument. Huffman Prairie Flying Field Interpretive Center is open Mon-Fri 9-4. The app was telling me only Tuesdays and Wednesdays. It turned out it was open and I got another stamp. There is a small museum about the history of flying. 

The Wright Brother Monument is across the road from the Interpretive Center. 

Since we were already at the Huffman Prairie Flying Field Interpretive Center and the actual flying field was about 4 miles away, we decided to go check it. The Flying Field is actually on the Air Force Base -- you just don't need to go through any check points. After following the signs and GPS through a wooded area, we came to a clearing which is where the Wright Brothers practiced flying. The original barn is still there. There is a walking path that you can follow with interpretive signs. It was too hot to do any kind of walking. 

I was impressed with the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park. I definitely want to check out the other sites especially Hawthorn Hill -- Orville Wright's Mansion. 

If you love flying or airplane or even history Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park is worth checking out. It is very well done and there's a lot to see and do.