Month: August 2018

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Barack and Michelle Obama at the Portrait Gallery

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Barach Obama portrait galleryYesterday I visited the Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. The Gallery shares a building (once the Patent Office) with the Smithsonian American Art Museum but because it sits several blocks off the National Mall it is often overlooked by tourists and locals alike. That’s a shame because the two museums house some of the most important and relevant art to our times.

My main focus was the “America’s Presidents” section where they display the official portraits from Washington to Obama. Most paintings are traditional, with dark tones and stoic poses. That is until you get to John F. Kennedy, whose painting is more abstract and modern (especially for 1963).

John F. Kennedy portrait gallery

Presidents Carter and Reagan start a more relaxed, but still fully suited up, set of portraits. George H.W. Bush is more austere, but George W. Bush sits tie-less in a more comfortable, homey setting. Bill Clinton is the most unique (okay, bizarre) with his official portrait, which is constructed as a mosaic of small squares with colorful inserts. Looked at from a distance it immediately looks different from the other portraits; up close it is positively peculiar.

But the most interesting was that of President Barack Obama. African-American artist Kehinde Wiley was chosen specifically for his cultural influence. Obama sits tie-less in a classical hardback chair partially embedded in a sea of leaves and flowers. The flowers have personal significance to Obama – chrysanthemums are the official flower of Chicago, the jasmine evokes Hawaii, and the African blue lilies refer to his Kenyan father. The effect is startling, which partially explains why his portrait attracted the largest crowds in the gallery.

From the presidents gallery I moved upstairs to the “Twentieth-Century Americans” hall that holds First Lady Michelle Obama’s official portrait. Michelle selected Amy Sherald, another African-American artist, whose unique style brings out Michelle’s blend of confidence and approachability. As with her husband, Michelle’s portrait was the star of the room.

Also in the “Twentieth-Century Americans” gallery were several other portraits of contemporaries one might not expect to see in a national gallery, including rapper/actor LL Cool J, Vietnam Wall creator Maya Lin (as a 3-D printed mini-statue), and to my surprise, ecologist E.O Wilson, an icon in my scientific field.

There is much more to see in the Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian American Art Museum, so next time you’re in Washington, DC, pull yourself off the Mall and have a visit. Not far away are also the Spy Museum, Madame Tussaud’s wax museum, and Ford’s Theatre (where Lincoln was shot). All are worth a visit but so often missed by visitors who don’t stray far from the strip of Smithsonian museums between the Capitol and Washington Monument.

David J. Kent is an avid science traveler and the author of Lincoln: The Man Who Saved America, in Barnes and Noble stores now. His previous books include Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity (2013) and Edison: The Inventor of the Modern World (2016) and two e-books: Nikola Tesla: Renewable Energy Ahead of Its Time and Abraham Lincoln and Nikola Tesla: Connected by Fate.

Check out my Goodreads author page. While you’re at it, “Like” my Facebook author page for more updates!

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Schoodic Peninsula – The Uncrowded Part of Acadia National Park

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I just returned from a short trip to the Schoodic peninsula in downeast Maine. If you have plans to visit Acadia National Park, don’t miss the Schoodic, which is home to the uncrowded part of Acadia NP. You get much of the same rocky shoreline with fewer people to jostle and no line of cars. The Schoodic National Scenic Byway is not to be missed.

A few years ago I visited the main part of Acadia, including the town of Bar Harbor. Because national parks are rare in the eastern part of the United States, and much smaller, Acadia is definitely worth the visit. Climbing up Cadillac Mountain gives hikers a chance to stretch their legs after sitting in busy summer traffic. A Maine lobster dinner is always a nice reward to make you forget the ache in underused muscles.

Schoodic is largely ignored by the masses even though it’s not a far drive beyond Bar Harbor and has much of the same views. My trip this time was because my brother, a highly accomplished wetlands biologist with a long history of environmental service, recently took on the job of President/CEO of the Schoodic Institute. The non-profit Institute sits on the former Navy base on Schoodic Point. Their mission is to bring science to the public and to support Acadia National Park through public/private partnerships. The extensive campus provides housing of visiting scientists, conferences, classrooms, laboratories, and an auditorium for public lectures, films, and presentations.

Schoodic Institute

Driving around the loop road on the peninsula you’ll encounter many places to pull off and explore the rocky seacoast. In the distance you’ll see the Schoodic lighthouse and Cadillac Mountain rising from the main portion of the Acadia National Park. Seabirds abound, from ospreys to ducks to plovers passing through. We also saw several Bald Eagles soaring above us and a few juveniles stretching their wings closer to the ground. In the forested interior, a sharp eye may see hummingbirds, yellow warblers, cormorants, and many more birds. Climb up to Schoodic Head for a panoramic view on all sides of the peninsula

If you have more time than I did, check out the campgrounds, longer hikes, wildflowers. Kayak around the coves to get up close to the rocky shorelines, birds, and if you’re lucky, spot moose and foxes. After a long day exploring nature, check out the many local artist studios, the bakery Patrick runs out of his home, the gourmet food of the Salt Box, and breakfast on the porch of Gerrish’s restaurant or a few blocks away at Chase’s. And, of course, don’t forget to get lunch at the Pickled Wrinkle, a local landmark. [A wrinkle is Mainer for a conch, which are pickled to preserve them for long days of lobstering] After eating (perhaps a lobster roll?), stop next door at “Me and Ben’s” for some Moose Tracks ice cream. Here’s a list of places not to be missed.

I’m looking forward to a return trip to Schoodic. On the way up I stopped in Rockland, Maine to have lunch with a Lincoln Group colleague who rents a cabin in the area every summer. So the tentative plan is to go up for a longer time, make a writer’s retreat of it, do some kayaking, check out Red’s Eats in Wiscasset, and more.

David J. Kent is an avid science traveler and the author of Lincoln: The Man Who Saved America, in Barnes and Noble stores now. His previous books include Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity (2013) and Edison: The Inventor of the Modern World (2016) and two e-books: Nikola Tesla: Renewable Energy Ahead of Its Time and Abraham Lincoln and Nikola Tesla: Connected by Fate.

Check out my Goodreads author page. While you’re at it, “Like” my Facebook author page for more updates!

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John Elliff – Abraham Lincoln Scholar

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John ElliffIt is with deep regret that I mark the sudden passing of John Elliff. John was an Abraham Lincoln scholar and in many ways my mentor in the Lincoln field.

I first met John only in January 2012 but I feel I’ve known him much longer. I was attending my first meeting as a new member of the Lincoln Group of DC and John was one of the first people I met. I fondly recall him standing up to announce that he was reading Bill O’Reilly’s then new book Killing Lincoln “so we don’t have to.” [The book is poorly researched and contains many factual errors] In that one sentence, John displayed both his intellectual fortitude and his good humor.

As the years have passed since then it was John who encouraged me to become more active in the Lincoln Group of DC. I joined the Lincoln Group’s book discussion club because of John, and it was John’s inspiration that led to me becoming a member of the Lincoln Group board. Through these years I marveled at John’s incredible command of facts, understanding, and insight into Abraham Lincoln’s life. No matter what aspect of Lincoln we were discussing we could always count on John to have knowledge that would expand our understanding. I looked up to John’s leadership and I knew that everyone else in the group did as well.

John was also a leader in other Lincoln groups as a board member of the Abraham Lincoln Association based in his native Illinois, the Lincoln Forum, the Illinois State Society, and as a volunteer docent at Ford’s Theatre. He was a dominant presence at our monthly Lincoln Group of DC book club and only a few months ago finished his two-year term as President of the Lincoln Group of DC after many years in other leadership roles. All the while he was, as fellow friend and Lincoln scholar Bob Willard noted, “Lincolnian in character – honest, smart, hard-working, empathetic, curious.” Everyone in the Lincoln Group of DC appreciated these characteristics. He was a true leader.

My heart reaches out to John’s family, especially to Linda, whom I’ve known and cherished since that first day I met John. I am a better person and Lincoln scholar because of John Elliff. May he rest in peace and the knowledge that he has inspired so many others. He is, and will always be, deeply missed.

The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, people consider making a donation to the Lincoln Group of DC.

David J. Kent is an avid science traveler and the author of Lincoln: The Man Who Saved America, in Barnes and Noble stores now. His previous books include Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity (2013) and Edison: The Inventor of the Modern World (2016) and two e-books: Nikola Tesla: Renewable Energy Ahead of Its Time and Abraham Lincoln and Nikola Tesla: Connected by Fate.

Check out my Goodreads author page. While you’re at it, “Like” my Facebook author page for more updates!

 

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Den Blå Planet, Copenhagen Aquarium – My 50th Aquarium

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Den Blå Planet, Copenhagen AquariumWherever I science travel in the world I look for aquariums. Den Blå Planet (The Blue Planet) now has the distinction of being the 50th aquarium I’ve visited in the world. [Check out the other 49 here] Located in Kastrup, a suburb of Copenhagen, Denmark, and also known as the Denmark National Aquarium, it’s the largest aquarium in northern Europe.

It’s a rather new aquarium, opening in 2013. So new that when I spent several days in Copenhagen in 2015 I missed its very existence. The aquarium is out of Copenhagen central a bit, not far from the airport. Getting there requires either driving or taking the Metro system with a walk at the end. Most visitors won’t have a car and the nearest Metro station is often not convenient so the aquarium has a free bus that leaves from near the central train station.

The aquarium’s most unique feature is its architecture. Viewed from above, the building creates a whirlpool effect, although unfortunately this grand effect is lost on most visitors as from the ground all you see is a sweeping stainless steel wing curving away from the entrance. Inside, the aquarium uses modern touchscreen displays that highlight the habitats and fish in the tanks. Touch a specific fish and the screen expands to give its life history. These interactive displays enhance the learning experience and can be viewed in Danish or English.

There are five main sections covering major biomes: Rainforest, African Great Lakes, Cold Water, Warm Water, and Evolution and Adaptation.

As has become common with newer aquariums, Den Blå Planet has a huge glass wall through which you can see into the main tank. Otherwise, most of the tanks are rather pedestrian with no clear specialty. Having seen so many aquariums I’ve noticed that most have some unique appeal that sets it apart. This aquarium seemed not to have anything that would qualify other than the external architecture. One might argue that an exception is the section on species from Lake Malawi, Lake Tanganyika, and Lake Victoria in Africa, but even here the focus was on cichlid species that are the mainstay of virtually every aquarium. I didn’t see any jellyfish displays. There are none of the larger sea mammals like whales and dolphins, which have fallen out of favor because living conditions are generally not sufficient. They did, however, have one cute sea otter lolling in a small outside area and munching on ice cubes.

It took us only an hour or so to go through the entire building. There were plenty of children’s groups swarming the displays, which is both a positive (it shows the aquarium’s educational value) and a negative (loud and crowded). Overall, however, I found Den Blå Planet to be a nice aquarium and worth the visit. Take the free bus from city center to maximize the value. 

See here for links to other aquariums I’ve profiled.

David J. Kent is an avid science traveler and the author of Lincoln: The Man Who Saved America, in Barnes and Noble stores now. His previous books include Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity (2013) and Edison: The Inventor of the Modern World (2016) and two e-books: Nikola Tesla: Renewable Energy Ahead of Its Time and Abraham Lincoln and Nikola Tesla: Connected by Fate.

Check out my Goodreads author page. While you’re at it, “Like” my Facebook author page for more updates!

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Chasing Abraham Lincoln is now on YouTube

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Abraham Lincoln is everywhere it seems. And now he’s on YouTube.

For those that follow me on my Facebook author page, I posted a series of videos from my recent Chasing Abraham Lincoln tour of Illinois. At each of the seven Lincoln-Douglas debate sites I showed the monument – usually some sort of statue of the two debaters – and talked a little about the history of the site and the debates. Here’s just one example:

In addition to the seven debate sites I did a few other videos. I’ll be posting additional videos from this and past trips, plus will be creating “on the road” videos on future tours. In the future I’ll also be producing a series of videocasts on Abraham Lincoln-related topics; the intention is to create an informative and entertaining series on Lincoln’s life and the lessons we can learn from him.

So bookmark and/or subscribe to the YouTube page and check back periodically for new videos. Check out my Goodreads author page. While you’re at it, “Like” my Facebook author page for more updates!

David J. Kent is an avid science traveler and the author of Lincoln: The Man Who Saved America, in Barnes and Noble stores now. His previous books include Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity (2013) and Edison: The Inventor of the Modern World (2016) and two e-books: Nikola Tesla: Renewable Energy Ahead of Its Time and Abraham Lincoln and Nikola Tesla: Connected by Fate.

 

 

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Rockport, Indiana – Where Lincoln Began His Flatboat Trips to New Orleans

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In my last Chasing Abraham Lincoln post I checked in on the Lincoln’s arrival in Indiana at Sandy Creek Landing (now Grandview). Today I’ll move on to nearby Rockport, Indiana, where Lincoln began his first flatboat trip to New Orleans.

I was looking for the rock and plaque that I knew marked the spot but had no idea how to find it. As I’ve discovered during my travels, a good place to start is often the local public library. I found more than I expected at the Spencer County Public Library main branch in downtown Rockport. After meeting all of the four delightful women working the desk and genealogy departments, I spent two hours pouring through their Lincoln collection materials. I found many books and pamphlets I hadn’t known about, and photographed quite a few documents useful for my research. I even purchased a small booklet written in the 1930s that describes Sandy Creek Landing and the Lincolns. Then they showed me how to find the monument, which was only a few blocks away (not surprisingly since Rockport is tiny, harboring a population less than 2,500).

The monument commemorates one of Lincoln’s most interesting (to me) achievements – his first flatboat trip down to New Orleans – which started here in Rockport. Hooking up with Allen Gentry soon after the devastating death of his sister Sarah, Lincoln helped build the flatboat, loaded it with corn, pork, potatoes, hay, apples, and other commodities, then traveled 1,200 miles down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to sell their wares. While in New Orleans he was introduced to the issue that would dominate much of his later political life – slavery.

Also in Rockport is something called the Lincoln Pioneer Village and Museum. Like most artifacts of Lincoln’s life, this isn’t the original; it was built as part of Roosevelt’s “New Deal” programs in the 1930s, then renovated in the 1980s and was undergoing yet another partial renovation while I was there. The Village had opened for the season only the week before so the guy working it seemed a bit shocked to see me walk though the front door. He had grown up in Rockport and was excited to get a job curating the small museum of pioneer life.

As I walked around the village alone I stopped to watch some workers recreating a couple of the log cabins. At one point they began moving furniture back into the “Lincoln cabin” representing what the Lincoln family lived in when they had moved into the country from Kentucky. Around this time the curator came running out to ask if I wanted to see an old hearse that had been used in the 1955 movie The Kentuckian, starring Burt Lancaster, that had been filmed in part in the Village. He was so excited that I of course said yes. Unlocking a building that was temporarily being used for storage during the renovations, he led me into a dark, dusty corner where the hearse stood. He told me about the movie and how the town was honored and thrilled to have Lancaster and up-and-coming star Walter Matthau in their midst.

I rummaged around the rest of the Village, checking out the period furniture in a variety of log cabins. Some were single room, others a kind of duplex with a central porch, and still others set up as law offices, school houses, and inns. A replica of the Little Pigeon Creek Baptist Church was undergoing renovation but could be seen from the outside. The “Gentry Mansion” showed how the Gentry’s were the most prosperous family in the neighborhood (keeping in mind that “mansion” is a relative term).

Overall this was a nice glimpse into the life of pioneer villagers of Lincoln’s time. And of course the science traveler in me was thrilled to see the area where Lincoln and Allen Gentry began their flatboat touring. As I continued my tour I would see more of the frontier life during Lincoln’s most formative years in Indiana. More on that in future posts.

David J. Kent is an avid science traveler and the author of Lincoln: The Man Who Saved America, in Barnes and Noble stores now. His previous books include Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity (2013) and Edison: The Inventor of the Modern World (2016) and two e-books: Nikola Tesla: Renewable Energy Ahead of Its Time and Abraham Lincoln and Nikola Tesla: Connected by Fate.

Check out my Goodreads author page. While you’re at it, “Like” my Facebook author page for more updates!