Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Bowling Green Pictures

A suspension bridge behind where we were staying. A sign says it was built in 1889 and it is still being used today.
A few of us went into downtown on Sunday morning to attend church at one of the older churches in the area. This Methodist church was built in the 1890s.

Sunday afternoon I went to the Kentucky Museum where there was a display on Duncan Hines. Did you know he never owned a piece of the company that sells Duncan Hines cake mixes? He was well known for writing a book about "where to eat while traveling". Sort of like the ZAGAT restaurant review books of today. Because he was well respected as a purveyor of good food, he was in demand for his endorsement of products.



 
 Of course Duncan Hines cake mixes are still around, but do you remember these.....?
Duncan Hines dairy products?

Or the Duncan Hines electric stove? He also endorsed a line of pots and pans, spices and other food items.

Bowling Green was also the home of Hascal "Hack" Haile who made classical guitars for many famous people. Just a few are: Chet Atkins, Waylon Jennings, Hank Snow, Dolly Parton, Jerry Reed and Roy Clark.

Our favorite place to eat was Mariah's. We went there twice in one week. Maybe it was because of the 2 for 1 specials they had in the evenings.

The restaurant is in a historical building. The original brick building was built as a home in 1819. It was named after their daughter, Mariah, who lived there until 1888. The Moore family, who arrived in the area in the 1700s, were considered founders of the town of Bowling Green.

The entrance to Lost River Cave where we took an underground boat trip.

Inside they still have private parties and weddings. But I'm sure they aren't as much fun as the parties before prohibition and after.

Here we are getting on the boat for our boat ride underground.

About a mile back the other way we found the spring which is the beginning of this river.

Another cave we visited while in the area was Mammoth Cave. Here we are seated with about 100 people in a large cavern in Mammoth Cave National Park. You can only see about 1/3 of the people on this tour.

As we left the park we found the Green River Ferry. This picture was taken through my windshield as I sat on the ferry. The ferry is winched across the river and back on a cable.

One day we visited a semi-restored Shaker Village. Only about 9 building are left and only 5 are restored for viewing. The village was founded in the early to mid 1800s, maybe 1840s, and only lasted until 1922. Since they believed in living together as brother and sister, forgoing earthly relationships, it was difficult to keep the community going. They took in orphans, but many of them left and did not stay.

Read the sign on the front door as we entered the main Shaker building.

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