Going On Faith Summer 2019

ON T H E M A G A Z I N E F O R FAITH-BASED TRAVEL PLANNERS VOL. 21 - NO. 3

E A ST

SUMMER 2019

COA ST

CLASSICS ILLINOIS GARDENS AMERICA’S RELIGIOUS

HERITAGE

GOING ON FAITH

CONFERENCE PREVIEW

narroway.net

the Broadway of Christian Entertainment

Plan your visit at ArkEncounter.com Williamstown, K Y (south of Cincinnati)

GOF

THE MAGAZINE F O R FA I T H - B A S E D T R AV E L

[ SUMMER 2019 ]

22 26

Illinois in Bloom

Discover beautiful gardens in the Land of Lincoln.

On Location in Albany

This Georgia city is the site of numerous faith-based films.

28

Religious Heritage Sites

These communities preserve unique faith traditions.

DEPARTMENTS Columns 6 EDITOR’S NOTES: Using your emotional intelligence

Spotlights 16 HOW TO: Promote trips online

18 PROFILE: ON THE COVER: All American travelers should endeavor to see the Statue of Liberty at least once in their lifetimes. Photo

by Florence Franckreporter

4

Pam Moore

NORTHEAST

TRAVEL GUIDE 38 See some of America’s most iconic attractions on your trip through the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.

News 8 MOVIE MUSEUM coming to Los Angeles 10 GOING ON FAITH Conference Preview

20 INTERNATIONAL: Luxor, Egypt

Mac T. Lacy Founder and Publisher

Herb Sparrow Senior Writer

Christine Clough Copy Editor

Charles A. Presley Partner

Donia Simmons Creative Director

Brian Jewell Executive Editor

Ashley Ricks Graphic Design/ Circulation

Kelly Tyner Director of Sales and Marketing

Eliza Myers Online Editor

Kyle Anderson Account Manager Daniel Jean-Louis Account Manager

Going On Faith is published quarterly by THE GROUP TRAVEL LEADER, Inc., 301 East High Street, Lexington, Kentucky 40507, and is distributed free of charge to qualified group leaders who plan travel for churches, synagogues and religious organizations. All other travel suppliers, including tour operators, destinations, attractions, transportation companies, hotels, restaurants, and other travel-related companies, may subscribe to Going On Faith by sending a check for $39 for one year to: Going On Faith, Circulation Department, 301 East High Street, Lexington, KY 40507. Phone: (859) 253-0455 or (859) 253-0503. Copyright THE GROUP TRAVEL LEADER, Inc. All rights reserved.

Reproduction of editorial or graphic content in any manner without the written consent of the publisher is prohibited.

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, l u f r e d n wo ce ...”

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a l p g n i r i p s in

roli a C h t No r m o r f y —Ma r

na

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God has done.”

—Psalm 66:5, ESV

©2019 BGEA

Monday to Saturday, 9:30–5:00 • BillyGrahamLibrary.org • 704-401-3200 Reservations required for groups of 10 or more; email LibraryTours@bgea.org or call 704-401-3270. • 4330 Westmont Drive • Charlotte, North Carolina

“Come and see what

EDITOR’S

NOTES BRIAN JEWELL

USING EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

D

o you have a high EQ? Recently, many of the leadership experts I follow have been discussing the idea of emotional intelligence, also called EQ. Unlike IQ, the traditional kind of intelligence that can be measured with academic tests, EQ refers to a set of softer skills, such as self-awareness, empathy and compassion. And society is beginning to recognize that emotional intelligence can be incredibly important, especially for leaders.

It takes traditional intelligence to succeed as a tour operator or travel planner. You have to be organized and strategic in the way you plan, and you need the brainpower to craft an itinerary, budget your costs, price your trip, process registrations and then deal with all the situations and emergencies that might arise during a trip. As crucial as IQ is though, EQ might be even more important.

At its core, travel is an emotional experience. People travel with you for the joy of discovering new destinations and making personal connections in the community you cultivate. If you are attuned to the emotions of your current and potential customers, you can help create experiences that will satisfy their inner desires and build a program that enjoys longterm success.

Here are five ways emotional intelligence can help you develop a thriving travel program.

2) WINNING NEW CUSTOMERS Great salespeople have one thing in common: a high EQ. Many buying decisions are driven not by facts but by emotions, and this is especially true in travel. If you understand your potential clients’ emotional needs, you can help them understand how your travel program will fulfill those needs. And emotional intelligence will also help you guide them through any hesitation they may have about joining you.

1) WORKING WITH SUPPLIERS The best partnerships in tourism aren’t built on contracts; rather, they are built on relationships. As you work with suppliers at convention and visitors bureaus, hotels, attractions and other venues, use your emotional intelligence to forge personal connections with them. These relationships can often lead to better opportunities, creative collaboration and higher levels of customer service.

5) CREATING MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES It’s not the hotel rooms, the bus or even the museum exhibits that people remember about your trips; it’s the emotional experiences you craft for them. As you plan your itinerary, look for ways to create powerful emotional moments during your trip. And while you’re on the road, seize every opportunity to spark joy for your travelers as you go.

3) BUILDING COMMUNITY Creating connections and facilitating fellowship among travelers are high priorities in any church travel program. An emotionally intelligent group leader will find lots of opportunities to do that, especially during a trip. Look for people who seem lonely or shy and help them connect with other people in the group. You might be introducing them to a new best friend.

4) HANDLING COMPLAINTS You’ll get complaints during your time as a travel planner, and the emotional intelligence you deploy during those conversations can go a long way in determining their outcomes. Many people who complain just want to feel heard, so do your best to show them openness and empathy. And instead of simply addressing the concern they bring you, try to respond to the emotion behind it.

BRIAN JEWELL [ EDITOR ] brianj@grouptravelleader.com

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going on faith [ summer 2019 ]

CUSTOM CONTENT

SUMMER IS A

HOT TIME TO SEE THE MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

I

BY VICKIE MITCHELL

n the steamy summer of 1776, the Founding Fathers hammered out the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. The city’s ties to those heated times make summer the perfect time to step into the cool confines of the Museum of the American Revolution and relive the tumultuous times of the American Revolution.

IN THE HEART OF PHILLY

Only two years after it opened, the museum has become known as the place to begin a visit to Philadelphia. Two blocks from the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and other historic sites, the museum has already won awards for preservation efforts, exhibitions and architecture.

SUMMER BRINGS SPECIAL PROGRAMS

Because summer brings many travelers to Philadelphia, the museum has added special events and programs, beginning with discounts for veterans on Memorial Day and ending in late August with a look at canines in Colonial times.

Some programs get visitors engaged.

They might help make a flag or share their thoughts about democracy. Others take them outside the museum’s red-brick walls on walking tours or to view outdoor displays.

Two All-American holidays, Flag Day and July 4th, have inspired special exhibitions.

Here’s a look at summer at the Museum of the American Revolution:

SEE 13-STAR FLAGS

Guests will see stars June 14 through July 14 as the museum hosts the largest-ever exhibition of 13-star flags, “A New Constella-

tion: A Collection of Historic 13-Star Flags.”

Owned by one private collector, the flags will be a colorful backdrop for a hands-on activity space where visitors can try on Revolutionary-era clothing, handle replica objects, and design their own flag.

The flags date from 1800 to 1910 and their varied configurations of 13 stars represent the 13 original colonies. What better way to mark Flag Day, June 14?

SHARE DEMOCRATIC IDEALS

A flag is also the focus of a Fourth of July celebration on the museum’s outdoor plaza from June 29 through July 7. Visitors and passersby will be asked to #BeTheRevolution by describing how they are inspired by the ideals of the American Revolution. They can write their messages on ribbons and add them to a giant American flag installation on the plaza.

“We are aiming for 10,000 ribbons,” said Dr. Elizabeth Grant, the museum’s director of learning and engagement “It is a good reminder that we have a role in preserving the democratic republic we live in.”

gy at the Museum of the American Revolution, where visitors see artifacts unearthed during digs at the site where the museum now stands. Among them are pieces of a punch bowl that would have been passed around at celebrations.

Given the hit that the musical Hamilton has become, many will be interested in onehour Hamilton Walking Tours of the historic Old City neighborhood offered on Saturdays.

Twice a week, groups can visit before crowds arrive during a one-hour Early Access Guided Tours, which start at 9.

A DOG-GONE CONCLUSION

The super-hot August days that mark summer’s end have inspired an educational program about the role of canines in the Colonies. “We are developing a playful program about the dogs of the Revolution,” said Grant. George Washington is one of the famous dog owners who’ll be discussed.

YEAR-ROUND OPTIONS

Any time of year, groups can schedule a 30-minute talk by one of more than 30 experts. Two popular topics are Philadelphia: A Revolutionary City and Archaeolo-

FOR MORE INFORMATION MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

(877) 740-1776 info@amrevmuseum.org www.amrevmuseum.org

NEWS

MOTION PICTURE MUSEUM SET TO OPEN IN LOS ANGELES

WORTHY

LOS ANGELES — The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures is scheduled to open in Los Angeles later this year.

The museum, designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Renzo Piano, is in a revitalized six-story historic building at the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue. A new spherical addition connects to the historic building by a glass bridge and will feature the 1,000-seat theater and a rooftop terrace with views of the Hollywood Hills.

The centerpiece of the $388 million museum is the 30,000-square-foot, two-floor permanent exhibit “Where

Dreams are Made: A Journey Inside the Movies.” Galleries will deal with all aspects of movie making, such as screenwriting, special effects and technology and will include such iconic artifacts as Dorothy’s ruby red slippers from the “The Wizard of Oz,” the doors to Rick’s Café in “Casablanca” and the typewriters used for the screenplay to “Psycho.”

In addition to its immersive permanent exhibit, the museum will feature temporary exhibitions, two film and performance theaters, a sate-of-theart education studio, space for public events, a café and a store. academymuseum.org

The new Academy Museum of Motion Pictures will feature artifacts such as Dorothy’s ruby slippers from “The Wizard of Oz” and a slate used in film making.

Photos courtesy Academy Museum of Motion Pictures

Noah in Traditional and Contemporary Art & Stations of the Cross Biedenharn Museum and Gardens Monroe, Louisiana March 28, 2019 — January 18, 2020

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going on faith [ summer 2019 ]

Plus, Biedenharn Bible Collection, Coca-Cola Museum, Historic Home, and Gardens. bmuseum.org or 319-387-5281 318-387-5281

KEMPER ART MUSEUM TO REOPEN AFTER EXPANSION ST. LOUIS — The Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum on the campus of Washington University will reopen Sept. 28 after a major renovation and expansion that increases its display space by nearly 50 percent and includes a new 34-foot-tall polished stainless steel facade.

Suspended above a new glass-lined lobby is a new installation by artist Tomas Saraceno of a network of iridescent modules and interconnected ropes.

A new 2,700-foot gallery with double-height walls will showcase postwar and contemporary art, while the reconfigured Gertrude Bernoudy Gallery will feature major 19th- and early 20th-century European and American works.

Other renovations include a first-floor coffee bar and a suite of new galleries on the lower level, which will include the museum’s first permanent space devoted to video art and a gallery for seldom-seen historic objects from the museum’s collection.

The reinstalled Florence Steinberg Weil Sculpture Garden, with works by sculptors such as Auguste Rodin and Alexander Calder, will extend the museum’s reach into the surrounding, park-like setting. kemperartmuseum.wustl.edu

By Kieran Timberlake, Studio AMD

A new 34-foot-tall stainless steel facade highlights the renovation of the Kemper Art Museum at Washington University in St. Louis.

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going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ]

9

EXCITEMENT IS BUILDING

FOR THE

GOING ON FAITH CONFERENCE GOING ON FAITH

CONFERENCE PREVIEW

All photos courtesy Experience Grand Rapids unless otherwise noted

Going On Faith Conference attendees will enjoy the hip hospitality of Grand Rapids.

G

BY DA N DICKSON

rand Rapids is Michigan’s second-largest city and a place full of history, art, impressive breweries and restaurants; it also has a walkable downtown area. This city of 200,000 residents in western Michigan will receive several hundred delegates to the 2019 Going On Faith Conference to be held September 4-6.

The annual meeting will be staged in the DeVos Place Convention Center downtown on the shore of

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going on faith [ summer 2019 ]

the beautiful Grand River. The official conference hotel is the Amway Grand Plaza, conveniently connected to the convention center by a skywalk.

City leaders are confident that faith-based travel planners attending the conference will see that Grand Rapids is a town full of surprises and a place that planners ought to consider for future group tours.

“We would like to welcome everyone to Grand Rapids, where we will showcase our community and

all of its various elements,” said Dave Nitkiewicz, specialty markets sales manager for Experience Grand Rapids, the local convention and visitors bureau. “We are a great destination for anyone coming into Michigan or from anywhere in the Midwest. We are located between Detroit and Chicago. We are proud of our area and love to show it off.”

The Grand River runs through the center of Grand Rapids, one of Michigan’s most vibrant cities.

WHY GOING ON FAITH?

The main purpose of the three-day meeting in Grand Rapids is to get representatives of churches and religious organizations in front of destination providers from all over the United States and several foreign countries. The two scheduled marketplace sessions will feature hundreds of six-minute meetings during which the parties will get to know

“I’VE COME HERE FOR YEARS AND ALWAYS GO AWAY WITH IDEAS FOR PLACES I HADN’T ALREADY PLANNED ON. WE USUALLY FOLLOW THROUGH ON THOSE IDEAS.” — BILL HIGHSMITH

one another a bit to see if they might be a match for potential tour bookings.

Going On Faith conferences have proven to be successful for veteran trip planners, who come away with a fresh slate of travel ideas for their groups. Conference regular Bill Highsmith of Tusculum Baptist Church in Nashville, Tennessee, doesn’t even release his group’s travel schedule for the next year until he has attended this conference.

“I’ve come here for years and always go away with

going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 11

ideas for places I hadn’t already planned on,” Highsmith said. “We usually follow through on those ideas.”

Going On Faith staff assisting delegates during an appointment session

By Dan Dickson

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going on faith [ summer 2019 ]

BUSY SCHEDULE

The conference will begin with an afternoon registration period at which delegates get to meet the staff that will be taking care of them for the next several days. Attendees will also have time to visit the information booths that are operated by tour companies, cities and states. Next, an ice cream social will satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth but also allow delegates to network through fellowship and fun in a more relaxed setting.

A delegate orientation in the theater will get everyone ready for what is to come during the conference. That evening, Experience Grand Rapids will present an outstanding dinner and entertainment package that is sure to be a highlight.

“The dinner will be held at the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park,” said Nitkiewicz, who has a predinner treat for everyone. “When they first arrive at the site, the delegates will climb aboard trams for a tour of the gardens and sculpture park. There are about 158 acres there, with 180 sculptures spread around the grounds.”

The tour will focus on the sculptures and one in particular. Delegates will see the 24-foot-tall sculpture called “The American Horse,” which was created by famed animal sculptor Nina Akamu and was inspired in part by a work

by Renaissance master Leonardo da Vinci.

The group will also have time to view the remarkable Richard and Helen DeVos Japanese Garden, one of the most revered and appreciated Japanese gardens in the world, according to the CVB. After the tour, everyone will reconvene for a sit-down welcome dinner along with entertainment, which will conclude the first day’s conference activities.

Day 2 of the conference will include a sponsored breakfast and luncheon. The morning session will feature a keynote address by hospitality industry expert Bob Pacenovsky, who will urge planners and travel industry professionals to create what he calls “wow experiences” and lasting impressions for clients and guests. Pacenovsky calls his system for providing excellent customer service the “Black Tie Experience.”

The first of the two marketplace sessions will take place in the morning. Hundreds of religious trip planners and travel professionals will complete their scheduled appointments in hopes of finding common ground on which to do business.

SIGHTSEEING OPTIONS

One of the highlights of any Going On Faith Conference is the sightseeing tours of the host city, and Grand Rapids is going all out with five options for delegates to consider.

Grand Rapids likes to call itself Beer City USA thanks to the 43 breweries that have sprung up in Kent County. “The first option will be a visit to Founders Brewery, the largest brewery in Michigan,” said Nitkiewicz. That will be followed by a stop at The Knickerbocker, a large restaurant with a rustic, seasonal menu that showcases regional agricultural products. It is part of the New Holland Brewery Company. The restaurant is great for group visits and events. Delegates on this tour will get to see beer production and even enjoy a few sips of the sudsy product.

The second tour option will be a visit to the global headquarters of the Christian ministry known as Our Daily Bread. The ministry produces several devotional publications as well as radio and TV programs and an online university program. The tour will present the history of the ministry and explain the inner workings of the publishing empire that produces print and media content in 50 languages and whose products are shipped to 150 countries around the world.

Sightseeing option No. 3 will be a tour of the Grand Rapids Public Museum and the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, which are next door going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 13

Hands-On Fun

Get Your Craft On!

to each other and just across the river from the conference hotel. Delegates who choose this tour will walk across a short pedestrian bridge to reach the museums. The public museum will present the history of Grand Rapids from the early Native American tribes to the present day. Grand Rapids was once known as a major home-furniture-producing city. Although that has waned recently, the city is still home to three of the world’s leading office-furniture-manufacturing companies. The Ford museum is dedicated to the nation’s 38th president. Ford was raised in Grand Rapids and later represented the area in Congress for a quarter of a century before ascending to the presidency in 1974 following the resignation of Richard Nixon. The museum grounds are also the final resting place for the president and first lady Betty Ford.

There are two other tour options available for conference attendees. One is an art and architecture tour that includes the Sweet House, a historic mansion built in the 1860s and is used today for events of all kinds. After that will be a visit to the Grand Rapids Art Museum for a tour and a workshop.

The fifth and last tour option that day will be the Ferris Coffee and Nut Company at Downtown Market Grand Rapids, a food emporium with restaurants and other fun places. Ferris roasts specialty coffee and nuts. “They will give a tour and present a coffee class in their factory,” said Nitkiewicz. “They are locally owned. They also make delicious chocolates.”

WRAPPING UP

“All the different hands-on activities are a blast, no talent required!

You are treated like their guest and everything is planned out for you.

We loved it!”

– Triumph Community Bank Travel Club, East Moline, IL

That evening’s dinner offerings will be fun. It will be a pick-your-own-restaurant dine-around in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids. There will be a Downtown Dining Deals map with 138 restaurants. If attendees show their map and their conference badges at any of the restaurants, they will receive a 10%20% discount. It’s easy for attendees to walk to any of the eating establishments from the convention hotel. If folks want to explore downtown a bit, they can hop on the free Dash shuttle that travels around the downtown area. There are two Dash routes, one north-south, the other east-west. A free map is available.

The last morning of the conference will be a busy one, as usual. Breakfast will feature more tour and travel presentations that will percolate new ideas for planners. Then, the second marketplace session will kick off, the last opportunity at the conference for travel industry professionals to impress trip planners.

The closing luncheon is always full of surprises, so attendees will not want to miss it before they head home. The meal will be sponsored by Visit Wichita, the host city for the next Going On Faith Conference, which will be held August 19-21, 2020.

A tasting at Ferris Coffee & Nut Co.

Request Your FREE Planner Call 1-800-322-8198 or order it online at:

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Exploring Frederik Meijer Gardens

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going on faith [ summer 2019 ]

Grand Rapids at dusk

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HOW TO

HOW TO P RO M OT E T R I P S O N L I N E

I

BY B R I A N J E W E L L

n the past 20 years, the Internet has changed almost everything about the way people buy travel. It should change the way you sell travel, too.

No matter what kind of program you operate, from a large tourism company to a small church travel ministry, you should be leveraging the tools of the 21st century to help promote and sell your trips.

Having a website, social media accounts, an email list and other important online marketing channels can help you stay in touch with current travelers, reach new people with your message and promote the mission of your organization.

You may be skeptical about whether you need to promote trips online.

Perhaps you’re interested in reaching travelers only from your congregation or small town. And maybe you’ve been doing fine with traditional promotional techniques for a long time. So why try to develop an online marketing plan, especially if doing so involves learning a bunch of new skills?

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going on faith [ summer 2019 ]

1)

BUILD A SIMPLE WEBSITE. Any organization that sells anything needs a website. You don’t need a complicated site where you can sign people up for trips and process their payments online. But you do need a simple site to serve as your welcome mat in the digital world.

Your website should have some introductory information for people who want to know more about your program. Explain what you do, why you do it and who is welcome to join. You should also post your contact information and some photos of your group from recent trips.

If you organize travel for a church, you don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Ask whoever runs your church’s website to create a page there for your travel program. When people inquire about your travel program, you can direct them to the website for more information.

2)

BUILD AN EMAIL LIST. Marketers across all types of industries agree: Email is one of the most powerful ways of reaching customers, and a high-quality email list is worth its weight in gold.

A list of names and email addresses of past travelers as well as people who are interested in your program but haven’t yet joined you on a trip allows you to quickly spread the word about upcoming travel opportunities and whatever else you want to publicize. When you’re ready to start selling a new trip, you can send an announcement to everyone on your email list and give them an opportunity to secure their spots by signing up early. You can also use this list to survey travelers about what types of trips they’d like to do.

If you have more than a few dozen emails, consider using a free service like Mailchimp to help you organize your mailing list and create attractive messages for your audience.

Also, don’t be afraid to ask for space in your church’s general e-newsletter to promote your trips. This will likely reach a much bigger audience than your own email list.

3)

BUILD DIGITAL FLYERS. If you’ve been involved in tourism for a while, you probably rely on printed materials to help you promote trips. Whether it’s a tour operator’s catalog or a flyer you create to hand out to potential travelers, these informational documents can be a great way to distribute basic facts about a trip and drum up interest. Today, you need digital copies of these documents as well.

Many of your potential travelers, especially younger people, want instant access to information when they are considering a trip. So instead of their having to wait for a flyer to arrive in the mail or pick one up next time they’re at church, they want you to email them information.

If you already have hard copies of these materials, you can easily convert them to PDF documents to email and then post on your website as well. You should also have a digital schedule that shows all your trips for the coming year.

Tour

SOUTHEAST INDIANA

Dine With History

Twilight Tour Progressive Mansions Dinner

Costumed Guides; Catered Dinner, Delicious Desse

rts.

Dinner at Heritage Farms at Willow Creek

4)

BUILD SMART SOCIAL MEDIA. For many people, social media is destination No. 1 every time they sit down to a computer or pull out their phones. This is increasingly true even of older generations — people of retirement age have become a key demographic for Facebook, and many are spending increasing amounts of time there. This presents a great opportunity for you to reach them.

You could use various strategies to promote your trips on Facebook. You could create a Facebook page for your travel organization or use your church’s existing page to promote your trip. You might find more success by creating a Facebook group — which is different from a page — and inviting past and potential travelers to join the group. That group will be a good place to post updates about upcoming travel opportunities, as well as to share pictures and memories from past trips.

If you don’t want to create formal Facebook pages or groups for your program, you should at least promote what you’re doing through your personal Facebook account. And ask your travelers to share their photos and videos from your trips on Facebook as well.

Nothing inspires people to travel like seeing their friends having fun on the road.

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going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 17

FACES

of FAITH

A Homegrown Traveler

TRAVEL

BY A SHLE Y R ICKS

PAMELA MOORE

[ NEW HOPE BAPTIST CHURCH ]

BY E L I Z A M YE R S

T

TRAVEL PROGRAM: Pamela (Pam) Moore plans faithbased trips for the New Hope Baptist Church in Fayetteville, Georgia. The church’s travel program started more than 20 years ago. The program reaches over 6,000 members and includes other affiliated church members in the area.

hough the historic farming techniques at Jarrell Plantation State Historic Site in Juliette, Georgia, strike many visitors as archaic, to Pam Moore, visiting the site felt like a trip down memory lane.

“I grew up in humble beginnings on a small farm in Rockmart, Georgia,” said Moore, travel planner for the New Hope Baptist Church in Fayetteville, Georgia. “I grew up with a mule plowing the field, canning what we grew and sometimes getting by without running water. When we tour places like this, some of the other travelers and I get to reminisce.”

Senior citizens in the Fayetteville area love Moore’s trips both near and far. Moore will even contact the local senior citizens center to coordinate trips so that none of her trips conflict with a special event at the center.

Though the core of the group is age 50 or above, Moore relates that an increasing number of younger travelers have been signing up. Members commonly bring their children and grandchildren, so Moore treats each trip as potentially multigenerational.

Though Moore grew up with a farming background, she had traveled extensively

FAVORITE BIBLE VERSE: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not onto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path.”

Proverbs 3:5-6

TRAVEL TIPS

HOMETOWN: Rockmart, Georgia

FAVORITE DESTINATION: Though Moore cherishes many of the countries she has visited, one of her most memorable destinations is Israel. She describes the country as the only place other than her own residence where she feels home.

TIP 1 Expect the unexpected.

You know what they say about the best-laid plans of mice and men.

TIP 2 Remember to smile. Say something kind every chance you get.

Make good memories. Love your group and your driver. Enjoy the journey.

HOBBIES: Moore loves to read, cook, sing and play with her grandchildren.

She was also the pianist at her local church beginning at age 8 and now plays professionally.

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going on faith [ summer 2019 ]

TIP 3 Take advantage of the wealth of support and information from other travel planners and groups like Going On Faith.

with her husband, David, before taking over her church’s travel program. She also worked as a licensed dispensing optician for almost 40 years and managed the Peachtree Law Group, a law firm her husband founded, until she retired in 2016.

“I planned trips for my husband and me for almost 20 years,” said Moore. “We have traveled most of the world. However, traveling planning for a group of senior citizens is a whole new planet. I learned you must have clean accommodations, good food and a potty break every two hours. If you miss out on those things, you are not going to have a good day.”

Moore spends hours researching restaurant and attraction reviews for each trip to determine the average length of stay, the mobility challenges and general ratings. She also sharpened her bargaining skills that she originally started practicing when she bought her wedding ring, which she successfully negotiated down in price.

Moore begins negotiations by calling each company for a price quote. She then calls each company back with the lowest quote to see if they will match. She continues this process until she is sure her members will receive the best deal.

“Honestly, those calls have saved thousands of dollars with motorcoach companies,” said Moore. “Some of our seniors are on fixed incomes. I treat their money like it’s mine.”

Moore will even teach seniors modern app technologies to save money.

“One of the most hilarious things I did on a trip was loading Uber and Lyft apps onto people’s phones,” said Moore. “I wanted us to meet at the airport, and I knew we could save some money with these apps. I didn’t know people’s passwords. It was so funny.”

Moore usually plans several day or overnight trips, with at least one or two larger trips a year. Despite touring the world, Moore still finds wonder in trips across the country and closer to home.

“I planned a trip to Washington, D.C., where we stayed at a wonderful hotel with the best view of the Arlington Cemetery and the Washington Monument,” she said. “We also recently went to Savannah.

We ate at Mrs. Wilkes’ Dining Room and had the best food I’ve ever had in my life.”

With all her travel planning know-how, Moore still believes some of her most important life lessons came from her parents.

“My dad plowed with a mule, was self-educated, had many businesses and played several instruments,” said Moore. “He was the smartest man I’ve ever known. My mother was the strongest woman I’ve ever met. She taught me the value of hard work, integrity and an unswerving faith in God.”

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Visit TourismCares.org. See the possibilities.

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going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 19

PASSPORT

STAMPS INTERNATIONAL SPOTLIGHT

LUXOR EGYPT

A woman explores Luxor Temple, which was constructed starting in 1400 B.C.

BY E L I Z A MY E R S

R A M S E S II Though the identity of the pharaoh in Exodus is much debated, many scholars believe that King Ramses II was the historical figure Moses spoke to in the Bible. The Bible says the Israelites built the supply cities Pithom and Ramses for Pharaoh; Egyptian records confirm similar building projects during the reign of Ramses II.

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hen Moses stood up to Pharaoh in Exodus, he faced not only the ruler but also one of the most powerful civilizations of all time.

To more fully understand the fascinating culture and extraordinary wealth of ancient Egypt, faith-based groups should travel to Luxor.

Often called the world’s greatest open-air museum, Luxor preserves the Egypt that captures the world’s imagination. Treasure-filled tombs hold the remains of legendary pharaohs and massive temples rise from the desert.

Luxor sits along the banks of the River Nile on the 4,000-year-old site of Thebes. Once described by

Homer as a “city with a hundred gates,” Thebes served as the capital of Egypt from 1550 to 1069 B.C., when the kingdom stretched from Nubia to Palestine with a population of a million.

Biblical tours to Egypt almost always include Luxor, since pilgrims can walk the same path as Moses. The southern Egyptian city makes an excellent base for exploring northern Egypt or as a starting point for a Nile cruise.

Groups can tour the well-preserved remnants of this once-vast civilization starting at the Luxor Museum, one of the country’s top-rated museums. The Luxor Museum tells the story of ancient Thebes from the Old Kingdom right up to the Islamic Period.

TO P AT T RA C T ION S

FOR CHURCH GROUPS

MUST-DO: To escape the heat, many visitors soar up in the early hours of the morning or just after sunset on a hot-air balloon ride, the town’s most popular activity, to view the temples, the village farmland and the River Nile from above.

• LUXOR TEMPLE — The Luxor Temple is one of the world’s oldest buildings continually used as a place of worship, though over the centuries, it was gradually buried by shifting sands.

Now uncovered and open for exploration, the grand temple still holds the remains of a Christian church and mosque once incorporated into the site. The Luxor Temple’s construction began in 1400 B.C. and continued during the reigns of two pharaohs, Amenhopis II and Ramses II.

MUST-TASTE: Aish baladi is the Egyptian version of flatbread.

Made with whole wheat flour, the staple dish is traditionally baked in extremely hot ovens and has been produced since the times of ancient Egypt.

• VALLEY OF THE KINGS — Hidden below the desert floor lies the Valley of the Kings, a final resting place for many famous pharaohs, including the boy-king Tutankhamun and the recently renovated Tomb of Seti I. More than 60 tombs have been discovered, though the site rotates a section of 15 open to the public. Visitors love the vivid wall paintings depicting the journey to the underworld.

• NILE CRUISE — The River Nile first became a popular tourist attraction for the wealthy in Victorian times. Today, many luxurious Nile cruises still explore the highlights of Egypt, such as Esna, Edfu and Kom Ombo. Most start from Luxor and work their way north down the Nile.

• KARNAK TEMPLE — Many believe the awe-inspiring Karnak Temple served as the Vatican of its day. Egypt’s largest temple complex contains multiple temples, a sacred pool for offerings and the Temple of Amun-Ra’s forest of 32-foot-tall hieroglyphic-covered columns.

Karnak underwent several renovations in its day with changes made by more than 30 pharaohs.

BRING IT HOME: One of Egypt’s oldest crafts, glass sand bottles are commonly sold by street vendors in Luxor. The artists fill the glass bottles with white and colored sand for decoration.

PHOTO OP: For a jaw-dropping sight, groups can visit the Temple of Hatshepsut. Build in honor of Egypt’s sun god, the grand archaeological marvel sits at the base of limestone cliffs with statues, pillars and hieroglyphs.

An outdoor market in Luxor

A colossus at Luxor Temple

By Charles Drake

• RAMESSEUM — To ensure everyone knew of Ramses II’s greatness, the pharaoh constructed the mortuary temple Ramesseum. Though only half of the original structure survives, visitors can still see parts of the colossal statue of the king, which is estimated to have originally stood at 57 feet.

RESEARCHI N G Y O U R TR I P egypt.travel A Luxor Temple wall carving

By Marc Ryckaert

By Charles Drake Photos courtesy Egypt Tourism Board

going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 21

A

STATE OF FAITH

COLORS OF

ILLINOIS DI S COVER A SE RIE S OF BOTANIC A L B EA U TIES A S YO U TO U R TH E LA N D O F L I NCO L N Courtesy Rockford Area CVB

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Courtesy Chicago Botanic Garden

Illinois gardens scenes, clockwise from top: Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford; Chicago Botanic Garden’s tropical orchids; spring at Chicago Botanic Gardens.

Courtesy Chicago Botanic Garden

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CHICAGO HIGHLIGHT | URBAN GARDENS For a distinctive experience in the Windy City, consider looking below the skyline to discover some of the great gardens on ground level. There are enough notable gardens around the city that Choose Chicago has created a whole itinerary for tour groups that showcases its botanical beauty.

Many groups start in Lincoln Park, one of the city’s most notable green spaces, with a visit to the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool. Another important stop in the same area is the Lincoln Park Conservatory. This indoor garden features tropical palms, ancient palms, colorful orchids and plenty of other exotic plants. The conservatory hosts a flower show each year from late January through May. Further afield of downtown, groups can enjoy the Osaka Garden, a Japanese garden in the Jackson Park neighborhood. There’s also the Chicago Botanic Garden, a 385-acre lakeside site with 26 gardens and nine islands.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE: No group should spend time in Chicago without visiting one of the three institutions at the Museum Campus. This 57-acre park sits on the Lake Michigan waterfront and surrounds the Adler Planetarium, the Shedd Aquarium and the Field Museum, all world-class facilities full of fascinating exhibits and experiences for visitors.

MORE INFO | choosechicago.com

2 ROCKFORD HIGHLIGHT | JAPANESE SANCTUARY

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BY B RI A N JE WE LL

t’s time to experience Illinois in bloom.

From the skyscrapers in Chicago to the Mississippi River towns of the Quad Cities and the Abraham Lincoln sites in Springfield, Illinois has its share of high-profile attractions. But many people don’t realize that the Prairie State also has more than its share of gorgeous gardens.

This itinerary starts in Chicago, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Midwest, then makes a counterclockwise loop around to Rockford, the Quad Cities, Peoria and Springfield. From there, it’s an easy three-hour drive back to Chicago, or groups can continue south to other places.

You should plan at least five days and four nights for this Illinois gardens itinerary. Adding some extra time at destinations along the way will give your travelers more time to experience big-city attractions, Lincoln historic sites and other hallmarks of Illinois.

About 90 miles west of Chicago, Rockford has its own claim to fame in the gardening world. It’s home to the Anderson Japanese Garden, one of the finest Japanese gardens in North America.

The 12-acre garden is built in “pond-strolling” style, which means visitors walk alongside koi ponds, gentle streams and cascading waterfalls to see traditional gravel gardens as well as beautiful Japanese trees, shrubs, bushes and flowers. Groups can get private docent-led tours.

Another popular garden attraction in the area is Nicholas Conservatory and Gardens, which sits alongside a walking path on the banks of the Rock River. The outdoor gardens include colorful flowerbeds, a floral clock and an accredited rose garden. And the indoor conservatory features an 11,000-square-foot exhibit area with water features, sculptures and tropical plants. The conservatory features a spring butterfly exhibit and an orchid exhibit with varieties of this exotic flower from around the world.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE: The Tinker Swiss Cottage and Gardens preserves the 1865 home of Robert Tinker, who fell in love with Swiss architecture during his travels in Europe and wanted to build a Swissstyle cottage for himself in Rockford. The property also features a three-story Swiss barn and 27 acres of gardens..

MORE INFO | gorockford.com going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 23

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QUAD CITIES

PEORIA

H I G H L I G H T | CHOCOLATE IN THE GARDENS

H I G H L I G H T | SMALL-BUT-MIGHTY GARDEN

Continuing west and south from Rockford for about 120 miles, groups will arrive in Quad Cities, a destination comprising four cities on the banks of the Mississippi River in Iowa and Illinois. On the east bank, Rock Island and Moline offer a number of distinctive opportunities for visitors.

Groups exploring Illinois gardens can start their Quad Cities visits at the Quad City Botanical Center in Rock Island, which features outdoor gardens and an indoor conservatory. In addition to standard overview tours of the garden, groups can schedule special experiences, such as a chocolate tour. In this activity, visitors see chocolate plants in the garden, learn about how they are cultivated and finish with a chocolate tasting. Similar coffee tours are also available.

During December, the Quad City Botanical Garden hosts Winter Lights, a special holiday event that showcases the outdoor gardens decked out in thousands of twinkling holiday lights.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE: John Deere Pavilion in Moline introduces visitors to the history of John Deere, which is headquartered in Moline and has been making farm equipment in Illinois for more than 100 years. Visitors can see some notable John Deere machines and try driving a combine or a dump truck in a digital simulator.

Gardens don’t need to be large to be significant. In Peoria, about 90 miles southeast of Moline, the five-acre Luthy Botanical Gardens will delight horticulture enthusiasts.

Established in 1951, Luthy Botanical Gardens has more than a dozen themed gardens, among them a woodland garden, a rose garden and a hosta garden. There’s also a conservatory for year-round cultivation of exotic plants. The conservatory plays host to four special shows throughout the year: the Spring Show, the Orchid Show, the Chrysanthemum Show and the Poinsettia Show.

In addition to the conservatory and outdoor garden areas, Luthy Botanical Gardens features a rotating sculpture exhibit. Many visitors also enjoy spending time in the garden gift shop, which has gardening books, accessories and tools, as well as garden-themed gifts, jewelry and collectibles. The garden staff also offers special educational programming for groups.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE: On the banks of the Illinois River, the Peoria Riverfront Museum introduces visitors to both local and international human and natural history. The exhibit galleries cover topics such as Peoria history and Illinois River ecology, and numerous interactive experiences are offered for visitors.

MORE INFO | visitquadcities.com

MORE INFO | peoria.org

Peoria Riverfront Museum

Courtesy Peoria CVB

Quad Cities Botanical Center Conservatory

Quad Cities Botanical Center Courtesy Quad Cities CVB

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Luthy Botanical Gardens Courtesy Quad Cities CVB

Courtesy Peoria CVB

5 SPRINGFIELD H I G H L I G H T | INTERNATIONAL GREE N H O U S E About 75 miles southeast of Peoria, Springfield is Illinois’ capital city and offers a host of group tour attractions, including several related to Lincoln.

But garden lovers will also want to stop at the Washington Park Botanical Garden, which is part of the Springfield park system.

Washington Park features 20 acres of gardens with 1,800 species of plants spread throughout 10 garden areas, and a domed conservatory has 150 exotic plants. An on-site greenhouse features additional display areas, with plants from tropical Africa, the jungles of Asia and the rain forests of South America.

Groups will find different plants at the gardens depending on the season.

Highlights include Easter lilies, poinsettias, orchids and Japanese bonsai. There is also a rose garden with 5,000 plants, the largest of its kind in central Illinois, as well as an iris garden, a monocot garden and a monocot collection.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE: Springfield is home to several Lincolnrelated attractions, including the Lincoln Home National Historic Site and the Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. The Illinois Governor’s Mansion recently reopened to the public after a privately funded $15 million renovation.

MORE INFO | visitspringfieldillinois.com

Exploring Springfield’s Old State Capitol

Washington Park Botanical Garden Photos courtesy Springfield CVB

GO ANYWHERE, DO ANYTHING AND SEE IT ALL! Customize your next road trip with Be Native Tours and create a personalized experience for any group. From iconic landmarks and local attractions to Native American and Western culture, let Be Native Tours create a special itinerary of your choice. Whether it’s across the country or down the road, your group travel adventure will be anything but ordinary.

For information, contact:

MORGAN PRIM 405-642-4082 | morgan.prim@chickasaw.net going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 25

BY B RI A N J E W E L L

TRAVEL

SNAP SHOT

ALBANY, GEORGIA

O

Top: Albany’s Flint RiverQuarium features beautiful fish and other wildlife from Georgia’s rivers and the Gulf of Mexico.

Bottom: An alligator at the Zoo at Chehaw

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n most film location tours, groups see places where movies were shot. But in Albany, Georgia, they can also meet some of the people who starred in them.

Albany is home to Sherwood Baptist Church, a large congregation that started its own film studio, Sherwood Pictures, in 2002. Since then, the studio has produced a number of films that found big success in the faith-based market, including “Facing the Giants,” “Courageous” and “Fireproof.”

Today, groups visiting Albany can take a tour that highlights places and people featured in those movies.

“One of the most popular things for church groups is doing our Sherwood Film Tour,” said. Rashelle Beasly, director of the Albany Convention and Visitors Bureau. “‘Courageous’ and ‘Fireproof’ were filmed here in Albany. One of the lead actors who played a police officer in ‘Courageous’ gives the tour.”

The tour takes about 90 minutes.

During the course of the outing, groups will see numerous places that were used in the filming of the Sherwood movies

All photos by Brian Jewell

and learn more about what the filming experience was like for locals.

“They go to the fire station that’s in ‘Fireproof,’” Beasly said. “Some of the firefighters from the movie are still employed at that fire station, so they talk about their experiences. Then the tour goes to the railroad crossing where one of the major scenes was filmed. After that, they go to the store out where the robbery happened in ‘Courageous.’

Sherwood also did a football movie called ‘Facing the Giants,’ so they take visitors out to the football field and the school.”

Many church groups who come for the film tour make a weekend of the experience. They can take the tour on Saturday, then attend a service at Sherwood Baptist Church on Sunday morning. The CVB can also arrange for groups to have lunch at Sherwood after the service ends.

In addition to the Sherwood activities, church groups visiting Albany can learn about the area’s civil rights heritage, pay homage to local son Ray Charles, explore a wooded wildlife park and get to know the fish and animals of Georgia’s rivers at a local aquarium.

ALBANY CIVIL RIGHTS INSTITUTE Perhaps the most famous attraction in town is the Albany Civil Rights Institute. The museum uses images, newspaper articles and oral histories to teach visitors about the struggle for racial equality that took place in Albany and throughout the South.

After touring the museum, groups can visit the adjacent Old Mount Zion Baptist Church, where Martin Luther King Jr. once spoke. On the second Saturday of each month, the church hosts a concert featuring Rutha Harris, an Albany local who toured the world as one of the original Freedom Singers. Harris and her friends tell stories from the civil rights movement and perform some of the songs from that time. Church groups can arrange private performances with advance notice.

ALBANYCIVILRIGHTSINSTITUTE.ORG

DOWNTOWN ALBANY

A Freedom Singers performance at Old Mount Zion Baptist Church

The Flint River runs through Albany, and the city’s downtown district sits on the riverbanks.

Groups can stop to see the Albany Welcome Center, which occupies an 1867 bridge house on the riverbank. The welcome center has a 12-minute introductory film and historical exhibits, as well as a gift shop.

From there, visitors can take the short stroll down the Flint River Walk to Ray Charles Plaza.

Charles was born in Albany, and the city honors him with a larger-than-life statue of him singing at a piano. The statue slowly rotates in a complete circle, and a speaker at its base plays some of his most popular songs on a continuous loop.

VISITALBANYGA.COM

ZOO AT CHEHAW Chehaw is a city-owned park that spans 700 acres of woodland on the outskirts of Albany. Part of that space is a 100-acre zoo that features large, free-range animal habitats. Groups can tour the zoo with a guide to see some of the 21 alligators in the swamp area, including “Big Charlie, who is more than 13 feet long. The zoo also offers interactive demonstrations with various animals, such as a pair of Bactrian camels.

The zoo also offers a safari experience, during which visitors encounter zebras, impalas, rhinoceroses and other animals from Africa.

CHEHAW.ORG/ZOO

Ray Charles Plaza

FLINT RIVERQUARIUM Groups touring Albany should include time to visit the Flint RiverQuarium, which highlights the fish and animals that are native to the Flint River as well as creatures from the Gulf of Mexico, where the river ends. The highlight of the aquarium is its 175,000-gallon, open-air blue hole spring exhibit that features hundreds of different aquatic species.

In addition to the blue hole spring, the aquarium features a caverns exhibit with a re-created cave that showcases subterranean creatures and an aviary with quail, ducks and numerous other species of birds native to the area.

FLINTRIVERQUARIUM.COM

Flint RiverQuarium

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F O U N DAT I O N A L

FA I T H S

B Y LI SA HORNU NG

D I S C OV E R A M E R I C A’S D I S TI NC TI V E RELI GI OUS HERI TA GE I N THESE DESTI NATIONS Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill sits on 3,000 acres of rolling Kentucky landscape.

A Shaker Village sunflower

Discovering the garden at Shaker Village

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Photos courtesy Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill

o grow in your own faith, sometimes it’s helpful to learn about somebody else’s.

America has been home to numerous distinctive religious traditions, and visiting historic sites and modern communities associated with these faiths can give tour groups new perspective on their own beliefs. Learning about differences and similarities helps visitors expand their knowledge as well as make personal connections with people of other backgrounds.

Here are a few excellent travel opportunities for tour groups to explore their own faith alongside others, learn about faith community history and have a fun time.

[ SHAKER VILLAGE OF PLEASANT HILL ] HARRODSBURG, KENTUCKY The United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, commonly known as the Shakers because of how they quivered during worship, was founded in 1747 in England, then emerged in the United States in the 1780s.

They settled in several locations in the United States, including Harrodsburg, Kentucky, home of Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill. During the 105 years they lived there, the Shakers built more than 260 structures; 34 of them are still on the property.

The Shakers have died out — they were firm believers in celibacy, leaving no possibility of procreation — but thanks to preservationists, Shaker Village has become a destination for those who want to learn about the history of the Shakers, see the working farm or enjoy the 3,000 acres of green space.

Shaker Village is Kentucky’s largest National Historic Landmark and the largest private collection of original 19th-century buildings in the United States.

The Historic Centre is the main location of the historic collections of Shaker art, furniture and other artifacts. From there, visitors can head to the farm, where guests can take a hayride, do hands-on activities or meet the horses, steers, sheep and other farm denizens. It’s a working farm, where staff follow the sustainable practices of the Shakers.

Shaker Village has worked with state, federal and private conservation organizations to restore the natural areas surrounding the village, called the Preserve. Visitors can go on interpretive hikes, take nature walks, see a birding blind and even take a paddleboat ride on the Kentucky River on the Dixie Belle Riverboat, an authentic stern-wheeler boat.

While in Harrodsburg, guests can visit the Downtown Historic District, Morgan Row, Old Fort Harrod State Park, the Old Mud Meeting House and the Olde Towne Park. shakervillageky.org

A New Harmony welcome sign Photos courtesy Visit Posey Co.

A contemplative riverfront sculpture in New Harmony

[ UTOPIAN EXPERIMENTS ] NEW HARMONY, INDIANA In the far southwestern tip of Indiana sits Posey County, home of New Harmony, which has been the site of three different utopian societies. The town was established by the Harmonie Society, a religious group founded in Germany in 1785.

The group was forced out due to persecution by the Lutheran Church and eventually landed in and founded New Harmony in 1814. In just 10 years, the society built 180 structures while pursuing Christian perfection in every aspect of their lives, believing that the end of the world was near.

In 1824, founder George Rapp sold the town to Robert Owen, who wanted to establish a community of equals in which education would be emphasized.

Though the society built by the Owenites lasted only a few years, it made significant contributions to science and education. After the collapse, some locals stayed in New Harmony and continued to follow through with studies of geology, arts, literature and more.

In the 20th century, Jane Blaffer Owen, a Texas oil heiress, visited New Harmony with her husband, who was a descendent of Robert Owen. She fell in love with the town and made it her own spiritual and artistic community, commissioning the building of the Roofless Church, the Athenaeum, a spiritual retreat center and much more.

New Harmony is an excellent place for visitors to enjoy a retreatlike atmosphere. Church Park includes sculptures created by famous artists Jacques Lipschitz and Stephen De Stabler. There is the Harmonists Labyrinth, a hedge maze with a grotto in the middle, and the Cathedral Labyrinth, a re-creation of the 13th-century Chartres Labyrinth in France. Visitors can take a stroll through Our Lord’s Wood, a walking path with art along the way, suitable for reflection.

The town is on the Wabash River, so there is a nice riverfront for visitors to enjoy. All restaurants in New Harmony are locally owned, creating a quaint, smalltown atmosphere. visitposeycounty.com

going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 29

[ OHIO AMISH COUNTRY ] HOLMES COUNTY, OHIO Most notable of America’s distinctive religious traditions is that of the Amish, the Anabaptists who originally came from Switzerland and who live a simple life eschewing most modern technology. Ohio’s Holmes County is a good central location to visit, but Amish country stretches over about seven counties, said Tiffany Gerber, group tour and lodging coordinator for the Holmes County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau. A good first stop is the Amish and Mennonite Heritage Center in Millersburg. It’s the home of the Behalt Cyclorama, a 265-foot-wide mural that shows the history of the Amish and Mennonite people from 1525 to today.

Yoder’s Amish Home is a restored farm open to the public where staff explain the Amish lifestyle to guests. There’s often someone on-site baking, and guests can take buggy rides and visit with the farm livestock. “It’s just a glimpse into a daily life of an Amish family,” Gerber said.

Another type of farm experience is the Farm at Walnut Creek, where guests can visit with more than 500 animals from all over the world.

A local cheesemaker, Guggisberg, has won Swiss-cheese championships, and Heini’s Cheese Chalet makes a unique cheese fudge. Heini’s offers tours and gives each guide and bus driver $15 worth of free cheese.

An unusual cultural experience is the Amish Country Theater, which has comedy shows that poke fun at Amish culture in a friendly way and serves an Amish country buffet. The Ohio Star Theater has regular concerts and events but specializes in Broadway-style productions of Amish fiction. visitamishcountry.com

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Amish goods for sale in Holmes County Courtesy Holmes Co. COC

[ HUTTERITE COLONIES ] GREAT FALLS, MONTANA Like the Amish and the Mennonites, the Hutterites are Anabaptists, and they share a lot of beliefs with those communities. However, the Hutterites believe in community of goods: All material goods are held in common.

Members of the group are provided for equally, and no assets are kept for personal gain.

Surrounding Great Falls are several Hutterite communes, and there is ample opportunity to visit them. Many colonies will set up tours individually and will include the tour and lunch. Each colony is different and wears distinct styles of conservative clothing unique to its particular branch of the faith. The Hutterites can often be found at farmers markets, where they sell their wares, including farm products and artisan goods.

Because of the location, visitors to Hutterite sites are surrounded by Montana’s Big Sky Country, along with Glacier National Park to the northwest and Yellowstone National Park to the south. The Rocky Mountains offers an amazing view that no visitor should miss. Great Falls is also a key area on the Lewis and Clark exhibition trail, so visitors can visit the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Interpretive Center, managed by the U.S. Forest Service, for a historical perspective. centralmontana.com

A Hutterite community in central Montana

Central Montana Tourism

going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 31

Old Salem’s Moravian garden traditions Photos by J. Sinclair, courtesy Visit Winston-Salem

[ MORAVIAN CHURCH ] WINSTON-SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA In what’s now the Czech Republic, the Moravian Church was founded in protest of the Catholic Church. Eventually, the Moravians came to the United States and founded Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Fifteen of those Moravians later walked from Bethlehem to North Carolina looking for more fertile soil; in 1753, they founded Bethabara. Then, in 1766, they created the planned community of Salem, which would eventually become part of Winston-Salem.

Old Salem, as it’s now known, is a historic town where visitors can learn about the Moravian heritage of the area. If a group tour stays a night in a hotel, Visit Winston-Salem will do a free step-on tour around the city. Guides will also tailor those tours to whatever interests the group, said Kay Calzolari, group tours sales manager for Visit Winston-Salem.

Old Salem has many unique interpretive events: Visitors can learn how to make pottery alongside an artisan, bake in a hearth and then eat what they cooked, or visit a Moravian church. The city has two Moravian churches: St. Philips Moravian Church, the oldest African-American church in North Carolina, and the Home Moravian Church. If a tour comes to Home Moravian at Christmas, guests can participate in a Candle Tea, a Moravian tradition that involves singing hymns, making beeswax candles and eating Moravian sugar cookies. The rest of the year, the church is open from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., and members are available to show it and explain the Moravian faith to visitors.

Visitors with a sweet tooth can also visit Mrs. Hanes’ Hand-Made Moravian Cookies, operated by a seven-generation Moravian family. Guests can tour the operation, watch how the cookies are made and sample them. The Tavern at Old Salem offers Moravian Chicken Pie, which is not like chicken potpie, Calzolari said. It’s made with chicken and gravy, with the vegetables served on the side.

Bethabara, only about 15 minutes from Old Salem, has its own interpretive center where visitors can watch a short film about Moravian history, see a restored palisade fort from the French and Indian War, or visit the 1788 Gemeinhaus, a church and meetinghouse. visitwinstonsalem.com

Interpreters cooking in the tavern at Old Salem

Experience More in

Ohio Amish Country Request registration information about The 2020 Ohio Amish Country Spring Frolic

FAM & Travel Show | tiffany@holmescountychamber.com 330-674-3975 visitamishcountry.com

Moravian sugar cake

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PICTURE YOURSELF IN

MESQUITE

Spend a day or a weekend where real authentic Texas culture is thriving in Mesquite, recognized as the Rodeo Capital of Texas by the Texas State House of Representatives. Enjoy the Texas traditions of rodeo and BBQ at the Mesquite Championship Rodeo at the Mesquite Arena. This famous venue has evolved into a regional concert facility hosting thousands for award-winning musicians.

VisitM

teT esqui

X.com

Satisfy any craving from Texas BBQ, and Greek with a variety of restaurants, including a few Zagat-rated eateries and the famous pies at Mesquite’s newest restaurant, Porch Swing. Enjoy shopping at Town East Mall or in Downtown Mesquite. Check out local attractions like the Devil’s Bowl Speedway, Celebration Station, or XscapeDFW Adventures. Give us 15 minutes and we’ll give you an experience like no other.

The dedicated art enthusiast is sure to find something to spark their interest. Mall or Downtown Mesquite. Check out at Devil’s Bowl Speedway, The Mesquite Arts Center keeps a great rotation of local artists in the gallery. Celebration Station or XscapeDFW for a little more excitement. Give us 15 Discover the sounds of the Mesquite Symphony Orchestra or see a show by minutes, and we’ll give you an experience like no other. the Mesquite Arts Theatre.

The vibrant community of Mesquite is also a great place to enjoy the outdoors with more than 70 parks that offer experiences for everyone. Get in a healthy jog or enjoy a leisurely walk along the Mesquite Heritage Trail on your way to nearby shopping and eateries. Take archery or tennis lessons at Westlake Sports Center. Get lost in the history of the community at the Opal Lawrence Historical Park. Hit the links or just a bucket of balls at the Mesquite Golf Club. Take the family to City Lake Park to enjoy fishing and a picnic. The possibilities for outside exercise and fun are endless.

Exhibits at the Blues Hall of Fame in Memphis pay homage to the musical innovators who created the blues.

M U S I C TO

REMEMBER

T HE S E HA L L S OF FAME COMMEMORATE THE BEAUTY OF SO N G B Y REB EC C A T REO N

M

uusic may be one of humanity’s greatest accomplishments.

Whether your taste runs along the lines of classical or country, songs accompany us along nearly every moment of our lives. Groups will enjoy exploring music’s storied history at music halls of fame and museums around the country, chronicling the contributions of the greats.

At music halls of fame, groups can learn about the history of creators and innovators across genres with artifacts from stage costumes and instruments to photos, personal items and even

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By Andrea Zucker, courtesy Blues HOF

cars. At the Bluegrass Hall of Fame, groups can form their own bands with instruments meant to be plucked by the public, and at the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, groups can attend a sock hop and learn the dance moves of the era, something not available to the general public but reserved for groups.

Some halls of fame have add-on excursions, like the Country Music Hall of Fame’s tour of Historic RCA Studio B, where Elvis first recorded hits.

Faith-based groups of any age will find something to appreciate and learn at halls of fame across the country, whose interactive and hands-on activities make a visit educational, fun and memorable.

[ BLUEGRASS MUSIC HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM ] OWENSBORO, KENTUCKY Originating in the American South in the 1940s, the twangy sound of bluegrass blends folk, jazz and gospel, using stringed instruments and harmonizing vocals. The Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s 21,000-squarefoot space opened in 2018 as a permanent home to the past, present and future of bluegrass via interactive exhibits that include artifacts such as instruments — like Pete Seeger’s banjo — costumes and posters, video and live music.

Groups can take a self-guided tour beginning with the early influences of the genre, followed by an exhibit that showcases how early rock ’n’ roll was colored by bluegrass. Chronicling a resurgence in its popularity in the 1960s and 1970s, the “River of Sound” takes groups into the modern era of the genre.

“One of the most popular exhibits has been the ‘Pickin’ Parlor,’” said Carly Smith, the museum’s marketing director. “It features a wall of professionallevel instruments which are meant to be played. If you’ve never plucked a banjo, here’s your chance. Making music with friends and family is the backbone of bluegrass music.”

Visitors may want to plan their visit around one of the museum’s live indoor or outdoor concerts, bluegrass jams — held on the first Thursday of every month — or the annual River of Music Party held each June on the banks of the Ohio River. bluegrasshall.org

Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame

Photos courtesy Bluegrass Music HOF

Alabama Music Hall of Fame

W.C. Handy artifacts on display at the Alabama Music Hall of Fame Photos courtesy AL Music HOF

ALABAMA MUSIC HALL OF FAME TUSCUMBIA, ALABAMA Alabama may not be the first place that comes to mind when one thinks of music fame, but a surprising number of musicians and songwriters, managers and publishers hail from the Southern state. Groups can learn about them by exploring the interactive exhibits at the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in Tuscumbia.

The 12,500-square-foot space opened in 1990; it covers genres from classical to pop, honoring the ways in which Alabamians have made the music industry what it is today. Groups can stroll the walk of fame, studded with the bronze stars of inductees and tour exhibits with memorabilia: Think Hank Williams’ outfits from the Grand Old Opry and Happy Hal Burns’ tricked-out 1961 Pontiac Bonneville.

“The thing that makes us different from other museums is that we have several one-of-a-kind items,” said curator John Moseley. “Groups can schedule an old-fashioned sock hop, where we teach dances like the shimmy and the twist and then enjoy refreshments.”

The museum’s hall of fame room features painted portraits of all inductees, and visitors can record songs in the museum’s recording studio and then take home a CD of their song. alamhof.org

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Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville

By Dove Wedding Photography, courtesy CMHOF

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© EPE. Graceland and its marks are trademarks of EPE. All Rights Reserved. Elvis Presley™ © 2019 ABG EPE IP LLC

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COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE Groups won’t have trouble finding plenty to do and see at the Country Music Hall of Fame’s 350,000 square feet of galleries and other space dedicated to country’s traditions and stories. Using artifacts, photos, text panels, video, music and touch screens, the Hall of Fame’s main exhibit, “Sing Me Back Home,” is peppered with rotating temporary displays. It also has a permanent collection with items like Elvis Presley’s Cadillac, plated in gold and ornamented with a mix of crushed diamonds and fish scales.

Groups can enjoy the offerings of the Taylor Swift Education Center on the museum’s third floor, which features instrument workshops, songwriting seminars, art projects and dance classes, among many other programs related to the exhibits in the galleries.

Songwriter sessions, where groups can sit in on an intimate live performance, are held on Saturday mornings. The Legends, Lunch and Lyrics program offers Southern cooking with live music by a local songwriter.

The rotunda, lined with records and plaques, is a must-see for fans. And the entire museum’s architecture is noteworthy: Viewed from the air, the building is shaped like a bass clef, and the front windows resemble piano keys. countrymusichalloffame.org

ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME CLEVELAND, OHIO The mission of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, is to engage, teach and inspire through the power of music.

Groups can enjoy special programs that may include a guided tour with rock ’n’ roll trivia or the chance to perform onstage.

The museum’s various galleries are organized by areas of interest, from exploring past and present inductees to tracing the history of the genre through the decades. Groups may enjoy a docent-led tour to get behind-the-scenes tidbits about rock’s legends. The museum has thousands of artifacts and memorabilia.

“We love hosting groups,” said Sharrona Burns, senior director of sales at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. “They may come as a group, but everyone leaves with their own individual experience, whether they’re taking a self-guided exploration through one of the interactive exhibits or listening to a live concert.”

Though rock fans will want to see their favorite performer’s guitar on display, one highlight is the room filled with working, rock-themed pinball machines for visitors to play. Groups may want to schedule a visit around the summer Rock Hall Series or the Lunch by the Lake live musical performances. rockhall.com

BLUES HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE Memphis is the birthplace of blues music, and groups can explore its rich history through the memorabilia in more than 10 galleries at the Blues Foundation’s Blues Hall of Fame. Opened in 2015, the museum houses artifacts such as instruments from greats like B.B. King and costumes from Koko Taylor, plus other special items from the museum’s more than 400 inductees.

“The Blues Foundation’s Blues Hall of Fame began inducting performers, music and literature in 1980,” said Barbara Neuman, president and CEO of the Blues Foundation. “Throughout the museum’s galleries are interactive touch-screen monitors where visitors can read biographies, listen to music and watch videos about Blues Hall of Famers. The upstairs includes space for temporary exhibits that rotate two times per year.”

Groups can explore the history of the blues with hands-on exhibits and memorabilia from artists like Muddy Waters and Billie Holiday, and a blues library full of books on the subject.

Groups will enjoy learning about the inductees by reading their individual electronic plaques, and a series of sound booths lets visitors choose artists, music and songs to listen to at their own pace. The Blues Hall of Fame and Museum is one of several other small museums within a radius of a few blocks, including the Civil Rights Museum and the Memphis Rock and Soul Museum. blues.org

Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Courtesy RRHOF

Blues Hall of Fame

By Andrea Zucker, courtesy Blues HOF

going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 37

HEARTLAND

TRAVEL GUIDE

EAST COAST ICONS

Sun sets over the Portland Head Light, one of the most photographed spots on the East Coast.

N

DON’T MISS THESE CLASSIC SITES IN THE NORTHEAST AND MID-ATLANTIC

BY PAUL A AVEN GL ADYC H

o matter where your travels take you in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic states, you aren’t far from some of America’s most iconic attractions.

From lighthouses and national monuments to baseball stadiums and locations synonymous with U.S. liberty and freedom, the following are among the

Philadelphia’s Liberty Bell

most respected.

Courtesy NPS

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PORTLAND HEAD LIGHT AND FORT WILLIAMS PARK CAPE ELIZABETH, MAINE The oldest lighthouse in Maine is also one of its most photographed. The Portland Head Light was first lit in 1791 and was the first lighthouse approved after an act of Congress put all of the country’s lighthouses under federal control. The act was signed into law by President George Washington.

The Portland Head Light is on the iconic rocky coastline of Maine. It is owned and managed by the town of Cape Elizabeth and sits along the shores of Fort Williams Park.

“The lighthouse was built because this was one of the busiest ports on the East Coast at the time,” said Jeanne Gross, museum director at the Portland Head Light. “It was really important that ships get safely into harbors to deliver their goods and maintain the safety of the crew on board.”

The base of the tower is original, but the tower was raised and lowered several times between 1791 and 1891, she said. Originally, it was 72 feet tall from its base to its lantern deck and was lit with 16 whale oil lamps. The tower was raised 20 feet by 1865.

“It is still an active lighthouse. It has a directional beacon in the tower, like an airport searchlight,” Gross said. “It is on 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

It is a white, rotating light.”

Groups love to visit, and though they can’t go up inside the lighthouse itself, they can visit the museum in the old keeper’s quarters. The museum contains a number of lighthouse lenses and interpretive displays.

The museum also presents information about the Portland Head Light and what was going on in history during its long life as a lighthouse. portlandheadlight.com

Courtesy Maine Office of Tourism

The newly opened Statue of Liberty Museum

By Julienne Schaer, courtesy NYC & Co.

LIBERTY BELL PHILADELPHIA The Liberty Bell used to reside in Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was signed. As park ranger Adam Duncan said, it is a bell not unlike many other bells. It wasn’t constructed to be the Liberty Bell. It just happened to be in the right building, at the right time and became an international symbol of freedom.

The bell was built in 1776. Its original purpose was to announce the opening of sessions of the Pennsylvania Assembly.

Between 1817 and 1846, a small hairline fracture developed at the lip of the bell and ran all the way up to the area that has Philadelphia stamped into it.

There are many stories about how the bell cracked. One story is that it cracked during John Marshall’s funeral but nobody noticed the crack because the bell was ringing just fine, said Duncan. Eventually, the crack spread, muffling the sound of the bell or causing a buzzing sound instead of “the crisp musical note it was intended to be,” Duncan said.

To restore the bell, the city of Philadelphia did stop-gap drilling, where the insides of the crack were filed down so they would not vibrate against each other and distort the bell’s tone. It was partially successful. The city wanted to ring the

bell for Washington’s birthday in 1846. It sounded good at first, but by noon, the crack went through the word Liberty and up through the crown of the bell. The bell didn’t split in half, but it was irreparably damaged.

It was abolitionists, working to end slavery, who gave the Liberty Bell its name, basing it on the Bible verse inscribed on it: “Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.”

Groups can view the Liberty Bell in the Liberty Bell Center, a beautiful museum across from Independence Hall. It is encased in glass, and visitors can view it and artifacts from the 18th century, watch a video, and walk through and read the history of the bell at their own pace. nps.gov/inde STATUE OF LIBERTY NEW YORK Lady Liberty has stood in New York Harbor since the 1880s and is one of the most iconic American attractions. About 4.5 million people visit the monument each year, but only about 20% of them can access the statue itself, said Suzanne Mannion, director of public affairs for the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation Inc.

Lady Liberty in New York Harbor

Courtesy FX Collaborative

going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 39

Groups that want to tour Liberty Island and the inside of the statue must make their reservations well ahead of their visit because only a limited number of pedestal access passes are granted daily. If your group is unable to secure pedestal passes, don’t despair. The new 26,000-square-foot museum, which opened in 2019, gives all visitors the opportunity to experience it.

The museum celebrates the story of Lady Liberty and invites guests to “explore how the statue has evolved from a National Monument to a global icon,” Mannion said. That is accomplished through the use of artifacts, including the statue’s original torch, and a film that details why the French gifted the statue to the United States.

The Immersive Theater captivates visitors with a virtual fly-through of the statue, capturing the interior views and sounds of Lady Liberty. The museum gallery uses multimedia to show how the statue’s sculptor, Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi, took it from a small plaster model to copper sheets pounded on negative molds to create Lady Liberty’s final form.

The $100 million museum project included island beautification and a secondary security screening facility. Guided tours of the island are not available, but all visitors can take a self-guided audio tour once they arrive. statuecruises.com WASHINGTON MONUMENT WASHINGTON The Washington Monument was built to honor Washington for his military leadership during the Revolutionary War. The granite obelisk, one of the most famous monuments in Washington, was built between 1848 and 1884 and stands Courtesy Destination D.C. 555 feet tall. The pyramid-shaped capstone at the top takes up 55 of those 555 feet.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival at the Washington Monument Initially, the monument was supposed to be hollow. Visitors would be able to walk inside and gaze all the way up to the top of the obelisk. But as it was being built, the organizers started taking donations from private supporters.

In exchange, those supporters were given the opportunity to place an engraved stone in honor of Washington inside the structure.

“It became a bit competitive,” said Mark Ragan, a park ranger with the National Park Service. “They were supposed to be a certain dimension to take the place of a construction granite block. Some are six times that size. They got to be over the top. They WORLD WAR II 1879 EMLEN PHYSICK ESTATE TROLLEY TOURS accepted them, nonetheless. Some are like bas-relief LOOKOUT TOWER sculptures, some are gold and silver, some have semi-precious stones, and some are very simple.”

Iron stairs were built all the way up to the base of the pyramidion so that visitors could see the amazing donation blocks on the inside of the structure, and the steam-powered lift used to place the blocks was kept as a way to transport people to the top. The structure is so popular that the number of Whether your group is large or intimate, the Mid-Atlantic Center visitors has far outstripped the capacity of its elevafor the Arts & Humanities (MAC) offers a one-phone-call solution. tor. The monument was closed for renovation Tours are offered any season of the year with customized itineraries.

August 17, 2016, and is expected to reopen in August 2019 with a new and improved elevator and Contact Susan Gibson, CTIS | MAC’s Group Tour Manager Direct: 609-224-6030 | sgibson@capemaymac.org security facility. visit www.capemaymac.org Tickets to the monument are free but limited.

Supported in part by a grant from Only about 1,800 tickets are given out daily. Groups #CapeMayMAC New Jersey Department of State, 1859 CAPE MAY LIGHTHOUSE should reserve tickets well in advance. Fifteen peo#MoreFunWithFriends Division of Travel and Tourism

A VISIT TO CAPE MAY IS A VISIT TO A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK!

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going on faith [ summer 2019 ]

ple at a time can take the elevator up to the top. They can catch the views of the District of Columbia through two windows in the granite and then walk down a flight of stairs to a small museum that tells the story of George Washington and how the monument came to be. They then catch the elevator back down. nps.gov/wamo FENWAY PARK BOSTON Many people don’t realize that Fenway Park, which was built as a baseball stadium in 1912, also played host to three professional football teams: the Boston Redskins, the Boston Yanks and the Boston Patriots. It wasn’t until 1968 that Fenway became the exclusive home of Boston’s legendary baseball team the Boston Red Sox. The stadium holds 38,805 fans. Groups of 12 or more can either schedule a private tour of Fenway Park or go on one of the 60-minute public tours that are offered daily. Most visitors want to see Pesky’s Pole, the right-field foul pole, so named for Johnny Pesky, a Red Sox player who was never a power hitter but hit a home run that ricocheted off the pole and the Green Monster, the 37-foot-high green wall in left field.

Groups also get the chance to see the Fenway Park Living Museum collection, which has more than 170,000 artifacts related to Fenway Park and the Boston Red Sox, among them items from Red Sox legends Ted Williams, Babe Ruth and Carl Yastrzemski. There are displays along the Fenway Park concourses and in the Nation’s Archives at the Royal Rooters Club.

The Boston Red Sox won nine World Series championships and played in 13 since the baseball franchise was founded in 1901. Their most recent win was in 2018. mlb.com/redsox/ballpark

By Kyle Klein

Boston’s Fenway Park

S E P T E M B E R 2 8 , 2 0 1 9 – F E B R U A R Y 1 7, 2 0 2 0

What can a life tell us about an era? Follow the untold story of

Richard St. George, an Irish soldier and artist whose personal trauma and untimely death provide a window into the entangled histories of the American Revolution and the ensuing bloody Irish Revolution of 1798. This special exhibit will reunite five portraits of St. George, his personal artwork, and more than 100 artifacts, manuscripts, and works of art from Australia, Ireland, England and the United States, many of which will be on display in America for the first time.

Harp image - The Internet Archive/Boston Public Library; Painting (LEFT) - Private Collection; Painting (RIGHT) - National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne Felton Bequest, 1922

B O O K Y O U R G R O U P V I S I T T O D AY ! groups@amrevmuseum.org

www.amrevmuseum.org

3RD & CHESTNUT STREETS, PHIL ADELPHIA

going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 41

FAITH

CENTERED

NEW MELLERAY Visitors can join monks in prayer services at New Melleray Abbey.

ABBEY

Courtesy New Melleray Abbey

W

BY ELIZA MYERS

hen people first enter New Melleray Abbey, a Trappist monastery near Dubuque, Iowa, the most noticeable is the silence. The monastery insulates itself from the busy and noisy modern world with 3,000 acres of farmland, forests

and church buildings.

Each day, about 30 monks rise before dawn to attend Vigils, a prayer service that starts at 3:30. The rest of their day revolves around seven group prayer services known as the Liturgy of the Hours. During the day, the monks keep their talk to a minimum so that most all you hear is chanted prayers, ringing bells and the sounds of nature.

This life of quiet contemplation appeals to both Catholics and Protestants looking to disconnect from their day-to-day lives and reconnect with God. When not in prayer services, visiting groups enjoy contemplating their natural surroundings. Even the area around the monastery stays relatively tranquil with sparsely populated small towns.

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LOCATION Peosta, Iowa SIZE: The abbey buildings occupy 20 acres on a total of 3,000 acres.

CAPACITY: The Guest House offers 22 rooms.

Day retreats consist of about 30 participants each.

CONTACT INFO: 563-588-2319 newmelleray.org

A NEW BEGINNING

RETREAT GUIDANCE

When the Great Potato Famine struck Mount Melleray Abbey in Ireland, six monks voyaged to the New World to look for verdant farmland. In 1849, Dom Bruno Fitzpatrick acquired 1,000 acres of fertile Iowa soil, one cow and one calf. New Melleray was born.

After the end of the American Civil War, the present stone abbey structure was built by a prominent Dubuque architect to reflect 13th-century Gothic style. Monks remodeled the abbey several times, including converting the north wing of the abbey into a permanent chapel in the 1970s.

Groups can tour the rooms and chapel today to view the simple and elegant designs. One features that stands out is the red oak used for the choir stalls, doors and Eucharistic Chapel. The striking altar consists of granite weighing five tons. Walls of limestone and light-filled windows help create a serene oasis for prayer.

Groups seeking quiet will love the peaceful retreat setting at New Melleray. Monks and visitors refrain from talking in their rooms, the hallway, the library and the area immediately around the church. The abbey emphasizes this request after the 7:30 p.m. Compline service, when the monastic Grand Silence begins; the silence lasts until the 3:30 a.m. service.

Though the abbey hosts only a handful of themed retreats, group leaders can peruse the organization’s retreat booklet for the daily structure, rules and ideas possible during their group’s stay. For example, New Melleray advises visitors to bring their spiritual reading materials, since rooms have only a bed, a desk and a reading chair.

Visitors can also enjoy the abbey’s library, which offers a plethora of spiritually themed books.

Though it’s not mandatory, the abbey advises guests to join the monks for the seven prayer services during the Liturgy of the Hours. To prepare for the 3:30 a.m. prayer, visitors are advised to wake up early and go to bed early a few nights before their stay.

The cloistered community, though welcoming, stays apart from the guests with signs that lay out the boundaries of the monastic enclosure. Guests still have plenty of space to wander, since several walking trails traverse the surrounding 3,000 acres.

WELCOMING STRANGERS At its peak after World War II, the abbey housed 160 monks. In 1999, the monks of New Melleray celebrated the abbey’s 150-year anniversary.

The monks follow the Rule of St. Benedict, a set of guidelines for monastic life written by St. Benedict in the sixth century. The lifestyle is followed by Cistercian monks and nuns, as well as Benedictine brothers and sisters.

One of the values professed in the guidelines is to welcome guests as one would welcome Christ.

The monks at New Melleray follow these guidelines by inviting groups and individuals to come to the monastery for overnight or daytime retreats.

Each room provides towels and linens. Groups can eat home-cooked meals in the dining room.

Talking is discouraged during mealtimes, but spiritually themed music plays in the background.

New Melleray offers several themed retreats each year, including the Lenten retreat the weekend before Ash Wednesday and the Advent retreat the weekend of the First Sunday of Advent. The abbey also organizes the Vowed Life retreat for married couples and the October weeklong Contemplative Living in a Busy World.

BENEDICTINE LAW As advised by St. Benedict, the monks view work as an essential part of their spiritual life. The monks and nuns of monastic communities must support themselves through labor and donations.

The monks at New Melleray use lumber from their land to craft Trappist caskets for the bulk of their income.

The monks also maintain an organic garden that helps feed them and the year-round visitors. A shop selling the caskets sits across the road from the monastery. Groups looking for a quick stop can tour the casket shop, browse the abbey’s gift shop and attend any of the prayer services, which are always open to the public.

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