Of Course We Went These four museums define their cities

BY RACHEL CRICK

The magic of museums is they are meccas of human memory and culture. In addition to appealing to the senses and inspiring wonder in those who visit, museums display the great achievements of humans across time and cultures. These educational and aesthetic attractions usually have a connection to the area in which they’re located, making them quintessential stops when traveling to their cities. Their artifacts, exhibits and artworks can be varied but are often centered around a theme that contains a great deal of significance to the local culture and history. For groups, a stop at these four top museums around the country is a must when traveling to their cities.

Field Museum Chicago

Chicago has no shortage of museums to educate and awe visiting groups, but the Field Museum stands out as one of its oldest and greatest. It’s considered by many to be one of the best natural history museums in the world and grew from a collection of items from the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. Its current building, known for its stately Greek-inspired architecture, opened to the public in 1921 on the bank of Lake Michigan.

The museum is home to a large selection of must-see artifacts and exhibitions that explore the natural sciences and humanity across time. One of the most popular exhibitions is the Griffin Halls of Evolving Planet, the museum’s most-visited exhibition, which tells the story of Earth, from its origins to present day. Within the exhibit, visitors can see SUE, the largest and best-preserved adult Tyrannosaurus rex in the world, as well as the skeletons of the first Brachiosaurus ever found and one of the largest dinosaurs to ever live. Another popular exhibition within the Field Museum includes Inside Ancient Egypt, where visitors can learn about the customs of ancient Egyptians and view a replica of an Egyptian tomb and a mummy.

fieldmuseum.org

MUSEUM OF THE U.S. AIR FORCE DAYTON, OHIO

Detailing the birth of aviation from the Wright Flyer to today’s most advanced space vehicles and technology, the Museum of the U.S. Air Force is the top attraction in Dayton. Following World War I, U.S. Army Air Service engineers established a research collection; these were the museum’s first artifacts. It opened in 1923, making it one of the oldest military museums in the country. It has moved several times to accommodate its rapidly growing collections but has remained in its current location since 1971.

“No other century has witnessed as much social, cultural and technological change, and the history of the Department of the Air Force coincides with those changes,” said Meghan Anderson, curator of the museum’s research division.

Some of the museum’s most iconic artifacts and exhibitions include significant historic aircraft, such as the Memphis Belle, a B-17F heavy bomber that symbolizes 30,000 airmen who died during World War II. Also on display is SAM 26000, also known as Air Force One, which was the first jet aircraft built for an American president, and the Titan IVB Rocket, the largest single-use rocket used by the Department of the Air Force. The museum has four exhibit hangars, a missile gallery, a theater, an outdoor air park and Memorial Park. nationalmuseum.af.mil

COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

Country music is an essential part of Nashville’s past and present. Some of the most legendary figures in the genre and in the entire history of music got their start in this musical city, from Garth Brooks to Taylor Swift. As such, it makes sense for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum to be in the heart of downtown Nashville. First opened in 1967, this museum has since opened a massive complex that now features 350,000 square feet of exhibition space and consistently changing exhibits and artifacts.

Prominent exhibits such as Sing Me Back Home explore the roots of country music with rotating artifacts of significance to some of the genre’s most beloved artists. Throughout the museum, visitors will find instruments, stage-wear, recordings and films highlighting these musicians’ greatest contributions to American music.

“First and foremost, we’re an educational institution,” said Dana Romanello, the associate director of museum sales. “We express that through a variety of educational programs. More than 100,000 people participate in those each year

The group experience at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is full of opportunities for hands-on learning. In addition to self-guided tours of the museum, groups can participate in songwriter workshops, where they can write a song with a Grammy-winning songwriter. countrymusichalloffame.org

Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame

THE HENRY FORD DEARBORN, MICHIGAN

Ford Motor Company was founded in Dearborn, a suburb of Detroit, in 1903. The city has since become synonymous with automobiles, and especially the Ford name, so it makes sense that The Henry Ford was founded there in 1929 and is today the most popular attraction in Michigan. However, groups that expect the museum to revolve around Ford automobiles will be pleasantly surprised to find a mind-boggling variety of exhibits. Visitors may struggle to make the connection between the vast collection of artifacts, but it can all be connected through the theme of American innovation.

“It really is surprising and delightful around every corner,” said senior director of sales Amy Cox. “If you’re an automotive enthusiast you’ll love it. If you like the stories of American people and how they persevered, we have a million stories you’re going to love.”

American innovation is a broad subject, and the museum reflects this in its wide range of offerings for visitors. Within the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, the campus’ original 523,000-square-foot indoor museum, groups will find prominent exhibits such as the bus where Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat, the limousine President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in during his trip to Dallas and the theater chair President Abraham Lincoln was sitting in when his 1864 assassination took place.

Greenfield Village, The Henry Ford’s 80-acre outdoor living history museum open during the warmer months, gives groups outstanding opportunities to experience history firsthand. They can step into Thomas Edison’s laboratory or the Wright Brothers’ Workshop, which were transported from their original locations and rebuilt in the village. They can also ride in a Model T, tour a historically accurate 19th century working farm and hop aboard a real steam locomotive. thehenryford.org

BY RACHEL CRICK

The majesty of South Dakota’s Badlands and the Black Hills National Forest draws thousands of travelers to the western part of the state each year. This region offers a wealth of attractions for groups to explore, from the scenic beauty of its state and national parks to the stoic faces of past U.S. presidents carved into Mount Rushmore. It’s also alive with history; travelers can experience influences of Native American and Western culture that intertwined to give the area its adventurous spirit.

“In addition to all these amazing parks we have, we have a wealth of attractions,” said Michelle Thomson, president and CEO of the Black Hills and Badlands Tourism Association. “There are so many things to experience in the Black Hills and Badlands area.”

While each nearby town boasts access to the major attractions of this region, these cities also offer unique sights and experiences for those passing through. Between the dense pine forests of Black Hills National Forest and the dramatic spires of the Badlands, here are four stops along the way that complete a signature South Dakota itinerary.

Deadwood

With vibrant nightlife and licensed gaming, the Wild West is still alive in Deadwood. Founded during the Gold Rush in 1876, this historic town boasts its rowdy past with plenty of museums detailing the many facets of life during this bygone era.

“The entire town is actually a national historic landmark,” said Thomson. “In addition to the gaming and Wild West, they also have a lot of events throughout the year.” deadwood.com

One of the city’s most prominent attractions is Mount Moriah Cemetery, a historic cemetery where Deadwood’s most famous dead are buried. This cemetery is the final resting place for notorious folk heroes such as Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane.

At Broken Boot Gold Mine, groups can tour a gold mine that shut down permanently in 1918. The mine, made its owners more profit from fool’s gold than yellow gold, but it’s been a faithful tourist attraction showcasing the area’s history for nearly 70 years. Another popular museum, the Brothel Deadwood, is set in a historic building that once served as a brothel and highlights some of the more scandalous history in the town and the entire West.

The Native American history of the region, particularly of the Lakota Tribe, is celebrated at Tatanka, a Native American Interpretive Center. Groups can hear the story of the bison from Native American interpreters, buy authentic Native American art and jewelry, and see 14 bronze sculptures of Lakota riders pursuing bison on the center’s grounds.

Deadwood features historic hotels and casinos up and down Main Street where groups can stay, play and dine. Downtown, at the Silverado Franklin Historic Hotel and Gaming Complex, groups can enjoy slots, table games and a poker room, then dine at the Legends Steakhouse for a hand-cut Angus steak or chops. Or, they can eat at the casino’s Vegas-style buffet, Silverado Grand Buffet, which features everything from wood-fired pizzas to prime rib.

Rapid City

With the Rapid City Regional Airport and easy access to railroads and interstates, Rapid City is a hub for the Black Hills and Badlands region. Though it only has a population of about 75,000, it features plenty of group-friendly attractions. One of the most notable is its proximity to Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Groups can see the iconic American landmark for themselves or enjoy all the presidential tributes around Rapid City.

“The big thing that Rapid City is known for would be the City of Presidents, which are life-sized bronze sculptures of all the past presidents on downtown street corners,” said Thomson.

These bronze statues, the first of which were commissioned by the city in 1999 and 2000, are the real heights and weights of past U.S. presidents. They’ve become a symbol of the city and a beloved way to experience it. Groups often enjoy a City of Presidents walking tour, which will take them around the city for equal parts sightseeing and history lesson.

Another way to experience the city and make history come alive is with a tour of the Mt. Rushmore Black Hills Gold Factory. During this signature Rapid City experience, groups will learn about the process of making the signature Black Hills Gold jewelry and the factory’s significance to the city’s history.

Rapid City is also a hub for culture, featuring an abundance of museums, shops and arts centers. These group-friendly attractions include the Journey Museum and Learning Center, the South Dakota Air and Space Museum, Tusweca Gallery and the Dahl Art Center.

The city also has another surprise that will delight groups: Chapel in the Hills is a replica of Norway’s Borgund Stavkirke. This beautiful and ornate example of Scandinavian architecture also features a museum and gift shop for guests to peruse while they admire its craftsmanship.

For a signature South Dakota dining experience, groups can head to Fort Hays Chuckwagon Supper and Show, a music show and restaurant that serves up both Western entertainment and hearty, downto-earth meals.

visitrapidcity.com

Custer

Custer is the oldest town in the Black Hills National Forest region. Once a popular destination for mining, the land eventually became a state park and city. It is centrally located between state and national parks and prominent South Dakota monuments and memorial sites.

“Custer is in the middle of all of these parks,” said Thomson. “Their easy access to the parks is mostly what Custer is known for.”

With all the nearby natural scenery, it should come as no surprise that outdoor recreation is popular in Custer. In addition to hiking, biking, horseback riding and kayaking, travelers can explore the earth and sky around Custer in more unusual ways, such as UTVs, hot air balloons and helicopters.

The city is just outside the entrance to Custer State Park, a 71,000-acre wildlife preserve where bison, elk, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs and many other species roam. Groups can take take the Buffalo Safari Jeep Tour, a wildlife safari adventure from an open-air Jeep.

Due west at Jewel Cave, a national monument and the world’s third longest cave, groups can take a guided cave tour to witness the stunning natural formations within.

Crazy Horse Memorial calls Custer its home. This iconic monument is a tribute to the Lakota leader named Crazy Horse and honors Native American heritage in the Black Hills. Groups can learn about, its significance and the logistics behind its ongoing construction by taking a ride up the mountain or perusing the campus welcome center.

To refuel after a day of sightseeing and outdoor adventures, groups can stop at the Mount Rushmore Brewing Company, a brewpub with both a taproom taproom, groups will find seasonal, local craft beer and bar staples like pizza, burgers and sandwiches. Upstairs at the Pounding Fathers restaurant, groups can choose from a selection of sophisticated dishes, like scallops, Cornish game hen and pork ossobuco. visitcuster.com

Wall

With fewer than 2,000 residents, a tiny town on the western edge of the Badlands may seem an unusual stop for travelers. But for groups traveling through South Dakota, Wall offers several distinct attractions that make it a must-see stop on any itinerary.

Wall has a long history of being a stopover in South Dakota because of the Wall Drugstore, also known as Wall Drug, which became the preferred place for travelers to rest and eat after visiting Badlands National Park, which is one of the state’s most awe-inspiring natural attractions.

“Wall Drug Store opened in 1931 and started offering free ice water to travelers who were traveling across the state of South Dakota on the way to the Black Hills,” said Thomson.

Today, Wall Drug attracts over 2 million visitors a year. With plentiful options for shopping and dining, and of course, free ice water, it’s the perfect place to grab a South Dakota souvenir and refreshments. Wall Drug’s Western Art Gallery Restaurant can accommodate 500 customers, and serves up hot beef sandwiches, buffalo burgers and 5-cent coffee. The restaurant is also known for homemade doughnuts, and true to its name, the collection of Western-themed art adorning its walls.

Besides Wall Drug, Wall is close to Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, a relic from the Cold War. Here, groups can visit a nuclear missile silo and learn about the significance of the U.S. arsenal of nuclear weapons that still reside in the Great Plains.

To see the plains untouched, as they would have been 150 years ago, Buffalo Gap National Grasslands is another nearby stop. These grasslands offer groups sweeping views of the unspoiled South Dakota prairies, with opportunities for wildlife viewing, hiking and horseback riding.

For a look at how the pioneers who settled the Great Plains during the early 20th century lived, groups can stop at the Prairie Homestead, Brown’s original sod home, which was built in 1909. wall-badlands.com