The Army Museum

Brittany, Leon and Ellie flew out of the San Diego airport, so when my Mom took them to the airport she also took the boys and made and evening out of it by taking them to the Mormon Battalion Museum (or as they called it the "Army Museum"). The boys loved it they came home so excited telling us all about their evening. Since I wasn't there I had my Mom recount their experience...

We were a little late to the presentation, so we went right in to the second portion where we found that we were the only ones in the room (Since it was the last group to go through for the day). The sister that was the guide was then able to cater her presentation to the level of the boys. The first room we entered was a room where we sat on big logs and watched the enlistment of the Mormon battalion from a camp of tents where the saints had gathered after being driven out of their homes. No one wanted to go until Brigham Young told them that the opportunity was an answer to a prayer to the Lord to help fund their trek West. The next room we entered was a replica of a supply store at FT Leavenworth. We were told about how the men and women came here to get outfitted for the trip. There was a simulated rainstorm and the boys got the opportunity to be a part of the presentation by wearing the gear and "uniform" that the battalion members were given there. They were very excited to be given hats and pouches(for ammo) and guns until they realized how big and heavy the guns were. Right off, Carder had to decline the opportunity to suit up because he said seriously that he wasn't allowed to use guns. They had a rifle that was taller than they were and decided that they wouldn't be able to use it as they had thought because of its size and weight and awkwardness. So, they told their guide that they didn't want to suit up anymore. We continued to discuss the things that they took with them and one of the items was the scriptures. They(the battalion members) were told by Brigham Young that if they read their scriptures, said their prayers, and did all that they were supposed to, that they would never have to fight in a single battle during their entire journey. The boys were impressed by this promise. The next room we went into was a replica of being out in the middle of the desert with the ceiling being covered in twinkling stars and only some rocks and old crates to sit on. All of a sudden, there was a big shaking and rumbling of the ground and entire room which startled the boys. You weren't sure if the group was being attacked or what. Come to find out that it was a big stampede of buffalo that had scared the group but was actually a blessing because it gave them food. They also learned how water was scarce for the battalion and they went several days one time without it. They finally found some muddy water that they all bent down to drink because they were so thirsty. We watched a dad tell his son to keep his teeth together while sucking the water in so as to strain the bugs out of the water. We all thought that was pretty disgusting. We saw how sunburns they got and how some got sick and died. The next room told us about the culmination of the journey in San Diego and how they stayed there a while and built some of the buildings in Old Town San Diego. It showed the battalion making friends with the Mexicans and sharing their culture. The boys didn't have anything in particular to say about this part of the tour. The next room was the room where we got our picture taken and could see a real canon and other artifacts. The sister asked if they would like to pan for gold and the boys were very excited. She took us outside into a courtyard that had a stream and gave the boys pie tins with sifting wire in the bottom which she showed them how to put down in the water and fill with the dirt from the stream and sift until they found little pebbles of gold. They could keep what they found. They also went to a station with a big kiln and tables and forms to make bricks. They were shown how to make adobe bricks and could stack and play with some that were made (like blocks). One of their favorite things they could do was to use the water pump to pump water from the well. Carder was so fascinated that he hoisted himself up and stuck his face under the spout while Jaxon would pump the water out. They got to practice washing some clothes on a washboard in a wash bucket and hang them up to dry. Then the sister asked them if they would like to see something really cool. Of course, they did. She had them follow her up several flights of stairs to the top of a tower that overlooked San Diego. There were binoculars there that could be used to look in all directions through the open windows of the tower. They tried them out and could see all the way to Sea World. They thought that the binoculars were pretty cool. They came back down the stairs and checked out the well and practiced turning the handle that would take the bucket up and down to draw from the well. They were curious to hop up on the edges of the well and look into it and see how deep it was. (Of course, you couldn't see the bottom) There were stick horses to try out, but we were a little late and they were closing so we didn't get to do that. Carder tried the water pump one more time and tried to put his entire head under the water (OK, he actually did) and we left having had a great time. Jaxon said his favorite part outside was when they searched for gold. He was bummed that he didn't keep his little nugget that he found. He had thrown it back in the stream because he didn't know he could keep it. I guess that Carder's favorite part was the water pump, but you can ask him. That boy loves his water.