Some great trip memories in 2019. As the summer season wrapped up, I was able to get away to St. Louis for a few days of vacation. This was a trip I had been anticipating for over a dozen years. Ever since InterVarsity moved our Urbana conference to St. Louis in 2006, I had been telling my radio friend Stel Pontikes that I would come back for a tourist visit during warmer weather. St. Louis is a Mississippi Rivertown, just like my hometown of Prairie du Chien, with a rich history. I finally made it to St. Louis in 2019. It started out as a beautiful day for a road trip.

On the way south, took a detour through Ottawa, the site of the first of the famous Lincoln/Douglas debates, August 1858.

Also stopped to visit the Illinois River at Starved Rock State Park.

One of my priorities for this visit was the special exhibition on Pompeii at the St. Louis Science Center.

The Pompeii Exhibition, it was almost like being there.

Some first century glass vessels and a mirror.

First century writing tools: scrolls plus a diptych and stylus.

The glory and the misery of Pompeii. Art and a plaster cast of a volcano victim.

The multi media component attempted to give a realistic experience of what it was like to experience the Vesuvius eruption as a resident of Pompeii.

Another plaster cast of a volcano victim.

Jefferson Barracks, historic military post on the banks of the Mississippi River.

Unique recycling of cannons and rifle barrels.

Another Lincoln statue outside the Missouri Civil War Museum at Jefferson Barracks.

Headed for Busch Stadium.

Ready for a good game with my friend Stel, a beautiful afternoon for baseball.

The afternoon game stretched into the evening and the Brewers beat the Cardinals, which made both of us happy, since Stel is a Cubs fan. Unfortunately, the Brewers lost a key game to St. Louis later, which kept them out of the World Series.

Squeezed in a visit to Stel’s “office,” some of the top radio stations in St. Louis.

One more museum to visit, the Missouri Museum of History, which includes Lindbergh’s historic Spirit of St. Louis monoplane.

On the way back north, stopped in Springfield to soak up some more Lincoln history.

Lincoln’s historic Springfield residence.

Mr. Lincoln didn’t have a beard when he lived here.

The sitting room, with a horsehair couch. I remember my grandmother’s horsehair couch.

The Lincoln bedroom.

The old statehouse.

The museum in Springfield did an impressive job of telling the story of Lincoln’s life.

One other fun part of that weekend was a day at Expeditions Unlimited Adventure Center outside of Devil’s Lake State Park with my work colleagues for team building exercises.

Always wanted to do a ropes course, this was my chance.

I think our team did a good job of conquering the course.

Finished up with a canoe ride on Devil’s Lake.