Carving the Way Through Tuskegee History
--Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site
--Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site
Tuskegee, AL
28 May 2018
Introduction
My trips to Alabama have always been last minute and spontaneous. The last time I was fleeing Hurricane Irma [IrmaGerd! Spontaneous Alabama Road Trip!] and was able to visit two National Parks [Little River Canyon National Preserve and Russell Cave National Monument] and Oak Mountain State Park.
This time Tropical Storm Alberto decided to force a cancellation on the Dave Matthews Band concert in Orange Beach, AL. The morning of the concert we were forced to come up with new plans. We began the trip with a 1-night backpacking trip Tramplin' the Tuskegee National Forest. As a bonus, there are two National Historic Sites in Alabama that are rich in American history and would provide two more cancellation stamps for the passport.
The Gear
- Passport To Your National Parks® Collector’s Edition
- Sony A5100 Mirrorless Camera
The Story
Now that we were all sweaty, gross, and scratched up from wandering around and sleeping in the woods - it was time to face civilization. The downtown of Tuskegee was sleepy. It was also Memorial Day so many places were closed. McDonald's ended up being the winner for our post-hiking lunch bonanza.
Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site
NPS: Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site
Tuskegee Institute, nestled inside of Tuskegee University, was practically downtown. All of the gates into the university seemed to be closed, so we parked next to the Oaks. When researching the park, Memorial Day was not on the list of holidays it would be closed. Luckily while walking, we did end up finding a way into the open museum.
The major components of this historic site are The Oaks, the Historic Campus, and the George Washington Carver Museum. All sites and tours are FREE.
Tuskegee Institute, nestled inside of Tuskegee University, was practically downtown. All of the gates into the university seemed to be closed, so we parked next to the Oaks. When researching the park, Memorial Day was not on the list of holidays it would be closed. Luckily while walking, we did end up finding a way into the open museum.
The major components of this historic site are The Oaks, the Historic Campus, and the George Washington Carver Museum. All sites and tours are FREE.
The Oaks - Home of Booker T. Washington
The Oaks was built in 1899 by students and faculty at the Tuskegee Institute using bricks they made. Robert R. Taylor was the architect. Booker T. Washington lived here with his third wife, Margaret Murray Washington. She continued to live in the house following her husband's death. The bricks were very pretty. We lurked around the house for a bit. They have free tours.
But...
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| "No tours on Mondays!!" |
George Washington Carver Nutrition Trail
There were signs along the sidewalk on the university side of the street, which were part of the George Washington Carver Nutrition Trail. The signs feature facts about nutrition and Carver. We didn't walk along the entire way.
The trail works either direction. This was the last sign and on one side it says it's the beginning, and the other the end.
George Washington Carver Museum
As per usual with the National Park Service, the museum was very well done. The fine details, actual replicas from Carver's time at the institute, easy to understand information and concepts, inspiring quotes, and frequent bulletin excerpts added to the immersive effect of the museum.
1881 - Booker T. Washington moved to Alabama and started to build the Tuskegee Institute. Almost literally brick by brick. Washington ensured he only had the best faculty teach and shape the institute.
1896 - George Washington Carver arrives, and his research and innovations boosted Tuskegee's national status.
I really enjoyed 'The Weed's Philosophy' poem by Martha Martin in Bulletin No. 43. It questions existence and purpose - concepts I struggle with myself. Cockroaches, mosquitoes, ants, weeds - completely unwanted, but they were born as they are, no fault of their own, perhaps more cognitive than we wish to acknowledge.
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| "Though I live but to die" |
The photograph below is a common and respected siting of Carver carrying his specimen case. Beneath the photo is the exact specimen case itself.
Carver was a man of many talents - botanist, inventor, professor, researcher, leader, writer, scientist, humanitarian, environmentalist, etc. Some of his most notable achievements include:
- Promotion of alternative crops to cotton, namely peanuts, soybeans, and sweet potatoes. This would improve the soils that were depleted due to all the cotton plantings and would also improve the lives of poor farmers by encouraging them to grow their own food.
- Encouraged methods of crop rotation
- Published 44 bulletins for farmers containing information on soil techniques, sustainable farming methods, and even a bunch of recipes! [Tuskegee University - Carver Bulletins]
Peanut recipes! Anyone interested in trying some peanut mac n cheese?
SPACE! NASA!
Below is a basic replica of the Jessup Wagon, Carver's Agricultural Schools on Wheels - 'a demonstration laboratory on wheels'. He used the wagon in order to assist remote, rural farmers in learning the developed farming practices. New York banker/philanthropist Morris K. Jessup provided much of the funding for the wagon's creation and operation.
American Chemical Society - George Washington Carver
----------------------------------------------------------------Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site
NPS: Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site
National Park Planner: Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site
Ten minutes down the road from the Tuskegee Institute is the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site at Moton Field. Also free admission, there are two hangar museums that go in depth about the origins, training, and cultural aspects of the Tuskegee Airmen. Most noticeably -
The Double Victory
Victory in the war abroad.
&
Victory against racism in America.
There is a spacious parking lot with some informational signs that begins the path downhill to all of the action.
"In spite of adversity and limited opportunities, African Americans have played a significant role in U.S. military history over the past 300 years. They were denied military leadership roles and skilled training because many believed they lacked qualifications for combat duty. Before 1940, African Americans were barred from flying for the U.S. military. Civil rights organizations and the black press exerted pressure that resulted in the formation of an all African-American pursuit squadron based in Tuskegee, Alabama, in 1941. They became known as the Tuskegee Airmen."
NPS: Tuskegee Airmen Overview
The below sign contains a map of Moton Field and recommends the route to take for a self-guided tour.
There were a few frames of structures that existed during the training. Below is the Physical Plant, home to the Chief Engineer and staff's offices and also equipment storage.
More framed structures and a view of Hangar #1.
According to the National Park Service website, the Tuskegee Airmen were a military "experiment" conducted by the US Army Air Crops to see if Negroes had the mental and physical capabilities to "lead, fly military aircraft, and the courage to fight in war."
Wow...to think this was in the 1940s, which is not really too long ago.
"As Moton Field rapidly took shape, spaces for some functions - like parachute maintenance - had to be jury-rigged until the field was complete. the periodic unfolding and drying out of parachutes required a tower with a forced draft created by a powerful electric fan. Moton Field didn't have a tower until 1943, so a balcony was constructed in Hangar 1 to provide space for parachute maintenance. Riggers hung parachutes from the hangar trusses to dry."
"Who were the women? The women of the Tuskegee Experience worked side-by-side with their male counterparts as mechanics, gate guards, control tower operators, did aircraft body work, secretaries, and clerks. There were three permanent female parachute riggers whose responsibility was to train the hundreds of cadets that filed through the program on the appropriate way to pack and maintain parachutes. Gertrude Anderson served as Assistant to G.L. Washington at Kennedy Field, where Tuskegee's Civilian Pilot Training Program was held. She assumed responsibility for continued operation of the airfield when Washington was transferred to Tuskegee Army Air Field." NPS
Piper J-3 Cub
Track meet!
The engineering behind the plane wings.
"The Double V"
Fighting for Victory at home and abroad.
"The Hangar #2 Museum - Opened February 2014, invites you to take another adventure as you walk through Tuskegee Airmen history. Hangar #2 boasts an award-winning 27 minute movie that opens new insights into some of the struggles faced by those daring young men and women as they reached out for full acceptance as United States citizens. A full-sized replica Red-tail P-51 Mustang serves as centerpiece of the museum. Four mini-video pods explore the subjects of: Who Are the Tuskegee Airmen?; Double Victory - Victory Abroad; Double Victory - Victory at Home; and, Tuskegee Airmen Legacy. As you conclude your adventure, visit the museum's Eastern National Giftshop to take a little bit of Tuskegee Airmen memorabilia home with you." NPS
While Hangar #1 focused on the origins of and training the Tuskegee Airmen, Hangar #2 goes into detail about war combat and the Double V.
A map of the Tuskegee Airmen's missions and bases as well as other Army Air Forces locations.
Also in Hangar #2 is the museum gift shop and the passport cancellation station.
National Park Planner: Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site
Ten minutes down the road from the Tuskegee Institute is the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site at Moton Field. Also free admission, there are two hangar museums that go in depth about the origins, training, and cultural aspects of the Tuskegee Airmen. Most noticeably -
The Double Victory
Victory in the war abroad.
&
Victory against racism in America.
There is a spacious parking lot with some informational signs that begins the path downhill to all of the action.
"In spite of adversity and limited opportunities, African Americans have played a significant role in U.S. military history over the past 300 years. They were denied military leadership roles and skilled training because many believed they lacked qualifications for combat duty. Before 1940, African Americans were barred from flying for the U.S. military. Civil rights organizations and the black press exerted pressure that resulted in the formation of an all African-American pursuit squadron based in Tuskegee, Alabama, in 1941. They became known as the Tuskegee Airmen."
NPS: Tuskegee Airmen Overview
The below sign contains a map of Moton Field and recommends the route to take for a self-guided tour.
There were a few frames of structures that existed during the training. Below is the Physical Plant, home to the Chief Engineer and staff's offices and also equipment storage.
Always finding cool nature things! You don't have to be totally immersed in nature to find something interesting.
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| Male Eastern Dobsonfly | Corydalus cornutus |
Tuskegee Airmen - Hangar #1
"The Hangar #1 Museum is open Monday-Saturday and consists of two main visitor areas: Orientation Room and Museum area. The Orientation Room includes a 4-minute video that introduces the visitor to the Tuskegee Airmen. The Museum focuses on the rigors of training, houses two World War II era training aircraft, and takes the visitor back on a journey to the 1940's through a re-creation of some of the sights and sounds of Moton Field during its heyday. Groups of 10 or more are asked to call 334/724-0922 to make a reservation." NPS
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| "Not one friendly bomber was lost to enemy aircraft while escorted by the "Tuskegee Airmen" - a feat no other Army Air Corps unit can claim." |
Wow...to think this was in the 1940s, which is not really too long ago.
\
Moton Field has been mentioned several times already, but I learned more about Dr. Robert Russa Moton in the first hangar.
Continental R-670 Engine
Stearman PT-17, a variation of the Boeing-Stearman Model 75
"As Moton Field rapidly took shape, spaces for some functions - like parachute maintenance - had to be jury-rigged until the field was complete. the periodic unfolding and drying out of parachutes required a tower with a forced draft created by a powerful electric fan. Moton Field didn't have a tower until 1943, so a balcony was constructed in Hangar 1 to provide space for parachute maintenance. Riggers hung parachutes from the hangar trusses to dry."
Piper J-3 Cub
More on the women of Moton Field.
The War Room / Intelligence Office
Here you can find binders of publications that were issued during the time.
Limericks!
Track meet!
The final steps for a cadet in order to move on up to basic flight training at Tuskegee Army Air Field.
Tuskegee Airmen - Hangar #2
"The Double V"
Fighting for Victory at home and abroad.
"The Hangar #2 Museum - Opened February 2014, invites you to take another adventure as you walk through Tuskegee Airmen history. Hangar #2 boasts an award-winning 27 minute movie that opens new insights into some of the struggles faced by those daring young men and women as they reached out for full acceptance as United States citizens. A full-sized replica Red-tail P-51 Mustang serves as centerpiece of the museum. Four mini-video pods explore the subjects of: Who Are the Tuskegee Airmen?; Double Victory - Victory Abroad; Double Victory - Victory at Home; and, Tuskegee Airmen Legacy. As you conclude your adventure, visit the museum's Eastern National Giftshop to take a little bit of Tuskegee Airmen memorabilia home with you." NPS
While Hangar #1 focused on the origins of and training the Tuskegee Airmen, Hangar #2 goes into detail about war combat and the Double V.
A map of the Tuskegee Airmen's missions and bases as well as other Army Air Forces locations.
Neither battle was easily won.
Also in Hangar #2 is the museum gift shop and the passport cancellation station.
Relevant Quote
“It is not the style of clothes one wears, neither the kind of automobile one drives, nor the amount of money one has in the bank, that counts. These mean nothing. It is simply service that measures success.” - Dr. Carver
