Beach Trip - September 2026
Park Sticker:
- Colonial National Historic Park
- Fort Monroe National Monument
- Maggie Walker National Historic Site
- Cape Hatteras National Seashore
- Fort Raleigh National Historic Site
- Wright Brothers National Memorial
September 22, 2026 - Wright Brothers National Memorial - This site was different from the Wright brothers Bicycle shop in Dayton, OH. It was a celebration of an accomplishment. There was a life size recreation of the flyer with statues of people celebrating the flight. A huge monument on a hill you could trek up to and read a plaque.
The Bicycle shop was a celebration of the failures that led to success. I got more inspiration from the hard work and failures than the celebration of success. The careful documentation, using past knowledge to influence new designs, and just sticking with the vision, no matter how many times it literally crashed. I couldn't help but wonder if, once the joy of success wore off, there wasn't a small disappointment that the "fun" part was over. It was done, they flew. Nothing else they did after that was going to be as monumental.
Does that huge monument on a hill symbolize the success or is it a platitude to the end of a vision that ended in success? Are any of the monuments we errect on hills, paste in scrapbooks, hang on our walls, or document in our development notes anything more than a way to remember the process? A way to remember the joy of thinking through the failures that led to success.
September 22, 2026 - Cape Hatteras National Seashore - I've been to the lighthouse at Cape Hatteras before. The first time I was 8 months pregnant with my youngest. We drove there to see something spectacular. They were moving the lighthouse so the ocean wouldn't swallow it up. It wasn't spectacular and I got sun burnt. If you have never been 8 month pregnant and sun burnt, then you are luckier than me. It isn't pleasant. This time, the dang lighthouse was once again under construction and that seemed appropriate. Got my stamp and moved on.
September 18, 2026 - Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site - I'll probably write more about her later. She was a force. I left her home feeling so positive. I imagine that feeling was true when she was alive as well. The idea that has stuck with me is, she didn't complain and try to change the system, she said f-it and made a system that worked for her and her community. I respect that.
September 18, 2026 - Fort Monroe National Monument - Captain John Smith, indigenous people, safe space for enslaved people during the civil war, defender of the Chesapeake Bay. This place has a bit of everything wrapped in beautiful brick and stone work. We didn't have much time to visit but I'll be back.
