Kit Enjoyed Arkansas and Memphis...

Kit joined me in my working trip to Little Rock, Arkansas
February 9-12. While I worked with my teachers at my
assigned schools, Kit enjoyed tripping around to many
interesting sites. Below are some of the pictures that he took.

After Kit, Betty and I arrived in Little Rock, we got our
rental cars (all 3 of them) and went to the William Jefferson
Presidential Library located along the banks of the
Arkansas River. It is a great museum and we enjoyed
many of the artifacts from Clinton's birth through the
Presidential years.

The museum always has some special show going on during
the year. On this particular day, they were dismantling the
Chopper Show, loading up all the many cycles that had been
on display for awhile. Here is Kit in front of just a few of
the fancy choppers.

Here is the Presidential limo used during the Clinton years.

This is the Cabinet Room used by the Clinton Administration

during the eight years that President Clinton was in office.

Here is Kit, feeling very "executive" sitting in the chair

that President Clinton used when meeting with his

Cabinet. It is hard to tell, but the back of this chair rises

higher than the other chairs.

The Oval Office during the Clinton years looking from the

backside of the President's desk.

The Oval Office - The front view of the President's desk.

On Tuesday morning, I went to my first school to work as

Kit began his day traveling to Hot Springs and Hope,

Arkansas, south of Little Rock.

A view of the springs that helped many to improve

their health ailments. See the steam?

At the Fordyce House, an underground spring was found.

The Fordyce House, individual stalls for those who took

advantage of the hot spring waters.

Inside the Fordyce House

One of the many hotels on Bathhouse Row in Hot Springs.

This is where President Clinton lived with his grandparents

in Hope, while his mother was in New Orleans getting her

nursing degree.

This is the same house in Hope from a different view.

Clinton's mother remarried and they lived in this home in

Hope when he was age 3-4.

This is a picture of Clinton doing an interview with Dan

Rather on the front porch of the same house in the

previous picture. Obviously, this was many years later.

When Clinton's family moved from Hope to Hot Springs,

this was the house that they lived in during those years.

This is at the Train Depot Museum. Kit took many pictures

during his excursion of three days. He visited the cemetery

where Clinton's grandparents, mother and step-father

are buried. He visited the schools that he attended also.

Hope, Arkansas...Home of Mike Huckabee too! Kit met

Huckabee's cousin who worked at the Clinton Museum

where his grandparents lived. Kit returned to Little Rock

after a full day, excited to tell me all about his trip that day,

showing me the pictures too.

On Wednesday morning, Kit was up early traveling to

Memphis, Tennessee, which is located not very far from

Little Rock. His first stop was Graceland, home of the

famous Elvis Presley. We visited Graceland on one of our

trips with the children many years ago. I was so envious

that Kit was able to return and really take it all in again.

This is the front of Graceland. It is beautiful sitting up on

a hill. But I remember visiting it the first time and was so

disappointed that it was no bigger. But it was still a mansion

to Elvis!

Here is the living room. Notice the piano in the background.

Elvis sang and played that piano many times!

Some Elvis memorabilia in the home. The picture is of

his Mom and Dad, Vernon and Gladys Presley.

The elegant dining room...

Bedroom of Elvis's parents. Tourists are not allowed to

go upstairs in the mansion. That is where Elvis's bedroom

is located, where he died.

Television Room...this doesn't show all of the TVs, but

it does show that famous lightning bolt, a symbol on many

Elvis items.

The famous Jungle Room, a favorite spot for little

Lisa Marie Presley.

Another view of the Jungle Room

A view of the back of the mansion.

Lisa Marie's swing set in the backyard.

The swimming pool...

Part of the rooms on the grounds are now where many items

of the Presley family are exhibited. Here are the wedding

garments worn by Priscilla and Elvis at their wedding. They

were married in Las Vegas, then returned to Memphis for

another ceremony for family and friends.

One of Elvis's famous performance outfits.

One pair of those famous dancing shoes that Elvis wore.

Only one of the famous gold records. Who doesn't know

this fabulous song?

Not only is Elvis buried on the grounds, but there is a

marker for his twin brother who died at birth. His parents

are both buried here also. This is a beautiful area with a

water fountain. People are always leaving flowers, cards,

stuffed animals, etc.

Here is a picture of the Lisa Marie, the airplane that Elvis

and his entourage used to fly to concerts, or wherever they

needed to go.

This is a view of the house from across the street. You have

to go across the street to get your ticket to tour the mansion,

the airplane and other interesting things.

After leaving Graceland, Kit went to downtown Memphis

to Sun Studios. This historic studio is where not only Elvis,

but many other famous artists, first recorded their music.

Sun Studios - Birthplace of Rock 'n Roll!

Sam Phillips Avenue - Named after the man who ran

Sun Studios.

Inside Sun Studio, notice the big picture on the wall. This

is a famous photo with four great artists: Elvis, Johnny Cash,

Jerry Lee Lewis and Kit couldn't remember the other guy!

Famous Drums!! U2 first recorded their music here in

Sun Studio. Yes, Bono was in the building!

Next, Kit toured the National Civil Rights Museum, located in

downtown Memphis at the Lorraine Motel. This is the

motel made famous after the tragic event of the assassination

of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Here is the room where Dr. King was staying as noted

by the eternal wreath. The assassinator was in an apartment

across the street waiting for King. As Dr. King stepped

out onto the balcony, the shot rang out that changed the

lives of so many. It was a tragic event for all.

These are replicas of the cars that were at the Lorraine

Motel used by Dr. King and his entourage.

This is a memorial dedicated to Dr. King.

The National Civil Rights Museum.

This is Beale Street, closed off for tourists to enjoy the

many shops, restaurants, and the music.

During the evening, Kit went to the FexEx Forum, home

of the University of Memphis Tigers. Of course, Kit had

to catch some kind of a ballgame while on this trip! Tulsa

was visiting this night and took a whipping as the Tigers

made it a run-away ballgame.

The teams warming up on the court.

The huge scoreboard. The pics look like no one was at

the game. Kit got to the Forum early, therefore these

pics were taken before the crowd arrived. It was a full

arena for the game that night.

On Thursday, Kit stayed in Little Rock to do some more

exploring. He went to the famous Little Rock Central High

School. This school is on the list of historic landmarks due

to the integration event that happened here during the

Civil Rights years of the 60s. It is a huge school, very

impressive.

Another view of the school that is still used by the school

system today.

Monument dedicated to those who were brave enough to

enter the halls of the school beginning the integration of

schools during the 60s.

The Arkansas State Capital, very impressive.

Little Rock is the state capital of Arkansas.

The Governor's Mansion where not only Bill Clinton was

governor, but so was Mike Huckabee.

Downtown Little Rock, along the Arkansas River, you will

find a neat area called The River Market. There are many

wonderful restaurants and shops.

The Arkansas River with the Alltel Arena in the background.

One of many bridges crossing the Arkansas River.

The historic Arkansas State House no longer used by the

Arkansas elected officials.

State House History

Bill Clinton announced his run for the Presidency on these

very steps. After winning the Presidency, he returned here

to celebrate with his many supporters.

Kit had an adventurous trip and thoroughly enjoyed it all.

I made him promise that we would return and take in all

of the places again when I didn't have to work!!