Ruddy’s 1930’s General Store Museum – Desert Views Road Trip Part 4

Neek sez:

Located in the heart of Downtown Palm Springs is one of the most unique museums that we have ever encountered.

A fellow named James Ruddy had spent decades acquiring general store merchandise and memorabilia.  Some of the items were bought directly from a Midwest Depression Era liquidator who had kept the products in his basement for over 40 years.  More than 6,000 of the items are in their original condition and 95% are filled with their original contents.  So, that box of 1930’s Uneeda biscuits probably have the original biscuits inside.

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Romance and Sex Life of the Date? – Desert Views Road Trip Part 3

Lex sez:

Our next stop on our little desert road trip took us to Indio.  One place that Neek, Sar and I were really curious to visit was Shields Date Garden.  I had never been to this place before even though I love dates; as a child my parents took me to another place that sells dates in Cabazon, Hadley Fruit Orchards (more on that in a later episode).  But I had seen the place before on a Huell Howser TV show on public television, so I was very excited to experience the place!

Approaching the driveway, the Shields Date Garden sign from 1953 with a knight in shining armor pointing toward the main entrance is a standout sight. 

A Journey to Salvation Mountain – Desert Views Road Trip Part 2

Neek sez:

Leonard Knight must have been very impressed when he saw a hot air balloon fly near his home in Vermont in 1971.  When he later moved to Nebraska, he built his own balloon with the words, “God is Love” but never got it to fly.  Finally in 1984, Leonard moved to a remote desert town in California called Niland and decided this would be the place to build his testimonial to God.

Four years into building his mountain, Leonard Knight’s hard work crumbled into a heap of sand and rubble.  Although Leonard originally wanted to make his structure from concrete, the material was very expensive and he began mixing sand into it to stretch it out.  The sand caused the instability. 

The Palm Springs Mid-Century Modern Visitor’s Center – Desert Road Trip Part 1

It seems like we just can’t stay away from the road!  Neek, Sar and I once again piled into the car and took off.  Once again, one of my sisters (the youngest) was getting married and we were invited.  But it wasn’t in Oregon; this was a destination wedding in Palm Springs, California.  We decided to make the most of this occasion and planned a desert road trip!

The first place we wanted to visit, even before checking into our hotel, was the Palm Springs Visitor Center.  It was originally an Enco service station called the Tramway Gas Station, named so because of its location at the foot of Tramway Road, which leads to the base of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. 

Ghirardelli Chocolate Outlet and Ice Cream Store in Lathrop, California – Road Trip Day 12 Ep. 31

Neek sez:

It seemed fitting to finish up our road trip by visiting the Ghirardelli Chocolate Outlet store and having a decadent sundae.  They are the masters in making the most incredible ice cream delights.

After hearing about the gold discovery at Sutter’s Mill, Domenico Ghirardelli sailed from South America where he had a confectionary store in Lima, Peru.  The news of the gold strike must have been enticing enough for Ghirardelli to open a tent store in Stockton, California in 1849 to sell his products to the miners.

Sutter’s Fort – Refuge for the Donner Party and Victims of Misfortune – Road Trip Day 11 Ep.30

Lex sez:

Thinking back on my elementary school days, some of my favorite moments, outside of lunch and recess, were the times we went on field trips.  Sure, a lot of the joy I received at the time was escaping the tediousness of the classroom, but there was also the excitement of discovering new things and going fun places!  Of all my field trip memories, my favorite is the trip I took in 4th grade to Sacramento.  We got to see the capitol building, had what I considered a real treat at the time eating dinner at McDonalds and stayed overnight in a hotel!  But the highlight in my mind was visiting Sutter’s Fort.

It seemed extremely appropriate that when Neek, Sar and I arrived at Sutter’s Fort, there was a group of students, the same students we saw in Old Town Sacramento, arriving there for a field trip! 

Historic Old Sacramento – Underground Tunnels and Old Buildings – Road Trip Day 11 Ep.29

Neek sez:

Old Sacramento is located within the Old Sacramento Historic District which is a U.S. National Historic Landmark District.  The city of Sacramento was developed in the mid-nineteenth century as an extension of Sutter’s Fort as the Sacramento River was the main waterway to the west coast.  John Sutter was the owner of the fort and Sutter’s Mill where gold was found setting off the California Gold Rush.

The waterfront was subject to flooding on a regular basis before the levees were built.  This caused much damage to the buildings in the area and brought in disease such as cholera.