We drove into Hot Springs - maybe we will hike over from Gulpha Gorge campground again another day - call us lazy today. We had discovered yesterday the trick to the "free" parking. You can only reach it from the secondary street. No free parking is available on Central Avenue and don't even try to drive through the paid lots to get to the free lot.
The Ohio Club was very nicely reviewed and full of history so it was our destination for lunch. It certainly had atmosphere and our sandwiches were excellent.
The Ohio Club was a favorite of the mobsters (Al Capone, Bugsy Segel, Lucky Luciano) during its speakeasy days.
Evidence of the former speakeasy's false wall still shows in the linoleum between the front door and the bar.
Al Jolson graced this stage in 1915 and Mae West in the mid '30s. It still comes alive 7 nights a week.
Although gambling was legal in 1905 and then illegal in 1913, it remained a part of the Ohio Club until 1967.
We have visited quite a few museums during our travels using an annual membership we originally purchased in March 2013 when we visited the Sun and Fun Air Museum in Lakeland, Florida. We were able to renew it by mail last year, but once again, it had expired. It is amazing how quickly a year seems to pass. Renewal rates had increased significantly, so Joani looked for another opportunity. Fortunately, she found the Mid America Science Museum close by.
I think it was actually located in Piney, AR but they used a Hot Springs address (I'm sure for the name recognition). It was west of Hot Springs National Park and we traveled some narrow, curvy roads to get there - making it quite a surprise when we nearly could not find a parking place. We stood in a pretty substantial line just to get in the door. Of course, we had completely forgotten about spring break again, so the place was packed.
I searched for the closest science museum that was on the ASTC list and Mid America fit the bill nicely.
The museum featured several mechanical contraptions from the 1968 movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. They were the original "Steampunk" before there was even a name for such a genre.
Little Dragon Carpet Sweeper, By Rowland Emett, 1968
Designed for the movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Hush-a-Bye Hot-Air Rocking Chair, by Rowland Emett, 1968
Designed for the movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
This 500 lb. specimen is a crystal cluster. Pure quartz is colorless, the rosy hue is due to trace amounts of iron. In 1943, 4000 lbs. of quartz crystal was mined from Hot Springs for radio equipment.
I believe this was one of the best examples of a children's science museum we have visited. The exhibits were well done even if kids (and parents) didn't bother to understand the how and why behind the science. I want an adult tree house like they had!
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