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TAKE TIME TO ENJOY THE BEAUTIFUL WEATHER OF CALIFORNIA, BEFORE I VENTURE
INSIDE THE GENE AUTRY WESTERN HERITAGE MUSEUM ELWOOD DECIDED TO FIND OUT ABOUT SINGING COWBOY STAR GENE AUTRY'S CAREER. ELWOOD WAS SURPRISED TO FIND THAT THE MUSEUM NOT ONLY HOUSED MR. AUTRY'S MEMORABILIA, BUT A TREASURE TROVE OF AMERICAN HERITAGE TO BOOT. |
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MY FIRST STOP IS THE EDUCATION CENTER! ELWOOD WAS JUST IN TIME TO HEAR HOLLY HILL GIVE HER LESSON ON CUSTER'S LAST STAND. AFTER THE ORIENTATION ELWOOD WAS OFF TO SEE SOME OF THE WESTS HISTORY, REAL AND HOLLYWOOD. |
| WALKING AROUND THE MUSEUM WOULD TAKE TOO MUCH OF MY LIMITED TIME. ELWOOD WAS IN LUCK AS HIS FIRST EXHIBIT WAS A LIKENESS OF GENE’S FAMOUS MOVIE HORSE “CHAMPION” WHO GLADLY OFFERED TO HELP THE WEARY TRAVELER ON HIS JOURNEY. |
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RIDING THE OPEN RANGE OF THE MUSEUM I SPOT A BIT OF HISTORY.
ELWOOD STUMBLED ON TO A PIECE OF AMERICANA IN THE SOUTHWEST EXIBIT. EXPLORER JOHN C. FREMONT IN DEFIANCE OF MEXICAN AUTHORITY FLEW THIS FLAG BEFORE WAR HAD BEEN DECLARED BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND MEXICO. FREMONT WAS FORCED TO LEAVE CALIFORNIA ONLY TO RETURN AND STAGE THE BEAR FLAG REVOLT IN SONOMA. HIS WIFE MADE THIS FLAG AND SHE USED CLOTH FROM HER WEDDING GOWN TO BACK IT. IT WAS FLOWN AT GAVILAN PEAK, CA MARCH 6, 1846. |
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