Sunday, September 28, 2014

House on the Rock (videos added 10/24/14)

Friday we decided we'd head west to an attraction called A House on the Rock.  When we got up we noticed the trees in the park were changing.  It was refreshing to see the birth of such vibrant colors.





It was still windy and cool outside.  I think the high that day only reached the low 60's.



This place we thought was a bit pricey, but then after touring the facility we realized why.  It's a place you'd want to visit at least once.  After touring the initial museum of the history of the founder, Alex Jordan, I came away with one distinct impression.  As I read, it stated that his mother was a devout Christian woman, his father - not, nor was he.  It continued, Alex was never satisfied, always wanting more.  They probably intended it in the way of his imagination, but I took it as when God doesn't fill you, you will try to find your happiness with material things, hence in my opinion why he was never satisfied!  As far as Clif and I were concerned, he was a hoarder, but in nicer terms, a collector.  He collected EVERYTHING!  His house he built on the rock was interesting.  I felt I was in a time warp back in the late 60's early 70's, with splashes of the early 1900's.  The ceilings were very low.  If you are over 5'8", you'll have to duck as you walk through it.







He even built this room called The Infinity Room.  He wanted it to appear that there is never an end.
Well, he definitely created that affect.  When you get half way through the room, he has a glass floor so you can see the tree tops.





This is the external view we took after we were finished visiting the place.  They have an overlook off the main highway.



Anyway, back to the house.  Alex liked music, and had the mechanical music machines everywhere.  You received tokens as part of your admission so you can hear them play.  If I can find the video I took on my camera, I will try to upload it.  But for some reason, when I downloaded the pictures, the videos didn't.



Add a quarter to the machine, and this is what it sounds like.
 
 



Each of these mechanical inventions played a tune of some sort as if you were listening to a live band or orchestra.  Simply amazing!





This Asian Room was interesting.



He collected so many carousel horses that they mounted them from floor to ceiling!



This is what the room basically looked and sounded like.
 


Could you imagine playing this organ?



Anyway, we have way too many pictures to post.  You'll just have to visit yourselves to see his collections.  I don't think there is anything he didn't collect.  He had dolls, carousels, nautical, aviation, all transportation for that matter, guns, crowns, jewels, the list just goes on and on.  Amazing.

When you come out of the museums, he has a wonderful, peaceful Japanese Garden.  He carried all this stuff up himself to create his oasis.



After that adventure, we took another scenic route back to camp.  We explored Blue Mound State Park.  They had 2 towers to view from.  It seemed to have gotten windier as the day went on.






The view from up here was pretty.



It was another adventurous day to say the least. :)

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