Denver Children's Museum

We visited the Denver Childrens Museum. It is close to opening a new wing with many exhibits, but we had a good time exploring the displays that were open.

They have a fire truck on display and provide child sized fire fighers garb for the children.

Bennett dressed as a fire fighter

Next was a series of machines that used compressed air to propel orange balls thru a series of tubes.

The balls eventually end up in a overhead container that opens up and drops the balls onto the kids who start the process again

Next up was the bubble room. This was full of a variety of contraptions that generated bubbles in various sizes.

This one made bubbles at the end of a hose

This one used big rings to make long tubular bubbles

Pulling a rope on this one raises a square tube that encases you in a square bubble

Last was an exhibit that mimicked the wild life of a forest. This exhibit included outfits for the kids to wear to act as various forest animals.

KATY trail images

I used my photo editing program to enhance a few of the KATY trail images with artistic effects. See what you think.

  

Tiny Town

We met my oldest daughter and her family outside of Denver for a family vacation. We've been hitting the sights, one of which is TINY TOWN. Thisis a great place to take grandchildren as everything there is scaled to be child size. This includes buildings and an operating railroad.

All appears to be normal sized at first glance

But once people are included you can see the actual size

Many of the buildings have scale interiors

The grounds are well maintained

Bennett posing with a house his size

Julie dodging rain drops in front of a cute house

Many of the buildings have historical significance

Notice the house in the background?

The trains are scaled also

The one fired up runs on coal and operates with real steam

open cars are available for passengers

                                    

The train travels all around the grounds

It crosses the creek several times

It includes a child sized caboose

Children only are allowed in the caboose

Bennett just fits

The train crew will take your picture while in the station

 

There is a playground right next to the picnic grounds

 

Everyone get to burn off energy there

Emery horsing around with Grandpa

Looking for grandpa

Emery 

Nursing an "owwie" on his knee

Blake

KATY Trail Bridges

We especially enjoyed looking over the bridges on the KATY trail. The state of Missouri has many creeks and rivers, all of which the railroad had to bridge.

You would think there would be a standard bridge design and one bridge manufacturer, but that was not the case. The bridges varied in decade of construction, manufacturer and design.

Many of the bridge builder plates were missing, but enough remained to get an idea of maker.

The uprights varied from bridge to bridge with some being welded, some bolted and some riveted.

Very little paint remained on any of the bridges for corrosion protection, but not likely an issue as the weight they are expected to support is nowhere near that of a loaded train. 

  

These don't really count as KATY trail bridges but they were interesting anyway