Family First » guided tour

Beyond The Stone Wall

Joel Comm — Thu, 07 Apr 2005 00:01:26 +0000

I first visited this site several years ago, and was impressed enough by it to feature it as a Family First Site. Not only the subject matter intiguing, but also the way it was presented. It’s rather unique way of conducting an online tour is one that hopefully will become more commonplace in the future. The site has grown in the past year, and now is a great time to revisit it.

It is called Behind the Stone Wall, and is a guided tour of the several Civil War battlefields. All the sites are national parks, and present their moment in history quite well. But not everyone can be physically visit these sites. So through the magic of the multimedia Internet technology, you can take a unique cybervisit. What makes it so unique is that instead of static photographs, there are collections of 360 degree panoramas of the major scenes of the battlefields. The images load automatically and then start rotating. You can stop them and manually move them, allowing a closer inspection of a particular area. This helps give a 3-dimensional feeling to the pictures, increasing awareness to what the battlefield was and really is like. There are also previews of works in progress, such as the Shiloh battlefield, and the Andersonville prison.
Having visited a few of these sites, I can say that this site captures the feeling and essence of the spirit that is our nation’s history. It is very moving to go to the scene where Lincoln gave his Gettysburg address, where John Brown made his infamous raid, and where Jackson stood like a stone wall, and see what the physical locations are really like.
http://www.JATRUCK.COM/stonewall/

Behind The Stonewall

Joel Comm — Sat, 13 Mar 2004 00:11:00 +0000

I came across this site and was impressed by not only the subject matter, but also the way it was presented. It is a rather unique way to conduct an online tour, and one that we will hopefully be seeing more of in the future.

It is called Behind the Stone Wall, and is a guided tour of some of the most famous Civil War battlefield sites. Visits to these national parks is an experience to behold. But not everyone can be physically go there. So through the magic of the multimedia Internet technology, you can take a unique cybervisit. What makes it so unique is that instead of static photographs, it is a collection of 360 degree panoramas of the major scenes of the battle. The images load automatically and then start rotating. You can stop them and manually move them, allowing a closer inspection of a particular area. This helps give a 3-dimensional feeling to the pictures, increasing awareness to what the battlefield was and really is like.

Having visited the Gettysburg battlesite twice, I can say that this site captures the feeling and essence of the spirit that is our nation’s history. It is very moving to go to the scene where Lincoln gave his Gettysburg address, and see what it is really like. Enjoy your stop here.

http://www.JATRUCK.COM/stonewall/

The Official Website of the Eiffel Tower

Joel Comm — Sat, 15 Nov 2003 00:11:00 +0000

When one thinks of New York City, the Empire State Building comes to mind. With London, it is Big Ben or Buckingham Palace. With Paris, it is one of the man-made wonders of the world, the Eiffel Tower.

For over 100 years, this architectural masterpiece has been standing near the River Seine in one of the most famous cities in the world. It has survived 2 world wars, millions of tourists, and the weather that comes with living in Paris. At this site, you can learn about the history of the tower, take a guided tour of it, and get a your-are-there feeling by looking at your monitor. But most exciting is the designation it has as the WorldWide Observatory for the Year 2000. There is even mention of the Year 3000. (Geesh, one century not even ended, and already there is talk of the next 1000 years).

So to get a feel for the country of France, visit this site to see one of icons of the modern day world, the Eiffel Tower. It is just like being there, except you don’t have the wine and sidewalk cafes to sit next to it and watch. Enjoy the stop in cyberspace.

http://www.tour-eiffel.fr/

Inn Scarlett’s Footsteps

Joel Comm — Wed, 27 Aug 2003 00:11:01 +0000

In 1936, one of the greatest novels of all time was released. In 1939, that book was transformed into what many consider the greatest film of all time. It’s name was and is “Gone With The Wind”, and it’s author was Margaret Mitchell. It is the story of a family in the antebellum south, before and after the War Between the States. It is “a land of cotton and cavaliers, …look for it no more….it is gone with the wind”. Or is it?

There is a place in the deep south where a visitor can still enjoy the natural hospitality of native southerners, and do so in a setting very reminiscent of Scarlett O’Hara’s beloved Tara. It is called (both on the web and in real life) Inn Scarlett’s Footsteps. This is a “Bed and Breakfast In the Antebellum Style”, and is located just south of Atlanta. But it has some unique charms and features that separate it from the run-of-the-mill bed and breakfasts. For one, it has one of the largest private collections of Gone With the Wind material in the world. There is a chance for groups of 15 to 350 to have a guided tour back in time, at a tea, luncheon, or BBQ and Ball. Visitors can mingle with character look-a-likes, and even get a chance to dance the Virginia Reel, just like Scarlett and Rhett.

So if it is for one night, or several, this is the place to stay to experience the hospitality of the south. I lived there for several years, and enjoyed that part of the country. The people are very nice, and the country is so beautiful. Visit this site, and then visit them when you head to Atlanta.

http://www.gwtw.com/

The White House Historical Association

Joel Comm — Wed, 06 Aug 2003 00:11:00 +0000

It is one of the most visited houses in our country, if not the world. The occupant changes every few years, but the rent is right for those who live there – free! What place am I talking about? It is the home of the chief executive of our nation, the White House.

The White House Historical Association is a non-profit organization founded in 1961 for the purpose of enhancing the understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of this national treasure. Here you can take a guided tour of the house, with your tour guide being none other that Andrew Jackson, seventh President and resident from 1829 to 1837. He enhances your tour activities with interesting topics and trivia about the White House. You will also meet other friends along the way, such as Johnny the Clockman (who keeps the 55 clocks working).

So stop on by and take a most interesting tour of this national monument. It is a great way to spend some quality internet time.

http://www.whitehousehistory.org/

The White House Historical Association

Joel Comm — Thu, 29 May 2003 12:00:00 +0000

The White House Historical Association is a non-profit organization founded in 1961 for the purpose of enhancing the understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of this national treasure. Here you can take a guided tour of the house, which is divided into the various sections such as the REAL West Wing, the President’s Park, and the Marine Band. There is quite a bit of material here, but is presented in a way that is both fun and entertaining.

So stop on by and take a most interesting tour of this national monument. It is a great way to spend some quality internet time.

http://www.whitehousehistory.org/

The Official Site of the Eiffel Tower

Joel Comm — Mon, 03 Jun 2002 12:00:00 +0000

For over 100 years, this architectural masterpiece has been standing near the River Seine in one of the most famous cities in the world. It has survived 2 world wars, millions of tourists, and the weather that comes with living in Paris. At this site, you can learn about the history of the tower, take a guided tour of it, and get a your-are-there feeling by looking at your monitor. But most exciting is the designation it has as the WorldWide Observatory for the Year 2000. There is even mention of the Year 3000. (Geesh, one century barely ended, and already there is talk of the next 1000 years).

http://www.tour-eiffel.fr/indexuk.html

The Official Site of the Eiffel Tower

Joel Comm — Fri, 10 Aug 2001 12:00:00 +0000

For over 100 years, this architectural masterpiece has been standing near the River Seine in one of the most famous cities in the world. It has survived 2 world wars, millions of tourists, and the weather that comes with living in Paris. At this site, you can learn about the history of the tower, take a guided tour of it, and get a your-are-there feeling by looking at your monitor. But most exciting is the designation it received as the WorldWide Observatory for the Year 2000. There is even mention of the Year 3000. (Geesh, one century barely ended, and already there is talk of the next 1000 years).

http://www.tour-eiffel.fr/indexuk.html

Shakespeare and the Globe: Then and Now

Joel Comm — Tue, 27 Feb 2001 12:00:00 +0000

Growing up in Southern Oregon, one of my passions was attending the Oregon Shakespearean Festival in Ashland. It is the oldest theatre in the Western Hemisphere producing the plays of William Shakespeare in repertory, which it has been doing since 1935. It took me a few years to realize that the 3 parts of Henry VI were no a serial. But it was exciting to observe, especially since the theatre was a reproduction of the Globe Theatre in London.

Today’s site is Shakespeare and the Globe: Then and Now. It is a detailed site of not only the man and his plays, but also his contemporaries and the times he lived in. The Elizabethan era is second only to the Victorian era in its culture and style (at least in my opinion). At this site you can view everything you wanted to know about Bill, his plays, the theatre which he is most closely associate with. It is possible to take a guided tour of the theatre, via Quick Time. There is a look at the authors of stories that the plays were based on, producers, directors, the actors, or purported actors of his plays. In short this is a well constructed site with a potpourri of information.

Visiting here is a chance to experience the Shakespeare feeling, as I did over 35 years ago. It is a chance to relive fond memories of your favorite play, or your favorite actor or character. Shakespeare does not have to be dry and boring. It can be as lively and exciting as you make it. Visit this site and see what I am talking, ..er…, writing about.

http://shakespeare.eb.com/shakespeare/index2.html

Anne Frank Online

Joel Comm — Sun, 13 Aug 2000 12:00:00 +0000

I spent 2 months in the Netherlands several years ago, and was impressed by the industrious nature of the country. I was also impressed by the history that is contained in all their cities. The beautiful churches, the office buildings, everything had a definite Old World look and feel to it. (Since I was in the Old World, that would make sense, I suppose). But the one site I remember more than anything else was my visit to the Anne Frank House, at Prinsengracht 263 in Amsterdam. There she, along with her family and friends, lived for over 2 years, hiding from the German Holocaust. Eventually, they were caught and sent to concentration camps, from which only her father returned.

The Famsite today, Anne Frank Online, is site that is dedicated to not just the Diary she kept, and the events of her life. It also has a message that what happened to Anne could happen again, and could happen anywhere in the world, to anyone. This website contains information on how this message can be gotten out to the young children, in their classrooms, as well as in everyday life. There is information on the traveling exhibit, “Anne Frank in the World 1929-1945″, which tells her story, but continues on to tell of other similar situations in the world since the end of World War II. It came to Portland, Oregon several years ago and people stood in line for up to 3 hours to see it. There is also a section that is just on Anne and her family, with pictures of her growing up. There are works in progress on the history of the diary itself, and a guided tour of the Annex (they do not allow any photography in there at all).

The message at Anne Frank Online is not meant to be a depressing one. It has a positive outlook on life, and that we can all live together on this planet. In the words of Anne Frank (as I remember them), ” …some how, in spite of everything that has happened, I still believe that people are still good”.

http://www.annefrank.com/