Today our group left Huntsville for the New Politics Forum “Careers in Politics” Seminar—making stops at interesting and historic stops along the way. Our first such stop involved an enjoyable lunch at Madisonville’s Woodbine Hotel, where I had the day’s special, grilled chicken smothered in a mushroom sauce with broccoli and two small baked potatoes. It was a wonderful meal, and a wonderful start to our trip.
The trip from Madisonville to Dallas was marked by a torrential downpour and a few traffic delays, but we were eventually able to make it to the Sixth Floor Museum in Dallas, Texas. The museum is set in the former Texas School Book Depository in downtown Dallas and is the site of one of the most famous assassinations in U.S. history: that of John F. Kennedy.
The museum chronicled JFK’s presidency leading up to that fatal day in November. We were able to see hundreds of Kennedy-era artifacts, which were complemented by numerous audio and visual clips. I was surprised at how divided the country was at the time, and it kind of reminded me today’s political climate. After finishing our tour of the museum, we went outside to look on Dealey Plaza to see the exact assassination spot. We strolled along the infamous “Grassy Knoll” and envisioned what it was like to be in Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1963.
We hoped to dine at Ellen’s Southern Cooking (where “Grits Rule!”), but they were closed for a private party. Instead, we went to The Spaghetti Warehouse, where I had the signature spaghetti and meatballs and, for dessert, tiramisu. Not bad for a back-up choice.
As a nightcap, we made our way to the Dallas Museum of Arts, where we toured art galleries ranging from Ancient Greece and Rome to modern art from Europe and America. I most enjoyed the special exhibits featuring furniture and art works by Wendy and Emery Reves, who owned works by Renoir, Van Gogh, and many artifacts (and some paintings) by Winston Churchill.
With that touch of politics, we set out to prepare for tomorrow, when we learn about careers in politics. As a May 2014 graduate, I’m hoping to learn a lot.
