…is teaching your children. That’s what I set out to do on this fine April Dadurday. I loaded up the minivan family assault vehicle and took the kids to Warm Springs, GA. I had no idea that this small town in west Georgia held such historical intrigue. Our 32nd President came to Warm Springs while he was still Governor of New York seeking a miracle cure for his polio. He enjoyed the area so much that he built a small cottage that became known as Roosevelt’s “Little White House”.
The mineral springs never cured his affliction, but it did provide an inspiration to cure our nation’s affliction better known as the Great Depression. Roosevelt was inspired by the rural people who lived in the area and created several social programs that helped get America out of her depression and back on the path to prosperity. The rural electrification program and the Civilian Conservation Corps were programs that FDR instituted based on his experiences in Warm Springs. Mr. Roosevelt spent his last days in Georgia. He died while sitting for a portrait in April 1945. The portrait, now called the “Unfinished Portrait”, remains on display in the musuem.
I enjoyed the helping my children understand our past and how some things have changed e.g., Polio is now better understood and preventable. I was also able to help them learn that history can, and often does, repeat itself e.g., we’re in one of the worst depressions since the Great Depression and millions of people are without jobs. I’m not sure how much my little ones understood, but I think they got the big picture. They also enjoyed the tour through the museum and gazed with wonder at the antique items that were on display. Children see the world from a different perspective than adults do and it was comical and refreshing to listen to my 4 year old and 2 year old talk about how weird the antique toilets were or how funny the stove was. They soaked it up like a sponge! After we toured the grounds, we enjoyed a nice picnic lunch before heading back to the hustle and bustle of city life.
This Dadurday is also extra special because it’s Easter weekend. That means a lot of different things for people. For our house, it means a Easter Mass, a 4 day weekend thanks to the US Army and a visit from my wife’s Dad. Not only was today Dadurday, but it was Grand-Dadurday! The kids love hanging out with their “pop pop”. He’s an active guy and loves taking the kids for walks around Heath Lake. Overall, this has been a great Dadurday. If you are looking for some fun outdoor and inexpensive activities for your next Dadurday outing, I encourage you to take the short drive to Warm Springs and experience some of our nation’s history.
