Near Dinosaur, Box Canyon and the Cabin built by a very independent woman

Great canyon and a historical cabin built by Josie Morris, who lived there and worked the ranch by herself for 50 years - a beautiful but lonely spot.

Petroglyph's at Dinosaur

Amazing rich area of Paleontological and Archaeological finds, as there are also petroglyph's sculptured or drawn by the Fremont Indians in this same area of Dinosaur. Unbelievable history portrayed in such a concentrated spot. If you like, click on a picture to make larger to see the petroglyphs.

Camping at Dinosaur, March 2012

Beautiful campground along the green river, the same river that is backed up into the Flaming Gorge Dam and lake.

Outside on the trails at Dinosaur Utah, March 2012

After viewing in the Dinosaur Quarry several times, we moved outside and took some trails on the nearby hills. They not only let you touch these bones in the Quarry, but we practically stepped on them outside on the trail. It is so amazing to discover an unmarked dinosaur bone beneath your feet. They call it the bone yard/graveyard. Wow is all I could say. Feel free to click on any picture to make it larger.

Arriving in Dinosaur Utah, March 2012

What an amazing place and National Monument. This is our second visit to this astonishing place. I have never been so confused as to where these giant creatures fit into Creation. Every time we see these fossils we are transfixed. Hopefully you and your families will be able to visit this great testimony to the existence of these wonderful creatures who once roamed our earth.

Apparently these dinosaur bones were all washed down an ancient river to this site. This graveyard has lifted geologically throughout time to where it is now almost entirely vertical and great for public viewing. The fact that these incredible palentological finds were all found in one location, personally makes it very difficult for me to grasp the full meaning. Apparently there are many other similar potential sites in the area. If you have wondered about these ancient creatures, I would highly encourage you to visit this incredible place. The below dinosaur quarry has been closed to the public for five years due to a shifting of the geology under the building. After spending 6 million dollars for repairs, the dinosaur quarry has just been re-opened to the public.http://www.nps.gov/dino/planyourvisit/quarry-exhibit-hall.htm As far as I know, there is no dinosaur quarry like this anywhere in the world where there are 1500 dinosaur bones all undisturbed and just in one location! Incredible experience. Perhaps an expert that I would have enjoyed talking with would have been a 'Theological Palentologist', that is, if there is such a person or field of study. It is so amazing that these gigantic creatures actually roamed the earth. It is important to distinguish the Dinosaur Quarry from the Visitor Center. The ' Quarry' is what is so unique and slightly removed from the visitor center. It is a great educational destination.

In 1909 this amazing palentological discovery occurred along a hogback (a ridge formed from steeply tilted strata) near Split Mountain Utah. Over 350 tons of fossil material was shipped back to the Carnegie Museum. The rest was left intact in the rock for us to view at the National Monument Quarry.http://www.nps.gov/dino/planyourvisit/quarry-exhibit-hall.htm

Black Hills of South Dakota & Crazy Horse - March 2012

The Black Hills really amazed us. We had no idea that they were so beautiful, and they should be called mountains not hills. Viewed the private Crazy Horse Monument from a distance, also appreciated the non existent traffic. We experienced some serious weather in the foothills as seen in the first picture with the very black sky and the sun on the wheat in the foreground.

Mount Rushmore - March 2012

Rushmore was very impressive even at a distance, but when we drew closer, oh my ! A beautiful National Monument to our founders and our nation. Definitely glad we made the effort see this great work of recognition to these great men and our country.

Bad Lands of South Dakota March 25, 2012

After visiting Pandora Ohio, we headed to the Bad Lands of South Dakota. Here are a few pictures of this area. As you can see they are very barren hills, mostly consist of bentonite, thought to be very old volcanic ash. Very strange environment to be sure and yet fascinating.

Some of the Diller Farms in Pandora - March 2012

The Diller farms are still working farms and all very similar in construction to my Schumacher grandparents farm. These photos are of the John Diller Farm. Also John Diller and Samuel Diller are both attorneys in town.

Visiting Roots in Pandora Ohio, March 25, 2012

Finally arrive in Pandora Ohio, and Bluffton, both amazing Swiss Communities that were settled in the early 1800's. For my children's and grandchildren's sake who may read this blog, a little genealogy is in order. Christian and Barbara Elizabeth Luginbuhl/Schumacher left a farm outside of Basel Switzerland in 1835 and came to Wayne County Ohio to visit relatives, then they moved to Putnam county, Ohio, in 1836, locating and building what is now known as this old Swiss Schumacher homestead. Christian and Elizabeth are my great great grandparents. My grandparents, were Daniel Diller and Helen Schumacher /Diller. My grandfather Dan was born to Adam Diller and Katherine/Schumacher my great grandparents, and it was my great great grandmother 'Katherine', who was born in this now very old historical Swiss house that her father Christian Schumacher and mother Elizabeth/Schumacher built in 1843. All of the Diller farms are just across the road. The Diller side of the family who formerly spelled their name as Thueller in Swiss immigrated from Bern Switzerland. Jean Schumacher, a cousin and lives in Pandora set us up with the Historical Society's curator for the tour of the old homestead: http://www.pandoraoh.com/webpage/swiss/homestead.html Since it was my grandparents homestead that the Swiss Historical Society chose to purchase and display, we were given a personal tour by the Society Curator. As it turns out he is one of my distant Swiss Mennonite cousin's and is wearing his little Swiss hat for the above pictures. These Diller and Schumacher relatives all still live on various farms in the Pandora area. They still retain their strong Mennonite beliefs. The Amish actually broke off from the Swiss Mennonites and their is still a strong Amish presence in the area as well. Their guest house or (summer house) as they called it, was built next to the main house and the barn was almost as interesting as the two homes. They would cook in the summer house because it would be cooler for this purpose.