IMG_9209.JPG
Here's a photo of Dr. Goddard. Adjacent to the museum is the Goddard Planetarium, sadly closed due to budget cuts.

IMG_9216.JPG
Here's an article from Worcester's Evening Gazette covering the first rocket.

IMG_9220.JPG
The sign reads "Rocket Debris from Crash - July 17, 1929"

IMG_9228.JPG
More Goddard info.

IMG_9229.JPG
I learned much more about Goddard here than in my four years at Clark (where half the campus is named after him). He invented all sorts of things, and held patends on ideas not fully developed until decades later such as this magnetic levitation train.

IMG_9230.JPG
Some patents.

IMG_9232.JPG
Goddard (center) with two of his benefactors - Harry Guggenheim and Charles Lindberg. Photo dated 1935, at a launch tower in Roswell.

IMG_9234.JPG
In the more traditional part of the museum, here are two paintings.

IMG_9237.JPG
A Georgia O'Keeffe oil painting from 1936. She was a notable New Mexico artist, and according to the sign visited this museum several times.

IMG_4910.JPG
Top of a lamp post, with alien eyes. This is standard issue in downtown Roswell.

IMG_4912.JPG
And yet another alien-themed store.

IMG_4914.JPG
A bike shop. On the roof? An alien on an old bicycle.

IMG_4916.JPG
Back at the RV park, a funny sign. There was no golf course here, but they may have used a golf cart for maintenance work.

IMG_4918.JPG
And here's home. The park was mostly empty for the three nights of our stay. This was also the first stop where we felt the desert heat, something we'd see more of in upcoming stops. One complaint about Roswell - no Verizon Wireless coverage! This was one of only a few stops along the way where I had to use a dialup line in the park's office. (By this time I was sick of setting up the satellite dish).

IMG_9277.JPG
A short drive from Roswell is Carlsbad Caverns, a massive cave and also a National Park. This is taken after we've parked, which was up a very hilly road, and these are apparently homes for the folks that work in the park.

IMG_9279.JPG
This is a cross-section of the cave. Some facts from the map: The Big Room is 830 feet under the surface where this was taken. The route we're taking, called the Natural Entrance Route, is a mile long and estimated to take 1 to 1-1/2 hours. It is described as a "Most strenuous walking tour; a steep, inclined train; Descends 750 feet via the Main Corridor; features natural entrance and extensive depth of cavern." The exit for all routes is an elevator (which one can also take down if they choose).

IMG_9285.JPG
It's always nice when you're walking into a cave and see a sign warning you not to handle the bats...

IMG_9286.JPG
Many nifty cacti up here, obviously the desert.

IMG_9287.JPG
This is a great looking outdoor ampitheater. But instead of the stage, it's just a big hole. This is where we're going right now.

IMG_9292.JPG
Some information about the entrance, and a 1926 photo.