Seven and eight

Day in NEW YORK!!! Best day ever!! Ellis Island, Statue of liberty, Frick Museum, Times square and..... Wicked on Broadway!!!! Such a good day, My favorite so far, New York is so different from Phoenix OR! I loved the energy and commotion. At the end of the day we went to see Wicked, I love that play!! I had seen it once before with my grandparents in AZ, so I was excited to see it again. A Great day!!

Waiting for Wicked to start

Day eight! Day in Philadelphia! We the people museum, liberty bell, Philly Cheese steak sandwitches and Edgar Allen Poes house. 

Brookie and I :)

Day Six

We made it to New York City!! We spent some time learning about Central Park, then we were given time to walk aroundtime to walk around and enjoy the beautiful day, and the park. We also got to to the the museum of natural history, which is a huge museum where the movie "Night at the Museum" was filmed.

Central Park

The Museum, and cool elephant :)

Day Five

Salem Witch Trials

Brook (my roommate) and I have a problem, Both of us had early morning seminary in high school, So we think we are really good at getting ready in the morning really fast. HA! Which means that we can sleep in as long as possible.. BAD IDEA! Evey single morning we have barely made it in time for the bus. This morning... same thing, although we are making memories and improving :)

Today we studied the Salem Witch Trials, we went to the museum and talked about why and how something like that could happen. The question was how could good people do bad things? When you look for the bad in a situation, you will find it. That statement can go both ways, when you look for the good, you will find it as well. In D&C 111 it tells us how Joseph Smith went to Salem to search for treasure. Originally Joseph thought this meant Gold or silver, because finding such things was big at the time. Joseph didnt find the kind of treasure he was looking for, the treasure that he found was the people living there. These people were the descendants from the Salem witch trials, who were likely struggling with knowing their ancestors were a part of the Salem witch trials. Joseph found these people and they were taught about the miracle of the atonement. There is the good!!

Brook and I :)

Day Four

Transcendentalist Writers

Today we learn all about transcendentalist writes like margaret Fuller, Ralph Emerson and Henry Thoreau. As part of this trip we each get to give four different presentations, and I gave one of mine today on Thoreau. At first I was feeling like these presentations were nothing but stress and something to endure, but actually I have really enjoyed doing them because I have learned soOO much more than I would have without them. Thoreau is famouse for his book, Waldon which is based off his learnings and experiences of living by himself at Waldon Pond for two years. He was isolated from society, and lived simply with things he would need to survive and nothing more. He believes that everyone needs to live on their own to be better in tune with their spirituality and understanding of self reliance. We discussed how it is not practical for everyone to stop what they are doing and spend two years by themselves. One, space and two important responsibilities such as families. The question to ponder, is how to achieve what Thoreau's idea while still being practical.

Thoreau's house before Waldon Pond

Sleepy Hollow Cementery

Henry Thoreau 's grave

Waldon Pond now-a-days

Day Three

Beginning of the freedom trail

Today we did the freedom walk in Boston and then we visited North bridge, Lots of historical sights and things to learn about. Its so cool that I have an opportunity to be in this tour, I am learning a lot and making life long friends. I am just now realizing that three weeks is a long time, but it is already speeding by. I love learning about the founding fathers of this country and the different trials that they went through, I am so grateful towards them!

Window in Old North Church

Old North Church

Our group!

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City Hall

Bunker Hill Monument

Made it to the Top of Bunker Hill Monument! 294 stairs.. WOW...
A tad bit sweaty!

Heidi and I in front of Lexington Monument

North Bridge

Looking out, from the Bridge  
BEAUTIFUL

Day Two

Touring is fun!!! Today we learned and viewed sights of the early settlers.. I also learned what the word humidity really means! I could write about  SO much, Although I realized that after a full day of touring, I am exhausted and I dont think Ill be able to write as much as I would like about each day. But I will always try to at least have some pictures posted :)

Complementary snooze kits :)

replica of the Mayflower

Add caption

inside the ship

Also inside the ship

We are excited to see Plymouth Rock!!

This is Plymouth rock.. haha a bit smaller than I imagined! 

Pilmouth Plantation

Mormon American Travel Studies

At this Very Moment I am sitting in the Salt Lake City airport.. why? oh ya know just waiting for my flight to NEW YORK!!! I am doing a historical tour through BYUI, and I have waited a very... very long time for this day to finally come :)

Wednesday, August 1

Meet at BYU-Idaho. Orientation and instruction all day. Evening Barbeque

Thursday, August 2

Instruction and coursework at BYU-Idaho.

Friday, August 3

Travel to Salt Lake City. Flight to Boston in afternoon or evening.

Saturday, August 4

Mayflower and Plymouth Plantation in morning. Boston and Freedom Trail in the afternoon and evening.

Sunday, August 5

Church and Lexington, Minute Man Museum, and Old North Bridge in the morning. Literary sites in the afternoon. Harvard Divinity School in the evening.

Monday, August 6

Walden Pond in the morning. Travel to Manhattan in the afternoon. Central Park in the evening

Tuesday, August 7

Ellis Island and Statue of Liberty in the morning. Literary walk in the afternoon. Broadway play in the evening.

Wednesday, August 8

Travel to Philadelphia. Independence Hall and National Constitution Center. Tour Edgar Allen Poe House. Travel to Washington, DC.

Thursday, August 9

Mount Vernon in the morning. Washington Mall in the afternoon. Washington Temple in the evening.

Friday, August 10

US Capitol and Supreme Court in the morning. National Archives in the afternoon.

Saturday, August 11

Travel to Harper’s Ferry in morning. Gettysburg in the afternoon. Travel to Harrisburg.

Sunday, August 12

Church in the morning. Travel to Harmony. Priesthood Restoration Site in the afternoon. Peter Whitmer farm in the evening. Travel to Palmyra.

Monday, August 13

Sacred Grove in the early morning. Visit the log and frame homes of the Smith family. Visit the Hill Cumorah Grandin Press in the afternoon.

Tuesday, August 14

Travel to Niagara Falls and take Maid of the Mist boat ride in the morning. Travel to Kirtland, Ohio. Guest lecture in the afternoon. Historic Kirtland in the evening.

Wednesday, August 15

Visit the rock quarry and Kirtland Temple in the morning. Travel to Hiram and tour the John Johnson Farm. Return to Kirtland and tour Historic Kirtland sites in the afternoon.

Thursday, August 16

Travel to Chicago in the morning. Hyde Park, art museums, and lakeshore in the afternoon and evening.

Friday, August 17

Chicago historical and literary sites in the morning. Travel to Nauvoo, Illinois, in the afternoon. “Rendezvous at Old Nauvoo” in the evening.

Saturday, August 18

Temple baptisms in the morning. Church and historic Nauvoo in the morning. Carthage Jail in the afternoon.

Sunday, August 19

Church in the morning. Travel to Adam-ondi- Ahman and Far West in the afternoon. Travel to Independence area. Liberty Jail in the evening.

Monday, August 20

Independence Temple Site and Community of Christ Temple in the morning. Fly to Salt Lake City in the afternoon.

Tuesday, August 21

Morning hike to Ensign Peak. Final banquet at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. Return to Rexburg in the evening.