Thomas Stone, Maryland

Thomas Stone was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. His home near Port Tobacco is a well preserved example of Colonial homes.

Potomac Heritage National Historic Trail, Virginia

We hiked along a trail next to the Popes Creek branch of the Potomac River and found trees listed in the Junior Ranger booklet.

George Washington Birthplace, Virginia

This is the George Washington Birthplace memorial home. It isn't the real home George was born in. That home burned in 1779.

The outline of the original house foundation is visible on the lawn next to the memorial home.

Cold Harbor Battlefield, Virginia

Many soldiers on both sides died in the fighting near Richmond. To earn my badge, I had to pick one soldier and learn about him. My soldier immigrated from Ireland just 4 years before he died fighting for his new country.

Tredegar Iron Works, Virginia

Richmond saw several important battles during the Civil War. At Tredegar Iron Works, I learned what it was like for the civilians of the South during the war, and about the hospitals and prisons nearby.

Maggie L. Walker Home, Virginia

Ms. Walker was the first woman to start a bank in the U.S. She was African-American and disabled. She helped many families buy a home, and start businesses.

Appomattox Court House, Virginia

This is where the Civil War ended. We learned about the battles leading up to the surrender, and how the confederate soldiers were issued parole passes, entitling them to free food and free transportation on their way home. I got a parole pass for completing my Junior Ranger booklet, so I get free food and free transportation for the rest of this trip.

Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee

To earn our badge, we had to find leaves from several kinds of trees, learn about pioneer farming, pick up a bag of trash, and write a letter to the park supervisor.

Junior Firefighters, Tennessee

The National Park Firefighters taught us about fire safety. We finished our booklets and got a badge and a patch.

National Junior Ranger Day, Tennessee

My buddy Jordan and I earned our Junior Ranger Day badges at Great Smoky Mountains by taking a Ranger-led hike, learning about bear handling, making beeswax candles, and making a wooden toy.

Natchez Trace Parkway, Mississippi

We travelled along the Natchez Trace in Tennessee and Mississippi. We stopped to see the Meriwether Lewis Monument where Lewis died under suspicious circumstances. Then we picked up the trace again north of Tupelo and went to the visitor center, where I got my Junior Ranger badge.

Corinth, Mississippi

At Corinth they have a really cool museum of the Civil War. There are items in the sidewalk that look like soldiers dropped them there. There is a pond with blocks representing major civil war battles - the bigger the block the more casualties there were.

Shiloh Battlefield, Tennessee

We visited Shiloh on a beautiful spring day! The battlefield activities were really fun. We had to find something at almost every one of the fourteen stops.

Ft. Sumter, South Carolina

This is where the Civil War began. We took a boat to the island fort, where important battles were fought.

Congaree Swamp, South Carolina

Congaree is a very old swamp where cypress, red maple and other types of trees grow. We went on a ranger-led walk along the boardwalk. I learned about the importance of preserving our natural places. I found some litter -a green bottle. I picked it up and put it in a recycle bin at the end of our walk.

Kings Mountain, South Carolina

An important battle of the Revolutionary war was fought on King's Mountain. This is where the tide turned.

Cowpens Battlefield, South Carolina

This is a Revolutionary War battlefield where the brave militia fought the British.

Carl Sandburg Home, North Carolina

I visited the mountain home of a hardworking poet, author, newspaperman.