The first time I went to this train museum was almost three years ago, before Covid. Situated within a lovely park, there was lots to explore, inside and outside.
This visit was very different. The musical dancing fountains were not dancing nor were they musical. The miniature train was not running through the park. And the large building that housed a sizeable museum filled with displays was being renovated.
We were able to view the inside of one building which previously was a ticket office and waiting area. So I was able to snag a few photos.
Outside we admired the statues.
And of course the train at the entrance.
Then off we went to a cafe for cafe olla and mollettes.
I first arrived in Aguascalientes in January of 2019, armed with a list of fourteen museums and art galleries I wanted to explore. And I visited them all.
On Friday I decided to return to The Regional History Museum. Hand sanitizer and temperature check and in I went. Admission is 50 pesos ($2.43 US) but seniors with an INAPAM card are admitted at no charge. Being a senior does have its perks.
I wandered from room to room admiring the various displays. I also stopped to read a number of the descriptions. My Spanish has improved and I was able to understand most of it, something I’d been unable to do back in 2019.
As usual, I took way too many photos. I hope you enjoy the selection I’m sharing in this post.
With temperatures in the 100s the past few days, indoor activities have been the norm. Walmart and Apple Annie’s Antiques were a welcome respite earlier in the week, but Friday appealed as a museum day.
Although I’ve been here several times over the years, on this visit my friend Joyce was with me and she had never been to this museum before. So I got to play tour guide.
We went up to the second floor and began in the train area. I never tire of watching the model train traverse over the bridges and through the tunnels.
The room honoring Pangborn has always been one of my favorites. The history of his overseas flights is depicted on the walls and I adore the pilot upside-down in his aircraft mounted on the ceiling.
Here are a few pics I took in some of the other display rooms. It was interesting to read the descriptions posted on the walls with details of the first inhabitants and artifacts that had been unearthed.
We also explored another area where unfortunately photography is prohibited. Displays here included an old nurse’s uniform, a medical examing room, a general store and information about the history of East Wenatchee.
We then headed down to the main floor. To my delight pieces of the Chihuly glass were on display.
The current feature on the main floor was the toy theme.
Children’s summer programs were underway making the apple area unavailable. Another time.
We also checked out the gift shop. A wide variety of items including jewelry, books, paper dolls and so much more can be found here.
This weekend marked the 75th birthday of the town of Entiat, Washington. A celebration was held yesterday to commemorate the occasion.
The drive through the mountains was breathtaking. Entiat is about twenty minutes away from Wenatchee.
We started the day with a most enjoyable pancake breakfast, with a lovely view of the river. Then it was time to meander through the park and check out the exhibits and venues. Here’s one of the new friends I made that day.
There were activities for young and old, including bouncy houses, mini golf, face painting, a bean bag toss and rock painting. This was my creation. Now I can add rock painting to my artist resume.
We then passed by a beer garden and a car show on the way to the museum.
The museum was small but had interesting displays. The majority of items were donated while a few were on loan. Exhibits ranged from vintage newspapers to tools to clothing to china and everything in between.
Back in the park a band was playing and there were displays by local vendors.
Although a barbecue and other events were scheduled throughout the day, we chose to leave after a few hours when the 90 degree heat got to us.
It was a somewhat cool and cloudy day when I took an Uber out to Plaza de las Tres Centurias to explore a train museum. I’d never been to a train museum before that had focused on railroad travel and the history behind it in Mexico, and this museum did not disappoint. What surprises me is the number of locals I’ve talked to who have never come to this museum before. Then again many have not gone to some of the other museums in this city either.
This is a train museum. However one of the highlights has absolutely nothing to do with trains. The fuentes danzarinas (dancing fountains) was a delightful display of water combined with music. It is presented hourly throughout the day and lasts about 15 minutes. I actually watched it twice!
The museum itself features displays in separate buildings. Admission is a mere 5 pesos and is free to seniors with an Inapam card. Each building had interesting displays, vintage items and photographs.
Outside there are a number of brightly painted railway cars along the tracks. There is even a miniature train that features a ride around the park area.
There is also a garden area with a few statues of railroad pioneers.
There is also a small ice cream shop as well as a quaint cafe featuring a variety of coffees and snacks.
I highly recommend a visit to this unique museum in Aguascalientes.
It’s been a busy week. I haven’t had much time for blogging. I’ve been visiting museums and admiring churches. Of course there was an unexpected side trip to Walmart…………
On Saturday I went to the Plaza Tecnologia in search of a new battery for my phone. Oh oh! I couldn’t find one. A building filled with booths and no-one had the one I needed.
On Sunday I was delighted to find a Christian church right around the corner from where I’m staying. A handful of the congregants also spoke English although the service was in Spanish. My Spanish is really getting a workout this winter.
On Monday my destination was Walmart. I was on a mission to buy a new phone. And I did. And I am still playing with it and trying to adapt to all the new features. It’s only been two years since I bought my last phone. Quite amazing how there have been so many changes.
On Tuesday I dropped my laundry off at the lavenderia and discovered a lovely cafe close to where I’m staying. I then went to Centro to explore the Casa de la Cultura. I must admit that the art there was not really to my liking, but it was definitely different.
On Wednesday I decided it was time for a road trip. I headed to Leon, Guadajuato. I had been there briefly eight years ago en route to Irapuato. Leon was the closest airport. I spent part of the day in the historic Centro area visiting the Cathedral and other churches. I then browsed through the Zona de Piel. Leon is known for its leather and I was happy to find a new fanny pack as my old one was disintegrating.
On Thursday I was back to visiting museums and churches. The museum was dedicated to a famous artist here in Mexico, Jose Guadalupe Posada. The museum is located adjacent to the Templo del Encino, a beautiful church.
Today I enjoyed a wonderful lunch at Loncheria Fer, owned by my friend Fernando. It was leisurely and three hours passed by quickly. Fernando has been a wealth of information about Aguascalientes and his cousin Raul manages the hotel where I’m staying.
Throw in phone calls to my family and friends in Canada and the USA, sorting through photos and learning to use my new phone, the days have flown. I’ve also had some interesting conversations with locals at the park and other places. I’m quite surprised at how many have been to Canada and even knew where Winnipeg is.
I’m staying in tonight and resting up for tomorrow. The planned agenda is two museums and a church. That will put me at the halfway mark for visiting museums in this city.
I can’t help it. I’m a museum addict. At least I have become one since living in Mexico. Guadalajara is still in the lead although Aguascalientes is definitely providing competition for a city of its size.
I’ve been here just over a week and have already visited three museums. My earlier post on Museo Nacional de las Muertes speaks for itself. In this post I will focus on the other two museums I’ve visited.
On Thursday I ventured down a side street close to the bull ring and was completely enchanted with Museo del Juguete Tradicional Mexicano Aguascalientes. There are over a thousand exhibits here featuring traditional toys from all over Mexico. These toys are made from a range of materials including wood, rags, sugar, newspaper, mud and even chewing gum. Admission is a mere 15 pesos, a small price to pay for a delightful venture back into childhood. Of course, coming from Canada, these toys are amazingly different from those I grew up with.
On Friday I went to the Regional Museo de Historia Aguascalientes. The building itself is an old structure with a lovely fountain at the entrance. There are several rooms with displays depicting the geological and cultural history of the area. Brush up on your Spanish as there are no English translations of the descriptive notes. Admission is 55 pesos, but it is free to seniors, students and teachers.
Death. A cause for celebration or a time to dread. I guess it depends on your outlook on life. I heard that there was a museum of death here in Aguascalientes and I had to check it out. After all, Dia de las Muertes is one of my favorite experiences here in Mexico.
I was greeted at the door by this lovely skull. It was also a Wednesday so admission was free.
This museum is home to a collection of items pertaining to burial customs, including photographs of the dead. I was directed down a dark, steep flight of stairs into a crypt where I found this creature.
As I wandered through the various rooms, I was amazed at the display of artifacts dealing with death throughout the ages. There are literally hundreds of paintings, sculptures, lithographs and photos. Here is a small sampling:
This museum is definitely a must for any tourist visiting Aguascalientes.
Last summer my friend Ann and I went out to Waterville as we’d heard about an incredible museum in this town. Waterville is the county seat of Douglas County. The latest stats I could find on population date back to 2016 when it was 1181. We never did get to see the museum that day. There had been a death and the whole town was at the funeral so the museum was closed.
This past Friday we decided to try again. We enjoyed a beautiful drive to Waterville via Badger Canyon Road upon leaving Wenatchee. The leaves are beginning to change color and the mountains are amazing. We stopped a couple of times to admire the view. I was disappointed in my photos as it was a cloudy day.
We arrived in Waterville and took a drive through town. We noticed that the library had moved but everything else appeared as it had last summer. And the museum was OPEN!
We stepped inside and were in awe from the moment we entered. I took over 200 photos and will include only a handful in this post. There was such a variety of collections. We lucked out and had our own private tour guide who was a wealth of information. She told us how people just kept donating collections and donating items and that the building had been outgrown.
In the first room I was enchanted with the toys, dolls and vintage books. Creative talent had built a church out of thousands of popsicle sticks. There were also displays of vintage hats, purses and other accessories. This room also had cases filled with glass, china and other collectibles.
Next we moved into a room containing rocks, fossils, petrified wood and vintage courthouse furniture. We got to touch a piece of a meteorite. The lights were dimmed and we were treated to a black light show of the contents of one of the cases. We learned that petrified wood is the state’s gem. We were also told that the majority of the rocks in the room had been donated by one man who had displayed them in the basement of his home for a number of years.
We then went into the largest area in the back of the museum. A large horse and sleigh greeted us. Vintage rooms on display included a medical office, a laundry room, a child’s bedroom, a kitchen, a dining area and a living area. There was a statue of Minerva, a display of Native American including a headdress, original vintage wedding gowns, an old organ and other instruments and phonographs. There was an old vault inside a replica of a bank office, a John Deere display, and so much more.
The basement also held treasures ranging from a two-headed calf to tools. Here is a pic of an old cream separator.
Three hours later, we finally left in search of lunch. For a small town, this is truly an amazing museum. I can’t wait to visit it again next year to see what else has been added.
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