July 3, South Bend, IN

Even though we are going to South Bend, IN, since the camp ground is 2 miles south of the Michigan border and the best route is through a portion of the state we get to add another state to our list of those visited.


Back in Indiana at our first destination: Notre Dame University, home of the Fighting Irish, and the Golden Dome.

We park in the lot by the football field and walk around the stadium to get to the main section of the campus. This is a vast campus, so we don't plan to see it all.

This is an impressive sight, a mosaic on the front of one of the buildings we pass.

The Main Building, known as "The Golden Dome", which houses the administration and admissions offices. This building was built in 1879 after a devastating fire had destroyed much of the original campus. The dome is topped with a 16', 4,400 lb. statue of Mary. The dome and the statue are are covered in gold leaf. Holy Cross Father Edward F. Sorin was instrumental in the rebuilding of the campus and vowed that the dome would be gilded in gold. He achieved that dream in spite of those who thought it too showy and advised the use of yellow paint.

There are wings on each side of the Main Building.

The entrance door.

Carpeting in the first office just inside the entrance.

Looking up at the rotunda from the first floor. All of the ornamentation, including the moulding features are trompe l'oi.

A ceiling in the grand hallway area. Again, trompe l'oi work creating the details. As is usual in Catholic buildings, especially churche and catherdral building foot print is in the shape of a cross.

Looking out from the steps of the Main Building.

other campus buildings.

Looking across the lawn to the west.

What old university campus would be complete without the "ivy covered walls"?

The architecture of the old buildings is very ornate and beautiful. They look like one would imagine those built in Medieval times would look.

We make our next stop at the Studebaker Museum which is just 5 miles from Notre Dame.

The Studebaker brothers started out as Blacksmiths and wagon builders. The motto of the brothers was one coined by their father: "Always deliver more than was promised"

The first automobiles built by Studebaker were electric cars, but they got into the gasoline powered vehicles and were very innovative and successful until the 1960's.

If anyone is interested in learning and seeing more about the Studebaker visit the site noted below. The displays and information are excellent and Dan find the model his parents once owned.

http://www.studebakermuseum.org/photogallery/virtualtour.asp

The weather was beautiful today, no thunder storms and not hot. The camp ground is full and the majority of the campers are sitting around their little camp fires enjoying the evening into the late hours. However, they are visiting quietly and not disturbing anyone. They are all looking forward to the 4th of July. We head to Joliet, Illinois tomorrow.