Tour the old Federal Building-Gangstah’s, Prohibition and Art

A fun tour-Gangstah’s, Prohibitionists, and Artisans

This Federal Building was built with the most elegant materials, with the idea in 1902 to have an impressive building so that the American Public would "trust the Government" (much like banks and insurance companies have to have elegant structures)

When it was ready to be torn down (in the 70's) people objected, raised $12 million

and repurposed it to include ordinary offices, and Artisans, and interesting museums.

It had been court rooms (especially covering all the crime resulting from corrupt government and the results of the prohibition and the gangster activity - especially the kidnapping of the wealthy which earned much more money than the bank robberies.

Elegant rooms furnished with plenty of marble and mahogany

John Dillinger - prominent all over town

Our very own John Dillinger

(actor-guide from yesterday)

Interesting pieces of the history

Even beautiful marble bathrooms--

For a minute I thought I had been locked into a big safe!

Even a Rocking Horse

(well, sort of)

ARTISANS AND INTERESTING MUSEUMS

All kinds of instruments,

some of which we could attempt to play!

Lou knew 2 guys in college woodworking class that made these.

Love the shape and beautiful case

Looks like the one Lou's mom had.

Here is the Theremon that my granddad had!

Spoiler alert-It doesn't sound like music!

To all the wood worker friends, Take a look at "woodturning"

This was an interesting museum. Utilitarian objects become real works of art.

Two person lathe- from the 1700's

Such elegant woodworking

this cute little thing (3" high) was in the 'gift shop' for $300.00

Mississippi River Cruise

It's amazing how wide this river got in the 2-300 miles downstream

And how the flood levels vary so much.

The numbers on the marker to the right range from 40 to 55 feet.

It seemed backwards (to us) until we realized that it measured the height to the bottom of the bridge, not the depth of the water.

"just say'n"

This train bridge was folded up to the edge of the water.

The train can't cross the river now.

After we passed, the train bridge pivoted back to complete the bridge.

 

Quite the grain elevator, especially when you think of the sequence:

1.  Farmer combines his grain, and trucks to local town grain elevator.

2.  Grain elevator puts it in rail road cars and ships to the large one that you see here.

3.  Then it is loaded on barges and shipped down the Mississippi, eventually ending up in world wide destinations.

                                        Scenes along the river

Quite a few homeless solutions.