Field trips in Tennessee: We recently visited in Charlotte, TN, the seat of Dickson County. We did not have time to take in these sights, but there are a couple of places in the county that look quite interesting to visit. At the Cumberland Furnace Historical Village (P. O. Box 242, Cumberland Furnace, TN 37051; 615/456-4869), over 22 historic buildings tell the story of the iron ore industry in the 1800s. The iron furnace supplied cannon balls that helped Andrew Jackson defeat the English in the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812. A Cumberland Furnace brochure is provided for a guided driving tour of the historic buildings. At Old Spencer Mill (300 Old Spencer Mill Rd., Burns, TN; www.oldspencermill.com ; 615/412-5169; by reservation only), you can step back in time to save the best of the past through education for the future. This 1800s double stone Grist Mill offers tours, camping, interpreters, and demonstrations. The historical site is on Parkers Creek. If you ever have the opportunity to visit in the area and are into bed and breakfast places, I would encourage you to check out the East Hills Bed and Breakfast Inn (100 East Hills Terrace, Dickson, TN, 37055; 615/441-9428). John and Anita Luther are some of the most gracious hosts that we have ever known. I don't know what the price is (the church where I was preaching put us up there), but we absolutely adored it!

     Field trips in Illinois: On our way back from Tennessee, we stopped for lunch at Metropolis, IL. You probably know that in the Superman comics and cartoons, Clark Kent lives and works in "Metropolis." So Metropolis, IL, has adopted Superman and claims to be his hometown. There is a gigantic statue of Superman on the courthouse square which we went to see. There is also a Superman museum across the street (we did not take the time to see it). In addition, Metropolis is the home to Ft. Massac State Park. The French built Ft. L'Ascension on the Ohio River here in 1757. The structure was rebuilt in 1760 and renamed Ft. Massiac after a French government official. Following the end of the French and Indian War in 1763, the British took control of the area and the French abandoned the fort. A band of Chickasaws burned it. When the British arrived to take possession, all they found was a charred ruin. Anglicizing the name to Ft. Massac, they planned to rebuild the fort but never did. During the American Revolution, General George Rogers Clark captured the entire Illinois territory for the new United States of America. In 1794, President George Washington orered the fort rebuilt. In 1803, Lewis and Clark (William Clark, George's younger brother) stopped at the fort on their way to St. Louis, MO, to begin their Corps of Discovery journey. The New Madrid earthquake of 1811-1812 ravaged the fort, but it was rebuilt for use during the War of 1812 but was abandoned again in 1814 and mostly dismantled by 1828. The site served briefly as a training camp during the early years of the Civil War, but a measles epidemic in 1861-1862 caused it to be abandoned, marking the last time U. S. troops were stationed there. In 1903, it was purchased through efforts of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and in 1908 was officially dedicated as Illinois's first state park. There are a visitor's center, with a 10-minute film about the history of the fort and a small museum with some hands-on activities; a replica of the fort just next to the site of the original fort; and a monument/statue of George Rogers Clark (which, unfortunately, was out for repairs when we were there). It was a very interesting visit.