The Friday before Father's Day, my sister, her husband and son, and I all went to see the Wurtsmith Museum north of Oscoda. My Dad worked at Wurtsmith Air Force Base, where the Museum now occupies three hangers, from 1967 until he retired when the base closed in 1993. Since Dad passed away in 2007, I set aside time for his birthday and for Fathers Day and still do the things we would have enjoyed doing together if he were still here with me. This year's June activity was visiting the old Air Force Base grounds and the Museum.
This is NOT a place I would recommend for elderly or disabled persons to visit. Like many small, underfunded museums, the building is not handicap accessible. The displays are too close together to be able to squeeze a walker or wheelchair between them all. There are a few small steps in the building, some uneven flooring between one display "room" and the next, and lots of wires and cables across the floor in the second and third hangars. The restroom facilities consist of one "handicap-accessible" porta-potty outside the entrance to the first hangar of the museum (yeah, I don't use those either!) with no way to wash your hands.
I didn't leave myself enough time to explore the rest of the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base. I wish I would have, but since I went with three other people, each with their own agenda, I'll have to make a trip back with only one other person. It was an INTERESTING museum, fascinating history for anyone interested in military history, Michigan history, or older technology, but not a place I recommend to my fellow gimps!
I noticed on my trip back toward home that some recent work has been done along River Road following the Au Sable River from Oscoda upstream to M-65. I'd like an opportunity to stop at several of the scenic overlooks, including Lumberman's Monument, Iargo Springs and the Canoer's Memborial. I know there are several decks and I wonder how easy it is to get to them. If anyone knows and would like to describe them to me, that would be great! *Insert big toothy grin here.* Or I may just visit them myself if and when I get over to Tawas soon to visit the Zoo.
