Our day was yet a rather diverse one... the Civil War followed by cookware.

The success immediately set the stage for the next day's victory at the Battle of Missionary Ridge, forced Braxton Bragg's army to retreat into Georgia, and laid the groundwork for William Tecumseh Sherman's Atlanta Campaign.

As we meandered in history, we admired the largest monument in Point Park, the New York Peace Memorial. It was erected by the state of New York as a tribute to peace and reconciliation between Union and Confederate veterans after the war.

For the rest of the Civil War, Lookout Mountain was a tourist destination for Union soldiers and civilians, and a photographer even established a studio to capture portraits of soldiers on the point.

"The battle of Lookout Mountain

is one of the romances of the war.

There was no such battle and no action

even worthy to be called

the battle on Lookout Mountain.

It is all poetry."

-Ulysses S. Grant

A quick detour found us at the Lodge Museum of Cast Iron located in its hometown!

How could we miss this, "The Lodge Museum of Cast Iron is a celebration of American-made cast iron and a can’t-miss destination for folks who love cooking, history, food culture, and very large skillets. Located in South Pittsburg, Tennessee, it’s an interactive experience the whole family will enjoy."

"The Museum takes visitors through the history of American cooking, using cast iron as an entry point. Learn how this incredible cookware is made, what it means to food culture, and what the future holds for those who love to cook authentically."

Lodge Cast Iron was founded by Joseph Lodge in 1896 and is the oldest continuous manufacturer of cast-iron cookware in the United States. Humble beginnings to last success. What a story!

I loved this "lemons to lemonade" story. The Great Depression of the 1930s was difficult for the entire United States, and Lodge Manufacturing was no exception. Sales dwindled as demand for cookware dried up. Determined to keep the paychecks coming, Lodge adapted what was originally planned as a new office into the "Dog House" where novelty items like door stops and garden gnomes were painted. These items boosted sales enough to make it through hard times and today are sought-after collectibles. I want one!

I love this pan. As foundry technology advanced in the 1980s, it became possible to lower the minimum production requirements, opening a world of branding and commemorative possibilities. Wow.

Truthfully, I was there for The World’s Largest Cast Iron Skillet. Lodge believes in the wisdom of “go big or go home.” The museum is home to a very special skillet—the world’s largest, in fact—measuring over 18 across (12 feet in diameter), 2.5 feet deep, and weighing 14,360 pounds. That’s big enough to fry about 650 eggs! Oh man, I was in heaven.

What a perfect conclusion to our day of sightseeing. Tonight begins a four day stay to visit with our (now) Franklin friend, Cyndy.

What a diverse couple of days!

 Our detour to Ocala, Florida was to facilitate a long overdue connection with my cousin Terri and her grandson, Jaydin.