duck tour at the MOS

We got out of the house early for our day in Boston.  We started off with a Duck Tour in the morning.  It was overcast but warm.  Perfect weather for a tour of the city in a "Duck."  These W.W.II amphibious landing vehicles take us on a tour around the city and on a ride in the Charles river.

Winston enjoyed the tour from my lap.

Our conDUCKtor was really knowledgeable and funny.  We learned that most of the city was a landfill at one point.  It sat on a bay which got filled in to make living space for the city.  

 Boston's Public Library has a collection of over 23.7 million items making it one of the largest municipal public library systems in the United States.  It was founded in 1848.

The Trinity Church across the street was founded in 1733.  It is the birthplace and archetype of the Richardsonian Romanesque style, characterized by a clay roof, polychromy, rough stone, heavy arches, and a massive tower.  This style was soon adopted for a number of public buildings across the United States.

The statue of Sam Adams is in front of Faneuil Hall which has been a marketplace and a meeting hall since 1743.  It is part of the Freedom Trail and the site of numerous speeches by Samuel Adams, James Otis and numerous other encouraging independence from Great Britain.

We are bracing ourselves as we go into the Charles River.

James and Roo really enjoyed this part of the tour.

Attached to the ceiling are all the life jackets in case we started to sink.

All of the kids got to "drive" the duck boat.

We floated down the river past a hospital under some bridges and toward MIT.

We got back on land and dropped off at the museum just when it started to drizzle.  

Back at the Museum of Science Bennett wanted to see the rah-roos first.  He was very sad when we were leaving for the duck tour that he couldn't go and play with the large dinosaur outside of the MOS.

Bennett was very happy in the dinosaur exhibit.

Our next exhibit was about lightning.  We did not stay long.  Nothing keeps the attention of the kids for very long at these ages.

It would have been nice to see the show but all the kiddos wanted to move on.

 In the nature room we saw this bizarre chair made of multiple animal parts put together like alligator skin and deer antlers.

Audrey and Ryan played the Mystery Shell Game.  

 Bennett found an empty amphitheater and used as a jogging track.  He had the most fun here I think.

Ryan and Alice ready for take off.

Alice loved the old school house exhibit.  She was a natural.  I remember when I was a kid liking to pretend I was a teacher as well.

The weather outside was improving quickly so we decided to move on and explore the rest of the city and find a place for some lunch.

We have already done a lot this morning but there is still a lot to see and do in Boston.