Nov

Travels to the Past: Sweden’s Vasa Ship

by Meredith Mullins on November 5, 2019

A model of the Vasa, with full sails
© Meredith Mullins

The Shortest Maiden Voyage in History

She was as tall as a four-story building and weighed 1,300 tons.

She housed two gun decks with 64 cannons and could transport more than 450 crew members.

She was both inspiring and intimidating with her 700 intricate carvings decorating the ship.

Intricate carvings on every part of the Vasa ship
© Meredith Mullins

She was the most significant statement of power that King Gustav II Adolf of Sweden had ever created.

She was the Vasa—the mightiest warship of her time.

Inspiring and intimidating at the same time
© Karolina Kristensson/The Vasa Museum

The Maiden Voyage

The Vasa’s maiden voyage on August 10, 1628 was to be a triumph of innovation, firepower, and dominance.

The design and building process had taken two years and a hefty two percent of the total Swedish budget. She was meant to change the way of warfare, with her size and cannon power.

Alas, her legacy became history . . . in a different way.

The lion was a symbol of strength and lethal power.
© Meredith Mullins

She set sail from the Stockholm, with thousands of proud and jubilant Swedes watching (as well as a few spies from enemy Poland and Lithuania). She fired her cannons in a salute to power, and glided gracefully through the harbor.

There were no threatening icebergs that summer day, only an affable breeze, which filled the sails and sent her gently toward the Baltic.

A small gust of wind made her lean slightly, and the crowd gasped. But she righted herself, and all breathed a sigh of relief.

Two decks of gun ports—a warfare statement of power, but a tragic flaw in the end
© Meredith Mullins

Another gust of wind made her lean even further. This time, water came rushing through the gun ports. As quickly as her maiden voyage had begun, it ended. She sank to the bottom of the harbor.

In perhaps the shortest first (and last) voyage in the history of the sea, the ship was lost, along with the lives of thirty men and women. The journey had lasted only 20 minutes.

The Next Chapter

Attempts to salvage the ship were unsuccessful, but several entrepreneurs succeeded in recovering most of the valuable cannons. After that, the Vasa was forgotten.

One of the cannons that remained with the ship
© Meredith Mullins

Lost forever? No. A few attempts to find the ship over the years failed.

But, more than 325 years after that fateful day in 1628, Swedish shipwreck researcher, Anders Franzén, wrote a new chapter of history. With advanced sonar technology and a passion for locating the wreckage, he found the Vasa, more than 30 meters deep in the Stockholm harbor—a unique opportunity for travels to the past.

With several years of careful planning to protect the fragile vessel, the ship was partially raised from the sea on August 20, 1959 and fully raised on April 24, 1961—majestic even covered in mud.

Carvings of mermaids, tritons, and sea creatures survived the 300+ years under the sea.
© Meredith Mullins

Protecting the New Treasure

The ship was in surprisingly good shape. It had been preserved in the cold, brackish water and the oxygen-free mud. But, the more-than-three centuries at the bottom of the sea had taken a toll. Parts had come loose and floated away. The ship had to be rebuilt, like a complex jigsaw puzzle.

Piece by piece, the ship was reconstructed.
© Anneli Karlsson/The Vasa Museum

It also had to be protected from drying out too quickly, so the conservationists used polyethylene glycol (a chemical also found in lipstick and face cream) to keep the ship from cracking.

More than 40,000 items were found on the seabed, including 400 carvings—warriors, lions, emperors, and cherubs. Most of the original brilliant color had faded, but it was clear that the carvings represented the kingdom’s power, faith, courage, and lineage.

Research into the paint fragments has provided information on the original colors.
© Meredith Mullins

The sculptures faced both inwards and outwards on the ship to strengthen the crew’s fighting spirit and to show the world the power of Sweden. These pieces had to be assembled back into position.

Sculptures had to be placed back in position during the reconstruction process.
© Meredith Mullins

Oh I See: Preserving History

The discovery and preservation of the Vasa brought the 17^thcentury back to life—an “Oh, I See” moment of opportunity coming from tragedy.

The Vasa, for a few minutes, had been a ground-breaking floating community. Now, the ship’s remnants were providing a more in-depth picture of that era.

The clothes, food, and tools were all an important insight into life of the times. Divers found shoemaking materials, which indicated the sailors expected to have time on their hands to entertain a second trade.

Carvings often mirrored renaissance art.
© Meredith Mullins

Clothes were preserved in the cold water, showing the working class fashion of the day. And, a block of butter was recovered and now sits in the Vasa Museum freezer. No one dares to taste this nearly 400-year-old delicacy, but it’s an astounding feat of science that it exists.

Even some well-preserved skeletons were recovered, giving researchers information on what the people of the time ate and what illnesses might have been common.

Continuing research on the paints of the time enables colorful replicas
of the faded wood carvings.
© Meredith Mullins

The Work Continues

Even now, the conservation techniques continue. The Vasa museum is kept at a constant temperature of around 65 degrees F. (18.5 C) and 53% humidity. The space is unusually dark, since light would continue to degrade the wood. Even so, the ship shrinks a bit each year.

No one knows just how long this ship can be preserved. For now, we know that the Vasa Museum is a treasure—a way to travel to the past and learn from this opportunity that history has given us. And . . . it is the only museum in the world that has masts emerging from its roof and centuries-old butter in its freezer.

The Vasa Museum stands proud, with masts emerging from the roof.
© Meredith Mullins

For more information, visit the Vasa Museum.

Comment on this post below, or inspire insight with your own OIC Moment here.

Meredith Mullins 5 Comments

Sweden/Travels to the Past

Oct

It’s Homecoming—at the TWA Hotel!

by Joyce McGreevy on October 28, 2019

Carolyn McGreevy stands beside a TWA Constellation, or “Connie,” an airplane at the TWA Hotel at JFK Airport that evokes travel memories of Trans World Airlines. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

The TWA reunion at JFK puts a spring in the step of pilot’s daughter Carolyn McGreevy.
© Joyce McGreevy

Part 2: TWA Travel Memories Reveal Vision of Tomorrow

(Part 1, “Growing up ‘TWA’,” here.)

Heard the one about 700 people spending several days at the airport—on purpose? As storms drench New York’s JFK Airport, Trans World Airlines alumni gather for a TWA reunion, and travel memories come flooding back.

The TWA Hotel at JFK New York on a stormy night seen from the Constellation, or “Connie,” evokes travel memories of Trans World Airlines. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

Not even a storm can dampen our excitement about the TWA reunion.
© Joyce McGreevy

TWA Time Machine

Amazed, my sisters and I stare at the TWA Terminal, then at each other to make sure it isn’t a dream. For 18 years, the terminal lay vacant. Now all is restored. Once more we enter the familiar tubular walkway with its cherry red carpets and marshmallow walls, reliving memories of childhood travels with our TWA pilot dad.

Three sisters arriving at the TWA Hotel at JFK Airport New York for the TWA Reunion share travel memories of growing up with Trans World Airlines. (Image © Margie McGreevy)

Margie captures the moment as Joyce, Carolyn, and Erin savor a sense of homecoming.
© Margie McGreevy

Flights of Fancy

“I want the greatest airline terminal the world has ever seen and I don’t care how much it costs.”

That’s what TWA visionary Howard Hughes told Finnish designer Eero Saarinen in the late 1950s. By 1962 the architectural wonder was complete. Forty years later, TWA and the terminal shut down.

Then along came Tyler Morse.

As a boy, he’d often visited the TWA Terminal with his dad. As a developer, Morse, like Hughes and Saarinen, had a bold, blue-sky vision for the terminal and the means to carry it out. In May 2019, following a three-year, $265 million restoration, the terminal soared gloriously back to life—as the TWA Hotel.

Spotting Morse at the reunion, former TWA flight attendant Yvonne Greenwood asks why he chose this particular airline. Says Morse, “Because it’s always been the best!”

Former Trans World Airline flight attendant Yvonne Greenwood meets TWA Hotel developer Tyler Morse at JFK Airport New York during the TWA Alumni Reunion. (Image © Jim Greenwood)

TWA alumna Yvonne Greenwood meets TWA Hotel developer Tyler Morse.
© Jim Greenwood

High-Flying Hotel

Emulating TWA, Morse has transformed going to the airport from mere necessity into marvelous experience.

TWA Hotel’s 512 ultra-quiet guestrooms reflect retro chic and offer aviation geeks exhilarating views of JFK’s runways and the iconic TWA Flight Center.

A swimming pool becomes part of the travel memories of the TWA Hotel, JFK Airport, New York. (Image © Erin McGreevy Bevando)

There’s nothing unusual about a dip in the hotel pool, unless . . .
© Erin McGreevy Bevando

A TWA Hotel swimming pool with a view of the runway and airplanes evokes Trans World Airlines travel memories at JFK Airport, New York. (Image © Erin McGreevy Bevando)

. . . it features runway views!
© Erin McGreevy Bevando

A Trans World Airlines Constellation, or “Connie,” airplane parked outside the TWA Hotel, JFK Airport NY, evokes travel memories at the TWA Reunion. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

A 1958 Constellation, or “Connie,” has been transformed into . . .
© Joyce McGreevy

The interior of the TWA Constellation, or “Connie,” an airplane at the TWA Hotel, JFK Airport NY, now fitted out as a cocktail bar evokes travel memories of the glamorous Trans World Airlines. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

. . . a lush cocktail bar.
© Joyce McGreevy

Trans World Airlines alumni flight attendant Yvonne Greenwood, TWA pilots Mike Fliniau and Ron Kleiboeker and TWA pilot’s daughters Erin Bevando, Margie Cozad, Joyce McGreevy share travel memories at the TWA Reunion. (Image © Jim Greenwood)

L to R: TWA alumni Yvonne Greenwood, Mike Fliniau and Ron Kleiboeker,
McGreevy sisters Erin, Margie, Joyce. (Carolyn must be in First Class!)
© Jim Greenwood

The restored Paris Cafe at The TWA Hotel, JFK Airport New York, evokes travel memories of Trans World Airlines. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

The historic Paris Café offers fresh takes on TWA First Class gourmet classics.
© Joyce McGreevy

Like Kids Again

Immersed in TWA history, my sisters and I become carefree kids again.

TWA pilot’s daughters playing dress-up at the 1962 House of the TWA Hotel, JFK Airport New York, during the TWA Reunion share travel memories of Trans World Airlines. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

McGreevy sisters dress up as 1962 housewives, a playful contrast to . . .

Helen Collins McGreevy on board a Trans World Airlines Constellation, or “Connie,” in 1958 evokes travel memories of the glamour of TWA. (Image @ McGreevy Archives/ Margie Cozad McGreevy and Joyce McGreevy)

. . .the real-life glamour of our mother, Helen Collins McGreevy.
© Joyce McGreevy/© McGreevy Archives

Heavens Above

The heart of the TWA Hotel is a soaring, light-filled structure, with wing-shaped roof, fantastically vast windows, a sunken lounge, and overhead walkways.

The newly restored TWA Terminal of the TWA Hotel at JFK Airport New York seen during the TWA Reunion evokes travel memories of Trans World Airlines. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

This renovation is the nerve center of airline nostalgia, yet in 1962 it was futuristic.
© Joyce McGreevy

The newly restored Solari board at the TWA Hotel at JFK Airport New York seen during the TWA Reunion evokes travel memories of Trans World Airlines. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

To recreate the Solari split-flap message board with authentic mechanical operation,
Morse found the original manufacturers in Udine, Italy.
© Joyce McGreevy

It All Just Clicks

“I love hearing the clicking again!” TWA alumnus Steve Bonniwell grins, recalling New Yorkers who’d gamble on which destinations the board would reveal after each round of clickety-clacks. “You’d hear someone say, ‘I think the third line will be Paris’, and then they’d bet on it!”

Trans World Airlines alumnus Steve Bonniwell attends the TWA Alumni Reunion at the TWA Hotel, JFK Airport New York. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

Steve Bonniwell was TWA’s Marketing Director for the International Division in London.
© Joyce McGreevy

Recalling his career with TWA, he beams. “Greatest company I ever worked for. Great people! It was a family. I spent so much time going through this terminal during my 20 years at TWA. Seeing it the way it was is unbelievable.”

Bonniwell’s family reflects the influence of the airline. Son Mark Bonniwell is a pilot, flying 737s for United Airlines.

Trans World Airlines pilot’s daughter Margie McGreevy Cozad meets former TWA pilot Derwin “Dee” Grimm at the TWA Reunion, TWA Hotel, JFK Airport New York, where they share airline travel memories. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

Margie meets TWA alumnus Derwin “Dee” Grimm. In 1974, Dee flew co-pilot with our dad
to Madrid, Lisbon, Rome, Cairo, and New York.
© Joyce McGreevy

Sky’s the Limit

As a kid in Kansas City, TWA’s original headquarters, Tracy Briggs dreamed of flight. Given the family’s tight finances and Tracy’s physical challenges, Briggs’ mom worried that “such dreams were not meant for people like us.”

But Briggs persisted. “I soloed in 1977 and had so much fun I decided to make a career of it.” Today, Captain Briggs has 40 years of experience in the cockpit. A veteran of TWA, he’s now a pilot for American Airlines. “This is my life, my joy, my passion!”

As for his love? That’s Myra Briggs, the spirited woman who’s been with him every mile of the way.

Myra Briggs, former Trans World Airlines pilot Tracy Briggs, meet other TWA alumni at the TWA Reunion held at the TWA Hotel, JFK Airport New York, and share airline travel memories. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

L to R: Myra Briggs and Capt. Tracy Briggs reunite with TWA alumni.
© Joyce McGreevy

TWA Hotel crew model TWA vintage designer uniforms. L to R: Pearls Daily in 1965 Balmain and Sarah Conrad in 1970s Valentino. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

TWA Hotel crew model TWA vintage designer uniforms. L to R: Pearls Daily in 1965 Balmain
and Sarah Conrad in 1970s Valentino.
© Joyce McGreevy

Beyond Nostalgia

Coined from ancient Greek, nostalgia combines “homecoming,” with “pain,” as if revisiting the past must always be bittersweet. But what my sisters and I witness among alumni at the TWA reunion is joy, gratitude, and zest for new adventures. No wonder everyone looks hale and hearty.

Oh, I see: The glory days of travel are not confined to travel memories, but available to all who travel through life with curiosity, appreciation, and a sense of service to one another.

The realization deepens as we meet the TWA Hotel staff. There’s something familiar about the high standards and heart they bring to their work. Something familiar about . . .

Stephanie Villada reporting for duty on her day off . . .
Gail Martin, Tony, Chelsy, and Catalina’s pride and joy at learning about—and becoming part of —TWA’s history. . .
The finesse of Chef de Cuisine Amy Sir-Trevino . . .
Sam’s warm welcome at check-in, Donna Lopiccolo’s daily greetings, and Jennifer Jacks’ seamless problem-solving.

Portraits of TWA Hotel staff, JFK Airport New York, remind sisters attending the Trans World Airlines Reunion that the future will create new memories to celebrate. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

The TWA Hotel crew are top-flight!
© Joyce McGreevy

Then it dawns on us: What we loved in the airline is now taking shape at the hotel. Beyond our personal travel memories, a promising new generation of TWA family is forming at the TWA Hotel. We wish them a sense of homecoming and a lifetime of TWA adventures all their own.

Comment on the post below, or inspire insight with your own OIC Moment here.

Joyce McGreevy 7 Comments

The World's Art & Design/Travels to the Past/USA

Oct

Travel Inspiration on an American Road Trip

by Meredith Mullins on October 21, 2019

Butterfly Town U.S.A.
© Meredith Mullins

The Telltale Stories of Town Slogans

Sometimes, a city’s descriptive moniker is so memorable, it becomes a part of modern culture.

New York—The Big Apple
Philadelphia—The City of Brotherly Love
Las Vegas—What happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas.

One slogan like “The Big Apple” may not be enough for a city like New York (also represented by
“The City that Never Sleeps,” “Gotham,” and “I Love New York”).
© iStock/emyu

However, there is a unique universe to explore in the town slogans and welcome signs of some of America’s smaller cities. And the focus that each community chooses can be a travel inspiration.

Meet Butterfly Town, U.S.A. The sign at entrance to Pacific Grove reminds visitors and residents alike that this quiet California town by the sea is a haven for the Monarch butterfly’s winter migration. Every autumn the butterflies are welcomed by a hometown parade as they come to rest in two special groves of eucalyptus trees.

Pacific Grove has branded itself with one of the unique aspects of its identity—a wondrous natural phenonmenon that attracts visitors from around the world.

The Magnetism of Town Slogans

As we travel from place to place, especially on the roads of the U.S., the town slogans that appear on welcome signs are not just an interesting read, but also a revelation of a town’s spirit. Oh, I see. They may also be a call to action.

When should we pause and turn off the highway? Why is this community significant? What towns should we visit . . . and why?

A town’s motto, whether official or unofficial, originates with a number of questions. What makes a town unique? What is its marketable quality—for businesses, residents, and visitors? How should it present its essence in a brief slogan on a sign that people speed by? How does it get passersby to take notice in a world of fast-paced information and fleeting sights?

Collaboration with marketing firms, brainstorming sessions, chamber-of-commerce soul searching, market research, contests, and lengthy discussions all play a role in the creation of a community’s homespun brand.

The paths are varied—with history, location, humor, wordplay, unique qualities, friendly seduction, and just plain bragging rights presenting myriad possibilities.

Gateways, Crossroads, and Centers (oh my)

Many town slogans take advantage of that all-important aspect of location—a gateway, a crossroad, or a geographical center.

For the “gateway” towns, it seems to pay to be at the entrance to something.

St Louis, Missouri—The Gateway to the West
Sioux Falls, South Dakota—Gateway to the Plains
Aurora, Colorado—The Gateway to the Rockies
Clarksville, Tennessee—Gateway to the New South

Why not promote your being at the crossroads or center of something? Anything?

Los Banos, California, seems special for its place “At The Crossroads of California;” and Milpitas, California, opens the door to the tech corridor as “The Crossroads of Silicon Valley.” But it’s hard to compete with Terre Haute, Indiana—the “Crossroads of America.”

Pittsfield, Wisconsin, is “The Exact Center of the State;” Belle Fourche, South Dakota, is the “Center of the Nation;” and, with all due humility, Boswell, Indiana, is the “Hub of the Universe.”

There is also a displacement trend where towns become a tribute to other towns.

Carrboro, North Carolina—The Paris of the Piedmont
Decatur, Alabama—The Chicago of the South
Ouray, Colorado—The Switzerland of America
Muskegon, Michigan—The Riviera of the Midwest
Deland, Florida—The Athens of Florida

Size Doesn’t Matter

Many cities and towns allude to their size—whether big or small.

Reno, Nevada, is “The Biggest Little City in the World” (although it’s unclear who set the statistical parameters).

Manhattan, Kansas, is “The Little Apple,” and Denver, Iowa, is “The Mile-Wide City.”

Livonia, New York, puts things in perspective with “Some Bigger, None Better.” And Burkeville, Virginia (population around 500) proudly proclaims that it is “The Little Town That Could.”

Humor Matters (As Well As a Touch of Wordplay)

Some of the best town slogans are the ones with humor. Travelers on the roads of America can always use a smile.

Some slogans perhaps fall short of Pulitzer depth, but are still a breath of creative air in the whirlwind of the more staid “biggests” and “bests.”

Gettysburg, South Dakota—Where the battle wasn’t.
Gravity, Iowa—We’re down to earth. (If gravity goes we all go.)
Drumright, Oklahoma—Town of oil repute.
San Andreas, California—It’s not our fault.
Walla Walla, Washington—The city so nice they named it twice.
Bushnell, South Dakota—It’s not the end of the Earth, but you can see it from here.
Knox, Indiana—Where opportunity knocks.
Hooker, Oklahoma—A location, not a vocation.

A highway smile
(Image Courtesy of the City of Gettysburg, SD.)

The Feel-Good Towns

Some cities and towns just want people to feel good when they visit or want to attract more residents through a rose-colored promise.

Hico, Texas—Where everybody is somebody.
Andover, Kansas—Where the people are warm even when the weather isn’t.
Happy, Texas—The town without a frown.
Eustis, Florida—The City of Bright Tomorrows
Boyd, Wisconsin—The friendly town. Why go by?
Gulfport, Mississippi—Where Your Ship Comes In

Sometimes, the promises become even less specific.

Wasko, California—A nice place to live.
Forest Junction, Wisconsin—You can get there from here.
Bellingham, Washington—Let us surprise you.
Metter, Georgia—Everything’s better in Metter.
Beaman, Iowa—You’re not dreamin’ you’re in Beaman

A town slogan so ingrained in Hershey, Pennsylvania, that even the lights on Chocolate Avenue
hint at chocolate.
© iStock/gsheldon

Town Slogans That Dominate A Town

Some towns dive deeply into their brand, carrying the theme through all aspects of community life.

Hershey, Pennsylvania, is “The Sweetest Town on Earth” and, of course, “The Chocolate Capital of the World.” Chocolate can be found everywhere.

Castroville, California, is the “Artichoke Center of the World.” The expansive fields surrounding the town confirm the title, as does the artichoke “cuisine” offered in the town’s restaurants.

Top Five for Travel Inspiration

Which towns won my heart from their town slogans . . . and made me curious enough to put them on my travel “to do” list?

Winnemucca, Nevada—The City of Paved Streets (Paving does seem enticing.)
Tombstone, Arizona—The Town Too Tough To Die (There will always be a future.)
Cherryfield, Maine—The Blueberry Capital of the World (although Hammonton, New Jersey, might challenge this assertion)
Bothell, Washington—For a day or a lifetime (One of my favorite slogans. No pressure. You’re free to do what you want.)
Knik, Alaska—Dog-Mushing Center of the World (The ultimate in unique experiences)

Which one provides some travel inspiration for you?

Thanks to Brad Herzog for his list of travel slogans.

And particular thanks to the Tombstone, Arizona Chamber of Commerce for showing the true meaning of hospitality.

For a review of additional town slogans, visit Offices Net.