We are in Ottawa, Illinois, best known for the Lincoln and Douglas debate in 1858.
Nothing has happened here since until we stumbled upon a mystery.
The kids were posing on this statue when Gregory pulled out a pouch that was stashed in the pedestal.
"Look, Mom! It's a secret!"
We had found a letterbox! Until yesterday, I'd never heard of a letterbox.
Inside the pouch was a notebook with a stamp of the statue.
Then inside the notebook were stamps from other people, along with the stamp of the statue. We didn't have a family stamp, so we signed it TRIPLETS PLUS ONE RULE! and the kids signed their name.
Apparently, letterboxing is similar to geocaching. People hide letterboxes all over the United States and you have to print out the directions and go and find them. Then you get a family stamp and stamp them when you find them and stamp your own notebook with their stamp. A lot of people carve their own family stamps out of white erasers.
Isn't this the coolest thing ever? I died from the coolness yesterday. We are totally, totally going to do this.
This particular letterbox is to commemorate the artist, Peter Wolf Toth, who has sculptures of Native Americans in all 50 states. He donates his sculptures to the towns he carves them in and there are 78 Whispering Giants in total all over the United States, Canada, and Europe. So people collect his stamps and there is one Giant in every state!!!!
ZOINKS!!!!!
I could find them all if weren't for these pesky kids.
There are 30 letterboxes in Traverse City. I need to get an eraser and start carving our family stamp.
This is going to be so fun!!!
How cool! I must now research letterboxes and carve a family stamp. With family all over the country (and hubs active duty) I think this is going to make moving a little less painful.
ReplyDeleteHow exciting! I need to get this going with my scouts when they are on their way to summer camp! We need a pack stamp!
ReplyDeleteI have heard of this. One of the clients in the studios was doing it. He found one at the bottom of a small wash out in way north phoenix, north of me. He hiked across the desert in 105 degree weather in the middle of the day and climbed down in that wash so he could stamp the card and sign it. He never left that wash, had a massive heart attack took his family days to find him. He was 68 I think.
ReplyDeleteI of course heard the story second hand as I hear most of my stories from work. I am a hairstylist. Gossip is the game.
Thanks, Nan, for that warm and fuzzy story first thing in the morning!!! ((((hugs))))))
ReplyDeleteLong time lurker here...
ReplyDeleteLetterboxing is soooo much fun! People of all ages really enjoy it (I've taken both my pre-teen cousins and my parents).
That's so cool that Gregory found it on his own. You guys are lucky since you can collect stamps all across the US. FYI, if your kids ever wanted their own individual stamps (if carving them it too difficult), they have them in the $1 bins at Michaels.
I've never heard of this but I think it's very cool.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your vacation and keep finding those mysteries.
You must add Greg in his T-shirt and shorts to your stamp.
ReplyDeleteVery neat!
That is very extremely cool. I love the idea of kids learning that there were people here before them and will be more people after they're gone. That is a shock to most kids, at a certain point.
ReplyDeleteThat indian statue is so impressive, guarding the land he once hunted in and loved. You know the spirit is still there. We have seen some like that and DH says they were carved from standing dead or dying trees and tht's how they stay upright. They still have roots. Seems appropriate. I would get the stamp made, however. Tons of places online where you can just email them your drawing and it isn't expensive. You can get a decal for your car, too, if so inclined. The kids are having a very enriching vacation experience already.
Ignore above, DH says that's a different artist who did the totems/statues from trees that are actually still in place. Also, this one also used power tools. Still impressive.
ReplyDeleteThree hours of Sound of Music? ARRRRRRGGH! Did, "Doe, a deer, a female deer...." run through your brain the whole darned night?
that is so cool! you are missing the target toy sale, though! i went to target last night and all the toys were on clearance and i thought of you. i backed my flatbed right up to the store- LOL. i really did get a bunch of stuff, though- i put half of it back before i left because i was starting to feel like a crazy hoarder!
ReplyDeleteGirl Scout Brownies have a letterbox badge. I had never heard of it before either. Cool that you just happened to find one.
ReplyDeleteLook up Geocaching.com
ReplyDeleteOnce you start, you will never stop!
LOVE your stamp idea!
ReplyDeleteOne of those statues is in my town. My grandpa set the base for it, and helped mount the statue!
ReplyDeleteWe have been geocaching ever since GPS was available to civillians! Can't tell you how mamy times we've been led to some hidden gem of a view or park, or interesting spot that we never would have found otherwise.
ReplyDelete