OK, you're in Joplin and want to see some interesting sights reasonably close?
http://www.bigbrutus.org/
The Big B is just awesome! BTDT (as with all my other recommendations). There's nothing like a HUGE, electically-powered earth mover with a shovel that holds a full-size Chevy truck.
You can really climb up to the top of the boom - as long as the wind speed co-operates! If it's a site you put on the intinerary, please let me know - I'll send you funding for a replacement T-shirt.
Proof. There are things about in Joplin.
http://www.hambdrags.com/Nationals/index.html
If you're going past St George, UT, make a detour to Zion National Park: http://www.nps.gov/zion/index.htm
The USS Batfish is cool. Must have been a pain in the arse to put it in place. I have no desire to ever be a submariner.
+1 for the going to the sun road. I know Vegas isn't really the type of thing to do in this sort of trip, but it's not far off your loop. If you've never been there, take a day or two.
sachilles wrote: The USS Batfish is cool. Must have been a pain in the arse to put it in place. I have no desire to ever be a submariner.
I suspect it was towed up the Mississippi and Arkansas River systems, then to its' berth in Muskogee. Once in place, a levee/berm was built to block-off the river and the water was pumped out.
At one time the river flooded enough that the berth itself was flooded and the sub was floating again. When the water receded, the sub settled back to ground with a slight list and it's still that way today. There are photos in the museum/gift shop documenting the whole thing.
BTW, for anyone considering a tour of the sub, be prepared for the smell of diesel; it still permeates everything.
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