A Mint
There are a few of the 101 Places that I had mentally written off as not feasible.
A Mint was one of them - tours are always on non-holiday times (when we're not traveling), and I'm not sure this was something we were all dying to do.
If we are to visit Philadelphia, Denver, D.C., or San Francisco - I doubt touring the Mint would be high on our lists of things to do.
But our brother-in-law Dave told us Christmas night about the old Mint in New Orleans, right in the French Quarter. We knew we had to check it out. We found a surprise along the way as well.
This mint was in use until the early 1900s.
Over the years though it has been a federal prison, and served in other state functions though no longer in use as a mint.
The interior of the first floor is really cool - with the old brick structures still in place.
We enjoyed looking around on the main level and were told we could also look on the 2nd level.
To our surprise, the second level was not part of the old Mint, but was the Preservation Hall jazz museum!
Thomas got to see Louis Armstrong's first cornet.
Preservation Hall is famous for its jazz band where most legends played over the years.
I liked this sign about requests.
Apparently "When the Saints Go Marching In" is a common request.
We really enjoyed walking around the Preservation Hall museum and watching the tribute video.
The old New Orleans Mint, and a Jazz Tribute as well!
From the Book:
#67 - A Mint
Have you ever heard the expression "Money doesn't grow on trees?" Well, it's true - money is made in a mint, and you can actually watch it happening. Find out how designs are developed, models are created, and coins are engraved and "struck". It's really cool to watch millions of newly minted coins just pouring out of a machine or giant blank pieces of paper turn into dollar bills. Even though they have lots of cash around, they're not giving it away - if you want it, you're still going to have to earn it.
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