Sunday, February 21, 2016

In Search of Knowledge

Seeking life will not find you knowledge.

Sounds deep I know. And turns out is true when it comes to trees. I had read about a sculpture in Roswell that I very much wanted to visit. I Googled, and Search-ed, and asked.....but could not find any reference to the Tree of Life.

Because it's called the Tree of Knowledge! Oops....

Fortunately I remember it might be at the library and that finally leads me to the piece - on the corner of Pennsylvania and 3rd Street.


17 feet tall with metal branches and leaves of words
Over 2800 tiles made by Roswell citizens
Some quotes cover several tiles, while others are a single word
We spent 20 minutes looking for favorites
The artist, Sue Wink, has created many other community art pieces that I'll now be looking for in our travels.

Keeping with the "learning about stuff" theme for our Saturday, we next visit the International UFO Museum and Research Center.



As expected, the initial focus is on the 1947 crash site discovery just outside the city of Roswell. But there is a lot of other well-presented information on extra-terrestrial sightings, crop circles, proved hoaxes, and ancient cultures. 

We both find it hard to believe we could possibly be the only life in this huge universe, so we entered with minds wide open. Tessa is neutral on the subject.

The amount of written documentation, witness statements, sworn affidavits and testimony from both military personnel and local citizens is staggering. It is much easier to believe that a spacecraft crashed with alien life forms aboard, than it is to believe it was a weather balloon. 




The original press release given to Lt Haut as the official story said the crash site was a flying saucer
The next day the story was changed to the crash of a weather balloon 
Witness statements
including numerous military documents
It's doubtful we will ever know the truth of what was discovered, or why it was so important to hide it all away, although attempts to unearth new information continue.


2002 excavation of the original site produced no additional evidence
Alternate explanations for the wreckage that Mack Brazel found are offered here as well, avoiding a "hard sale" that an alien ship was the only possibility.


Maybe a ship, but one of ours
Maybe a cover-up, but for a logical reason
I find the information on crop circles particularly interesting - differences in wheat at the molecular level seem pretty compelling to me.




I hope someone is still working on these
Before the final exhibits on the entertainment world's take-over of the topic, there is a small section on the ancient cultures whose artifacts reference "sky people" and our relationship with them. A good reminder that Roswell was not likely the "first contact".


Hand carved story panel
depicting a ship with oxygen, braking and navigation systems in relationship to travel through planets and stars.
In addition to all the documents and photographs, there are movie props and other photo-op aliens throughout the museum. There is definitely a strong belief among us on just what they look like!


Autopsy table from the tv-movie "Roswell"
Just floatin' in the back corner
Yep, we all look alike

Working security at the store across the street (the street lights are still my favorite)
Although it's not something we need to do again, I'm really glad we took the time and the $10 to see the museum. If you're in Roswell, you really have to see it :-)




22 comments:

  1. Being the bibliophile that I am, I LOVE that tree. When I get to Roswell I hope I can give it a hug! Sure wish I could have been with you and Bill to go through the museum especially now that I know you won't be going back when I get there. Sounds very interesting. Great "we all look alike" photo.

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    1. I want to go back and see the library as well. I hear it's beautiful as well :) If we're nearby when you get to Roswell, I will definitely come back to see it with you!

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  2. What a very neat tree! This, I must see. They need to provide a ladder to read the tiles way up high:) I had to go to Google Images to see more photos...I found this tree so fascinating. I love that the leaves incorporate words! So clever:)

    I would have said that we would pass on the museum, but now you have me curious:)

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    1. One neat feature is that most of the tiles on the top of the trunk are in larger print, so you can see most of them. I think you and John would find the museum very interesting - very little kitsch, and a lot of official documentation. My only strong conclusion at the end was "It wasn't a weather balloon."

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  3. Glad you found the tree. Steve and I had a great time reading it too. I love the idea of the community working together on it. The alien museum was very entertaining too. Did you see the aliens move in the middle of the museum. Scared me to death the first time!

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    1. Oh man I didn't see them move! That would have freaked me out :-)))) !

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  4. Wow! Looks like you've really found some wonderful places to visit. There are definitely many out there to see.

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    1. Finding the little surprises are even more fun than the big expectations.

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  5. wow, certainly didn't know about the tree when we were there last... guess we will find it next time we pass thru there!

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    1. It's a fun find just two blocks off Main Street :-)

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  6. LOVE that tree! Wish I had known about it when we visited!

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    1. You'll have to see it when you come this way again.

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  7. Loved the wood carving... Also the tree. I will have to go see it sometime. 😄

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    1. It's a huge carving, like a barn door, and the details are amazing. You'll love reading the tree!

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  8. That tree is the BEST! I remember thinking the same thing when visiting the alien museum. Hope the Prairie dogs are still on the base.

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    1. The documents are compelling, and Bill's mom knows some of the witnesses, so she's more than convinced.

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  9. We missed the tree too :(

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  10. I would detour to Roswell just to see that beautiful Tree of Knowledge! Thanks for sharing it. The alien stuff is bizarre….

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    1. You'll love it!! All the kitsch around town sort of down plays the authenticity of the information available. That's why I liked the museum so much :-)

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  11. Love the gree too, don't know about the ufo's, but inteigued with the crop circles.

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    1. The amazing patterns of the crop circles they showed are incredible

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