Windmill at Holland, Michigan

We visited a working windmill (the old kind) in Holland, Michigan. This one was imported and reassembled from Holland after World War II. It has some bullet holes in it from stray war bullets. In Holland, windmills are used more to pump water back to the sea because they are below sea level.

Flags at the Windmill Island Gardens.

Flags at the Windmill Island Gardens. It is so beautiful here.

Windmill Wheel

Wheel on the windmill. I was glad to get to climb up in the windmill. This one was six stories high, however, we were only allowed on five of the stories.

Windmill Blades

The position of the windmill blades is a code for the farmers bringing in the grain for milling. Blades left in a "T" formation means that the miller is gone for a few day break. Another position means that the miller is gone for longer. Blades left in an X mean that the mill is open and ready for business. Also, for holidays they place different shapes on the blades, for example one for Christmas, one for weddings, draped in black for funerals, etc. Also they can open the fabric on the blades that traps more wind making them more powerful, much as a sailboat does.

Windmill Grinder

This is a device that controls how fine the flour is ground at the windmill. It can be changed from coarse to very fine.

Calliope at Windmill Island Gardens in Holland, Michigan

Calliope at Windmill Island Gardens. They have 5 "books" of songs that play available. Actually, they have many older books but do not use them because they are very old and want to preserve them.

Another Pretty Scene at the Windmill Island Gardens

Another pretty scene at the Windmill Island Gardens

Goldfish in the Pond at Windmill Island Gardens in Holland, Michigan

Goldfish in the pond at Windmill Island Gardens.