Ships – RDZ Photography

Virtual Travel – Washington

Architecture, Art, History, Museum, Nature, Sciences, Transportation, Water Features

Time to visit the beautiful state of Washington.

History

1957 1958 2004 2006

State Capital – Olympia. The building is another traditional style set in the small town of Olympia. While it might seem strange that this small city is the capital when Seattle is just 60 miles away, in the early days of the European settlement Olympia was the most important towns, becoming the territorial capital.

State Symbol

State Tall Ship – Lady Washington

Boeing has a long history in the state, having been founded in Seattle in 1916. The factory in Everett is the largest building in the world by volume, but when you are inside it doesn’t feel that way because of separations. ( 2 photos below from Wikipedia)

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Harold LeMay, a Tacoma refuse company owner, had one of the largest collections of cars when he died in 2000. His collection is displayed in 2 very different museum.

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Seattle

1975 1978 1982

Seattle is a beautiful city that has been booming over the last couple of decades.

It is the cultural center of the Northwest.

The Chihuly Museum has the best art that he has ever created.

Next door is the Museum of Pop, with an eclectic collection.

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Mountains

Mt Rainier 1959 1965 1967 1998 Cascades 1970 2003 2006

Olympic National Park has two major sections, the mountains above Port Angeles, and a rain forest closer to the Pacific Ocean.

The day we chose to go to Hurricane Ridge was a fantastic, sunny day, with views forever.

Mount Rainier is the postcard of the state. (photo from internet)

With the mountains and abundant rain amazing waterfalls are found throughout the Cascades. (photos from internet)

Oceans and Rivers

1992- Puget Sound – Lopez Island – Shaw Reef 1994 – Columbia River Gorge 2000 – Sagebrush & Phlox in Columbia River Valley 2002 – Olympic Peninsula 2008 – Skagit Valley Tulips

The Puget Sound is one of the economic and recreation centers of the state.

The Pacific Coast is rugged and fairly unpopulated. (photos from internet, but I wish I was there for the bottom one).

Virtual Travel – New Jersey

Architecture, Art, History, Nature, Transportation, Water Features

Welcome to New Jersey – my usual first views of the state are landing at Newark airport, for better or worse.

At the other end you can take a ferry from Delaware.

Overview

1955 2000 2002/2003/2004

The New Jersey State Capitol is in Trenton. (Photo from Flickr)

The unusual state symbols of the day include:

State Colors – Jersey Blue and Buff. This dates from the Revolutionary War when Washington assigned the colors to the regiments of the New Jersey Continental Line. It is thought he chose these because New Jersey (as well as New York) were settled by the Dutch, and those colors are the Netherlands colors.

State Tall Ship – A.J. Meerwald. This ship, built in 1928, is featured on maps below. It is a Oyster Schooner.

Officially known as the New Jersey State House, the building was completed in the 1790s, behind the capitols in Maryland and Virginia.

Let’s visit some other cities in the state starting with Atlantic City. It’s main business since being started in the 1850s has been tourism. It was marketed to the crowded city folks in New York and Philadelphia as a healthy resort on the ocean.

By the 1870s more than 500,000 people a day made their way to Atlantic City. By the early 1900s it had large hotels lining the coast, along those streets whose names have been made famous by the board game Monopoly, as well as the notoriety from the Miss America Pagent.

The mayor of the time quoted during Prohibition ‘we have whiskey, wine, women, song and slot machines. I won’t deny it and I won’t apologize for it.’

By the 1970s it had fallen on hard times, so they introduced legalized gambling. These photos show the rebirth in the 1980s, but the convention hall still being the showpiece.

Today it is similar, only with so many cities introducing gambling, the city has one again fallen on hard times. (photo from NJ public radio)

Much of the Jersey Shore (not beach or coast) has some cool/kitschy features, but the best is easily Lucy the Elephant in Margate. This 140 year old elephant still brings in the tourists.

Jersey City – The second largest city in New Jersey has the good fortune of being located just across the Hudson River from lower Manhattan. While the city has had it’s ups and downs, peaking out at 316,000 people in 1930, it dropped down to a low of 223,000 by 1980. This reflected the exodus of people from New York City as well, as everyone was headed to the suburbs.

Since then though, with significant renewal of the waterfront area the population has gone back up to 265,000, and continues to grow.

Just upriver Hoboken is experiencing a similar rebirth, but retains the fabulous Hoboken Terminal for New Jersey Transit Trains, and ferries to Manhattan.

Statue of Liberty

1983 1986

It is interesting that New Jersey has featured the Statue of Liberty on the cover of some of the maps, as technically it is in New York. The island that the statue sits on is in New Jersey water, but is a federally owned island that belongs to Manhattan.

This is a result of a dispute dating (amazingly) from 1664, that stated the New Jersey borders did not extend to the middle of the river, or bay. In 1834 the US Congress did set the boundary in the middle of the waterways, however specifically exempted Liberty Island, stating it would remain in New York. This was held up in 1908 by the Supreme Court, and again in 1987 when New Jersey sued to take control of the island. Clearly these maps from 1983 and 1984 were when Jersey was confident the island would once again be theirs.

Ellis Island however is much simpler, it is in New Jersey. So all those ancestors of ours who were so proud to step of the boat onto New York, really set foot in New Jersey.

Interestingly it is connected to New Jersey by a bridge that is not open to the public, just park service personnel.

Those immigrants – unless you were headed to New England, you were herded onto barges and sent to the train stations in Jersey City and Hoboken, having never set foot in New York.

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Liberty State Park in Jersey City is along the mainland near both islands. The park is on an area that was once large rail yards, with the centerpiece being the Jersey City Terminal of the Central Railroad of New Jersey. This building dates from 1889, and is currently undergoing renovations (for years).

Outdoors in New Jersey

1988 1990 1992 2007 Holgate 2009 2012/2014/2015 AJ Meerwald

Sandy Hook is a spit at the far northern end of the Jersey Shore, sticking out into New York Harbor. It is home to a vacant military facility, but is now a vast park, including large areas of natural settings with views across the harbor to Brooklyn and Manhattan.

New Jersey Palisades. This geological feature along the Hudson River just north of New York City has been protected since 1900, as the industry of the times were blasting it away for crushed stone. (all photos in this section fromonlyinyourstate.com)

Virtual Travel – Maine

History, Museum, Nature, Sports, Transportation, Water Features

It is 1600 miles from New Orleans to Portland, Maine, but virtually we can be there in 10 seconds. It is off to ‘Downeast’ Maine.

Speaking of Downeast, I never understood the term since Maine is in the far northeast corner of the country. This term comes from the nautical term referring to direction, rather than location. During the summer sailing season the winds along the coast of New England blow from the southwest, therefore you went downwind to go from most of the country to Boston, and New England – hence going ‘Down East’

Speaking of nautical, we start our tour with lighhouses.

Lighthouses – Featured on the Maine State Roadmaps of 1959, 1974, 2002, 2010, 2016

West Quoddy Head Light. Featured on the 1959 map, West Quoddy is the furthest point northeast in the United States. Just across the Quoddy Narrows is New Brunswick, Canada. This light dates from 1858.

Lobster – 1968, 1982

Throughout the state are hundreds of small restaurants that serve fresh lobster.

Countryside – 1970, 2005, 2011, 2015, 2016

Maine is the least densely populated east coast state, with about 1.3 million people scattered over 35,000 square miles. Most of those people live in a small stretch of land from the New Hampshire border to Augusta.

As a result there are huge tracts of undeveloped land, dotted with lakes and mountains. Outdoor activities draw people from Boston, New York and beyond.

L L Bean has epitomized that outdoor style in Maine for more than 100 years. Founded by Leon Leonwood Bean, they started out selling ‘Maine Hunting Shoes’. As people came into his shop in Freeport to buy them he would note which ones were not from Maine, and subsequently sent them catalogs of new merchandise.

The flagship store in Freeport is open 24 x 7 x 365. (photos from Pintrest)

1972 – State museum

1973 – Transportation

1976 – Bicentennial

1977 – Watercraft

The Maine Maritime Museum is located in the town of Bath, Maine. Bath has been a shipbuilding center for years, as shown in this vintage postcard

2003 & 2011 – Canoeing & Kayaking

2004 – Skiing. There are 18 ski resorts in Maine. The largest is Sugarloaf, with almost 3000′ of vertical drop.

2009 & 2013 – Acadia National Park & Cadillac Mountain

Acadia National Park is located near Bar Harbor. Together they make a perfect vacation spot.

Los Glaciares National Park, Argentina – January 2020 – Cruising for Ice

Nature, Sciences, Transportation, Water Features

One of the more popular activities at Los Glaciares National Park is to take a 5 hour cruise to see the glaciers beyond Perito Moreno.

The cruise left the port and headed north across Lago Argnetino.

It wasn’t long before we saw icebergs.

The cruise took us past a number of dramatic glaciers including Spegazzini – the largest in the park. All were impressive in their own way.

With one last look at Perito Moreno Glacier we headed back to port, and ended our ice adventures.

The entire crew, especially the hostess Victoria, provided great service with an education on the glaciers.

A Gourmet Glacier Cruise – Muy Bien.

Tigre, Argentina – January 2020 – Abandoned Ships of the Lujan River

History, Nature, Transportation, Water Features

The Lujan River is a major waterway in Argentina, leading to the city of Tigre. Once a large shipbuilding area the banks are now lined with derelict ships. It makes for an interesting sight as you cruise up the river.

Rio De La Plata, Argentina – January 2020 – A Day on the River

Nature, Transportation, Water Features

The Rio De La Plata is considered by some as the widest river in the world, at between 30 and 80 miles wide. Others consider it either a bay or estuary. Regardless it is a busy place on a sunny summer day.

The delta beyond the city of Tigre have no roads, but numerous houses and restaurants. Their only way to receive supplies is via the grocery boats.

The boats that take people out to the islands often have to store the larger items on the roof.

Meanwhile a load of bamboo comes to town.

On a day like this there are literally hundreds of sailboats on the water all along the shoreline.

The windsurfers are amazingly fast.

While many just hung out on their boat.

The San Isidro Cathedral and a nice sailboat.

For most of the 30 miles of shoreline from Buenos Aires to Tigre is lined with tall apartment buildings.

The newer sailors in the school sometimes struggle, but stayed upright.

Leaving a nice line of small matching sailboats.

This guy was amazing flying along just above the water.

There are many very shallow areas that give a strange perspective in the middle of the river – such as the people walking seemingly in the middle of the water.

The troubadour boat 🙂

Great lighting, great sailboat.

Where are we – oh yeah – Argentina.

On the narrower part of the river near Tigre there was a mass of various craft.

The far side of the river have large grasses.

The wooden sailboats have a wonderful look.

The Parque de la Costa (Coast Park) has more than 30 rides and attractions.

The return trip had a few more great watercraft.

It was a great day on the Rio De La Plata.

Lago Nahuel Huapi, Argentina – December 2019 – Tour of the Lake

Nature, Transportation, Uncategorized, Water Features

When we arrived in Bariloche numerous people insisted we take a lake tour. We were fortunate enough to get some tickets as we were leaving town for the North Loop tour, but they were for that afternoon.

After arriving back in town, we headed straight for Puerto Pañuelo to catch the ship Modesta Victoria for our extended tour of Lago Nahuel Huapi. The Modesta Victoria is over 80 years old!

The warm, but somewhat windy day, was perfect for the cruise.

As we left the port we passed by some very impressive buildings.

As a glacial lake, it is completely surrounded by mountains.

Not long after leaving the port a flock of seagulls started to trail the boat. People quickly realized if they threw bread or crackers they would follow.

Some were able to get the seagulls to take the crackers directly from their hands, but this poor lady tried forever and was never able to.

After an hour we arrived at our first stop, the Arrayanes National Park. An Arrayane is the type of tree seen here. The slow growing tree is not native to this location, but a property owner in the early 1900s introduced them. Sadly many of them are dying off.

Our second stop was on Isla Victoria.

We returned to the port in the late afternoon sun.

Marietta, Ohio – September 2019 – Sternwheeler Festival

Festival, History, Nature, Transportation

In the early days of river transportation a common style of boat was the sternwheeler. With it’s distinctive large wooden wheel on the back (stern) to propel it, it was a common sight along the Ohio River.

Today most of the sternwheels are mostly decorative, with a traditional propeller providing most of the propulsion. The boats at the Marietta Sternwheeler Festival were mostly campers on boats.

New York City – August 2019 – Circling Manhattan

Architecture, History, Nature, Transportation

With a trip for work to New York City I had little time for sightseeing, but my wife didn’t! This is her photo blog of a 4 hour New York Architectural Society (almost) circumnavigation of Manhattan. I say almost, since there was a bridge on the Harlem River in a down position so they had to backtrack back around.

They set sail from a pier in Chelsea.

And headed for the harbor…

Passing by Jersey City…

The trip was actually offered for college credit, so there was an instructor on board whom reportedly spoke ‘constantly’. The trip took them past Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, which I wouldn’t think would need any dialog to explain.

It was time to head up the East River…

This carousel in a park in Brooklyn came from a defunct amusement park in my hometown of Youngstown, Ohio.

Nearby was a jet ski school!

As you make you way up the East River you go past many areas that are undergoing gentrification.

An interesting view of Roosevelt Island, and the 59th Street (Queensboro) Bridge.

The United Nations Building

Roosevelt Island was once home to a Tuberculosis Hospital, but now is home to thousands in new apartment buildings.

A great view of the bridge and the Roosevelt Island Tram.

A series of bridges on the far end of the East River, where they ended up turning around.

If you have plenty of money ($850 one way for a 30 minute plane ride) you can get from Manhattan to the Hamptons in a hurry on a seaplane.

Or a helicopter…

The cruise continued back down the East River

The late afternoon sun made a interesting view of the Staten Island Ferry with the statue in the background.

The World Trade Center from the Hudson River

One of the many New York Waterway ferries.

Finally some interesting new architecture along the Hudson.

I think you will agree her photos were great – I am so jealous I had to work, it looks like it was a great cruise 🙂

Cambridge, Massachusetts – August 2019 – Insider Tour of MIT

Architecture, Art, History, Nature, Sciences

I am fortunate enough to know someone who has spent considerable time at MIT, and she was kind enough to show us around to sights on campus that most visitors don’t realize is there to be seen.

We started out with some familiar sites; the Kresge Auditorium. Designed and completed in the mid 1950s by Eero Saarinen, it is an excellent example of mid-century modern.

Next door is a chapel, also designed by Saarinen.

The Rogers Building serves as the center of MIT. It’s atrium is beautiful.

The windows facing Mass Avenue are equally impressive.

The Frances Russell Hart Nautical Museum is tucked away on an upper floor of the main building. It contains a number of intricately designed model ships.

As you wander the halls you come across all sort of great sights.

While this might look like any other hallway at MIT, it is very special. It is known as the Infinite Hall, running the length of the main building and leading to a second building.

You have heard of Stonehenge, perhaps Manhattanhenge (a posting is available), and even Carhenge.

This otherwise nondescript hallway twice a year is the location of MITHenge – the sun shines straight through the entire distance, lighting up the floor. I need to come back in November!

The outdoor space is enhanced with sculptures. MIT is a very cool place, and thanks to an insider we saw some cool sights (all completely open to anyone, you just need to know where to look).