Park City, Utah – September 2022 – Scenic Drive Through Guardsman Pass

Park City is only a 35 minute drive from downtown Salt Lake City if you take the freeway. It is a much longer trip taking the road up over Guardsman Pass, but well worth every minute.

As with other high altitude drives on this trip, once you got up over 8000′ in elevation the trees were spectacular with their fall foliage.

Eventually you drop down into Park City.

Huachuca Mountains, Arizona – May 2022 – Dusty Trails

With the acquisition of a high clearance vehicle it was time to hit one of the ‘off pavement’ routes I have been looking forward to, Montezuma Canyon Road through Coronado Pass.

This route took us past Parker Canyon Lake and up to the pass, with an extensive view of the San Pedro River valley and the multi billion dollar boondoggle fence. This route was 24 miles of dirt and gravel road up over the mountain pass, resulting in the dustiest car I have ever had (which of course I forgot to take a photo of before washing)

One of the more interesting features is the riparian desert features of the San Pedro River. Retaining water year round (a bit), you are instantly in a wooded area with huge trees, literally next to the dry grasslands.

The day ended with a beautiful ‘Blood Moon’ lunar eclipse.

Central Ohio – May 2021 – Weekend Wanderings

With minimal travel we had a weekend hiking close to home that gave a few photo ops of downtown Columbus, as well as nearby Licking County.

The trip to Licking County included a hike in Blackhand Gorge Park. Named for a (now long gone) Native American petroglyph the hike goes through a small ravine along a creek. The sandstone cliffs have a variety of vegetation growing on them.

The rest of the afternoon was spent wandering the backroads of the county.

We came across this fantastic abandoned schoolhouse. As I approached for a closer look the bird came flying out adding to the excitement.

Virtual Travel – Louisiana

Bonjour de la Louisiana. Our trip today takes us to the bayou.

 

1977 – Bogue Chitto River. This river is 65 miles north of New Orleans in a park with more than 1,000 acres.

Government State Louisiana 1977.jpg

 

 

1979 – Bayou. Much of southern Louisiana is made up of bayous and swamps.

Government State Louisiana 1979.jpg

 

2005

Government State Louisiana 2005

 

The residents of these parts are very proud of their alligators.

2019 05 17 64 Moss Point MS Gulf Coast Alligator Farm.jpg

 

The bayous have a unique beauty.

2019 05 17 92 Moss Point MS Gulf Coast Alligator Farm.jpg

 

 

1981 – Acadia. This area of Louisiana has the strongest French culture. In Louisiana the counties are known as parishes. Some of the parishes in this area are over 25% French speaking (although not a French someone from Paris or Montreal would likely easily understand).

Government State Louisiana 1981.jpg

 

We passed through this area in 2019, making a stop at the Tabasco Factory on Avery Island.

 

2019 05 20 151 Avery Island LA Tabasco Factory and Gardens.jpg

 

2019 05 20 78 Avery Island LA Tabasco Factory and Gardens.jpg

 

 

2019 05 20 103 Avery Island LA Tabasco Factory and Gardens.jpg

 

 

2019 05 20 118 Avery Island LA Tabasco Factory and Gardens.jpg

 

 

2019 05 20 126 Avery Island LA Tabasco Factory and Gardens.jpg

 

 

 

 

2019 05 20 156 Avery Island LA Tabasco Factory and Gardens.jpg

 

 

2019 05 20 189 Avery Island LA Tabasco Factory and Gardens.jpg

 

 

2019 05 20 203 Avery Island LA Tabasco Factory and Gardens.jpg

 

 

Acadia is rice growing country.

2019 05 20 224 Avery Island LA Tabasco Factory and Gardens.jpg

 

In New Ibiera is the Conrad Rice Mill, America’s oldest.

2019 05 20 230 New Ibiera LA Conrad Rice Mill.jpg

 

2019 05 20 242 New Ibiera LA Conrad Rice Mill.jpg

 

 

 

 

1984 – Mississippi River. The river is the economic driver for Louisiana.

Government State Louisiana 1984.jpg

 

Bridges in New Orleans.

2019 05 19 165 New Orleans Mardis Gras World.jpg

 

 

Many overseas freighters come up the river to New Orleans to dock and offload.

2019 05 18 216 New Orleans.jpg

 

2019 05 18 253 New Orleans.jpg

 

 

The tourist sternwheeler leaves for a tour.

2019 05 18 254 New Orleans.jpg

 

 

Upriver at the crossing from Vicksburg, Mississippi to the town of Delta, Louisiana.

2015 09 24 31 Vicksburg MS.jpg

 

2015 09 24 34 Vicksburg MS.jpg

 

 

 

1986 – 1992 – 2001 – Music

Government State Louisiana 2001

 

New Orleans is music, food and partying.

2019 05 17 257 New Orleans.jpg

 

 

2019 05 17 289 New Orleans.jpg

 

 

2019 05 17 290 New Orleans.jpg

 

2019 05 17 299 New Orleans.jpg

 

2019 05 18 392 New Orleans.jpg

 

2019 05 19 281 New Orleans.jpg

 

 

2019 05 19 314 New Orleans.jpg

 

 

 

1990 – Flowers

Government State Louisiana 1990.jpg

 

With the warm weather and abundant rain, Louisiana has amazing flora and fauna.

 

2019 05 18 69 New Orleans Botanical Gardens.jpg

 

 

2019 05 18 73 New Orleans Botanical Gardens.jpg

 

2019 05 18 150 New Orleans Botanical Gardens.jpg

 

 

2019 05 18 162 New Orleans Botanical Gardens.jpg

 

2019 05 18 173 New Orleans Botanical Gardens.jpg

 

 

1998 – State Capitol. While New Orleans is the center of the world for all things Louisiana, Baton Rouge is the capital.

 

 

 

2002 & 2007 – Food

 

Louisiana is known for food, primarily (photos from Wikipedia)

Crawfish

Louisiana Crawfish Boil - This Ole Mom

 

Po-boys

Best Po-Boys in Louisiana - Thrillist

 

And Beignets

Beignets Recipe: New Orleans-Style Fried Dough - PureWow

 

 

 

2003 – Louisiana Purchase (historic New Orleans)

Government State Louisiana 2003.jpg

 

New Orleans was the center of the French owned territory in the new world.  The Cabildo is beside St Louis Cathedral in the French Quarter.

2019 05 19 317 New Orleans.jpg

 

The French Quarter is representative of the city at that time (except for all the dive bars).

2019 05 19 333 New Orleans.jpg

 

2019 05 19 343 New Orleans.jpg

 

2019 05 19 285 New Orleans.jpg

 

2019 05 19 277 New Orleans.jpg

 

 

2019 05 19 272 New Orleans.jpg

 

 

 

2018 – Birds

Government State Louisiana 2018.jpg

 

2019 05 20 206 Avery Island LA Tabasco Factory and Gardens.jpgAvery Island, Louisiana has a very impressive bird sanctuary.

 

2019 05 20 203 Avery Island LA Tabasco Factory and Gardens.jpg

 

2019 05 20 213 Avery Island LA Tabasco Factory and Gardens.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

Virtual Travel – Indiana

The Hoosier State – Indiana.

 

1946 – Dedicated to James Whitcomb Riley, Indiana’s Poet.

Government State Indiana 1946.jpg

 

His boyhood home in Indianapolis is now a museum.

James Whitcomb Riley House in Indianapolis, front and western side.jpg

 

 

 

1953 – Intersection of Highway 52 and 136 in Indianapolis.

Government State Indiana 1953

 

 

 

 

1957 – Tri State Express. This is the same freeway featured on the Illinois 1959 map.

Government State Indiana 1957

 

Today that freeway is 10 lanes wide

Interstate 80/94 East - Frank Borman Expressway - AARoads - Indiana

 

The Indiana Welcome Center in Hammond has a statue from the movie Christmas Story. It was set in Hammond, but filmed in Cleveland.

A Christmas Story Comes Home' Exhibit Opens Soon In Hammond ...

 

 

 

1970 – Indiana State Capitol. Dating from 1888 it is the 4th building to be the Indiana Capitol.

Government State Indiana 1970 2

 

 

2015 View.

2015 07 19 21 Indianapolis.jpg

 

 

 

1971 – The map as a map cover. Columbus, Indiana is shown on the right.

Government State Indiana 1971.jpg

 

Columbus has a fantastic collect of modern architecture. Irwin Miller was the Chairman of Cummins Engine Company, and a fan of this type of architecture. His leadership resulted in a town known around the world for the quantity and quality of architecture.

2013 10 25 19 Columbus Indiana.jpg

 

2013 10 25 31 Columbus Indiana.jpg

 

2013 10 25 56 Columbus Indiana.jpg

 

2013 10 25 86 Columbus Indiana.jpg

 

2013 10 25 103 Columbus Indiana.jpg

 

 

 

1972 – Indiana Highway 37 near Bloomington.

Government State Indiana 1972.jpg

 

Bloomington, home to Indiana University, is a small city in south central Indiana. (Photo from Bloomington Tourist Office)

Your Guide to a Fall Weekend in Bloomington, Indiana

 

 

1973 – A collection of signs.

Government State Indiana 1973.jpg

 

 

 

1976 – Indianapolis – The Return Home on the Soldiers and Sailors Monument.

Government State Indiana 1976.jpg

 

The Soldiers and Sailors Monument is the center of Indianapolis. Rising to a height of 284′ (87m) this obelisk has numerous statues surrounding it and an observation deck near the top. (photo from Wikipedia)

Monument Circle, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.jpg

 

 

1978 – Unidentified country scene.

Government State Indiana 1978.jpg

 

 

 

1979- Whitewater Canal State Memorial. In the early 1800s canals were built all over the country, and Indiana was no different. The route of the Whitewater Canal was unique in that it had a drop of almost 500′ at a rate of 6.4′ per mile, compared to the the Erie Canal at 1.7 feet per mile.

Government State Indiana 1979.jpg

 

 

Located in the historic town of Metamora, the canal and the accompanying buildings give a sense of life in the early 1800s.

 

 

 

1986 – Indianapolis

Government State Indiana 1986 1.jpg

 

Indianapolis, as the state capitol and largest city in the state. Highlights of the city include:

 

The Ruins of Holiday Park are remnants from an old building in New York City sitting in the middle of a park in Indiana.

2018 07 17 192 Indianapolis Holliday Park Ruiins.jpg

 

 

Indianapolis Motor Speedway & Museum.

2015 07 19 96 Indianapolis Motor Speedway.jpg

 

 

Indiana War Memorial Building

2015 07 19 3 Indianapolis.jpg

 

 

The former baseball stadium is now apartments.

2015 07 19 177 Indianapolis.jpg

 

 

Indianapolis Museum of Art. The time we were there they were having an exhibit on prototype automobiles.

2015 07 18 116 Indianapolis Museum of Art.jpg

 

 

2015 07 18 407 Indianapolis Museum of Art.jpg

 

 

2015 07 18 295 Indianapolis Museum of Art.jpg

 

 

The current baseball stadium

2012 06 29 Indianapolis 32.jpg

 

2012 06 29 Indianapolis 19.jpg

 

 

Lucas Oil Stadium – Home of the NFL Colts

2012 06 29 Indianapolis 1.jpg

 

Skyline view (Photo from Pintrest)

Downtown Indianapolis skyline... breathtaking | Indianapolis ...

 

 

 

1991 – 175th anniversary of Indiana.

Government State Indiana 1991.jpg

 

 

1994 – Indiana State Highways 75th Anniversary

Government State Indiana 1993.jpg

 

 

 

1995 – Indiana Countryside. The tourist bureaus in Indiana play up the country life quite a bit.

Government State Indiana 1995.jpg

 

Shipshewana is the largest tourist center for this ‘country life’. With some Amish residents it is common to see horse and buggies on the roads. In addition their flea market is one of the largest in the country. (Photo from Tourist Office)

 

Experience Shipshewana's Amish Country | Visit Indiana

 

 

15 Best Things to Do in Shipshewana, Indiana | Visit Shipshewana

 

 

 

1997 – Generic map

Government State Indiana 1997.jpg

 

 

 

2001 – Transportation in Indiana. The Indianapolis Airport is the 5th largest air freight center in the country.

Government State Indiana 2001.jpg

 

Indiana is the capital of RV production. Elkart has the RV Museum, as well as a number of manufacturing faciities.

2018 07 16 122 Elkhart IN RV Museum.jpg

 

 

2016 01 16 Columbus RV Show 4.jpg

 

 

2018 07 16 133 Elkhart IN RV Museum.jpg

 

2018 07 16 194 Elkhart IN RV Museum.jpg

 

2018 07 16 258 Elkhart IN Heartland RV Manufacturing Tour.jpg

 

2018 07 16 283 Elkhart IN Heartland RV Manufacturing Tour.jpg

 

 

2018 07 16 296 Elkhart IN Heartland RV Manufacturing Tour.jpg

 

 

2018 07 16 301 Elkhart IN Heartland RV Manufacturing Tour.jpg

 

 

 

2003 – As with the other states in the path, this year is a celebration of Lewis and Clark.

Government State Indiana 2003.jpg

 

On October 26, 1803 Merriweather Lewis meet William Clark across the river from Louisville, Kentucky and set sail down the Ohio River. That spot is now known as Clarksville, Indiana. That meeting is celebrated at the Falls of Ohio State Park.

2019 05 31 351 Louisville KY Falls of the Ohio Park.jpg

 

This park has a nice view of Louisville.

2019 05 31 355 Louisville KY.jpg

 

 

2004 & 2016 – Indiana State Museum. The current building pictured here was completed in 2001.

The building is over 40,000 square feet, and covers the natural and civil history of the state. Also included is the ’92 walk’ – a collection of sculptures representing each of the 92 counties in the state.

Government State Indiana 2004.jpg      Government State Indiana 2016

 

 

 

2005 – Wildflower.

Government State Indiana 2005 1.jpg

 

A few of the the Indiana State Symbols include: (Photos from Wikipedia)

State Flag – 19 stars, representing Indiana being the 19th state.

Indiana flag

 

State Motto – Crossroads of America.

Indiana state quarter

 

 

State Seal – Depicts a setting sun, sycamore tree, a woodsman and a bison.

 

 

 

State Bird – Cardinal

Cardinal

 

 

State Flower – Peony

Peony

 

 

 

2009 & 2012 – Unidentified Road Construction Projects

Government State Indiana 2009.jpg      Government State Indiana 2011.jpg

 

Lincoln Highway construction in Indiana in the early 1900s.

 

 

 

2014 – Southern Indiana Hills

Government State Indiana 2014.jpg

 

The largest city in Southern Indiana is Evansville. We made a stop there on Road Trip 2019.

Vanderburgh County Courthouse

2019 05 31 245 Evansville IN.jpg

 

 

Restored Art Deco Greyhound Station – now a hipster hamburger place.

2019 05 31 239 Evansville IN.jpg

 

 

Bosse Field – One of the oldest baseball stadiums in the country.

2019 05 31 291 Evansville IN Bosse Field.jpg

 

 

Primary filming location for the movie League of Their Own.

2019 05 31 285 Evansville IN Bosse Field.jpg

 

2019 05 31 281 Evansville IN Bosse Field.jpg

 

 

 

2015 – Bristol, Indiana – Bonneyville Mill. This mill is the oldest in the state. It was built by Edward Bonney in 1833.

Government State Indiana 2015.jpg

 

 

 

2017 – Brown County State Park, Hesitation Point. This is the largest state park in Indiana, covering more than 15,000 acres. It is known for it’s scenic vistas.

Government State Indiana 2017.jpg

 

 

 

2018 – Williamsport Falls. This 90′ high falls is the 2nd highest in the state.

The flow of the falls is very seasonal.

Government State Indiana 2018.jpg

 

 

 

2019 – Berne, Indiana – Settled by Mennonite immigrants in 1852. The town has been built by Swiss and German immigrants, resulting now in a small town of 4,000 residents.

It is known for it’s picturesque town square.

Government State Indiana 2019.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Virtual Travel – Connecticut

Our virtual travel tour takes us back to east to Connecticut. The oldest map in the collection is from 1964. The cover is a nondescript view of an early Interstate with the State Police posed in the median strip with minimal traffic.

Government State Connecticut 1964.jpg

 

In Connecticut the traffic has changed but the roads are the same.

2012 06 21 117 Connecticut.JPG

 

 

The flip side has a collection of tourist attractions of the state.

Government State Connecticut 1964 2.jpg

 

 

 

For 1965 a colonial church is featured. The European history of Connecticut started in 1636 as a Puritan settlement known as the Connecticut Colony. In the famous Charter Oak incident this group refused to surrender local authority to the Dominion of New England, one of the first acts of self government in the country.

Government State Connecticut 1965.jpg

 

Connecticut Yankees have a history of having great ingenuity. There is no better example of this than Mystic Seaport.

The Mystic Seaport is the largest maritime museum in the United States, with a large collection of ships and buildings in a complete town.

2016 08 30 86 Mystic CT Seaport.jpg

 

2016 08 30 42 Mystic CT Seaport.jpg

 

2016 08 30 44 Mystic CT Seaport.jpg

 

2016 08 30 52 Mystic CT Seaport.jpg

 

 

2016 08 30 61 Mystic CT Seaport.jpg

 

 

2016 08 30 70 Mystic CT Seaport.jpg

 

 

2016 08 30 75 Mystic CT Seaport.jpg

 

 

2016 08 30 95 Mystic CT Seaport.jpg

 

 

2016 08 30 100 Mystic CT Seaport.jpg

 

 

 

The transportation modes of Connecticut is featured on 1972. Located between New York and Boston, Connecticut has always been a commuter state with a large rail network for getting into the larger cities surrounding it.

Government State Connecticut 1972.jpg

 

 

New England is known for it’s impressive fall foliage. While most visitors head to Vermont and New Hampshire, Connecticut offers some scenic fall countryside views. as shown on this 1983 map

Government State Connecticut 1983.jpg

 

 

Connecticut’s one major airport, located between Hartford and Springfield, Massachusetts is on the cover of the 1987 map.

Government State Connecticut 1987.jpg

 

 

 

The next in the series from 1989 is a scene from the Long Island Sound.

Government State Connecticut 1989.jpg

 

The Long Island Sound separates Connecticut from Long Island. There are a number of ferries that cross the water thus bypassing the need of going through New York City.

We once took the New London – Orient Point ferry providing great views leaving New London and crossing the Sound.

2018 05 27 142 New London CT.jpg

 

 

2018 05 27 140 New London CT.jpg

 

 

2018 05 28 1 New London CT Cross Sound Ferry.jpg

 

 

2018 05 28 11 New London CT Cross Sound Ferry.jpg

 

 

2018 05 28 23 New London CT Cross Sound Ferry.jpg

 

 

2018 05 28 22 New London CT Cross Sound Ferry.jpg

 

 

 

Since the late 1990s the maps have featured non identified scenes.

Government State Connecticut 1994 2.jpg         Government State Connecticut 2002.jpg

 

 

Government State Connecticut 2005.jpg         Government State Connecticut 2007.jpg

 

 

We leave Connecticut with a postcard view of a small coastal town.

Government State Connecticut 2013.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

Virtual Travel – California

Today we make our way to the Golden State – California. As most people know California is known for, among other things, their car culture. That culture apparently never translated to CalTrans, who never seem to have published maps.

Instead most Californians have relied on the auto club for their travel tools. The state has two major auto clubs – The Auto Club of Southern California and the California State Automobile Association, which covers Northern California.

The auto club maps rarely featured photos, mostly just graphically interesting maps.

For this posting we will mix together vintage Auto Club maps with photos from various years of the highlights of the state.

 

The map below dates from the 1950s and covers the entire state.

Auto Club California State Auto Association California 1940.jpg

 

 

 

A view of the map itself shows the famed freeways of the state still a few years away. This view has the area from the coast around San Francisco to the mountains and Yosemite National Park, going south as far as Santa Barbara.

Auto Club California State Auto Association California 1940 4.jpg

 

 

Our tour will start in San Francisco….

Auto Club SoCal San Francisco 1997

 

 

The view back toward downtown from Twin Peaks on a cloudy day.

2016 05 21 19 San Francisco.jpg

 

 

While most of San Francisco streets are in a grid system, the area directly around Twin Peaks have streets with curves resulting in a haphazard look to the houses.

2016 05 21 20 San Francisco.jpg

 

 

The Golden Gate bridge with the tops of the towers obscured by the low clouds.

2016 05 21 26 San Francisco.jpg

 

 

The cool, weirdness of Haight Asbury.

2016 05 21 58 San Francisco.jpg

 

 

Isotope Comic Book Shop and their artistic toilet lids.

2016 05 21 72 San Francisco.jpg

 

 

San Francisco from Angel Island.

2016 05 21 142 San Francisco.jpg

 

 

 

An evening at the Santa Cruz Beach.

2016 05 21 167 Santa Cruz.jpg

 

 

San Luis Reservoir as we head towards the central valley.

2016 05 22 14 Central California.jpg

 

 

 

Yosemite! One of the best National Parks.

2016 05 22 45 Yosemite.jpg

 

2016 05 22 71 Yosemite.jpg

 

2016 05 23 6 Yosemite.jpg

 

 

 

The Central Valley is the produce capital of the country.

2016 05 23 33 Fresno Area.jpg

 

2016 05 24 5 Tulare County.jpg

 

 

Sequoia National Park.

2016 05 23 41 Sequoia Kings Canyon.jpg

 

 

2016 05 23 122 Sequoia Kings Canyon.jpg

 

 

Kings Canyon National Park.

2016 05 23 105 Sequoia Kings Canyon.jpg

 

2016 05 23 116 Sequoia Kings Canyon.jpg

 

 

 

 

Let’s move on to Northeastern California.

Auto Club California State Auto Association Northeastern California 1991.jpg

 

 

Lassen National Park

2016 05 29 20 Lassen National Park.jpg

 

 

 

Lava Tubes

2016 05 29 41 Lava Beds National Monument.jpg

 

 

2016 05 29 51 Lava Beds National Monument.jpg

 

 

 

Hieroglyphs in far northern California

2016 05 29 88 Lava Beds National Monument.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

Northwestern California is home to some amazing coastlines and forests.

Auto Club California State Auto Association Northwestern California 1987

 

 

Our tour of Northwest California starts out with the Francis Ford Coppola Winery in Geysersville.

2016 05 26 4 Geyserville CA Coppolla Winery.jpg

 

 

Lake Sonoma.

2016 05 26 37 Sonoma County.jpg

 

 

The Mendocino County coast.

2016 05 26 47 Mendocino County.jpg

 

2016 05 26 68 Mendocino County.jpg

 

2016 05 26 84 Mendocino County.jpg

 

 

Fort Bragg, California (not to be confused with the actual U.S. Army Fort Bragg in North Carolina).

2016 05 26 102 Mendocino County.jpg

 

 

2016 05 27 8 Mendocino County.jpg

 

 

 

One of the ultimate tourist traps – the Drive Thru Tree in Leggett, California.

2016 05 27 29 Mendocino County.jpg

 

 

 

Redwood Forest.

2016 05 27 78 Humboldt County.jpg

 

 

 

Eureka, California

2016 05 27 113 Humboldt County.jpg

 

 

We were  lucky enough to be in Arcata, California for one of the coolest festivals we ever saw – the Kinetics Festival.

2016 05 28 169 Arcata CA Kinetics Festival.jpg

 

2016 05 28 173 Arcata CA Kinetics Festival.jpg

 

 

Trinity Lake

2016 05 28 194 Shasta County.jpg

 

 

Shasta Dam and lake with Mount Shasta in the background.

2016 05 28 225 Shasta County.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

This 1927 map  is the Circle Tour of Southern California. Leaving downtown Los Angeles it takes you east past San Bernardino to Palm Springs, before heading south through the desert, finally returning to the coast at San Diego.

Auto Club SoCal Circle Tour 1927.jpg

 

 

 

Auto Club SoCal Circle Tour 1927 2.jpg

 

We will recreate the highlights of this tour 90 years later…

The Bradbury Building in downtown Los Angeles was there when this map was published.

2009 08 22 7 Los Angeles.jpg

 

 

Driving through the desert to Palm Springs.

2009 08 24 44 IAMMMMW Road.jpg

 

Palm Springs from high up on Mount San Jacinto.

2009 08 24 78 Mt San Jacinto and Palm Springs Tram.jpg

 

 

San Diego – This late 1940s map shows a San Diego that was just becoming a major city.

Auto Club SoCal San Diego County 1948

Auto Club SoCal San Diego County 1952 3

 

By 2012 it was a beautiful city by the bay.

2009 08 23 27 San Diego.jpg

 

Petco Park – Home of the San Diego Padres (trivia time – the Padres are the only major league sports team whose name is entirely in non English)

2009 08 23 70 San Diego Petco Field.jpg

 

 

And finally back in Los Angeles – although this 1920s map is missing LAX (among other things).

Auto Club SoCal Los Angeles Central Section 1940 2.jpg

 

 

2012 03 10 153 Los Angeles Scenes.jpg

 

 

2012 03 10 148 Los Angeles Griffith Park.jpg

 

 

2012 03 10 133 Los Angeles Griffith Park.jpg

 

2006 11 07 9 Downtown Los Angeles.jpg

 

 

 

2012 03 10 144 Los Angeles Griffith Park.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Virtual Travel – Arkansas

Today’s stop on the virtual tour of the United States is Arkansas. Located in the south central part of the country it is a state I have only visited a couple of times, and then very briefly. I have however managed to collect 34 different years of state highway maps.

The only photo I have taken with Arkansas actually is 1/2 Texas – Texarkana Post Office and Courthouse – literally split down the middle by the two states.

2015 09 24 5 Texarkana AR TX.jpg

 

 

We start today’s tour with a 1958 map highlighting a freeway interchange in Little Rock. While there have been limited access highways in the United States since the 1930s, the U.S. President in the 1950s, Dwight Eisenhower, was a strong proponent on the improvement of the road system in the country. As a result the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956 was passed.

This act authorized the construction of 41,000 miles of limited access (no crossroads, etc) freeways. While some states had made some significant progress by 1958, in Arkansas it was limited – the exit shown was one of just a handful in the state.

Government State Arkansas 1958.jpg

 

 

 

We move ahead 10 years to 1968 and find the cover with a nice view of the Ozark Mountains. The Ozarks aren’t particularly high, reaching a maximum elevation of 2,560.

While the Ozarks reach into Missouri, they are best known as part of Arkansas. As this photo shows the terrain is tree covered with numerous rock outcroppings. In addition there are a number of scenic rivers and lakes.

Government State Arkansas 1968.jpg

 

 

 

The 1970 map starts an amazingly long period where the look of the maps do not change. The maps are consistently basic, with the inside being the statewide map, and the backside having a few city maps. Unlike most states there is little in the way of tourist information like guides to parks.

The covers continue to highlight the natural scenery with this view of the Ouachita Mountains. Much like the Ozarks they are relatively small, tree covered mountains. As the map notes this view is overlooking the Hot Springs National Park. Situated next to the city of the same name Hot Springs has long been an attraction.

The town has famous and infamous periods, including being an attractive location during prohibition for people like Al Capone to come hang out. The town has a collection of historic bathhouses and many other architectural significant buildings.

Government State Arkansas 1970.jpg

 

This checkered history is celebrated with a statue of Al outside the Ohio Club in Hot Springs. (photo from Dayton Daily news website).

Statue of Al Capone outside the Ohio Club in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

 

 

 

By 1972 the Interstate System was nearing initial completion. This view features Crimson Clover for ground cover.

More than just a 1960s pop song, Crimson clover is a winter annual and herbaceous legume. The leaves and stems of crimson clover resemble those of red clover, but the leaves are round-tipped with more hair on the stems and leaves. Seedlings grow rapidly from the crown forming a rosette. This rosette enlarges as weather becomes favorable. In the spring, the flower stems develop rapidly and end their growth with long, pointed conical flower heads comprised of 75 to 125 florets. Florets are a bright crimson color and open in succession from the bottom to the top

Government State Arkansas 1972.jpg

 

This image (from the internet) gives a nice closeup of Crimson Clover.

Crimson Clover | Best Forage

 

 

 

The 1973 map has a view of Little Rock, the largest city and capital. With about 700,000 people in the area it makes up about 20% of the states population.

With it’s location near the Ouachita Mountains, the city is made up of some rolling hills, along the Arkansas River.

Government State Arkansas 1973.jpg

This photo from the internet shows that the skyline has changed little in the 40 + years since this map was published.

 

 

 

For the American bicentennial the cover is a tribute to the early pioneers.

Government State Arkansas 1976.jpg

 

 

 

The eastern border of Arkansas is the lower Mississippi River. This area is known as the Arkansas Delta, which has geographic similarities to their neighbors in Mississippi. It is the region where cotton is grown.

The area is dotted with lakes, many of them as a result of the river changing course over time. The bald cypress tress shown here are typical of the area.

The area is also known for their music, including blues and country. The most famous person from this area is Johnny Cash.

Government State Arkansas 1977.jpg

 

 

 

The Arkansas State Capitol is featured on the 1979 map. As with the vast majority of state capitol buildings in the country it is built in the Neoclassical style. This building is much newer than many other state capitols, having been completed in 1915.

Government State Arkansas 1979.jpg

 

 

 

For 1981 the photographer chose a view of a small river (the Spring River), a two lane road and a train.

Government State Arkansas 1981.jpg

 

 

 

The Interstate 40 bridge linking West Memphis, Arkansas and Memphis, Tennessee is featured on the 1982 cover. Covering a distance of 9400 feet, and rising over 100 feet above the river, the official name for this bridge is Hernando de Soto Bridge. The two arches of the bridge are to represent the letter ‘M’ (for Memphis), hence the nickname of the structure is the M bridge.

Government State Arkansas 1982.jpg

 

This photo from the internet shows the bridge at night with the ‘M’ lit up. Photo by Trevor Birchett.

 

 

 

The photo for the 1984 edition shows the early fall scene in Garland County. With Arkansas being located in the south this scene likely dates from late October or early November.

Garland County is the home of Hot Springs.

Government State Arkansas 1984.jpg

 

 

 

Another year (1985) another two lane road in the woods. This time we are in Yell County. Strangely this relatively small county, in both population and square miles, has two county seats. In addition it is a ‘dry’ county, with no alcohol sales. Perhaps that is why they Yell.

Government State Arkansas 1985.jpg

 

 

 

The Interstate 430 bridge over the Arkansas River at Little Rock is shown on the 1986 map. This freeway bypasses the city to the west.

Government State Arkansas 1986.jpg

 

 

 

The 1987 map has a radical departure on the look of the title on the cover, but not much else. More bridges and roads through the countryside.

Government State Arkansas 1987.jpg

 

 

 

Once again in 1989 the scene goes unidentified. But good news – there is a bridge involved.

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For 1990 we get a return of the red backgrounds for the titles, along with descriptions of the scene. This view is from Highway 7 in Perry County, with a dogwood tree in full bloom in the foreground.

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Perry County is home to a huge Goat Festival (photo from KARK TV station). The festival attracts 4000 people to the small town of Perrysville.

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Big changes for the Arkansas map in 1993 – Bill Clinton, a native son was elected president. Unfortunately they have returned to photos of generic scenes without descriptions. This pattern continued for the next few years.

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1994

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1995

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1996

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For 1998 the descriptions have returned. This mountain scene is U.S. Highway 65 near the Buffalo National River in Searcy County.

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Searcy County is known as the Chocolate Roll Capital of the World. A chocolate roll is a crust filled with chocolate. A recipe found on the internet could be a good thing to fill some time today….

Searcy County Chocolate Roll

Pastry:
1 c. flour
1/2 c. vegetable shortening
1/4 c. cold water
dash of salt

Filling:
3 Tbsp. cocoa powder
1/3 c. butter or margarine
1/3 c. sugar

Incorporate all pastry ingredients into a pie crust-like dough. Roll out. Cream together cocoa powder, sugar and butter and spread on surface of pie crust. Roll from one end, tucking in sides like you would a burrito. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes or until golden and molten. Let cool 10 minutes before serving.

 

 

 

In 2001 we visit Beaver Lake Dam in Carroll County. The dam has created a large lake that provides recreation as well as drinking water for much of Northwest Arkansas.

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A Corvette and a country road back in Perry County. Since this county is dry too, they are likely headed to the next county to buy a bottle of wine for dinner.

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In 1803 the United States purchased a massive area (828,000 square miles) of land from France for only $15 million dollars. What seems like a good deal was likely a better deal for France as they really didn’t control most of the land – it was still inhabited by Native Americans. The U.S. was buying ‘preemptive’ rights to obtain the Native lands by treaty or conquest (steal).

The entire state of Arkansas was included in this deal.

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To get your Kicks on Route 66 in Arkansas you have to go to Stone County and take the state highway with that number, since the famed U.S. highway of the same number did not go through the state, although it went nearby in southwest Missouri.

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The 2005 map shows the field of daisies at an Interstate interchange. Given the view you would think that the daisy would be the state flower but it is not. The state flower is the apple blossom, a tribute to the time when Arkansas was a large apple producing state, which it no longer is.

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The 1956 Interstate Act 50th anniversary is celebrated on the 2006 map. Ironically neither of the two freeways shown here are interstates, they are both state routes.

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The tunnel shown here is the Bobby Hopper Tunnel. It is the only vehicular tunnel in Arkansas.

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For 2009 the cover shows the recently completed Greenville Bridge, a cable stayed design over the Mississippi River. Construction of this bridge took 16 years.

The new bridge replaced one built in 1940.

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Hot Springs National Park is the scene again for the 2010 map.

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As noted previously there are numerous bathhouses in Hot Springs, including one that was in the park itself. The Ozark Bathhouse was closed in 1977 and restored as the National Park Visitor Center. (photo from NPS site)

Ozark Bathhouse viewed from Central Avenue, looking up the front steps.

 

 

 

Another two lane road in 2011 – this time in Pope County. Located in the north central part of the state it is home to the town of Russellville. It is yet again another dry county.

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Logan County is featured on the cover of the 2013 map. This county was originally called Sarber County, after John Sarber, when it was formed in 1871, but the locals felt Mr Sarber was a carpetbagger, so they renamed the county for an early settler James Logan.

Like most of the scenes in the series of Arkansas maps, it is located in the Ozark Mountains.

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The theme continues in 2015 with this scene from Stone County.

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The historic Lawrence County Courthouse is featured on the 2016 map. The courthouse is part of the Powhatan Historic State Park. And yes Lawrence County is like most of north and west Arkansas in that the county is dry. Lets move on to California so we can have a beer!

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