Waving Girl Statue, Savannah, Georgia

Here's a pretty postcard of  Florence Martus, "The Waving Girl". (1868-1943)

For 44 years, she would wave a handkerchief by day, and a lantern by night at every single ship that entered or departed Port of Savannah, Georgia.

I took some photos of the statue during a recent trip to Savannah, Georgia. It was pretty cool to see it in person. :)

The statue is 20 feet (6m) in height and was sculpted by the same man who sculpted the famous Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima flag raising), Felix De Weldon.

World's Largest Holstein

What could be better than a postcard of Salem Sue the World's Largest Holstein in New Salem, North Dakota?...

...That's right! Actually visiting Salem Sue the World's Largest Holstein in New Salem, North Dakota!

Hard to believe, but I was her only visitor while I was there. :)












I'm looking forward to going back someday for more of these fantastic views!

Happy Hump Day!

I'm shaking up Hump Day a bit. :)

I don't have a camel photo of my own to use, but I DO have this recently-taken-with-my-own-camera-in-Fargo-North-Dakota super spiffy colorful bison sculpture photo!

He's got a humpy thing on his back, so I'm calling it good!

Happy Hump Day, everyone!

Kansas City & The Scout

I ended up in Kansas City, Missouri, earlier this week. I remembered that I had this beautiful view of the KC skyline on a postcard.

 I decided to track it down in person....

...And I found it!

The rainy weather cleared up just in time for this gorgeous view!

A little info on the statue:

Official name:The Scout
Height: 10+ feet (3+ m)
Sculptor: Cyrus E. Dallin
Depicts: A Sioux Indian on horseback surveying the landscape.
Timeline: Conceived & sculpted in 1910; exhibited in San Francisco, CA, in 1915; Officially dedicated in Kansas City, as a permanent memorial to local Native Americans, in 1922.

Will B. Rolling Statue

Here's a very recent, very fun find. It's in Port Byron, Illinois, and is named "Will B. Rolling".  "Will" and his Penny-farthing (old-fashioned bicycle) top out at 30 feet (9.14m).

Port Byron is a small town in northern Illinois alongside the mighty Mississippi River.

Fun fact: Port Byron competes with Le Claire, Iowa, each year in a "tug fest". A 2700' (823m) rope is stretched across the Mississippi River for a series of tug-of-war competitions.  Tug Fest is the only event in the U.S. that allows the Mississippi River to be shut down.

It dawned on me that I had this postcard in my collection. Soooo, you get a BONUS fun fact: "Will B. Rolling" is a replica of "Big Ben Bikin'" which is billed as the world's largest bicycle, and is located in Sparta, Wisconsin.

Abraham Lincoln On A Horse Sculpture

Who loves a good statue?!
Anyone?
::::crickets chirping:::
Ok, well *I* do!

 I just happened to come across this fine looking statue in Petersburg, Illinois right by New Salem State Park.

It's a depiction of a young Abraham Lincoln reading a book... AND.... he just happened to be riding a horse at the same time!

It's like two statues for the price of one! :D

More From Niagara Falls

Frozen mist from the Falls.

And snow!

Rainbow near the American Falls a little further down river.

And snow!

More frozen mist on the trees.

And snow!

American Falls and Bridal Falls.

The views of all of the falls are MUCH better from the Canadian side of the river.

And snow!

Gift shop and restaurant closed.
No postcards, no souvenirs, but plenty of free snow!

Nikola Tesla, inventor of alternating current induction motor, has a lap full of SNOW!

The original arch entrance to the Adams Station. The world's first hydroelectric power plant. Completed in 1895. Re-erected at the site of Niagara Falls in 1966.

And snow!

World's 3rd Largest Fire Hydrant, Beaumont, Texas USA

I must say, it's pretty sneaky to paint a fire hydrant in Dalmatian camouflage. BUT, I managed to find it anyway! Yesterday, while in Beaumont, Texas, I had to pay a visit! Who wouldn't?

There were lots of normal-sized hydrants there, too, also decked out in matching Dalmatian camouflage.

All of the hydrants, both large and small, are located in this plaza, which is located directly across the street from the Fire Museum of Texas,

Also in the plaza is this nice little September 11 memorial.......

......and this statue of two firemen in action. A memorial for Texas firemen.

My visit was brief, but the warm, sunny weather of southern Texas helped to make it very enjoyable before I had to start heading back north to cold winter weather again!

Memorial Day 2012

In honor of Memorial Day, I'm sharing photos of a statue I came across in Cuero, Texas earlier this year.

The statue commemorates Master Sergeant Raul (Roy) Perez Benavidez, who received the Medal of Honor for actions in combat during the Vietnam War.

 I did not know of the life and times of this remarkably heroic man until I looked up more information about him on the internet.

Hope you all have a peaceful day, wherever you are.

Cuero, Texas