In 2018 I will feature a random (yet alphabetical) selection of photos I have taken from my nearly 20 years of back roads travel in the United States and Canada. I may even throw in a few random shots from other trips to Japan, Mexico and the Philippines. My theme is called America’s Back Roads: A Grab Bag of Places in Pictures.
Let’s start this off with a Whispering Bang!!
Whispering Giants – art by Hungarian artist Peter Toth – Idaho Falls, Idaho; Bethany Beach, Delaware; Murray, Utah; Red Lodge, Montana; Ottawa, Illinois; Hopewell, Illinois; Paducah, Kentucky; Astoria, Oregon; Ocean City, Maryland; Iowa Falls, Iowa; Utica, Illinois
Over 62 of these around the U.S. Here are the ones I have seen:
Gigantic Peter Toth carved Indian Head in North Tourist Park in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Placed in 1980Chief Little Owl in Bethany Beach, Delaware placed in 2002Chief Wasatch in Murray, UT placed in 1985Detail of the “Whispering Giant” of Red Lodge, Montana, placed in 1979Ho-Ma-Sjah-Nah-Zhee-Ga in Ottawa, IL, placed in 1990Hopewell Giant in Hopewell, IL placed in 1975Chief Wacinton in Paducah, KY placed in 1985Ikala Nawan in Astoria, Oregon placed in 1987The Inlet Indian, Nanticoke, dedicated to the Assateague tribe, is in Ocean City, MD and placed in 1976Whispering Giant of Iowa Falls, IA in Veterans Park, placed in 1999Chief Walks With The Wind in Starved Rock State Park, Utica, IL
Wigwam Village – Sleep in Wigwam – Cave City, KY
Wigwam Village, Cave City, KYWigwam Village KeySleep in a Wigwam neon sign in Cave City, KYHanging with ALL 10 Grandkids at Wigwam Village in Cave City, KY
Wahkeena Falls – Corbett, Oregon
Wahkeena Falls in Corbett, Oregon
Wupatki National Monument – near Cameron, Arizona
Son Seth at Wupatki Ruins off of US 89 south of Flagstaff in 1992
Water Buffalo – Cebu, Philippines
Carabao Water Buffalo taken on Cebu Island in the Philippines
Winnett, Montana
Winnett, MT Welcome SignOld Store Front – Winnett, MTOld Hotel Sign – Winnett, MT
Courthouse in Weatherford, TexasSkinnys Hamburger sign in Weatherford, TXRelaxing – Weatherford, Texas
Murals of Welland, Ontario
Mural of Grandfather telling stories about Welland to GrandsonA portion of a massive mural on the side of a shopping mall. Entitled “History of the Niagara Peninsula” by Heinz Gaugel“Main Street” by Mike Svob“Wagons” by Andrew Miles
Washington, Pennsylvania
Washington, PA Historic MarkerWashington County Courthouse in Washington, PAWelcome to Washington, PA
Williams, California
Williams Hotel mural by John Ton in Williams, CADetail of a mural on the side of a building in Williams, CA
Winner, South Dakota
Winner Winner..no chicken dinner, just the name of a town in SDWinner, South DakotaPheasant Statue, Winner, SDPheasant Bar, Winner, SD
Waldo, Arkansas
Waldo Post Office, Waldo, ARWaldo, ArkansasWaldo Water Tower
Winterset, Iowa
Welcome to Winterset, Covered Bridge Capital of IowaWinterset building frontsRoseman Covered Bridge in Winterset, Iowa
Wyoming Dinosaur Center – Thermopolis, Wyoming
Large Sign about the Dinosaur Center in Thermopolis, Wyoming
World Trade Center (before 9/11) – New York City
In New York City in 1990 before the World Trade Center Twin Towers met their demiseWorld Trade Center 1990
One World Trade Center (after 9/11) – New York City
One World Trade Center all lit up at night, as seen from Sinatra Park in Hoboken, NJOne World Trade Center under construction – March 2, 2013
Wall Drug – Wall, South Dakota
Where the Heck is Wall Drug?Welcome to Wall, SDOne of many Wall Drug Billboards – notice the uniqueness?The 80 foot tall Wall Drug Brontosaurus
West Virginia Capital Building with the gold dome – Charleston, West Virginia
Wonde West Virginia’s Capital Building in Charleston, WVWV Capital Building
Wharton, Texas
Black History Mural by Dayton WordrichBuildings in downtown Wharton, TXFuture of Wharton, TX Mural by Dayton WordrichOld Plaza Theater in Wharton, TX
Wonderland Road – Upton, Kentucky
Sumoflam at Wonderland Rd. in Upton, KY
Winter Wheat – Sparta, Ontario
Welcome to Winter Wheat in Sparta, ONWinter Wheat Main BuildingBroom People at Winter Wheat in Sparta, ONThe performance room at Winter Wheat
Walpi, Arizona
While working in Arizona I made over 100 trips to Walpi on the Hopi Indian Reservation in Northern Arizona
White Sands National Monument – east of Alamagordo, New Mexico
White Sands National MonumentVisiting White Sands, NM in 2013Granddaughter Joselyn runs on a sand dune at White Sands National Monument in NM
Walnut Ridge, Arkansas
Walnut Ridge, ArkansasSumoflam with the Beatles in Walnut Ridge, ARWelcome to Walnut RidgeScene from Abbey Road, Walnut Ridge, AR
Wendy’s Museum – Dublin, Ohio
Dave Thomas statue at Wendy’s in Dublin, OHThe Wendy’s Original $150,000 Crystal Cheeseburger created by Waterford Crystal“Where’s the Beef?” memorabilia from the famed advertising campaign in the Wendy’s Museum in Dublin, OH
Wigwam Drive-In – Ravenna, Kentucky
Sumoflam at the Wigwam Drive-In in Ravenna, KYInterior of the Wigwam Drive-in Ravenna, KYThe Famous Country Boy Burger
Washington Court House, Ohio
The Washington Court House in Washington Court House, OH was one of many unique buildings I got to visit in 2016Washington Courthouse Statue
Whitetop, Virginia
Welcome to Whitetop, VAWhitetop StationAll of us at Whitetop Station at the beginning of the 10 mile downhill Virginia Creeper Bike Trail near Damascus, VA
West Side Theater – Newman, California
West Side Theatre – a common stop for Antsy McClain and the Trailer Park Troubadours
Wimpy’s Hamburgers – Dallas, Texas
Wimpy’s Hamburgers – Dallas, Texas – I’ll gladly pay you Thursday for a hamburger today….
Walcott Castle – Walcott, Iowa
Castle Hall in Walcott, IAOne of the Towers on Castle Hall in Walcott
Wind Farms – Shelby, Montana; Nekoma, North Dakota; Adair, Iowa; Bloomington, Illinois; Iona, Idaho; Rugby, North Dakota; Port Burwell, Ontario
An old cabin falls apart in the midst of the giant wind turbines of the Glacier Wind Farm near Shelby, Montana
A silo and wind turbine coexist near Nekoma, NDWind Turbines of the Rolling Hills Wind Farm near Adair, IAWind Farm near Bloomington, ILApproaching Wolverine Creek Wind Farm, near Iona, IDWind Turbines seem to blossom like flowers out of the corn fields of IowaWind Farm near Rugby, NDWind Farm info center in Port Burwell, OntarioWind Farm near Shelby, Montana
Watkins Glen State Park – Watkins Glen, New York
One of over 50 waterfalls in Watkins Glen State Park, NYWatkins Glen State Park, New York
Wilbur, Washington
Wilbur, WashingtonBilly Burger, Wilbur, WABig Pig and Spider at Welcome center in Wilbur, WA
Winnemucca, Nevada
Sumoflam in Winnemucca, NevadaBig casino in Winnemucca, NevadaDriving through Winnemucca
Mount Washington – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Mount WashingtonPanoramic View of Pittsburgh from atop Mt. Washington
West Yellowstone, Montana
Welcome to West Yellowstone, MontanaWestward Motel – West YellowstoneDude Motel – West Yellowstone, Montana
Whiskey Rebellion – Washington, Pennsylvania
Whiskey Rebellion Statue in Washington, PA
Webster Falls – Hamilton, Ontario
Webster Falls near Hamilton, ONSumoflam at the top of Webster Falls, Hamilton, Ontario
White Castle, Louisiana
Welcome to White Castle, LAThere is a White Castle Fire Dept, but no White Castle restaurants to be seen
Worland, Wyoming
Highway into Worland, WYMammoth Bronze Statue by Chris Navarro in Worland, WY
Working Women mural – Welland, Ontario
“Working Women” by Ted Ziegler shows the contribution of women to the industrial work force in the factories of Welland
Wolf Creek Pass – Colorado
Wolf Creek Pass in Colorado July 1993
Wind River Canyon – Wyoming
History of the Wind River CanyonOne of many spectacular views of Wind River CanyonEntering Wind River Canyon on US 20 from Thermopolis, WY
Walking to the Sky Sculpture – Pittsburgh, Penssylvania
“Walking to the Sky” by Jonathan Borofsky
Washington Monument – Washington, D.C.
The Washington Monument and the US Capitol in Washington DC in 2016
Willie the Walleye – Baudette, Minnesota
Son Solomon (at 6’3″) at Willie the Walleye in Baudette, MN
Wichita, Kansas
Welcome to Wichita muralDonut Whole – Wichita, KansasKeeper of the Plains – 50 foot tall statue in WichitaWicked Street Art in Wichita, KS
What Cheer, Iowa
What Cheer, IowaWhat Cheer, IowaDowntown What Cheer – many abandoned buildings
If you like what you see, you may want to check out my book: Less Beaten Paths of America: Unique Town Names, available on Amazon. My second book, Less Beaten Paths of America: Quirky and Offbeat Roadside Attractions, will be available in late April or early May 2018. Click on the photo below for more details or to get a copy of the book.
On January 1, 2017 I sat on a beach in Ocean City, Maryland to watch a spectacular sunrise and pondered to myself about the opportunities I would have to travel throughout the year. Little did I really know the extent that I would actually travel over the year and I’m grateful that I’ve had a wonderful year of seeing more of this beautiful country.
Oddville, Kentucky
Beginning with that glorious morning in Maryland, over the course of the year I have driven nearly 15,000 miles on road trips, many to visit family or be with family, but all of the trips have been wonderful. Some have been close by doing what I refer to as “staycation“ trips in Kentucky. But, throughout the course of the year I have been to 19 different states and have seen a plethora of places and things. Many of the trips included time with my wife, my children and my grandchildren. That makes things so much better and enjoyable!
Welcome to Louisiana with some of my grandchildrenAll the family gathered at my sister’s Mayfield Smoke Shop in Little Italy, Cleveland
In July we had a family reunion. It was the first in five years and all of my 10 grandchildren and all my five children were here at one time or another and even my sister and her husband and daughter came up to visit. During that time we also visited my extended family in Cleveland, Ohio. So, travel was not the only joyful thing. Family is the best.
The following photos tell just a small story of the past year. I have already posted some of the things in more detail and have five or six others in the works about specific places. But here are just some of the places and things form this past year. ENJOY THE RIDE!
Giant Pepsi Pop Bottle Cap in Johnson City, TNHuge snowman in Lewisburg, WVWelcome to Hopkinsville, KY for the Solar EclipseChunky, MississippiRan into a HUGE flock of migrating snow geese in central ArkansasWest, TexasThe swamp of Caddo Lake near Uncertain, TXThe Gator Chateau in Jennings, LAA place called Gnaw Bone in IndianaChicago LIVE in Cincinnati. First time I had seen them in over 40 yearsGiant Indian Chief “Standing Brave” in Big Cabin, OKDuck Commander HQ, home of Duck Dynasty in West Monroe, LAWest Virginia’s Capitol Building in Charleston, WVOne of over 50 waterfals in Watkins Glen State Park, NYTallest wall mural in US “Once in a Millenium Moon” is 14 stories tall…in Shreveport, LAChief Wacinton in Paducah, KY was one of three Peter Toth Whispering Giants I visited this year.Forest, Mississippi Fire DepartmentThe New River Gorge Bridge in West VirginiaPittsburgh, PA at nightChief Little Owl, one of three Peter Toth Whispering Giants. This one is in Bethany Beach, DelawareKing’s Island Amusement Park north of Cincinnati, OHVillage of Story, INPost Office in Happy, KYThe Shack Burger Resort – amazingly quirky and fun – in Cypress, TXCaught the Sand Hill Migration in early January near Cecilia, KYThe Indian River Inlet Bridge between Maryland and DelawareThe Happy Bible Church in Happy, KYA section of the Virginia Creeper Trail near Damascus, VABig Monster at Big Mike’s Rock shop near Cave City, KYGenesee Falls at Letchworth State Park, near Castile, New YorkThe Inlet Indian, dedicated to the Assateague tribe, is in Ocean City, MD and is one of three of Peter Toth’s Whispering Giants visited in 2017Capitol Building in Indianapolis, INBig Stone Gap, VAPal’s Sudden Service in Bristol, TNFound a Canadian in OklahomaThe CastlePost Castle near Versailles, KYFound a nice beach on Lake Erie… Presque Isle State ParkBig Paul Bunyan in Nitro, WVHanging with Grandkids at Wigwam Village in Cave City, KYThe “diamond ring” effect begins as seen from Hopkinsville, KYLarge Saturn Rocket at Welcome Center in Elkmont, AlabamaMammy’s Cupboard in Natchez, MSHistoric Downtown Cairo, ILFall Colors over the Red River Gorge in KentuckyMagnolia Market at the Silos in Waco, TX (Home of the TV Show Fixer Upper)We slept in Wigwam Village in Cave City, KYCathedral Falls in Gauley Bridge, WVDeer at sunrise in Shenandoah National Park on Easter Morning 2017Bald Eagle shot taken in mid April 2017 near Cave Run Lake, KYA place called Donkey in VirginiaWaveland State Historic Park in Lexington, KYSuperman central in Metropolis, ILWelcome to MissouriThe Hobbit Hole – a unique and quirky shop in Fayetteville, WVPop’s BBQ in Morehead, KYSays it all – Cleveland, OHBob Evans Farm HQ – New Albany, OHLouisville BridgesWelcome Sign in IndianapolisEaster Sunrise as seen from Shenandoah National Park
This is part two of my Midland Trail series and this post will focus on West Virginia’s Capital Charleston. During most of May I spent a great deal of time in this lovely river town while visiting a friend of mine who was ill and eventually passed away. That is another story.
During my time in Charleston, I took the opportunity to drive around the town and get photos of the unique Capitol Building, a few other buildings, murals and other things. The town certainly does have its own unique personality.
Welcome to Charleston
Charleston is the capital and largest city West Virginia. It is located at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers in Kanawha County. The city apparently got its start in the late 1700s and historical conjecture indicates that Charleston is named after Col. George Clendenin’s father, Charles. Col. Clendenin acquired the deed to the area in 1786. Charles Town was later shortened to Charleston to avoid confusion with another Charles Town in eastern West Virginia, which was named after George Washington’s brother Charles. Daniel Boone was a resident for a time and served on the Virginia House of Delegates.
Portion of a mural in Charleston
A short drive around the area near the Capitol Building provides the opportunity to see a few murals, one of my favorite things to look for. Here are a few murals in the area…but I don’t think I found them all yet!!
Charleston West Side Mural titled “West Side Wonder” by Charly Jupiter Hamilton.Detail of Charly Jupiter Hamilton mural in Charleston’s West SideAnother detail of Charly Jupiter Hamilton’s mural
Another mural I came across was on the back side of a convenience store in an alley.
All Together Now by Jeff Pierson – Mural in an Alley on the East EndDetail All Together Now
Murals aren’t the only public art in Charleston. As noted in their website Public Art in Charleston, the town has promoted art works including murals and sculptures for over 13 years. While driving around town I came across one sculpture that looked oddly familiar. Titled “Hallelujah,”, the piece below is by artist Albert Paley, who made four massive sculptures entitled “Odyssey” in Council Bluffs, IA (see my post here).
Hallelujah by Albert Paley, located in downtown CharlestonAnother shot of Albert Paley’s Hallelujah
Another interesting sculpture, very close by is the “Festival Delle Arti” by artist Harry Marinsky. This whimsical work of art is likely appealing to children (and adults with the hearts of children!).
Festival delle Arti by Harry MarinskyA detail shot of the work by Marinsky
More scenes from downtown Charleston include some buildings and signs. Really a fun place to visit.
Charleston’s First Presbyterian ChurchThe BB&T Building in downtown CharlestonCabriole by Jimilu Mason on Summers Street in CharlestonFrutcake Sign in West End CharlestonOld Neon sign for New China restaurant in CharlestonDetail of “Out and About” by Rob Cleland in Charleston’s East EndAnother Detail of the Rob Cleland MuralThe BB&T Building (Laidley Tower) with the St. George Orthodox Cathedral in the foreground
I found Charleston to be a wonderful town…lovely bridges, a nice river, beautiful buildings and artwork.
In 2018 I will feature a random (yet alphabetical) selection of photos I have taken from my nearly 20 years of back roads travel in the United States and Canada. I may even throw in a few random shots from other trips to Japan, Mexico and the Philippines. My theme is called America’s Back Roads: A Grab Bag of Places in Pictures.
