Legends of America Blog

Treasure Hunter Casting Call - Host Wanted for Documentary Series

2011-11-15T19:24:00.002-06:00

Every once in a while Kathy and I are contacted by production companies for guidance. Today it is a production company in Australia looking for someone in the USA to Host a documentary series. Here's the email in it's entirety. If you know someone let them know Legends Of America sent ya!

Good Day Kathy & Dave,

My name is Serita Wesley and I am a Development Casting Director with Prospero Productions (www.prosperoproductions.com.au), a television production company out of Australia. We are currently developing an exciting new documentary series based around the worlds of Treasure Hunting, Battlefield Detecting, Aviation Archaeology, Warbird Restoration, Wreck Diving, Battlefield Archaeology, etc. Unfortunately, we have yet to find a charismatic and knowledgeable host for this series.

I stumbled upon your website while doing research online and wondered if either or you might be interested in the opportunity or know anyone who might be a great fit. Ideally we would like to find someone who is youthful, incredibly passionate about any of the subjects previously listed, has a wealth of knowledge (its not required to be an expert on all of the sub-categories listed above), someone with a very outgoing personality that viewers would find easy to watch and trustworthy.

We are looking for individuals in the USA. I have pasted below the casting notice for this particular search. Our deadline is fast approaching; therefore, I would love to speak with you and give you more information on the series.

If you or someone that you know of fits this description please contact me, Serita Wesley (Casting Director) at SWesleyCasting@gmail.com.

NOTE: Please feel free to pass this note and the casting notice along to any groups, clubs or forums that you might belong to pertaining to the topics.

Thank you so much for your time, and please do not hesitate to contact me for more information.

Sincerely,

Serita Wesley

CASTING CALL: LOOKING FOR REAL LIFE TREASURE HUNTERS!!!

*Are you or someone you know a true to life TREASURE HUNTER?

*Do you travel the country or the world combing historic battlefields?

*Do you scour the fields looking to collect a piece of history?

*Do you search local parks and beaches for treasure?

*Do you dig at battle sights and wreckage sights in search of historic relics?

Prospero Productions, a television production company in Australia, is seeking charismatic, knowledgeable & fearless Metal Detectors, Battlefield Detectors, Wreck Divers, War-bird Restorers, etc. all over the United States and Canada.

We are looking for people who have fun personalities, a zest for life and who love to learn and explore.

If this sounds like you or someone you know send us an email to SWesleyCasting@gmail.com, with the following information…

- Name

- Age

- Location

- Contact Information

- TWO photos of yourself & your finds

- A summary of where treasure hunt, how you are “known” in the treasure hunting/historical excavation world.

Deadwood to Home

2011-10-03T09:54:00.000-05:00

Downtown Deadwood, SD

We cut our trip short to get back to Kansas to see our new Granddaughter, but made sure to spend some time in downtown Deadwood. This city was founded in 1876 after a miner named John B. Pearson found gold in a narrow canyon in the Northern Black Hills the previous year. Today the entire city is a National Historic Landmark. We highly recommend experiencing this Old West city, which despite the commercialization through the Casino's, still holds plenty of it's original charm.

Pine Ridge Reservation

From Deadwood we head back to I-90, then south to Rapid City, where we take Highway 79 to 40 and through the Pine Ridge Reservation. Home to the Oglala Sioux Tribe, it is located just on the edge of the South Dakota badlands. Though the reservation is 2,000,000 acres large, the bulk the original Sioux homeland was the Black Hills which the Sioux considere sacred. In fact, the Sioux continue to dispute losing their lands in the Black Hills to this day.

Wounded Knee

After we get on Highway 18 we found time for a quick jog north to the site of the Wounded Knee massacre. This regrettable and tragic clash of arms, occurring December 29, 1890, was the last significant engagement between Native Americans and soldiers on the North American Continent, ending nearly four centuries of warfare between westward-bound immigrants and the indigenous peoples. Today, it serves as an example of national guilt for the mistreatment of the Natives. You can read the full story about Wounded Knee here.

Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway

After heading back to Highway 18, we start making our way to Nebraska via 391/27 into Gordon. From Gordon we continue south to Highway 2, which is also Nebraska's Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway. The rolling hills of Nebraska and the somewhat sandy soil is home to very few. In fact, Kathy and I believe that this was one of the longest stretches of desolation we have encountered yet. Though there are a few small towns through this region, we were happy we filled up in Gordon.

Ashby

Along the way we stopped for pictures in Ashby, Nebraska. Near the end of the 19th century, the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroad moved west and laid rails through the Sandhills of western Nebraska. This area had once been called a desert, and unfit for humans. Not suitable land for farming, it was ideal for the grazing of cattle. The land south of Ashby was set aside for a time as a forest reserve, and then opened for settlement to homesteaders by way of a land drawing in 1912. With the homesteaders, the town grew and added businesses. In 1914 there were three lumber yards, two livery barns, a blacksmith shop, a bank, barber shop, post office, two grocery stores and a newspaper called The Ashby Argos. Today, Ashby is called home to less than 100 people.

Nebraska National Forest

On down the road you pass by the Nebraska National Forest. Located in the Sandhills of central Nebraska, was established in 1902 as an experiment to see if forests could be created in treeless areas of the Great Plains. This effort resulted in a 20,000-acre forest, the largest human-planted forest in the United States.

After a long day of driving, we spent the night in Grand Island and then quickly wrapped up our journey to Lawrence Kansas to be with family. Overall, Kathy and I were fortunate to experience the wonderful history, Ghost Towns and people along the way of our 9 day journey to North Dakota and back. We look forward to writing more about the places we've seen in the months ahead.

You can follow this portion of our trip in pictures via our Facebook Fan Page here!

Congratulations to Kathy's daughter Torri, and husband Pete Nobo on their 3rd daughter. We welcomed Havana Blue Sky Nobo to the world on Friday and plan to start priming her with history as soon as she can talk!

Deadwood to Devils Tower

2011-10-01T07:34:00.000-05:00

Deadwood's Historic Adams House

It was a wonderful feeling waking up and realizing that we didn't have to pack up and leave our hotel. Kathy and I decided we would stay in Deadwood, SD for a couple of nights and spend Friday traveling close by. We didn't really need to "do" Deadwood, since Kathy has already been here and done that. Of course, this city does have some fantastic history, which is worth reviewing once in a while. The famous and the infamous have called Deadwood and the Black Hills home. Lewis and Clark, Wild Bill Hickok, Wyatt Earp, George Armstrong Custer, Poker Alice, the Sundance Kid, Calamity Jane, and many others have all passed through here in search of fortune and adventure.

Homestake Mine, Lead SD

And for all the hoopla over Gold and Deadwood, it was the town of Lead, just a few miles further on Highway 85, that actually struck it richer. Founded in 1876 by Mining Magnate George Hearst , it's Homestake Mine, which closed in 2002, was the most productive gold mine in the Western Hemisphere, as well as the largest and deepest. Today, a viewing platform allows visitors to view the Mine and learn about the "rich" history of the area. It's also worth noting that the town is now home to a "Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory" which deals in dark matter and other nuclear physics studies. By the way, Lead and pronounced Leed, just so ya know.

Bridal Veil Water Fall

We departed Lead on Highway 14 for some picturesque views of the Black Hills, stopping at the areas water falls and generally enjoying the Fall color already prevalent along the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway. Beautiful clear water is a welcome site to a couple from the Lake of the Ozarks. We typically don't see fish "in" the water, unless they are coming up for air. Absolutely worth the drive over to Spearfish, where we catch I-90 and head west into Wyoming.

Along the way we run into Vore Buffalo Jump just west of Beulah. This was something I hadn't run into before, at least the way it was found. It's one of the most important archaeological sites of the Late-Prehistoric Plains Indians that just happened to be discovered when I-90 was being constructed during the 1970's. It's a natural sink hole that was used by natives as a buffalo trap around the years 1500 to 1800 and is actively being studied to this day. Different than the Buffalo jumps we have seen where the natives would run them off a cliff, but just as effective. The building at the bottom of the sink hole was built to protect and expand the excavation unit working the site.

Devils Tower, WY

From there we continue down I-90 to Sundance, where we veer off with Highway 14, then onto Highway 24 to take in Devils Tower. Movie geeks know this as a key place in Close Encounters of the Third Kind (well, at least I did), however this monstrous rock is a sacred and important landmark to Plains Indians, America's First National Landmark, and draws thousands of visitors a year. It is 867 feet from the base to the top, and 1,267 feet above the Belle Fourche River that runs below it. You just can't appreciate the awe of this place on a movie screen. Incredible.

Aladdin General Store, WY

From Devils Tower we start our trek back to Deadwood, stopping at the General Store in Aladdin for some shopping, before heading back to South Dakota. Aladdin's General Store was built in 1896 and is one of Wyoming's five remaining 19th century mercantiles. It hasn't changed much in appearance since then. If you are ever in the area, stop in this town of 15 and check this place out, on Highway 24, a few miles from the state line.

On our way back to the hotel in Deadwood we discovered that our new Grand Girl decided to come a few days early, so we are going wrap up our trip in rapid time so Nana can help out with the other two grand girls while Mom recovers. Welcome to the world Havana Blue Sky Nobo. Papa Dave and Nana are on the way to Lawrence, Ks to make sure you get the historic welcome you deserve!

See Day 7 of our trip in pictures here on our Facebook Fan Page!

Jamestown, ND to Deadwood, SD

2011-09-30T10:31:00.002-05:00

We spent parts of 3 days hunting down history and Ghost Towns in North Dakota and decided we were ready for some real Old West atmosphere, so we have landed in Deadwood South Dakota for a couple of nights and will travel the region around us before heading back toward home.

Old School in Cleveland, ND

Day 5 of our North Dakota adventure found us heading out of Jamestown west on I-94. We made a quick stop in the ghost town of Cleveland, founded in 1882, for some shots of an old school building that caught our eye from the interstate. It's been taken over by a construction company now, so at least the property is still in use. The town still has an active post office with a few residents.

Abandoned Church in Crystal Springs, ND

Next stop down I-94 was Crystal Springs. Crystal Springs got its start in 1873 and a Post Office opened in 1884. It remained a thriving small town until it was cut off by I-94. Today, there are about 8 inhabited homes.

Arena, ND

Back on I-94 turning north on Highway 3 at Steel up to 36, then back west we came to Arena. This is the kind of Ghost Town Kathy loves the most, completely abandoned, but with still enough buildings in tact that you can still imagine the life that once was. Founded in 1906 and with a peak population of about 150, this town appears to have had some activity as recent as 15 years, however only a couple of homes, a church and grain elevator remain. We spent some time there taking lots of pictures and enjoying a quick break before moving closer to the Missouri River again.

Fort Mandan

After hooking back up with Highway 83, we move north to Washburn for some key Lewis and Clark history. Fort Mandan, located just outside of Washburn, was built by Lewis and Clark in 1804. Named after the nearby friendly Native America Mandan tribe nearby, the fort was key to the Lewis and Clark expedition as it prepared to explore western regions of the unknown West. This is also where Lewis and Clark hooked up with Sacagawea, the Native American woman who would be indispensable to the expedition as a translator and guide.

You'll run into the interpretive center first, which includes some very interesting and historical exhibits about the region and the expedition, and then travel just a mile or so down to a recreation of the original fort. We found the stop to be worth the price of admission and the staff friendly and knowledgeable. We were also lucky to even visit the Fort recreation, as it had only been open for two weeks after being closed due to flooding back in June.

Fort Clark Site

Heading down Highway 200 out of Washburn we also pay a quick visit to the site of Fort Clark, a trading post from 1830 to 1861. Although there are no buildings left today, it is an important archaeological site due to its well preserved records of trade and tragedy. Unfortunately for the Mandan Indians who lived in the area, the Forts trade brought Small Pox in June of 1837, which would wipe out 90% of the Mandan tribe. After moving into the abandoned village, the Arikara tribe would suffer more epidemic, killing most of them as well.

Knife River India Village Wigwam

Still moving west we visit the Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site, a 1,759 acre national park that preserves the historic and archaeological remnants of the culture and agricultural lifestyle of the Northern Plains Indians. Here, can be seen a visitor center and museum, reconstruction of earth lodges, and a self-guided walking tours of three historic village sites that date back as far as 8,000 years.

Scenic views along Highway 85

Satisfied with our Lewis and Clark and Native American history, Kathy and I head back south to I-94 and push west, then south on 85 toward our hotel in Bowman. This picturesque highway is right next to the Little Missouri National Grassland area, providing some beautiful views of rolling hills, etc. On the way we pass by the highest point in North Dakota, White Butte at over 3500 feet, then through quirky Amidon, which touts itself as the smallest county seat in the nation.

We were also lucky enough to run into some buffalo just outside of Bowman for one final picture opportunity before calling it a day. After settling into our great Mom and Pop, the Trails Motel, Kathy and I prepare to wrap up North Dakota, visiting several Ghost Towns here in the Southwest part of the state, before heading back south.

You can see Day 5 in pictures via our Facebook Fan Page here!

Day 6 Bowman, ND to Deadwood, SD

Griffin School House

We headed out of Bowman west on Highway 12 to catch a few Ghost Towns our wonderful host at the Trails Motel told us about. First on the list was Griffin. This completely abandoned ghost town still sports a few buildings, including a school, that appears may not be there for too many more years. A railroad town, it is said to have a rowdy history, including a few main street gun battles back in it's early days. It's also just a couple miles south of the old Yellowstone Trail, which was one of the first roads in North Dakota. The trail was created in 1912 by a group of businessmen in South Dakota who wanted a useful automobile route across America.

Rhame Watering Hole

From Griffin, we continue west on Highway 12 to Rhame, founded in 1908. This town still has an active population of around 169 people. It was originally called Petrel, but had to change it's name for the Post Office since Petrel was already taken. Another Railroad town, it was incorporated as a village in 1913 and didn't become a North Dakota city until 1967 when the State Legislatures eliminated incorporation titles for villages and towns.

Mystic Theatre, Marmarth, ND

From Rhame we weathered massive road "re-construction" almost all the way to Marmarth. Still can't say that towns name well, but it was great stop. Situated beside the Little Missouri River, it was originally established on the East side of the river but had to move to the west side over a dispute over prices with the Rancher who owned the land. Named after Margaret Martha Fitch, granddaughter of Albert J. Earling, president of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, in 1911 it was the largest town in North Dakota on the Milwaukee Railroad, and the fifth largest west of the Missouri River. It's peak population of around 1,300 was reached around 1920, but it only has 136 residents left as of the 2010 census.

South of Marmarth on Camp Creek Road

From Marmarth we headed south on Camp Crook Road, then back East on a county road and back up to Rhame just to enjoy the scenery of the landscape. Lot's of prairie and hills in these parts that we would get more of on our way to South Dakota, but for now we wanted to head back through Bowman and hit a few more Ghost Towns before leaving.

Gascoyne, ND

To the East of Bowman on Highway 12 we make a quick photo stop in Scranton. Although it's not a ghost town, we do have a regular reader of Legends that is from there, so thought it would be nice to post a pic or two on our Facebook page. Just down 12 from Scranton is Gascoyne. This ghost town started in 1907 as Fischbein but changed its name in 1908. It was an active coal mining town as recent as 1997 when coal operations shut down. Efforts soon began to revive the mining operation and build a new power plant, but these plans were abandoned in 2008 due to environmental concerns. It too was on the Yellowstone Trail and today supports about 16 residents.

Haley, ND

From Gascoyne we leave the main highway and head south on Gascoyne Road then west on Haley Road to the ghost town of Haley. It was supposed to be named for William Galey, however postal officials misspelled it. The town is just north of the South Dakota border and, as of the 2000 census, had about 23 residents, though according to Ghosts of North Dakota, it only has two residents now.

Vessey, SD School

Moving on south of Haley on roads less traveled, we run into an old school in the middle of a field on County Highway 859 and Vessey Road. It was the Vessey School, and it's possible there was more evidence of Vessey somewhere close by, but Kathy and I wanted to push on South to Ludlow Road and get back west over to Highway 85. In the meantime we ran into quirky Boot Hill, which was a fence lined with more boots. Cute picture opportunity anyway.

Bear Butte, SD

From Ludlow, SD we headed south on Highway 85 to 163 to Castle Rock, where we met up with 79 South toward Sturgis. Here we ran into some interesting history at Bear Butte, including a Historical Marker that pointed out the remnants of the Bismark Trial and told the story of a family killed there by Native Americans. Bear Butte was an important landmark for Plains Indian tribes for many years before European settlers invaded the region, with some artifacts found dating back 10,000 years. To this day it is still sacred to many Native Americans who make pilgrimages and leave offerings there.

Fort Meade Post Office

From Bear Butte we move on toward Sturgis, and after a quick photo stop at the largest biker bar in the US, the Full Throttle Saloon, we head on down a mile or so to Fort Meade. Established in 1878 to protect settlements in the northern Black Hills, the fort was a key to several stage and freight routes on the way to Deadwood. It's still active today and has a rich military history, including the 7th US Calvary, Buffalo Soldiers, and the 10th and 4th US Cavalries. Today it's a training site for the South Dakota National Guard, a Veterans Hospital, Army National Guard Officer Candidate School and home to Fort Meade National Cemetery.

Full Throttle Saloon

After a few more snapshots in Sturgis, we make our way on into Deadwood where we plan to spend a couple of nights and do more traveling around the region on Friday. Overall, our time in North Dakota ghost towns was great and we are just as excited about our journey toward home.

You can see Day 6 of our trip in Pictures via our Facebook Fan page here!

To North Dakota - Yankton, SD to Jamestown ND

2011-09-28T09:27:00.002-05:00

We finally found North Dakota! It took us over 3 days, but we crossed the border today in a blaze of Ghost Town glory. So let's catch you up on what we've experienced in Day's 3 and 4 of our journey, and how our jaunt into North Dakota almost wasn't.

Day 3 - Yankton to Pierre South Dakota

Yankton Mural

Yankton South Dakota has some pretty friendly folk. We found a quaint little Mom and Pop, the Starlight Hotel, where despite the lack of some basics like a climate control and a coffee pot, the Gal on duty went above and beyond in friendliness, even letting us borrow the office coffee pot for our early morning routine. Thank goodness, because we had a lot of driving along the Missouri River to do, looking for things that in some cases weren't there anymore.

Yankton Museum

Yankton itself is pretty historic, known as the town where Jack McCall, who shot and killed Wild Bill Hickok, was tried and hanged, it sits right on the Missouri river. It was the original Dakota Territorial Capital, and home of the first and oldest Dakota Daily Newspaper, published in 1861. It's also the home town of noted journalist and NBC anchor Tom Brokaw. Lawrence Welk also launched his career here back in 1927 on WNAX Radio in Yankton. We enjoyed the picturesque view of the river just on the edge of downtown before heading out on highway 52.

Scenic Drive no more

The idea was to stay as close to the river as possible, which wasn't possible all the time. Recent flooding has closed some roads, including what was advertised as an 8 mile scenic drive along a dirt road west of Yankton Marina area. Luckily for us, we didn't have to travel too far into it before running into water. Plenty of scenic along this trip though, so back to the highway we go, making our way to Pickstown, which just across the Dam is next to historic Fort Randall.

Fort Randall Chapel

Fort Randall, established in 1856, was the last in a line of Forts that protected the Overland Route along the Platte River, and the first in a chain of forts along the upper Missouri River. It was a strategic military post during the Indian Wars, after which it closed in 1892. We found an old Church, still partially standing and now being protected from further destruction, along with the Fort Randall Cemetery on a hill overlooking the Fort and River.

Lake Andes has a new pair of shoes

Just up the road we stop at a convenience store in the town of Lake Andes. Kathy decides it's warm enough to change into shorts, so she promptly does so in the parking lot. We wouldn't discover until much later down the road that she had left her only pair of tennis shoes "in" the parking lot, so note to Lake Andes residents.. No, no one was kidnapped, and yes, they are nice shoes, we hope someone is enjoying them.

Most of the rest of this day was spent simply driving along the river, enjoying the scenery, and hoping against hope to run into more fort ruins or Ghost Towns. Some roads were closed due to the recent flooding, but we did manage to hit a good stretch of Missouri River starting in Chamberlain, up Highway 50 to 34, then over to Fort Thompson. We should have done a little more research for this stretch, as we looked and looked for Fort Hale, which was located across the river from Fort Thompson, only to learn later that it is completely gone, and the location now under water.

Lake Sharpe near Chamerlain

Oh well, like I said, scenic drive anyway and we head on toward the South Dakota Capital of Pierre along Highway 34. After settling into our hotel for the evening, we decided we better go ahead and book hotels for the next couple of days in North Dakota. We had been warned by one of Kathy's old high school friends that we better book ahead in North Dakota, but we had determined that the only area of concern would be Northwest ND due to the recent Oil Boom.

Pierre, South Dakota State Capital

Being the "fly by the seat of your pants" travelers we are sometimes, we had simply planned to stay in Bismark, ND for a couple of days and travel the entire region from there. However there was "NO ROOM AT THE INN". And I don't mean just Bismark. The more we looked for hotels, the more we started to think that we actually may not make it to North Dakota this trip. In addition to the Oil Boom, Bismark was also playing host to a huge conference and not one room was available anywhere in town, or in any surrounding towns for that matter. On top of that, it's hunting season, which pretty much took the rest of the rooms across much of the state. Bottom line, if you are a Hotel Owner, you should seriously consider building some in North Dakota.

Luckily for us, we found a room in Eastern North Dakota in Jamestown for Tuesday night, and another at a Mom and Pop in Bowman, way down in the Southwestern corner of the state for Wednesday night, and just prepared ourselves for some long travel days ahead.

Day 4 - Pierre, SD to Jamestown ND

Miles of nothing

Now this is what I'm talking about...Kathy and I love Ghost Towns, and we finally found what we were looking for on the way to Jamestown. Our trip started with a stop at the local Wal-Mart in Pierre to get Kathy some new Tennis Shoes, then up Highway 83. This stretch was pretty much Corn and Sunflower crops and harvest elevators most of the rest of South Dakota. Small communities that could be Ghost Towns, but seemed to bustle with activity from area farming dotted our way. Like Onida, which is Sunflower haven, with a county courthouse that sits on the site once occupied by Fort Sully, which was one of the main military forts in Dakota. Not to be confused with the Old Fort Sully which is Southeast of Pierre.

Venturia, ND Bar

It really wasn't until we crossed into North Dakota that we reached our true Ghost Town destinations. Venturia, in McIntosh county, was founded in 1901 and only has a handful of people left. Still sports a local bar though, and we've since read that it also serves as the owners living room. Some of the older buildings include a Depot and old post office and was a good way to start our real ghost towning in North Dakota.

Ghost Farm near Danzig

On down a bit we travel some backroads to Danzig, which never had more than 100 residents and now appears to be privately owned with one residence and a couple of Grain Elevators. A nice bonus in this area was the Ghost Farm just outside of Danzig. Cool stop to stretch our legs, careful not to go past the "no trespassing" signs while taking in the scenery.

Fredonia, ND

On down the road we go to Fredonia, which got it's start in 1904. A mural on the side of an abandoned building promotes its Centennial saying "Fredonia will shine once more in 2004". This town is still inhabited by about 46 people as of the 2010 census, but we only saw a couple of them while we were there. The downtown had only a few buildings and sported a Flagless Pole in the middle of one intersection, seemingly lonely for times long ago.

Lehr, SD

Lehr North Dakota was much bigger, but still shows signs of being a Ghost Town. Sitting on the county lines of McIntosh and Logan, it's said to be the smallest city in the US situated in two counties. Founded in 1898, this town continues to lose population, down to about 80 in the 2010 census, compared to 114 just ten years ago.

Evidence of flooding in ND

Outside of Lehr we are seeing more evidence of the incredible effects this past years record snows have caused, with flooded ponds and farmland. Got a cool shot of a barn and windmill under water. Not sure if it was due to the 90 inches of snow they received in ND last year, or has been this way for a while, but never the less, this landscape seems to have permanently changed.

Nortonville, ND

Nortonville on up the way off highway 281 has been long forgotten by the census since the 1960's but still sports a few residents. The sign above the door on one of the abandoned buildings reads "Memories", which seem to be most of what Nortonville has left.

We love this quirky Boot

We only had a couple more Ghost Towns on the list for the day, including Millarton and Sydney, which were far enough off the highway that all business was gone, leaving a Grain Elevator and a couple of homes as reminders of a town that once was. Maybe we will find some gems of history to write about from these places, but for now we are satisfied with driving through these once populated towns and getting back to more civilization in Jamestown for the night. We have a long day ahead of us on Day 5, traveling across much of the state, including north of Bismark and back to Southwestern North Dakota where our next hotel awaits us in Bowman.

Follow our adventure from Yankton to Jamestown in pictures via our Facebook page here.

To North Dakota - Iowa to South Dakota

2011-09-26T07:29:00.001-05:00

Axe Murder Home in Villisca, Ia

We got a late start getting out of Clarinda, Iowa on Sunday. Didn't leave the hotel until almost 10am, which is unusual for us. So feeling a little pressure to put some miles on we wasted no time getting out of there and on up Highway 71, where it wasn't long before we ran into Villisca, a town with a macabre story to tell. It was at the home of Josiah Moore on the morning of June 10, 1912, that the town awoke to find eight of its residents brutally murdered by an axe. It immediately changed this peaceful community into one of suspicion, with residents locking their doors, carrying weapons, and generally distrusting many. Newspaper reporters, private detectives and law enforcement agencies from neighboring counties all converged on the town collecting hundreds of interviews and and facts. Though there were several suspects, the murders were never solved.

The walls of this old home today continue to protect the identity of the vicious murderer who bludgeoned to death the entire family of Josiah Moore and two overnight guests. Open for tours today, the old house is said to be the site of a number of paranormal activities. A number of reports have been given that visitors hear the sounds of children voices and laughter when there are none present, objects seemingly move of their own accord, mysterious banging sounds are heard throughout the house. Paranormal investigators are known to have come away with mysterious audio, video and photographic evidence. We didn't have time for the tour, but looks like it could draw quite a few, especially this close to Halloween.

Coffee Pot Water Tower
In Stanton, Ia

On up 71 we make a turn West on Highway 34 toward Stanton, a town with rich Swedish Heritage that bills itself as "The little white city". A neatly kept community of about 700 residents, Stanton is home to a Swedish Heritage and Cultural center, and what is said to be the largest coffee pot in the world (it's a water tower in the shape of a coffee pot). They also have another water tower in the shape of a coffee cup on a saucer. This is only fitting since one of it's residents was the actress Virginia Christine, or Mrs. Olsen on the classic Folgers Coffee commercials. It felt a little odd driving into a cemetery to get a good picture of the water tower, but worth it for our quirky Iowa page soon to come.

Fort Omaha, Ne

After stopping for breakfast in Red Oak just down 34, we boogied on over to I-29, crossing into Omaha, Nebraska. Of course, there's lots to see and do in Omaha, but we were on a mission to move north, but with some interest on Forts, we stopped at Fort Omaha, which started as a supply barracks in 1868 and is now also home to Metropolitan Community College. There are still some facilities for Military Reserves on the perimeter of the old Fort that are used to this day for troop deployment. An interesting history, the Fort was also the location of America's first military balloon flight school in 1916. However it's best known for it's role in the 1879 landmark trial of Native American Ponca Chief Standing Bear, which resulted in Standing Bear being the first Native American to be recognized by the US Government as a "person" under the law.

Recreated Buildings at
Fort Atkinson, Ne

North from Fort Omaha, we head up Highway 75, which becomes the Lewis and Clark Scenic Byway just south of Blair. Before reaching Blair we run into the town of Fort Calhoun, where a quick right turn toward the river takes us to Fort Atkinson State Historical Park. From 1820 to 1827, this was the most westerly military post, the first established west of the Missouri River. This is the site where Lewis and Clark first held council with Native Americans, but after being abandoned in 1827, the original Fort was burned down and all remnants later found were taken away by settlers who were glad to find the bricks for building their homes. Today, this recreated Fort in the Fort Atkinson State Park provides visitors with a glimpse of what life was like there when it was the first important town in the state of Nebraska.

Decatur, Ne

Once we are back on 75 we keep our northward trek up to Decatur Nebraska, which seems to be the closest point to the river we have been since Omaha. Here we find evidence of the recent flooding of the Missouri River and ponder on the risks people take building so close to such a mighty torrent. Living on the Osage River back in Missouri, we can understand the draw, but the evidence of flooding here would keep us from building anything within a mile, depending on land elevation of course.

Lewis & Clark Scenic Byway, Ne

Just outside of Decatur we enter the Omaha Indian Reservation, immediately followed by the Winnebago Reservation. While the landscape along this scenic byway is pretty, we aren't finding a lot of shots of the river and decide to push harder north in an attempt to at least get into South Dakota before stopping for the night. So on to Sioux City we went, catching I-29 to Highway 50, through Vermillion and into Yankton. We're right on the river here and plan to spend some time in this historic town this Monday morning before heading northward.

As far as my quest for cheddar bay biscuits from Red Lobster, it's still ongoing. We were still full from breakfast when we hit Omaha, and it was too early to eat in Sioux City. Oh well, we did find a nice Mom and Pop hotel in Yankton and the history of the area is enough to keep my mind occupied ... that and the possibility of staying in Bismark, North Dakota at some point keeps my hopes of buttery garlic goodness alive.

Follow us in pictures via our Facebook Page here

To North Dakota - Are we out of Missouri Yet?

2011-09-25T09:25:00.002-05:00

Kathy lives a life precariously balanced by Mother Nature. Pretty sure I've written about this before, as it's a familiar pattern. When it's cold, she stays indoors. When it's really hot, she stays indoors. And, since we have the luxury of running our business from home, this means there are times that Kathy literally doesn't leave the house for days, sometimes weeks. I, on the other hand, have an office over 50 feet from the house, a shipping center over 100 feet away, and the occasional responsibility to run to the grocery store. Meanwhile, Kathy hunkers down during these weather extremes and sits for hours in her office writing, playing with photos and generally getting sick of herself.

This was never more evident than this past Summer, when we experienced rainy day after rainy day, followed immediately by a long period of extreme heat, followed again by more rain. Which means that Kathy's health (ie, my physical well being) were at a tipping point. So, it was no surprise when Kathy walked out of her office one night recently and proclaimed "Pack your boots, were going to North Dakota."

Gotta admit, I was a little surprised at her choice considering the time of year, however we've needed to head north for a while, and the look in her eye told me "just go with it." Besides, we love our jobs, especially when it comes to travel. There's the obvious reasons; new adventures in history, ghost towns, scenic byways, you know...America the Beautiful. But, for me, there's also another twist...choices in dining. I know, I know, you're probably saying to yourself that I must be a food hound, but, really I'm not. It's just that after years of living in the city and traveling the world in a corporate job, I became accustomed to having a wide variety of dining choices just about every day. Though the benefits of relocating our business to Warsaw, Missouri far outweigh any savory delight, our small town of about 2,000 doesn't have those mouthwatering cheddar bay biscuits that magically appear on my plate at Red Lobster.

mmmm...buttery goodness

Mmmmm... Red Lobster, yep that's what we're doing, we're going to hit a Red Lobster on the way to North Dakota. Kathy teased me with the idea of stopping in Kansas City on our first day of travel for one nice "splurge," but then after that we would be frugal and keep it down to a minimum. We packed up all kinds of snacks and sandwich stuff to save money, but, I couldn't let the trip go by without at least one of our favorite eateries in the mix. She teased and she teased, reminding me for several days before we left that I was getting closer and closer to my melt in your mouth cheddar bay biscuits.

Kathy and I have a great travel relationship. She hates driving and I'm a backseat driver. I hate navigating and like to be told when to turn. It works out pretty well... I'm happy not to have to say "Don't stop in the middle of the road!" and "Holy crap, are you close enough to the edge!!?" And Kathy's happy not to have to ask "Are you sure you know where we are?" and "Really, you think this is a road?" We've gotten to the point where we no longer question (not much anyway) our given duties. I drive, she navigates. And, if there is any question, the majority rule applies. (ie, she owns 51% of the business). So, you can probably imagine the look on my face when we weren't even 20 miles out of Warsaw Saturday and suddenly Kathy proclaims "Let's skip Kansas City and keep going north." "But, but, but, garlic buttery goodness, scallops, salad, they even take your debit card at the table.."

Chillicothe, Mo

As I pass the turn to Kansas City in Sedalia, I resigned myself that this day would be tuna salad from a packet. So, north we continued on Highway 65, through Marshall up to Chillicothe, and Lock Springs, an almost ghost town.

Historic Clear Creek, MO Church

Beyond Lock Springs, we make a stop at the historic Clear Creek Church and Cemetery for a little picnic. As I bite into my Tuna Salad sandwich, I soaked in the beauty of the surrounding rolling corn fields and pondered on the life of the Amish that seem to dominate the region. Living simple lives in a complex world, they reside pretty much the same as they did when first settling the area in the mid to late 1800's -- still driving their horse and buggy carriages, making their goods from scratch, and generally, working much harder than almost any others I know.

We are then headed to Jamesport, the largest Amish community in the State of Missouri. We first stop at an Amish Country store outside of town that is as crowded as a Walmart in Kansas City - no place to park, people everywhere, overload carts blocking isles in the store. Eye-yi-yi, as much as our mouths salivate for some of those fresh-made goodies, we're outa there! When we arrive in Jamesport, we discover our timing has coincided with Heritage Days. Ahhhhh, now we understand the business of the store. We enjoy the sights and festivities at Jamesport before moving on down the road.

Somewhere, MO

Coming out of Jamesport, I could tell that Kathy's wheels were spinning as to which was the best way to go. She hates to backtrack, so she finally decided to let our Tom Tom navigator do the work. This works most of the time, but, I guess in Northwest Missouri, Tom decided some of best routes weren't always paved. I don't really remember the exact names, but for a while I thought we were going to leave dust all the way to Iowa. Luckily, Tom got us back on pavement soon enough.

Before long, we hit another almost ghost town -- Coffey, Missouri, population a little over 100 folks, then on through another small town called New Hampton, where, there's yet another festival going on. Quite different than Jamesport, as we circle the fairgrounds and what appears to be some kind of greased pig contest. Onwards we go, and by about 3:30 I didn't think we were ever going to get out of Missouri, when finally Kathy announces our stopping point of the day, just a few miles over the line in Iowa in the quaint little town of Clarinda, birth place of Glen Miller.

For now, I'm holding Kathy to her promise that there's a Red Lobster in my near future somewhere along our journey to North Dakota.

I Am an American

2011-09-11T11:49:00.000-05:00

As we watch and listen to the tributes, replays, stories of tragedy and heroes, it's good therapy to say it. Simple, yet says so much. "I am an American". And despite our current state of divisions, petty bickering, and hardships being suffered by many, we are still all proud Americans.

From the Native American's who first settled this land, to the explorers, conquerors and millions of immigrants since, we are all bound by a long history of struggle that is the foundation of our fundamental belief in Freedom and Country.

My hope is, that simple yet complex principle that brought us all together on the days, weeks and months after 9-11, will be remembered more than the events of that terrible day. Remember the fallen, those who have served our country and those who are forever changed by Terror and War since. But most of all, remember - We are American's.

AOL Email Users Did Not Receive July Newsletter

2011-07-28T18:04:00.001-05:00

It is apparent , from the hundreds of email bounce-backs, that AOL email users did not get this months Legends of America Newsletter. Kathy and I sincerely apologize for this, and we are working with AOL Postmaster for a resolution. (UPDATE 8-1-2011 AOL Postmaster reports that the issue has been resolved!)

In the meantime, if you would like to view the July, 2011 newsletter, you may do so by clicking here.

A Nation Divided - 150th Anniversary of the American Civil War & History Channel Special

2011-05-20T09:30:00.002-05:00

The Battle of Gettysburg, the bloodiest in the entire war,
was fought in the Eastern Theater.

In case you've missed it, 2011 marks the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. 150 years is relatively small in the grand scheme of history, and living in the heart of America you can still see it's lingering effects. Kathy and I live in Missouri, moving here last year from Kansas. Two states that saw the first bloody episodes of a conflict that would take our nation through some of it's darkest times. In fact, many historians believe that the Civil War began with Bleeding Kansas and the Missouri Border War. It's amazing to me how, to this day, the rivalry between these two states continues, whether it be the way the conflict is remembered, or the Confederate Flag that's displayed on a home not too far from our own.

Jayhawkers and Bushwackers fight it out over Kansas

becoming a Free-State or a pro-slavery state.

Bleeding Kansas was one of the early stories Kathy wrote for Legends Of America. You can't write about American History without diving deep into its darkest corners. Just after writing about William Quantrill, she was promptly criticized for the tone of the story, which ultimately lead to her posting the "opposing" view, which still lives on our website today. The fact is, no matter how you write it, stories about the Civil War invoke a deep response in many Americans. And although Slavery was a primary issue, it wasn't the only thing dividing our nation. Causes of the Civil War centered around States Rights, and the Tariff Act of 1832 caused intense opposition in the South, who advocated Free Trade for their primarily agricultural businesses. Northern states, which relied heavily on manufacturing, saw the act as protection. The issue was so divisive that South Carolina declared the act null and void, while threatening to secede from the Union, prompting then President Andrew Jackson to send troops. While order was restored through compromise in 1850, the idea of secession did not go away.

I think it's important that we remember all the trouble that lead up to the Civil War, especially in our current divisive political climate. We have come a long way in 150 years, but we are still a young nation that needs reminded of how far divisions can grow. I would invite you to take time this year and learn more about this important turning point in American History. There are many events planned throughout the next four years during the Civil War Sesquicentennial. Read about them here and get involved.

Recently a company working with the History Channel reached out to us to see if we would help promote a new Civil War film. We are more than happy to oblige. Gettysburg is a 2-hour HISTORY special that kicks off a week of History programming commemorating the 150’th anniversary of the Civil War.

Executive produced by Ridley and Tony Scott, this special strips away the romanticized veneer of the Civil War. It presents the pivotal battle of Gettysburg in a new light: as a visceral, terrifying and deeply personal experience, fought by men with everything on the line. Compelling CGI and powerful action footage place viewers in the midst of the fighting, delivering both an emotional cinematic experience and an information packed look at the turning points, strategic decisions, technology and little known facts surrounding the greatest engagement ever fought on American soil.

The special begins in the high stakes summer of 1863, as the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia crosses into Pennsylvania. Trailed by the Union’s Army of the Potomac, Lee’s 75,000 strong army heads towards Harrisburg, converging instead near a quiet farm town, Gettysburg. Known then only as a crossroads where ten roads running in all directions converge like a wagon wheel, this small town would become site of an epic battle between North and South. For three days, each side fought there for their vision of what America should be.

In collaboration with highly esteemed Civil War historians, HISTORY combed through hundreds of individual accounts of the battle to find the unique voices of struggle, defeat and triumph that tell the larger story of a bitterly conflicted nation.

Don't miss this two hour special, Gettysburg, which debuts this Memorial Day, May 30, 8pm Central, on the History Channel.

Final West Texas Stop - San Antonio

2011-02-25T15:08:00.000-06:00

We wrapped up our trip to West Texas in Missions and romance. San Antonio, our last stop in a months long journey, took us on the Mission Trail and let us pause and relax along the River Walk. We had a fantastic journey which you can see and read about in our Facebook photo album here.

The Beginning of the End of Our West Texas Adventure - Del Rio to San Antonio

2011-02-23T07:38:00.014-06:00

With Waylon and Willie and the Boys

After several weeks exploring West Texas from our temporary home in Del Rio, we packed up the dog and decided to start making our way back home. We knew that this would be a long journey back to Missouri, as we still had a lot to see, including one of our premiere destinations, San Antonio. So Tuesday morning we headed north out of Del Rio on highway 277 up to Sonora, and made a roundabout trip over towards Fredericksburg. This was a day full of views and history, including Roosevelt, Junction, the ever beautiful and fantastic Fredericksburg, and the little old town of Luckenbach. Read about these places and more by following us through photos in our Facebook Album here.

We'll blog a lot more about San Antonio next, as we continue our journey home to Warsaw, Mo.

Pecos to Del Rio via Fort Stockton

2011-02-22T07:13:00.000-06:00

When you come into Pecos on I-20 from Toyah, you might think this is a pretty big town. However, once you get past the string of Hotels along the Interstate, you realize that the main part of town is much removed from the hustle and bustle of the Interstate, and the reason for the hotels is simple. There's not a lot going on in this part of West Texas, and for many, this is the only option for an overnight stay. That might also explain why the speed limit in this part of Texas is 80mph. People tend to want to move as fast as they can back to civilization.

West of the Pecos Museum Saloon

We had a pretty long day when we pulled in, so it was nice to find the comfortable room at the Quality Inn after being turned away by other hotels. A little exploring the next morning, after a nice tasty breakfast at Abi's Kitchen, found us at West of the Pecos Museum. Located in an 1896 Saloon and 1904 Orient Hotel, this gem of West Texas is an internationally recognized historic landmark and a must stop for history lovers. The Saloon has been restored and tells the story of the infamous gunfight between Barney Riggs and the henchmen of the notorious Jim Miller. Three stories of rooms filled with area history are well worth the small admission price. While your there, make sure to go outside to see the grave of famed gunfighter Clay Allison. And before heading out of Pecos, be sure to see the Pecos Rodeo grounds, home of the Worlds First Rodeo. I'm sure some of you are saying that couldn't be, but Pecos is home to the first rodeo that offered prize money.

Paisano Pete, the Worlds Largest Roadrunner

We didn't get back on I-20, opting instead to head south on Highway 285 back to I-10 and Fort Stockton. Lot's of history here with an Historic Downtown, the Annie Riggs Memorial Museum, and of course Fort Stockton Military Post, established in 1859. This is a nice place to visit and shop the quaint shops in downtown, along with soaking up the history of this favorite rest stop along the Comanche Trail to Chihuahua, San Antonio-El Paso Road, The Butterfield Overland Mail Route, and the San Antonio-Chihuahua freight-wagon road.

A Scenic Overlook above Ft Lancaster

From Fort Stockton, we head East down I-10 and cut off onto Highway 349 for a side trip to Fort Lancaster. The old post is located about ten miles east of Sheffield in Crockett County. It was one in a series of forts erected along the western Texas frontier, established in August, 1855, to guard the military supplies, commercial shipments, and immigrants moving along the San Antonio-El Paso Road. Today, there is little left of the old post but ruins. Fort Lancaster was abandoned by the U.S. Army during the Civil War, at which time it was taken over by Confederate troops from December, 1861 through April, 1862. It was then abandoned and the buildings began to deteriorate from vandalism and the harsh climate. The drive is scenic however and it's worth a stop for history buffs.

Crockett County Courthouse

Back onto I-10 we head to Ozona, called the "Biggest Little Town in the World." Ozona is the only city in Crockett County, which encompasses over 3,000 square miles, and sports a population of around 3400. Crockett County was founded in 1875 and named in honor of Davy Crockett, the legendary frontiersman who died at the Battle of the Alamo.

Devils River

From Ozona, we get off the Interstate and start our trek back to Del Rio via scenic 163 to Comstock. Along the way you will cross the Devil's River. Near here once stood Camp Hudson, established by the U.S. Army in June, 1857 to protect the San Antonio-El Paso Road against hostile Indians. The post was evacuated during the Civil War, but, re-occupied afterwards. It was abandoned again in April, 1868. Unfortunately, there are no remains today. This area, also called Baker's Crossing is a popular entry point for rafters along the river.

Getting back to Del Rio we feel we have seen what we came for in this part of West Texas, and start making plans to wrap up our extended stay and head home. Of course, it won't be a direct route, as there is much more to do, including Sonora, Fredericksburg, and a little town made famous through music on the way to San Antone, one of our premiere destinations of our long journey in the Lone Star State.

In the meantime, follow this part of our trip in pictures via our Facebook album here.

North from Shafter to Pecos

2011-02-21T07:28:00.001-06:00

Wild Rose Pass north of Fort Davis, Texas

Our round trip from Del Rio, through Big Bend and North to Pecos continues with a jaunt from the Mexican Border area to the Ghost Town of Toyah Texas. There were a lot of great stops on the way, including historic Fort Davis. This is another one of those times though that the story can best be told through pictures, so follow us in photos with our North to Toyah Facebook album here.

Marathon to Shafter via Big Bend - Beautiful Texas History

2011-02-20T17:26:00.000-06:00

Going South out of Marathon Texas on highway 385 you can see the approaching beauty of Big Bend National Park. Famous for its natural resources and recreational opportunities, this area is rich in cultural history. Evidence shows that Native peoples have lived in or passed through this area for thousands of years. The park it self encompasses more than 800,000 acres and is a haven for those who like unimproved dirt roads and hiking trails.

While we enjoy the beauty, our focus is on history, and there is plenty of it. Over the years, archeologists have discovered artifacts estimated to be 9,000 years old. Several Native American groups have been found to have lived in the area, including the Chisos. A loosely organized group of nomadic hunters, the Chisos probably practiced limited agriculture. A possible enemy of the Chisos, there is evidence of the Jumano tribe as well, also a nomadic people. Other history includes Spanish explorers in the 16th and 17th Centuries, Mescalero Apache in the 18th Century and Comanche in the 1800's. With all it's beauty and history, Big Bend National Park has become one of the most popular vacation destinations in Texas with an average 300,000 visitors a year.

Turning onto Highway 118 we come out the other side of Big Bend into Study Butte. This small town on the edge of the park is right by one of Texas most famous Ghost Towns, Terlingua. The name has actually been applied to three different settlements, with the original site a Mexican Village on Terlingua Creek, three miles above its confluence with the Rio Grande River. Later, in the mid 1880's, the Marfa and Mariposa Silver Mining camp became known as Terlingua. After those mines closed in 1910, the town name and post office were moved to it's current site, which was the Chisos Mining Company camp.

It was the discovery of Cinnabar, from which mercury is extracted, that brought the mining to the area, creating a city of around 2,000. Years after the mining played out, Terlingua is now a Ghost Towners delight with plenty of old building and ruins still dotting the hillsides.

Now on FM 170 out of Terlingua, we make our way to Lajitas, a resort town that was developed from an 1800's ranching community. In 1916, interruption of commerce by Pancho Villa caused the US to establish a major calvary post there. Now a resort hotel stands on the actual foundations of the post.

Coming out of Lajitas you are now entering Big Bend Ranch State Park, the largest state park in Texas. FM 170 winds close to the Rio Grande River all the way through its approximately 270,000 square miles, and along the way you can see why the Rio Grande is now considered an endangered river. In fact, with some of the highest population growth rates in the US, the area claims 95% of the rivers annual flow for municipal and agricultural use.

We found a bonus stop along with way that wasn't on our agenda. An old movie set built back in 1983 for the movie "Uphill All the Way" sits right off the highway and on the shores of the Rio Grande. The set was later used for several other projects, including 1993's "Rio Diablo" and 1995's "Street's of Laredo", along with numerous others. Complete with a Church and other historic looking buildings, it was a fun photo stop, but don't let it fool ya, those buildings weren't there before 1983.

We did get another dose of true historic buildings though as we passed by the 1876 town of Redford. This small town about 16 miles Southeast of Presidio, was originally known as El Povo, Spanish for "the dust." We enjoyed some ruins and an abandoned historic church before heading on down the road, exiting the park and into the town of Presidio.

Right before entering the town, you will want to stop at Fort Leaton State Historic Site. Originally established as a private citadel of a Chihuahua Trail freighter and first Anglo-American farmer in Presidio County in 1848, the private fort was built on the ruins of a Spanish fort founded in 1773. El Fortin de San Jose at La Junta was abandoned in 1810 and later became a private home before being purchased by Ben Leaton in 1848.

The town of Presidio sits in the midst of the oldest continuously cultivated area known in the United States, with evidence of farming dating back to 1500 B.C. Anglo settlers came to the area after the Mexican American War, and a Post Office was established in 1868.

Now moving north on Highway 67, we run into the ghost town of Shafter, a mining town established in 1880. There is evidence that the Spaniards mined the area during the early 1600's, but it didn't become a town until John W. Spencer discovered Silver Ore. The town eventually had a population of around 1500, but today only houses around 20 residents.

Next blog, we continue on toward Pecos and back to Del Rio via Fort Stockton. In the meantime, follow our travels through photos on our Facebook page here.

On the Way to Big Bend

2011-02-17T09:31:00.000-06:00

We headed out from our temporary home base in Del Rio Tx on Monday morning for a 3 day excursion through West Texas, including Big Bend, Ft. Stockton, Pecos and more. Our first day got us to Big Bend. Rather than blog about that part of the trip here, I thought it would be more appropriate to let you see in pictures (with captions of course) what we found on the way. You don't have to be a Facebook Member to see these photos.

Just follow the link
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=281129&id=110001784731

We'll blog about our other two days soon, and share more photo's via our Facebook Fan Page.

Eagle Pass, Uvalde, Leakey, Camp Wood and One Big Mexican Flag

2011-02-16T09:13:00.002-06:00

Heading Southeast out of Del Rio on highway 277, we follow the border toward Eagle Pass. Along the way we start to see a theme in this part of Texas -- towns that began as large ranches, like Quemado, which started as a ranch back in 1871. Growing to a population of around 400 at its peak, Quemado appears to have a few people still there today, but many of it's businesses are abandoned. Just a few miles more you pass through Normandy, which also started as a ranch, but, now is no more than a spot in the road.

As we get closer to Eagle Pass, we top a hill and spy something large on the horizon to the south and west of us. We are still about 6 miles out of town, but you can clearly see this enormous Flag waving in the distance. Turns out it's the Mexican National Flag at the border crossing between Eagle Pass and its Mexican sister city Piedras Negras. As of December, 2010, this is the largest Mexican Flag in the world, with the pole measuring over 393 feet, making it the tallest in Latin America and second tallest in the world. The flag measures 196 by 111 feet, so it's no wonder why we could see it so far out of town. Would love to see the United States put a similar flag on our side. Or better yet, how about a Texas flag double the size?!

Eagle Pass got its start as a settlement next to Ft. Duncan after a trading post was opened in 1850. The fort was established in 1849, named after James Duncan, a hero in the Mexican-American War. It was used sporadically through World War II and still has several intact buildings, including a museum. Eagle Pass is now the county seat of Maverick County, which was established from Kinney County in 1856, and has a population of around 27,000. Unlike Del Rio, with several downtown businesses still closed, we found Eagle Pass downtown to be thriving, with many shops and stores and a bustling border crossing.

From Eagle Pass, we back track a few miles on 277 to Highway 131 and then north toward the ghost town of Spofford. This one wasn't started by a ranch though, it got its beginnings from the railroad back in 1882. Not much to see, and still several residents in this town, although it did have what appeared to be an old rusty shell of a Jail halfway standing.

From Spofford, we move on down 131 and hook back up with now familiar highway 90 and go east to Uvalde. The county seat of Uvalde County, the town got its start in the mid-1850s and was actually called Encina at first. Situated on the road from San Antonio to Fort Duncan, Uvalde is considered the southern limit of the Texas Hill Country, or the most northern part of South Texas. It was also home to some famous names from the past and present, including former US Vice President John Nance Garner (aka Cactus Jack), actress Dale Evans and even present day actor Mathew McConaughey. Of course, we are more interested in the fact that Outlaw, turned Lawman, John King Fisher is buried here. This bad Texas dude served briefly as Uvalde County Sheriff after settling down a bit in life, but up to then he was known for cattle rustling over in Mexico near his Maverick County ranch. An arrest by the Texas Rangers convinced him to give up his trade and start more legit ranching.

From Uvalde we take Highway 83 north on a scenic journey through Texas Hill Country. The hills provide some beautiful views winding up in Leakey (pronounced Lay-Key), a quaint little town of about 400 that got it's start from settlers in the 1850's taking advantage of Leakey Springs. As the county seat of Real County, the town depends on tourism now as many come for its location near the Frio River and Garner State Park.

In Leakey, we turn on Ranch Road 337 toward Camp Wood and see the Texas Hill Country beauty at some of its finest. The gorgeous winding drive through these small mountains makes us feel like we aren't in Texas anymore, and we happen to run into a local Rancher who allows us take a pic of the awesome view from a point on his land. Thanks Randy!

The small town of Camp Wood was established in 1920 by a lumber company, however the immediate areas history dates back much further, to the San Lorenzo de la Santa Cruz Mission, founded in 1762, and later a military post from which it took its name. Today Camp Wood is home to about 800.

From Camp Wood we trek back South over the Nuesas River, hook up with a small Ranch Market Road 334 and head back toward highway 90 to Del Rio. Another great road trip from our temporary West Texas base. We loved the hills, but get ready for the Texas Mountains of Big Bend on our next adventure.

Of course, if you want to see more pictures of our journey, just click the link at the top of this blog post and follow us on Facebook.

Onwards to Langtry - Home of Judge Roy Bean

2011-02-13T18:59:00.000-06:00

Needing much more Old West mentality than the civilized city of Del Rio can provide, we head to the northwest across what can best be described as a sagebrush desert. Some 30 miles northwest of Del Rio we come to Comstock, a ghost town, having some 300 residents, it doesn't appear to be faring extremely well. And, unfortunately, even it's buildings are not interesting enough to spend much time pushing my magic shutter button. Though it got its start as yet another railroad town in the early 1880's, it never grew very much and today, there is little left of that history. It does have an old cemetery, which is filled with far more people than live in the town today. It still features an active hotel, and, perhaps a couple of other businesses.

Moving to the northwest, we pass by the old townsite of Shumla, established in 1882 as a section station on the Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway. Today all that is left is an old row of buildings which once served as a motel, service station, and store.

Then we're off to the Pecos River Crossing. High canyon walls dominate the last sixty miles of the Pecos River before it enters the Rio Grande River. The Southern Pacific Railoroad built the first high bridge across the Pecos River in 1891. In June 1923, the Texas Highway Department constructed an automobile bridge to replace an old canyon-bottom crossing, but, it was washed away in 1954. Two temporary low water bridges in 1954 and 1955, were also destroyed by floodwaters. This bridge was completed in 1957. It is 1310 feet long and is the highest bridge in Texas at 273 feet above the water level.

North of the highway bridge is an observation point where visitors can see the Southern Pacific Railroad in the distance. This was also the site of the town of Vinegarroon, where Roy Bean first set up a saloon in the area. When the bridge was complete, Bean moved on to Langtry. Situated on private property, neither the bridge nor the old townsite are accessible today.

Headed north once again we cross Eagle Nest Canyon. Down below on the southwest side of the bridge is a place called Bonfire Shelter. Tracing its history back more than 11,000 years, Bonfire Shelter is known as being both the earliest and the most southern bison jump site in North America. Bonfire Long before Native American obtained horses, they stampeded herds of bison off the edge of this cliff, which overhung a shelter of a box canyon that empties into the Rio Grande River near Langtry, Texas. The bridge is located just southeast of Langtry.

We then arrive at our primary destination -- Langtry, Texas, the long-time home of crazy Judge Roy Bean. The town got its start as a camp called Eagle Nest when the Southern Pacific Railroad was being built through the area. Judge Roy Bean soon arrived, after the nearby town of Vinegarron was abandoned and "set up shop" once again. He ran his court and his odd type of justice out of his saloon, which he called the Jersey Lilly, named in honor of Lillie Langtry, the actress of his dreams. Bean died in 1903 and is buried in Del Rio, Texas.

The town began to decline after the highway was moved to the north of the city and when the Southern Pacific Railroad moved its facilities away, the town nearly died, dropping to a population of just about 40 people. The town stays alive today due to tourism to the Judge Roy Bean Visitor Center and still supports a couple of businesses.

We have a great time exploring the many old buildings of Langtry, many of which are mostly on the ground. Then we're off to find its sad little cemetery. No longer used and falling into serious disrepair over the years, it still provides volumes in my imagination and shutter opportunities. We then make our way right to the edge of the United States, looking over the Rio Grande River to Mexico.

Then, its back the way we came, "home" to Del Rio.

Exploring Del Rio, Texas

2011-02-08T09:49:00.001-06:00

Over the weekend, we decide it is high time that we explore, in depth, our new temporary "hometown." We start by visiting a local arts and crafts bazarre, where I find great deals on turquoise jewelry, meet Chamber of Commerce members as well as a Val Verde County judge, and buy the wierdest hat you've ever seen. It's a cowboy hat made of Coors Lite boxes. Yes, a little crazy, but I can't resist and prancing around the bazarre in my new hat, soon find myself the object of a newspaper photographer. Three days later, we make the front page of the Del Rio Herald, under a headline prounouncing "Bazarre Winter." Wasn't exactly how I wanted to present Legends of America to our new diggs, but, had a lot of fun with it. After the bazarre, we begin to make our way around the city.

Prior to any European occupation of the area, the land surrounding Del Rio had been called home by Native Americans for over 10,000 years. The first non-Indian residents were the Spanish who established a small mission complex in 1736 near the site of present Ciudad Acuña, Del Rio’s Mexican sister city. Just a few of these Spaniards would settle north of the Rio Grande River, but, no permanent settlement would be established until after the Civil War.

The town would really get its start after the San Felipe Agricultural, Manufacturing, and Irrigation Company was established in 1868. Building a network of irrigation canals from the water provided from San Felipe Springs, these investors sold small tracts of rich farmland to prospective buyers. Soon, the settlement that began to grow took on the name of San Felipe Del Rio. The name was later shortened to Del Rio when the community gained a post office in 1883.

One of the oldest buildings in the community is the 1870 Perry Mercantile Building, which was one of the largest mercantile establishments between San Antonio and El Paso, Texas. It now houses the Whitehead Memorial Museum. A great stop, the museum, situated on three acres, is actually a complex made up of several structures, including a chapel, a reconstructed Jersey Lilly Saloon, and several other buildings, which feature the area’s Spanish, Mexican, American, and Indian history.

We then roam around town snapping pictures of a number of beautiful churches, the 1887 limestone courthouse, and travel along San Felipe Creek, which runs through Del Rio downstream to its confluence with the Rio Grande River. The clear waters of the creek have long been favorite swimming holes for residents. Fed by San Felipe Springs, the third larget spring in Texas, it feeds over 90 million gallons of pure water into San Felipe Creek each day. The springs have a long recorded history as an oasis for Native Americans, explorers, soldiers, and freighters.

Continuing to spy a large artificial looking mound in south Del Rio, we find our way to what is called the Hill of the Cross, Round Mountain, Sugar Loaf Mound, and other names. The cross was placed atop the steep hill by the owner of the land, Dona Paula Losoya Taylor to recognize several people who were killed at the hill, fighting Mexican rebels and bandits. This cone-shaped hill has a number of legends including ghosts and hidden treasure. We'll be sure to share those soon.

Near the Hill of the Cross is the old Cementerio Loma de la Cruz. The same lady who placed the cross atop the Hill of the Cross, donated the land for a cemetery in 1872. Buried there are three former U.S. Army Indian Scouts and the Reverend Ramon V. Palomares, first pastor of Del Rio's Mexican American Methodist Church. The last burial here took place in 1933. As we make our way through the historic, we are, at first appalled, at what appears to be serious vandalism. Headstones are toppled and broken, monuments are tilted, ground level vaults are split and some, partially open. However, as we continue to roam through the lives of these distant people, it begins to appear that this area has been badly damaged by floods. We later discover that the old cemetery is located in a flood plane and was diluged by one of Del Rio's worst in 1932, which would explain why the cemetery discontinued use the next year. Later floods have also taken their toll on this sacred ground.

Taking a drive out to the Amistad National Recreation Area at the northern edge of Del Rio, we spy some of bluest water we've ever seen in a lake. This is the United States portion of International Amistad Reservoir, formed on the Rio Grande along the border of the U.S. and Mexico. The dam that created this reservoir on the junction of the Devil’s, Pecos and Rio Grand Rivers was a joint U.S.-Mexico project and takes its name from the Spanish word for friendship. Lake Amistad is known for great fishing, excellent water-based recreation, and a haven for snowbirds and their R.V.'s.

Stay tuned as we continue to explore the area, including Judge Roy Bean and Langtry, Texas; the Devil's River, more of the Pecos Heritage Trail, Fort Davis, and lots more.

Bracketville, Fort Clark & the Pecos Heritage Trail

2011-02-07T19:25:00.005-06:00

We arrived in Del Rio on the evening of February 1st. After being on the road for several days, we needed a few days to rest and time to catch up, set up new office space, etc. Luckily we were just a day ahead of the storm most all the way - blizzards in Oklahoma, ice in Dallas, and the day after we reached Del Rio, temperatures in the 20's for several days. We didn't mind though, because, we were watching the weather at home - 18 inches of snow and temperatures in the single digits.

After catching up and staying warm for the first few days, we venture out on our first day trip to Brackettville, Texas, where we snap lots of pictures and spend time at Fort Clark. Unlike many other frontier forts that were prominent in the Indian Wars, Fort Clark, situated in south-central Texas remained an active post through World War II. It was founded in 1852 and inactivated in the mid-1940's. The southern anchor of the Texas defense line in the 1850's, it guarded the San Antonio-El Paso Road and policed the Mexican border. We also make a visit to the Seminole Indian Scout Cemetery about three miles south of town, which includes the graves of four Congressional Medal of Honor Recipients with service at Fort Clark.

Brackettville, the county seat of Kinney County, got its start at the same time as Fort Clark -- in 1852. It was named after Oscar Brackett who was a sutler to Fort Clark. The community experienced a period of steady growth after the Civil War, attracting cattle rustlers, buffalo hunters, gamblers, and businessmen. There are some very interesting old buildings in the town. Seemingly, this small town doesn't tear down its old buildings, which is a photographer's heyday. Stay tuned, we'll be bringing you more on Brackettville soon.

Then we're off to do just a short stretch of the old Pecos Heritage Trail between Brackettville and Rocksprings. This trail, covering more than 1,300 miles provides visitors with a diverse landscape, including sand dunes, underground caverns, spring-fed pools, numerous rivers and creeks, lakes and much more. Encompassing 22 counties, seven state parks, dozens of towns, and hundreds of historical, cultural, natural, and recreational destinations, we're not going to do this in one stretch, but, rather, hit pieces of it at a time as we roam the area.

We do a quick tour of Kickapoo Cavern State Park; but, not being much into caves, we quickly move on to Rocksprings. The county seat of Edwards County, Rocksprings received its name from natural springs that bubble forth from the porous limestone rocks in the area. Founded in 1891, the area had previously been long favored by pioneers and native peoples. The only incorporated town in Edwards County, it has a population of about 1,300.

We then make our way back to Del Rio to make plans for more upcoming adventures.

Austin to Del Rio

2011-02-02T17:40:00.006-06:00

Our last day on the road before reaching Del Rio, starts with a bang with a personal tour of the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. Thanks to Linda Pybus Glover, who works with the museum and just happens to be a Legends reader, we were able to get a personal tour with wonderful history.

The museum tells the “Story of Texas” with three floors of interactive exhibits and special effects shows, and is worthy of the Lone Star State. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the exhibits being on loan from other Texas museums, societies and individuals, we were unable to take photos to share with you. Definitely worth the visit to see for yourself!

Then, with Del Rio still some 230 miles down the road, we plan few stops. We will return to the San Antonio area and dedicate a couple of days. The rest is day-trippable, and you will be hearing lots more.

That being said, we can't resist a stop at tiny D'Hanis, Texas, about 50 miles west of San Antonio. First established in 1847, the building of nearby Fort Lincoln in 1849 afforded the settlers employment and much-needed protection from Indian raids. By 1850, it sported 20 homes and a school. In 1854, it became a stage stop on the San Antonio-Rio Grande Road. The beautiful St. Dominic's Church was built in 1869.

Today, only ruins are left but still worth a stop for the photo opportunity. In 1881, when the Galveston, Harrisburg & San Antonio Railway built across Medina County, it bypassed old D'Hanis, and a new town grew up around the railroad loading depot 1½ miles west. Today, D'Hanis still supports a small population and has a few remaining businesses, but a visit is like stepping back in time.

We then barrel on through to Del Rio, in search of our new diggs. We have rented a two bedroom furnished apartment that provides us with good internet, dishes; all we need for living for 30 days, and allows our little dog, KayDee. We spend the rest of the evening setting up our new "headquarters." Next morning, it's unbelievably only 26 degrees, but we weren't planning a travel day anyway. We stock up on groceries, explore the town a little, and we're back to work. By weekend, temperatures are supposed to return to normal and we will begin our adventures.

Stay tuned as we explore southwest Texas, taking in such places as Big Bend National Park, Fort Clark, Fort Stockton, Langtry, the Pecos Heritage Trail and much more.

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Onwards to Temple

2011-01-31T08:03:00.001-06:00

From our wonderful stay at my sister's in Howe, Texas, we're headed south again. Though Dallas beckons as we fly through at 70 mph, we're not tempted, we've other destinations in store for us. Our first stop is a little tour through Corsicana, Texas, which was first established in 1848. Later it became an oil boom town.

Off again, we're southwest to Mexia and Fort Parker State Park. The park encompasses 1,500 wooded acres and provides recreation at Lake Springfield. Within the park is the old townsite of Springfield, which was the first county seat of Limestone County. Though the town is gone today, its cemetery is inside the park. The old fort is not located within the park, but is just a bit further south and our next destination.

Located near Groesbeck, Texas, Fort Parker was a privately owned fort, built in 1834 by the Parker family to protect a settlement of 8-9 homesteads. But, two years later, the fort was overrun by Comanche Indians, who killed five of the Parker family and kidnapped 9-year-old Cynthia Ann Parker. The young girl grew
up to marry a Comanche war chief named Peta Nocona and the couple had three children including famed Comanche chief Quanah Parker. When she was 34, she was re-kidnapped by Texas Rangers and returned to white "civilization." She spent the next ten years of her life trying to escape back to the Comanche people. Unsuccessful, some say she eventually died of a broken heart. She was just 44 years old. After a visit to the Fort Parker Memorial Cemetery, we're headed westward.

Next stop is Waco, Texas, where we first visit the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame. Built at the site of the 1837 Texas Ranger post, Fort Fisher, the museum displays the history and heritage of these lawmen in a collection of guns and weapons, western art, and artifacts. Then we're off to the Dr. Pepper Museum, where the famous soda was invented. Then a short tour of the Brazos River and its bridges, including the famous Suspension Bridge and we're headed south and bunk down in Temple, Texas.

From here, we begin to make our way to Austin, before the final trek to Del Rio.

Del Rio Bound

2011-01-30T08:47:00.001-06:00

We're off on our winter trip to Del Rio, Texas, taking several days to get there. We move quickly south of Warsaw and hit I-44 in Springfield, Missouri, before making our way west to Oklahoma. Beyond Tulsa, we stop for some Route 66 pics along an old stretch that last we passed was raining so hard, we couldn't get a thing. We begin in Sapulpa, which got its start in 1850. It soon became an important cattle-shipping center, before moving into the age of the oil industry. Today, it continues to display numerous remnants of its history and was obviously thriving as its streets are busy and it was incredibly loud, with trains, factories, honking horns, and noisy mufflers. We snap off a few pictures and move westward.

Just three miles west of Sapulpa, be sure to check out the 1921 Rock Creek Bridge with its red brick pavement. Having seen better days, this twelve foot wide rusting hulk can still be driven across.
Just beyond the bridge is the long abandoned TeePee Drive-In Theater.

Then we mosy down an old winding stretch of Route 66 to Kellyville, Bristow, and Depew, Originally Route 66 went right through Depew's along Main Street. Later; however, a newer alignment bypassed the small town, and then of course, I-44 bypassed it and all the other small Routee 66 towns along this stretch. Though Depew continues to have a few open businesses, but it's main street is lined with abandoned buildings. Losing light, we head on into Oklahoma City where we hook up with old Route 66 friend, Ken the Landrunner, of Postmarkart fame.

Next morning we are off to Texas for an evening with my sister. We make only one stop along the way, taking an old stretch from Gainesville to Sherman, along the old Butterfield Stage Route. Here we find an old well in Whitesboro that once serviced long ago travelers. Arriving at my sisters, we enjoy an afternoon in the 70 degree sunshine and have a little late Christmas.

Next, we're off to Fort Parker, Texas, Waco, and Round Rock, with lots of stops along the way.

The Great River Road and Home

2010-10-19T13:37:00.001-05:00

Though we've made many a trip longer than this one, we are absolutely exhausted. Normally, we will take a day in the middle of a trip, where we can spend two nights in the same hotel, and have an "easy" day just exploring locally. But, not this trip -- a different bunk every night, travel and multiple stops each day. But, we're on our way home today, working along the Great River Road in Iowa and Illinois, before crossing the Mississippi River, finding I-70, which I appreciate for a change, and getting back to our own bed.

The first stop is Fort Madison, Iowa, a very historic city located on the west bank of the Mississippi River. Before it became a town, the military post of Fort Madison was established in 1808, but, was destroyed during the War of 1812. It has been reconstructed today. Unfortunately, it is open seasonally, so we can only photograph it's exterior.

Some two decades later, the town of Fort Madison was settled in 1833. By that time, only the partly open cellars of some of the buildings marked the site of the original fort. The city soon became the site of the Iowa State Penitentiary in 1839, which served as a territorial prison before Iowa was a state. It is one of the oldest correctional facilities west of the Mississippi River and today houses about 1,000 inmates.

With its location right on the Mississippi River, the city also grew as a manufacturing c enter. Today, its downtown district displays a collection of well-preserved historic storefronts from the late 19th century.

We then cross the 1927 Santa Fe Bridge, the worlds largest double-decker, swing span bridge back into Illinois. Measuring 525 feet, the top level accommodates automobile traffic while the lower level provides two tracks for railroad traffic. The bridge rotates to allow river traffic to pass safely.

Continuing along the Great River Road, we stop at historic Navuoo, Illinois, which was established in 1832 and first called Venus. Two years later the name was changed to Commerce and in 1839, when the Mormons bought the entire town site, it was renamed Navuoo. Having been expelled from Missouri by the state govenor, they made the site their chief city and began to build a great temple in 1841. During their residence the town's population reached 15,000. But, after years of friction with those that opposed them, they were expelled in 1846 and made their way to Utah. You can bet you will be hearing more about this historic city soon.

Heading south, our next stop is Warsaw, Illinois, a very interesting little town situated right on the Mississippi River. We first stop at the old Warsaw Brewery, which today services as a bar, restaurant and convention center. Continuing on into town, we find an array of old and new, shabby and chic, and restored and crumbling buildings. Like other river cities, Warsaw appears to have suffered after the loss of its river trade.

The Hill-Dodge Bank, established in 1864, is still open for business, but down the street, the Farmers Bank is long closed. A few restaurants and bars continue to welcome visitors, as well as a few small businesses, but, overwhelmingly, the fading peeling doors of this once prosperous city have been shuttered for years. Though paint is falling to the ground, windows are broken, and a couple of the buildings have fallen in on themselves, the town is filled with beautiful homes that are well maintained. Warsaw is still populated by about 1,800 people and has several thriving churches; but it appears for shopping, they probably go elsewhere. We visit the site of old Fort Edwards overlooking the Mississippi River, before moving on down the road.

Crossing the river once again, our last stop of the day is Hannibal, Missouri, boyhood home of Mark Twain. Li ving here from the ages of 4 until he was 18, Hannibal served as the inspiration for the fictional town of St. Petersburg in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The "Unsinkable Molly Brown," of Titantic fame, was also from Hannibal.

Hannibal was founded in 1819 but grew slowly during its first several decades. However, when the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad was organized in 1846, it became Missouri's third largest city. Today, this historic town supports about 17,000 people and is filled with buildings listed on the National Historic Registers and touist destinations. Here, we see the Mark Twain Memorial Lighthouse, the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum Properties, which feature the Twain Home, a museum, the Huckleberry Finn house, Becky Thatcher house, and more.

Here also, the tourist part of our trip official ends as it is early afternoon and we are homesick. Taking the fastest route, we travel the next 200 miles back 'lil ole Warsaw, Missouri.

Hope you enjoyed the ride and stay tuned as we write up these many places and people onLegends of America.

You can also see more pictures and information on the places we visited on our Facebook Fanpage HERE.

One Illinois Trail to Another -- Route 66 to the Great River Road

2010-10-17T23:26:00.005-05:00

Gardner, Illinois downtown

We're off from Dwight, Illinois early and heading north once again, with our first stop at Gardner for a few pics of its quaint downtown area, the 1906 two-cell jail, and a search for the historic Streetcar Diner, that was slated to be moved next to the old jail. Alas, it wasn't there and I read tonight that it is being restored somewhere. Where, no clue.

Burned out Riviera Restaurant

We move on to the site of the old Riviera Restaurant which burned to the ground in June. The site is still littered with the remains of the old building.

Polk-a-Dot Drive In, Braidville

We then toodle through Braceville and Godley to Braidwood, for a look around town and a visit at the Polk-a-Dot Drive In. Same as earlier trips, we are there too early to try their tasty fare. This vintage Route 66 stop got its start in a school bus painted with rainbow colored polk-a-dots in 1956. Obviously, it did well, as it became a full fledged restaurant. For years, the restaurant has featured bigger than life statues of James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis, and the Blues Brothers, along with great food. However, on our visit, we notice that Marilyn is no longer there. Anyone know the story?

Old Eagle Hotel, Wilmington, Illinois

Off to Wilmington, we're on a search for the historic Eagle Hotel, which was originally built as a stage stop in 1836. Over the years, it served as a warehouse, tavern, bank, and storefront. This old building may be one of the oldest commercial structures on Illinois Route 66. A bit further down the road, we spy the historic Mar Theater, which was built in 1937, and continues to operate today.

Gemini giant at the Launching Pad
Restaurant, Wilmington, Illinois

Must now find Wilmington's most famous resident -- the Gemini Giant at his home at the Launching Pad Restaurant. Just so ya know, I looked straight into his steely eyes and I was NOT intimidated! So, there! Again, we arrive too early to have a bite at this great place that has been serving it up to Route 66 travelers since 1960.

Abraham Lincoln National Cemetary

To the north of Wilmington is tiny Elwood, which features the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetary. Though the cemetery is not historic, having been founded in 1999, it deserves a stop, as it honors nearly 1,000 veterans. Also here, is a monument to ammunition workers killed in an explosion at the Joliet Army Ammunition Plant just south of the cemetery. In June, 1942, a large explosion on the assembly line at the Elwood facility resulted in 48 dead or missing and was felt as far as Waukegan, Illinois over 60 miles to the north. This tragedy deserves recognition and you can plan on seeing it on Legends soon.

Rialto Theatre, Joliet

Romeo and Juliet, here we come. Ok, Joliet and Romeoville. In Joliet, we see the downtown area including Union Station and the famous, and allegedly haunted Rialto Theatre. And, as we are touring downtown, we are impressed with numerous old gas pumps dotting the area.

Moving on, we run into the Joliet Iron Works Historic Site, and have to check it out. Joliet is known as the City of Steel and Stone. The city thrived in its early years when the quarrying and iron works industries boomed in the years after the Civil War. For over 60 years, the Joliet Iron Works would employ thousands of iron workers. The historic site preserves the remains of the Joliet Iron Works, which were dismantled in the 1930’s. Across the way, visitors can still see the abandoned buildings of numerous other steelworks.

White Fence Farm, Romeoville

Back to Route 66, we take an opportunity to capture photos of the Rich & Creamy in Route 66 Park, complete with the Blues Brothers dancing on the roof. Moving on to Romeoville, we have to make a stop at the White Fence Farm, a restarant that dates back to the 1920's and touts itself as serving the "World's Greatest Chicken" family style.

We now change our focus to another era -- almost a century before, as we dash across Illinois on I-80 to the Great River Road. Yes, this is a very LONG day.

Ghost farm southwest of Andalusai, IL

Starting out at Andalusia, we travel through rich farmland and homes that are so close to the water, we can't believe they are still there. Guess that flood control business of the Corps of Engineers is working. Beautiful country, dotted with old barns and homesteads, we run into an entire "ghost farm," complete with several barns, out buildings, two homes, a garage, and windmill. These places alway make me want to know about the story -- why was it left abandoned? Who lived here? How long did they live there? What is there personal stories?

Henderson County Covered Bridge

Down the road, we come to New Boston, a Missippi River city founded in 1834 and Keithsburg, founded in 1837, also on the river. Both are filled with historic buildings and you will hear more of their history and see photos of these mid-centry 1800's towns soon on Legends. On down the road, we run into the Henderson County covered bridge -- a surprise, as it didn't show up on our maps. Beautiful, I snap lots of photos.

At a certain point in the day, time and duties catch up with me and I announce "I'm DONE." Beyond the bridge, I find I'm there, so we cross the Missippi River to Burlington, Iowa for the night.

66'n In Illinois - Springfield to Dwight

2010-10-17T07:10:00.003-05:00

Illinois Capitol Bulding

We're off again from Springfield, toodling along Illinois Route 66. The capitol of the Land of Lincoln, Springfield is not only filled with peeks of Route 66, but also a history that goes back to the early 1800's. The most famous of its past residents was Abraham Lincoln, who lived in here from 1837 until he went to the White House in 1861. With a number of tourist attractions, we see both a bit of the Mother Road, as well as as historical sites that predate Route 66. Still, we start with photos of the Cozy Dog Drive-In. Alas, it is too early in the morning to partake of a cozy dog, so we move down the road, snapping some shots of the vintage Bel-Aire Manor, which is still in business, but, looked just a bit "scary" to us. Probably wouldn't recommend a stay. Then past the old Sunrise Donuts Coffee Bar and downtown for photos of the capitol, the governor's mansion, the Lincoln Depot, and more.

Shea's Gas Station Museum

Now, we're headed north, but not before making a stop at Shea's Gas Station Museum. A favorite photo stop for Route 66 travelers from around the world, Shea’s is a charming and eclectic collection of over half a century of gas station memorabilia.

But, time is short so, we fly through Sherman, Williamsville, Elkhart, and Broadwell, where we stop to pay our respects for the lost Pig-Hop Restaurant Museum which died a firey death in 2007. Yes, there's more information and photos coming to Legends and our Facebook page.

Railsplitter Covered Wagon in Lincoln

In Lincoln, we gotta see the Railsplitter Covered Wagon, which is recognized by the guiness Book of World Records as the "World's largest Covered Wagon." We also check out the old Mill Restaurant, opened in 1929, but closed in 1996. It's now being restored. After making a few more stops, we're off again to Atlanta and McLean, where we stop for lunch at the Dixie Truck Stop. Sadly, the nostalgia, service and great food of this 1928 site, which was family owned and operated until 2003, has long past. Now, it feels like a truck-stop that could be found anywhere along any major highway.

Funk's Grove Antiques

Off again, we tour through tiny Funk's Grove before speeding through Bloomington and Normal to Towanda, where I am intrigued by a looming brick mansion sitting in the midst of a tilled up corn field. My love of ghost towns and old buildings kicks in hard and I must see this place close up. So, we put off Route 66 for a moment to check out this magnificent building just south of town and visible to the east from I-55 and old Route 66. I prowl the area, taking lots of photos and, at the time, can only wonder about the history of this great building.

Duncan's Manor in Towanda

Now, I know that its the Duncan Manor, built in about 1869 by William R. Duncan, a successful livestock dealer who moved to the Towanda area from Kentucky in late 1863, during the Civil War. But, no sooner was it built, it was filled with tragedy as Duncan's wife died and a few years later, he also lost his 15 year-old son. Duncan, himself died in 1876 at the age of 57. In the midst of restoration today, you can bet, there will be a follow-up story on this beautiful place.

Bob Waldmire's old bus

We then check out Towanda's small downtown area, before moving on to Lexington, Chenoa, and Pontiac, where we visit the Route 66 Museum and take photos of Bob Waldmire's old bus. Toodlin' through town, we snap a number of pics of the beautiful painted murals, the historic courthouse, and more. Farther down the road is an old Meramec Barn at Cayuga, a restored Standard Oil Gas Station at Odell, and we're off to Dwight for the night.

For more photos and information on our trip, visit our Facebook Fan Page. (You don't have to be a Facebook member.)

66'n in Illinois - Day 1

2010-10-15T22:57:00.006-05:00

Luna Cafe in Mitchell, Illinois

We're off to travel Route 66 through Illinois, starting at Mitchell, about 20 miles north of East St. Louis. Here, we start at Mitchell's most famous icon -- the Luna Café. Built in 1924, the café once allegedly hosted a gambling operation, provided "ladies of ill-repute,” and was a favorite hangout of Al Capone and other mobsters.

We pass several old motels and the old Bel-Air Drive-In sign before getting side tracked by a historic site sign to nearby Glen Carbon, and just have to see. The city today has a population of over 10,000 people, but still provides peeks at its rich coal mining history.

Henry's Ra66it Ranch in Staunton

Headed back west over I-55, we make our way through Edwardsville and Hamel, to Staunton and Henry's Ra66it Ranch. It was great meeting Rich Henry and his rabbits and taking a look at his all of his memorabelia, including Bob Waldmire's old car that he owned in the 1970's. As a special bonus, we also met Jerry Law of the Illinois Route 66 Association, as well as his "brand new" vintage Ford Fairlane.

On down the historic path, we take pics of Soulsby Shell Station in Mt. Olive and check out Mother Jones Memorial and grave. Mary Harris "Mother" Jones was a labor organizer who championed the cause of social justice and devoted herself to the struggle against the poors' hours, pay and working conditions of railroad, textile and mine workers.

Ariston Cafe in Litchfield

We then move North for one of the highlights of our day -- lunch at the historic Ariston Cafe in Litchfield. First established in nearby Carlinville, it was moved to Litchfield when Route 66 was rerouted. Family owned and operated for more than 80 years, it still serves up the same wonderful food and great service that it has for generations. It is the longest-operating restaurant along the entire stretch of Route 66.

Carllinville's Million Dollar Courthouse

We head back west to take the very old alignment of the Mother Road through Carlinville, where we check out the Macoupin County "Million Dollar" Courthouse and the old County Jail, which was open from 1869 to 1988.

Then, we just gotta see this original piece of pavement on our way to Nilwood that features turkey tracks that were imprinted in the 1920's when the original concrete was poured. While interesting, me thinks this is going on our Quirky Illinois page.

Deck's Pharmacy Museum in Girard

At Girard, we visit Doc's Soda Fountain/Deck's Pharmacy Museum. A great stop, the pharmacy museum features items dating back to 1884, while still serving up icecream and old fashioned treats. However, we were still so full from lunch, we didn't partake, but did have a great visit with some of the locals.

Becky's Barn north of Auburn, Illinois

After traveling through Virden and Auburn, we make a stop at Becky's Barn, which is filled with antiques, Route 66 memorabelia, the "Cool Bus," which serves as their guestbook, and a reconstructed old-fashioned diner. Becky, and her husband Rick, are great folks who love welcoming Route 66 travelers. They are located just off the historic brick road, which runs 1.4 miles. Why is this the only piece of Route 66 that is bricked? Legend has it that a high level politician owned a brick plant -- so... the brick road. Some things never change.

Sugar Creek Bridge near Glenarm, IL

It's getting late -- gotta find a hotel room, but, just can't resist when we see a historical sign for a historic covered bridge near Glenarm. The Sugar Creek Bridge, built in 1880, was a great stop. This last stop, no doubt, caused us a few problems in finding a hotel in Springfield, but it was well worth it. What beautiful bridge.

Onwards to Illinois

2010-10-15T06:49:00.007-05:00

Stone Mill Meadow Farm

We had a very full day making our way from Wentzville, Missouri where we stayed last night, to Collinsville, Illinois. We first head south along along very scenic Highways Z and F, to Daniel Boone's home near Defiance, Missouri. The area is lined with picturesque barns and and historic homes, and this time of the year, some very colorful trees. Before we get to Boone's old homestead, we pass by the historic Stone Mill Meadow Farm. Absolutely gorgeous, very historic, and is for sale. Now, if I was looking to move, if I was willing to give up my lake view and wonderful neighbors, if I had 3 million dollars to purchase the property and probably another million to keep it maintained, I just might have to look at this. But, all those ifs being a negative, we move on.

Daniel Boone home near Defiance, MO

A few more miles down the road, we land at the Historic Daniel Boone Home and Boonesfield Village. A registered National Historic Site, the Boone Home, nearly 200 years old, is large even by today's standards. It rises four stories with limestone walls 2 ½ feet thick and a kitchen in what most would consider would be the basement. The historic home overlooks the Boonesfield Village which is comprised of over a dozen 19th century buildings including the Old Peace Chapel, grist mill, schoolhouse, several homes, a carpenter’s shop, an more. Each building has been moved to the site from within 50 miles of the local area. The buildings offer visitors a glimpse into life as a frontiersman and the chance to witness the hard work and dedication these men and women possessed. I most definetely need to expand my short summary of Daniel Boone, who is more often associated with Kentucky, into his family and life in Missouri.

Kirkwood Depot

Then, to St. Louis, where we do a short allignment of Route 66 that we've never traveled before, exiting off of US Highway 64 at Frontenac and heading south to Sunset Hills. This allignment is almost completely residential until reaching Kirkwood, Missouri, which provides a couple of glimpses of history including its old depot, city hall, and Spencer's Grill.

Then eastward to Jefferson Barracks, a U.S. Army post from 1826 to 1946. Soldiers of this very large installation served the Mexican-American War, the Civil War, Indian Campaigns, Spanish-American War, Philippine War, and both World Wars. After Jefferson Barracks was decommissioned, portions of the grounds were sold off and visitors today can still see these many buildings being used for housing and business purposes. Some of the grounds were held, however, housing the very large Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, a National Guard Base and the Verterans Administration hospital. The rest of the old property is now the Jefferson Barracks and Sylvan Springs County Parks.

Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery

We began our tour at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, one of the oldest interment sites of the Department of Veteran Affairs, established in 1866. Containing some 20,000 gravesites, the cemetery continutes to accept the remains of soldiers today. Acre after acre of white stone marked hills both sadden my heart, as well as making it swell with pride. We then move past the active installation of the National Guard, which features a number of historic buildings and drive through the park, where yet more buildings can be seen, some of which feature museums. Definitely have to get a story up on the barracks, as it is not only filled with history, but is also said to be haunted by a number of ghosts.

Gateway Arch From across the River

Then we're off to downtown St. Louis to take a ride up the Gateway Arch and visit the Museum of Westward Expansion. Packed like large sardines into a little pod, five of us make our way up to the top of the 630 foot arch in about four minutes. Well worth the trip for the great photo opportunities. Then back down the tram to visit the museum, which features westward expansion from Lewis and Clark, to explorers, Native Americans, hunters, and miners. This was a great stop. Then across the Mississippi River we go, for photos of the Gateway Geyser and more pictures of the St Louis Arch.

Monks Mound at Cahokia Mounds

On down the road, we make our way to Cahokia Mounds, the largest archeological site north of Mexico. Best known for large, man-made earthen structures, the city of Cahokia was inhabited from about A.D. 700 to 1400. Built by ancient peoples known as the Mound Builders, Cahokia's original population was thought to have been only about 1,000 until about the 11th century when it expanded to tens of thousands.

Catsup bottle at Collinsville

One last stop before we call it a day. Must have a picture of the world's largest catsup bottle in Collinsville, Illinois. Once the home of multiple coal mines, Collinsville is now a busy bedroom community of St. Louis, but one of its most popular features is the large catsup bottle. This unique 170 ft. tall water tower was built in 1949 for the G.S. Suppiger catsup bottling plant - bottlers of Brooks old original rich & tangy catsup.

Now, that, was busy day.

To see many more pictures of our journey, visit our Legends Fan Page album HERE. (You don't have to be a Facebook member, to look at the pics.

Tomorrow, we start up Illinois Route 66 to Chicago.

Northeast Missouri

2010-10-14T06:34:00.005-05:00

Ok, back on track, we did cover more miles today -- like 150, but still 40 miles from St. Louis. OMG, if we don't kick it in the butt, this thang is gonna take a month. First, we finished up just the last little bit of the Santa Fe Trail, visting Old Franklin and Boone's Lick.

Here lies Old Franklin, Missouri

Just north of the Missouri River beyond Boonville, Missouri, Old Franklin was the town where William Becknell, the "Father of the Santa Fe Trail" and his party started out for Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1821. Unfortunately, the entire town was washed away by flooding of the Missouri River in 1927. Still, it was a nostalgic stop, just looking at the terrain and river, wondering about those early Santa Fe Trail traders, as well as thinking about Lewis and Clark who had also been there almost two decades previous.

Boone's Lick State Historic Site

Next, we move along some 10 miles to Boone's Lick State Historic Site. Here, Lewis and Clark also passed, reporting the presence of many saltwater springs. Just a couple of years later, sons of famous frontiersman Daniel Boone, formed a partnership with James and Jesse Morrison in 1805 to produce salt. It was then shipped by keelboat on the Missouri River to St. Louis, Missouri. Salt production continued here until about 1833. This site, too, was a destination for pioneers heaing west.

We then head northeast to Centralia, Missouri, the site of the Centralia Massacre during the Civil War. On September 27, 1864, 22 unarmed Union soldiers returning home on leave were pulled from a train and executed by Confederate bushwhackers under "Bloody Bill" Anderson. A Union force pursuing the guerrillas was ambushed, and about 150 were killed, many of whom were tortured and executed, and afterwards, their bodies mutilated.

A mural depicts the Centralia Massacre

I had long wanted to know more about this particular Civil War battle and was pleased when I found a reference in the official 2010 Missouri Travel Guide to Centralia's "Gray Ghost Trail Civil War Markers." So, we set aside some time to follow the trail, but, in the end, spent more time trying to find it than driving it.

Centralia Battlefield

Starting out at the town square, there is an interpretive sign which indicates four stops on this driving tour. The interpretive sign was very informative about the sites; but, it wasn't directionally correct -- with north being north, etc. We were confused so we went to the first stop -- the Centralia Historical Society Museum. We were looking forward to the museum and getting map of the trail. Alas, the museum was closed. I only found out with this writing that the museum is only open on Wednesday and Sunday afternoons from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., though there was no indication of hours at the museum -- only a closed sign. And, no maps. Disappointed, we head back to the square in search of the Chamber of Commerce, which we find also has very strange hours, despite the city's population of nearly 4,000. Nevertheless, we get there during their small window of being open - 10:30-1:00. When someone comes to help me and I ask about the Gray Ghost Trail, she has no idea what I'm talking about. Isn't it the Chamber that promotes these things to the State of Missouri Tourism Guide? In the end, she hands me a bad map of how to get to the battlefield, tells me that "it's just a field with a coupla markers" with a bewildered look on her face, and sends me next door to the "foundation." So, I head next door and ask the kind ladies the same question. They also look just as confused as to why I'm there. Come to find out, this is an endowment foundation, whose leader, Jack Chance, just happens to be an area Civil War expert. I finally find my answers from this kind gentleman, but, am even more confused as to why I was sent here to waste his time. Mr. Chance let me know there was no such thing as a trail map and agreed when I complained about the interpretive marker in the square being confusing. In any event, the "Gray Ghost Trail" is virtually non existent and should not be listed in Missouri's Tourism guide. I am constantly amazed about various city's attempts at attracting tourists. In the end, we visited the Centralia Battlefield, which you will, for sure, read about later.

Then, we're off to meet a long time reader of our newsletter and new friend on Facebook. We have a great lunch in Mexico, Missouri before visting their home, which is housed in an old barn. Way cool! Thank you Kay and Bill Weldon.

Alas, it is time to head back towards the awful interstate on our trek to St. Louis. Tomorrow is a day filled with activities.

Arcadia residents rally to fight Round Barn-obscuring sign

2010-10-13T19:27:00.000-05:00

We interrupt this program to bring you a Route 66 Alert!!

The round barn in Arcadia, Oklahoma is the most photographed site on Route 66 and now a large billboard and its framework will obstruct a portion of the barn from photographers, not to mention, blighting this quaint little community with its business agenda. Local townspeople are asking the people of Oklahoma to help defend the Round Barn, help with legal advice, and attend the Town Council meeting.

Photo courtesy Mark Schlachtenhaufen, the Edmund Sun.

Missouri-Illinois-Iowa

2010-10-13T06:27:00.004-05:00

Our fall trip this year takes us trailin' a bit on the Santa Fe Trail from Marshall, Missouri to Franklin, before heading to St. Louis and traveling Route 66 to Chicago. From there, we'll head back west and travel back down the Mississippi River a ways through Iowa.

Bothwell Lodge north of Sedalia, Missouri

Our first day, in typical Legends fashion, we make it only 75 miles. This could be a long journey. Our first stop -- just north of Sedalia, Missouri is the Bothwell Lodge State Historic Site. Sitting atop a 120-foot bluff, this castle-like home was constructed between 1897 and 1928 for a prominent Sedalia lawyer, John Homer Bothwell. Bothwell was active in local politics, represented Pettis County for eight years in the Missouri General Assembly, and unsuccessfully ran for governor in 1904. His influence helped to make Sedalia the permanent home for the Missouri State Fair. Built on top three natural caves using native stone, the 12,000 square foot, multi-level lodge has 31 rooms that can be toured today.

Blackwater, Missouri

Next, we're off to the tiny quaint little town of Blackwater, Missouri. Located just three miles north of I-70, exit 89 in Missouri. Alas, I have to say that until very recently I had not heard of Blackwater when I received a phone call from Gerald Cunningham. Originally from Marshall, Missouri, Gerald and his wife, Connie, established the Bucksnort Trading Company in Blackwater four years ago. Then, after he bought my book, Great American Bars and Saloons, he got a hankerin' to establish an old-fashioned saloon right there in Blackwater.

Bucksnort Saloon, Blackwater, Missouri

Starting on it in early 2010, the Bucksnort Saloon is now open for business. A family friendly saloon, visitors can hear Robert Ault, one of the best ragtime piano players in the country, delight you with tunes; play Faro, or belly up to the bar for a cream soda or sassparilla on weekends. We had a great time visiting with Gerald and Connie Cunningham, meeting Bob Ault, the piano playing wonder, and visiting with Blackwater's city clerk, painter of the murals in town, and local historian -- Bonnie Rapp. You'll be hearing alot more about this place on our Saloon Museums page soon.

Dave Alexander; Bonnie Rapp, Gerald Cunningham

Blackwater is a friendly little town with less than 200 souls that has done a very good job of restoring its historic buildings and promoting the village as a travel destination. Numerous historic buildings have been restored including the depot, the Iron Horse Hotel, where you can still get a room and a meal; the old caboose, the telephone building, which now serves as a museum, and many others. Founded in 1887 as a coal and water stop for the Missouri Pacific Railroad, Blackwater has lots of history to share. Be sure to get off the interstate to take the short winding and scenic roads to the historic town which is lined with antique and specialty shops. After a great burger at the Back Roads Grill in Blackwater, we're off again to Arrow Rock, Missouri.

Arrow Rock, Missouri

Situated on a high bluff over the Missouri River, this site has long been a significant landmark for Native Americans, explorers, and early westward travelers. Arrow Rock first appeared on a French map as “pierre a fleche,” literally translated as “rock of arrows” in 1732. In the 1820s, the earliest travelers on what became the Santa Fe Trail crossed the river on the Arrow Rock ferry and filled their water barrels with fresh water at “the Big Spring” before heading west. In 1829, the town of Arrow Rock was founded, which soon boasted a number of prominent people including Dr. John Sappington of quinine fame; George Caleb Bingham, Missouri's preeminent artist of the mid-1800s; and three future 19th Century Missouri governors.

By the time the Civil War began, Arrow Rock boasted 1,000 people. Afterwards, the town began a decline as steamboats and river commerce gave way to railroads that bypassed the town. In 1963, the entire town was designated a National Historic Landmark because of its association with the Westward Expansion. Called home to about 75 people today, the village boasts several signficant historic properties including the J.P. Sites Gun Shop, dating back to 1830; the 1834 Huston Tavern, the old courthouse, a town doctor's home, a stone jail and numerous other historic buildings.

Boonville, Missouri

Then we're off to Boonville, Missouri, our last stop of the day. Another historic city on the Missouri River, Boonville got its start in the early 1800's when Daniel Boone's sons, Nathan and Daniel Morgan, came upon a salt lick in present day Howard County, just across the river. Recognizing the value of salt for pioneers, the Boone brothers settled and opened shop, thus the original Boone’s Lick or Boonslick name. The town was formally platted in 1817 and prospered in the late 1820’s. Throughout the 1820’s and 30’s, it was home to river trade and anoter jumping-off point for the Santa Fe Trail. The development of the railroad and the start of the Civil War dramatically changed Boonville. Because of its prime location on the river, Boonville was sought after by both the Confederates and the Union armies. Boonville saw two Civil War battles. Tday, it is called home to over 8,000 people and features more than 400 historic properties on the National Register.

Tomorrow, we head east again. Stay tuned for our daily travels and full articles when we return home..

Heroes Are Not Always Politically Correct

2010-09-16T07:04:00.002-05:00

(Note: This blog post is obviously just an opinion, and you are Free to disagree. Isn't it wonderful we have that Freedom?.- Dave A.)

Sometimes I have to shake my head and wonder at what point our American history became such a divisive issue that it creates villains out of heroes for the sake of political correctness. Kathy started Legends Of America back in 2003, and over the years she has learned all too well how some stories can cause a ruckus. Whether it be Billy the Kid or a fanciful ghost story, there are many passionate voices out there that can get their feathers ruffled in a hurry. A good example of this can be found on our Facebook page, especially when we feature a story on an American President.

We post daily stories on Facebook, ranging from early America, the Old West to Route 66. And each week we feature a "Good Guy". This week I posted Kathy's updated article from Hartwell James' 1899 book "Military Heroes of the United States" on President Zachary Taylor. I was intrigued to see the comments that soon came, and it was a particular statement that caught my eye and weighed on my mind enough to blog about it. The statement was, in part, "Taylor won fame as an Indian fighter.....Let's get real about our former Presidents. Many of them were racist and most of them were bigots."

Now, I realize that not everyone will consider Zach a good guy. Yes, he owned slaves. Yes, he fought Native Americans. He also fought with honor against Mexico and played a key role in the eventual statehood of California. So why was it so bad for us to do a "Good Guy" post on a former American President, someone who helped shape the Great Nation we live in, and recognize him for his accomplishments?

That led me to my ultimate question. How far do we go for the sake of Political Correctness? Let's say for instance you are an American Citizen of Hispanic decent. Does the fact that the United States fought and won territories from Mexico mean that we should give California back? What if you are of Native American decent? Yes, I agree, the United States did many bad things to people that deserved better. Do you honestly believe United States citizens, back in the 1800's, should have given up and turned the country back over to the various Native American tribes? Would you still have the freedom you have today? Would you even be here?

I don't mean to pick on this particular comment, as we have had similar comments on other posts dealing with our Founding Fathers. Whether you agree or disagree on a specific President's policies doesn't change the fact that each and every President of these United States have been heroic in some way that helped make us into what we are; the leader of the Free World. And despite being "politically incorrect", in the end they did what's right...kept freedom at the core of our Nations foundation. Hell, we even fought with ourselves for that belief in freedom during the Civil War. And yes, President Zachary Taylor, a slave owner, had a hand in turning America away from Slavery "before" the Civil War.

I would go as far to say that if it weren't for Good Guys being politically "incorrect" at times, we would not have grown as a nation, nor have the level of civility throughout the world we have today. The feisty spirit in us that declared our Independence from the British, fought the Native Americans and Mexicans to expand our territories, defended freedom in two World Wars..all of the history, good and bad, resulting in the growth of a Nation that others around the World look up to.

My point is this... It depends which side of history you're on as to which Heroes you celebrate, and thankfully they are not always politically correct. For a Hero is simply someone who furthered their cause with strong conviction and extraordinary measures. I, for one, am an American. I celebrate American Heroes. Including the politically incorrect President and Distinguished General, Zachary Taylor.

2010-07-17T14:40:00.003-05:00

From Indian Wars to the Trail of Tears, learn about our nations true Forefathers on Legends Of America.

Native American's on Legends Of America

Directed by: Kathy Weiser Alexander
Produced/Edited by: Dave Alexander
Narration by: Dave Dart (Same Day Voice-Over)
http://www.samedayvoiceover.com/

Legends of America's First Video

2010-06-10T19:54:00.008-05:00

Constantly looking for new ways to provide even better content to our readers, we have ventured into sight and sound -- Dave has produced our first video. Including dozens of historic and current photographs and set to dramatic background music, this video is an introduction to Legends of America, showing readers and/or audiences, a little about what we do. From great western destinations to the framing of the Constitution, Civil War, Native Americans, the Old West, and on to Route 66, we hope you like our first attempt at video production. And, stay tuned, there will be more coming, focused on individual eras and destinations.

Graceland and Back North

2010-05-10T10:10:00.013-05:00

Onwards to Graceland! As you already know, this is the 13.8 acre estate that was once home to Elvis Presley in Memphis, Tennessee. Elvis purchased Graceland in 1957 for approximately $100,000 and moved into home with his father and mother, Vernon and Gladys Presley. His fiance, Priscilla Beaulieu, lived at Graceland for five years before she and Elvis married in 1967. She then continued to live in Graceland five more years until she separated from Elvis in late 1972.

Graceland was Lisa Marie Presley's first official home, and residence after her birth in 1968. When her parents divorced, she primarily lived with her mother in California, but spent time at the estate with her father. Every year at Christmas, Lisa and her family go to Graceland to celebrate the holidays. On August 16, 1977, Elvis died in his bathroom at Graceland allegedly of a heart attack, which was probably instigated by drug use.

Today, the home is a museum, which opened to the public in 1982. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1991 and declared a National Historic Landmark in 2006. Only one other private home in the United States is visited more often - the White House. Graceland receives over 600,000 visitors per year.

The tour includes the main floor and basement of the home, with peeks at the Living Room and adjoining Music Room, Elvis' parents room, dining room, kitchen, and a large den called the Jungle Room. the basement features a media room and bar and billards room. To the rear of the house is a room which contains a large office, a horse stable and pasture, and a raquet ball court which now houses many of Elvis sequined stage costumes and other memorabelia.

To the side of the home are the swimming pool and the Meditation Garden where Elvis, his mother Gladys, his father Vernon and grandmother Minnie Mae Hood Presley lie buried. A separate building across the street houses a car collection and not far away, are his two airplanes.

Beyond Graceland, our plan was to travel east to see more of Tennesse; however, due to the flooding, we were forced to divert westward through Arkansas. Here, we also see some signs of flooding, but not nearly to the degree that Tennessee suffered. Before we know it, we're back in Missouri very briefly, before heading east again through the northwest corner of Tennessee and into Kentucky for a very brief spell.

Our first stop is at the site of old Fort Jefferson, near Wickliffe, Kentucky. Here, once stood a Revolutionary War stronghold at the intersection of confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. It was built in 1780 by George Rogers Clark to protect the area from British led Indian attacks. In 1781, The Chickasaw, led by a Scothman named Colbert, besieged the fort for five days, killing many settlers. When reinforcements arrived with supplies the Indians withdrew, but the fort was afterwards abandoned. Later the site was used by Lewis and Clark on their Corps of Discovery Expedition, and used again during the Civil War for a Union Supply Base. Though there is nothing left of the old fort today, historic markers tell its history, as a huge cross looms over them. The 90 foot Fort Jefferson Memorial Cross, financed by donations from individuals in Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois, Missouri and many other states serves as a beacon for the hundreds of ships that supply the two rivers.

We then head through the town of Wickliffe and on to Wickliffe Mounds Historic Site, where an ancient city of Native Americans lived in about 1000-1300 A.D. Unfortunately, it is closed on the day we arrive. (Budget cuts, perhaps?)

We're then jogging back across the Mississippi River to the site of old Fort Defiance and the city of Cairo, Illinois -- one of the saddest and most interesting towns I've ever visited. More on that in the next post.

New Madrid, Missouri and on to Tennessee

2010-05-08T08:47:00.012-05:00

Continuing along the Mississippi River, our first stop is New Madrid, Missouri. Founded in 1788 by American frontiersmen and having a long history, the area is best known for being the site of a series of over 1,000 earthquakes in 1811 and 1812, which ranged up to magnitude 8, the most powerful earthquake recorded in the United States and was felt as far away as the East Coast.

The earthquakes began in December, 1811 and continued through February of 1812. The first earthquake caused only slight damage to man-made structures, mainly because the region was so sparsly populated. However, as the earthquakes continued, they began to open deep cracks in the ground, created landslides on the steeper bluffs and hillsides, large areas of land were uplifted, and sizable sink areas were created. The earthquake was so strong, it is said that the Mississippi River ran backwards. The original townsite of New Madrid now lies under the Mississippi River.

The city is also remembered as being the nearby location for the Mississippi River military engagement, the Battle of Island Number Ten, during the Civil War.

The town moved and rebuilt but the Mighty Mississippi steadily encroached upon the town and movement away from the water continued until the early 1890's when the bank was finally stabilized with mats and rock.

Today, this small town of about 3,500 souls is the county seat of New Madrid County. Now, its citizens can only wonder when the great New Madrid Fault will shake their world again. Though earthquakes cannot be predicted, if and when another occurs, it could result in the highest economic losses due to a natural disaster in the United States, spreading damage across Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee.

After touring the New Madrid Historical Museum and the Mississippi River Overlook, we begin to head south to Tennessee. I am very excited as I have not spent time in the "Volunteer State." Our first stop is at a Tennessee Welcome Center, where we get our first indication that this trip just might not be what I had in mind. As we pick up maps and brochures, the points us to a monitor that is showing area flooding and places to avoid. It doesn't look bad in the western part of the state, so we continue with our plans and head on down the highway.

Our first stop is the Fort Pillow State Park located in Lauderdale County on the Chickasaw Bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River. Alas, all we will see of the park is the overlook over the river, as the historic is closed due to flooding. Not a good sign for the rest of our journey. Fort Pillow was a Confederat fort built in 1861. Due to its strategic location, the fort was attacked and captured by the Union Army in May, 1862. Later, the site became the location for the terrible Fort Pillow Massacre on April 12, 1864. The Confederate victory resulted in the killing of 229 black and white Union soldiers out of 262 engaged in the battle, after they had already surrendered.

We then make our way back to the highway, heading south. It is beginning to rain very hard and the poor town of Millington, which was hit hard during the "1,000 year flood." It is already showing troublesome signs with parking lots filled with water. Before we get to our Memphis, northbound Highway 51 is under water and by the time we reach our hotel, both sides of the highway are closed to flooding. We were lucky to be ahead of the weather, or so we think at the time. Later that night, the tornado sirens are blaring. In the end, we, along with the rest of the Memphis area are safe. However, the weather in Tennessee changes our plans.

Cape Girardeau, the Great River Road, and Beyond

2010-05-04T07:20:00.007-05:00

Our trip continues as we venture on to explore Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The city, situated along the Mississippi River, was first established as temporary trading post around 1733. Soon, many fur traders came to the area and the town was officially incorporated in 1808, prior to Missouri statehood. The advent of the steamboat in 1835 led it to become the biggest port on the Mississippi River between Saint Louis and Memphis. The Battle of Cape Girardeau during the Civil War took place here on April 26, 1863 when the Union and Confederate armies collided in a fierce, four-hour artillery barrage in which 23 Union and 30 Confederate soldiers were killed. Today, this historic city features 39 sites that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Of these, eight are historic districts, which include multiple contributing properties.

We start out at Fort D. It was constructed in 1861 by Union troops at the same time as three other Cape Girardeau forts. Construction began on August 6, 1861, under the direction of Lieutenant John W. Powell from Illinois. Reportedly, Fort D housed both 24 and 32-pound cannons, which would easily control any upriver movement on the Mississippi River. In order to keep warm during the winters, soldiers dug artificial caves in the hillside below the fort and stayed in these. In 1936, the site was purchased by the American Legion post, and the earthworks were restored to their original height, with some modifications. A stone building, constructed in the middle of the fort at the site of the original powder-house, was dedicated to the city and today is part of the City of Cape Girardeau Parks & Recreation Department. Fort D did not see action during the Battle of Cape Girardeau and probably never fired its guns in anger, serving mostly as a symbolic deterrent. The earthwork walls remain intact and historical signage throughout the fort's grounds bring its storied past to life.

We then head on down to the Mississippi River and the historic downtown district. Here, we check out the historic Common Pleas Courthouse, Port Cape Girardo, and the many other historic buildings.

We then begin our trek up the Great River Road, with our first stop at the Trail of Tears State Park. Though there is a great overlook of the Mississippi River and the the Bushyhead Memorial, which commemorates all the Cherokee who died on the trail, there is very little history of the Trail of Tears itself. The history is probably featured in the Visitor's Center, which was closed, but there are no interpretive signs in the park which show the trail or describe the harsh conditions that the Cherokee faced during their trek. Thousands lost their lives on the trail, including dozens on or near the park’s grounds. Though probably a campers' and hikers' paradise, the park offered little for a history buff like me.

We head north on the Great River Road until we are forced to detour back west due to road construction. But, that was definitely ok, when we run into another lil' semi-ghost town called Oak Ridge. This tiny village of less than 200 folks has a couple of antique stores and some very interesting historic buildings.

Back on track, I'm thrilled to enter Old Appleton, another semi-ghost town of about 80 souls. Here is the beautifully restored 1879 Old Appleton Bridge, as well as a couple of other historic buildings.

Heading north, we wind up in Illinois at the Kaskaskia Village. Confused as to how we crossed the Mississippi River without knowing it, we soon find out that the boundary between Missouri and Illinois here is not the river, as the "Big Muddy" shifted long ago due to flooding. Later, after doing a bit of research, I find that a curse goes along with old Kaskaskia. I'm sure you'll be hearing more about that on the website.

We then continue on our trek up to the very historic city of Ste. Genevieve, labeled "Missouri's Most Historic Town." This still small village today, Ste. Genevieve was established somewhere between 1722 and 1749. The first permanent European settlement in what now is the state of Missouri, the community was established as a trading outpost and was later settled by lead miners, farmers and fur traders. Before the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, the dominant architecture was French Creole with wooden homes built in several styles. Most of these homes feature galeries, or porches, surrounding the homes. Most of the earlier French structures are gone, but Ste. Genevieve holds the distinction of the having the largest concentration of French Colonial buildings in the country. Three of these buildings - the Amoureux, the Bolduc, and the Guibourd-Valle houses - are open to the public.

From here, we head westward to the Missouri Mines State Historic Site in Park Hills, Missouri. Momentarily, I feel as if I'm in Colorado, surrounded by mining equipment and ore tailings. Located in an area known as the Old Lead Belt, this region was the nation's major source of lead for more than 60 years. Serious small-scale mining for lead began in Southeast Missouri about 1720. A large demand for lead in the late 19th century brought major corporate enterprises to the Old Lead Belt, leaving behind more than 1,000 miles of abandoned multilevel mine tunnels and 300 miles of underground railroad tracks.

In 1975, the St. Joseph Lead Co. donated the 25 buildings of their largest mine-mill complex and the surrounding land to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. These properties became Missouri Mines State Historic Site and St. Joe State Park. The 19,000 square-foot mine-mill powerhouse has been developed into a large museum that interprets Missouri's mining history and displays old mining machinery and an outstanding mineral collection.

One last stop at Fort Davidson in Pilot Knob, Missouri. Here, was one of the largest and most hard-fought battles in Missouri -- the Battle of Pilot Knob. It occurred when Confederate Major General Sterling Price invaded Missouri from Arkansas, leading an army of 12,000 men. On September 26-27, 1864, while en route to the St. Louis area, Price attacked the weakly defended Union post. Though greatly outnumbered, the 1,450 Union soldiers at Fort Davidson defended the fort, killing some 1,000 Confederates. Today, a visitor center interprets the battle and the earthworks of the old fort can still be seen.

We then circle back to Cape Girardeau for a good night's sleep and continue on tomorrow.

Exploring Our New Home State and a Little More

2010-05-04T05:19:00.014-05:00

Mostly settled in for the long term at the "Fort Alexander" compound in Warsaw, Missouri, it is definitely time to explore more of our new home state, with a few short trips into adjoining states. We head south on Highway 65 before scooting southeast toward a little town called Windyville. I had written about this small ghost town several years ago, as well as its many alleged ghosts. Alas, I had to take the story down as my article spawned too many crazy "ghost-hunters," who created vandalism and late night drunken runs through the small community. After having received a petition from every resident in this small burg, I gladly removed it from the website. However, I'll probably put it back up again, this time sans ghosts. A cool little stop and I'm glad to report that the Windyville Store is open once again.

We then venture down to another almost ghost town - Long Lane, which features the smallest ever bank in Missouri. Opened in 1910, it survived the Great Depression and a robbery in the 1930's, but was finally merged with the Bank of Buffalo in 1938. However, the tiny little building still stands. From there, we venture to Mansfield, Missouri and make a stop at the Laura Ingalls Wilder home. The author of the Little House on the Prairie series, she wrote her books here and lived in this home until her death at the age of 90 in 1957.

Next stop -- Big Spring State Park. Tucked in the side of Conococheague Mountain, Big Spring State Park features Big Spring, whose waters form the scenic Shermans Creek. The first white man to report the spring was Pocahontas Randolph, who followed Indian reports of "a spring that roars" in 1803. Because of the rugged terrain, the site remained obscure until purchased by Henry Sawyer in 1913. Roads were not built until the spring became one of the first Missouri State Parks in 1925.

This is the largest spring in the state, and one of the largest in the world. On an average day, some 278 million gallons of water gush forth from subterranean passages, swelling the nearby Current River. Like all Ozark springs, Big Spring is busy dissolving away the walls of its underground passages. One researcher estimated that about 175 tons of calcium carbonate rock are carried away by Big Spring's water every day. Over the course of a year, this is enough rock to produce a cavern 30 feet high by 50 feet wide and one mile in length. The park is located near Van Buren, Missouri.

Heading eastward, I can't resist a detour to a town called Mill Spring, just two miles off the highway. Sure I'll find a mill or a spring, I find neither, but do discover another interesting little almost ghost town. This little place sports only a convenience store and an open post office with no other open businesses; however, it's got a lot of people, all of whom seemed to be outside in their yards or standing in front of the post office visiting. I always wonder what keeps these folks living in these small towns? I also wondered why none of them seemed to have jobs. It was a Wednesday. Hmmm?

We then continue onward to Bollinger Mill and the Bufordville Covered Bridge in tiny little Bufordville. Burfordville Covered Bridge is the oldest remaining covered bridge in Missouri. Joseph Lansmon began its construction in 1858, but it is unclear if the bridge was completed before or after the Civil War. The bridge was not mentioned in St. Louis newspaper accounts of the 1861 burning of Bollinger Mill, located next to the bridge. After the Civil War, the bridge became a vital link, especially to farmers driving wagonloads of grain destined for the mill. The road going through the bridge was part of the toll-road system between Burfordville, Jackson and Cape Girardeau. Today, the Burfordville Covered Bridge is open to pedestrian traffic only. Bollinger Mill also dates back to the Civil War period. Visitors can still observe corn being ground into meal by water power at the massive four-story stone and brick building. This was a great stop and you can just bet our photos will wind up on a postcard.

From here, we're on our way to Cape Girardo, where we will explore the town, along with parts of the Great River Road in Missouri and other area interests. Stay tuned.