Thursday, December 20, 2007

Dolos, Crescent City California


Dolos, Crescent City California
Originally uploaded by JoeDuck
Dolos in Crescent City line the huge concrete breakwater and guard the Crescent City harbor from the catastrophe of a Tsunami or major storm. The Dolos weight up to 40 tons each, and are designed to maximize the dispersion of wave energy.

When you visit Crescent City California don't miss the County Museum which has some great Maritime artifacts from this California coastal city, and of course you'll want to take in Redwood National Park, one of the few World Heritage Sites in North America. Redwood trails and parkland in the State Parks and National parks extend along the California Coast for over 100 miles in Northern California.

Crescent City Lighthouse, California

Crescent City California is one of the few American Cities to have experienced a Tsunami/Tidal Wave. 1964 brought a major sea surge to Crescent City which inundated the downtown area and killed four people.

The huge cement breakwater from which this picture was taken was built after 1964 in an effort to make subsequent destruction unlikely. It also offers great views of the lighthouse, huge waves, and giant cement dolos which help disperse the energy of the mighty pacific waves.

For more about this area see our Northern California travel pages.

Betsy Ross House, Philadelphia Pennsylvania


Betsy Ross House, Philly
Originally uploaded by JoeDuck
Betsy Ross was a Quaker revolutionary who was commissioned by George Washington to create and produce a new flag for the US war of independence - an American Flag.

Ross' house still stands in downtown Philadelphia. During summer months actors perform and interact with tourists throughout the downtown area. Active walkers can take in the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Betsy Ross House, Ben Franklin Square, and many more amazing sights from American's Revolutionary past.

Tip: Go early to the National History Center to get tickets for Liberty Bell and Independence Hall tours, and then build your day around them.