Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Got History?

Here at Travel, Highways, and History we'd like to hear from you about your local or regional history. If you have historical information or stories you'd like to see at the site go ahead and post them at the comments of this blog or email to: jhunkins@gmail.com and we'll work to get that information in the right parts of our site.

We're also very interested in what types of information you'd like to see here at the website. We've got some of the most detailed US History information anywhere online, and are now combining that with a lot of travel and city information from our other websites. Coming soon are pictures, hotel reviews, weather, and more news feeds.

If you have a blog about your local region or city let us know and we'll help spread the word. There is no better source for travel information than a local, and we'd like to see a lot more locals blogging about travel and history in their region.

Friday, January 18, 2008

Kilauea Lava, Hawaii


Kilauea Lava, Hawaii
Originally uploaded by JoeDuck
On the western edge of Hawaii's big island past and present collide on a regular basis as lava from Kilauea's current eruption slowly makes its way to the sea. This 2005 photo is taken near the "Chain of Craters" road in the national park which has been destroyed by a series of flows over the past few decades.

Unlike explosive "pyroclastic" volcanos, Hawaii's Kilauea tends to release lava and gas very slowly, allowing visitors to step to within a few feet of flowing hot lava. The intense heat prevents you from getting too close or falling in. Hot lava quickly cools and "skins over" and can be walked on within hours.

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Crab Boats in Crescent City Harbor, California

Dungeness Crab season usually begins around December 1, and brings a flurry of fishing activity to the the Northern California, Oregon, and Washington Coasts.

Here in Crescent City (photo taken last year) boats wait for the announcement that will allow them to go set their hundreds of crab pots. After a few days they'll pull the pots and hope for a good Crab harvest.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

1943: A "Wiper" in Clinton Iowa giving a giant H class locomotive a bath of live steam


Originally uploaded by The Library of Congress


In Clinton, Iowa Viola Sievers cleans a massive steam engine as part of the US WWII War Effort. Taken by Jack Delano and part of the US Library of Congress War Photo Collection.

Golden Nugget Casino and Hotel, Downtown Las Vegas Downtown

Mega Resorts and Casinos dominate the Las Vegas Strip, but you'll find several of the more modest but charming and historic casinos in Downtown Las Vegas along Fremont Street and for a few blocks around that area.

Plans are now underway to develop the portion of Las Vegas Boulevard between Fremont Street and the Las Vegas Strip, effectively connecting the two main casino areas of Las Vegas.

The Downtown still offers some of the old Las Vegas charm with modest sized casinos and much easier walking distances between them. Also, don't miss the Fremont Street Light show, a spectacular light show on a canopy that is as wide as a street and an entire city block long.

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Half Dome, Yosemite


Half Dome, Yosemite
Originally uploaded by JoeDuck
Yosemite National Park in California offers visitors some of the world's most spectacular and sublime mountain scenery. Yosemite's huge plunging waterfalls and steep granite cliffs were the passion of early American writer John Muir, whose tireless efforts on behalf of wilderness preservation brought to California some of the world's finest parklands.

Monday, January 14, 2008

Historic Water Tower in Highland Park, Minnesota

In the American Midwest water pressure was a challenge before the advent of modern plumbing and pumping systems.

Here in Highland Park, a comfortable Saint Paul suburb, this stone water tower has stood for some 100 years, formerly providing the necessary water pressure for various plumbing features in the neighborhood.