Oregon History and Oregon Travel

We've got some fairly extensive information about Oregon History and Oregon Travel here at Travel, Highways, and History. Oregon is home to some of the US West's most spectacular coastal and mountain scenery as well as a rich cultural heritage reflecting thousands of years of human habitation and activity throughout much of the region. When Mt. Mazama exploded some 7000 years ago, forming Crater Lake, there were people in the Klamath Basin and the Umpqua Valley who witnessed this amazing event, one of the largest volcanic events in human history.

Pearl Harbor

USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

An old Naval photograph documenting the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii which initiated US participation in World War II.

The Navy's caption was: Battleships USS WEST VIRGINIA and USS TENNESSEE after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941

Today, Pearl Harbor is still home to a major US Naval presence, as well as the beautiful USS Arizona Memorial which pays respect to the thousands of dead on the many ships that were destroyed in this fateful battle, arguably one of modern history's most significant events. The USS Missouri is also a superb floating museum and is great to visit while waiting for your spot on the small boats that take tourists out to the Arizona memorial.

Computer History Museum, Mountain View

Computer History Museum, Mountain View
Originally uploaded by JoeDuck

If you are a computer buff you'll enjoy the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, just across the street from Microsoft's big Silicon Valley Building and around the corner from Google HQ.

Here, displays and old machines tell the story of the birth of modern computing and highlight many of the key innovations and innovators of the past. A room full of old computers - many far less powerful than your cell phone - is a clear indication of how far we've come with modern technology.

http://www.computerhistory.org

California Travel

Atomic Testing Museum, Las Vegas

In Las Vegas if you get bored with the Casinos and nightlife - or even if you don't - you might want to venture just a few miles off the strip to the Atomic Testing Museum, an intriguing set of exhibits that explore the history of Atomic testing which was largely carried out in the huge open desert areas just west of Las Vegas.

Nevada History
Atomic Testing Museum Website

California Redwoods. Redwood National Park.

The two types of California Redwood Forests offer visitors and hikers some of the most amazing woodland experiences on earth. On the Northern Coasts of California we find Redwood National Park and the tallest trees on earth - the Coast Redwoods, Sequoia Sempervirens. Redwood National Park combines with several California state parks to straddle highway 101 for over a hundred miles along a beautiful coastal route all the way up to the Oregon Border.

When driving this route don't miss the "Avenue of the Giants" turnoff and, more importantly, DO NOT take the Orick bypass if you want to see trees and wildlife. The "Scenic Route" near Orick used to be the main route, and along this road you'll likely see Roosevelt Elk and are guaranteed to see superb Redwood forest. Stop in to the tiny Prarie Creek Redwoods visitor center for a great introduction to the region. Patrick's Point State Park with Wedding Rock and a beautiful long beach is a good spot if you can only visit one park in that area.

In the Mountainous High Sierra region of east central California you find the "Giant Redwoods", Sequoiadendron Giganteum, which are the world's thickest and most massive tree by species. These Giant Sequoias are not botanically considered a "Redwood" but most people know them by that name. Sequoia National Park is home to thousands of these trees that are so wide they almost defy imagination.

Photo Credit: Sequoia National Park

The Grand Tetons of Grand Teton National Park rise in Wyoming in this Ansels Adams photo from the 1940's. Wyoming is home to two amazing national parks - Yellowstone NP and the Grand Teton NP. French trappers named the three spectacular peaks known as South, Middle, and Grand Teton. These effectively form the centerpiece of a National Park known for beautiful lakes, rivers, aspen forest, and towering majestic mountains. Although the Grand Teton requires some technical skill to climb, Middle and South can be scaled without special equipment though the hike is steep and rocky.

This Ansel Adams Photo posted at Flickr and listed as in Public Domain

Wyoming History

National Park Service

US History at Travel, Highways, and History

A worker building the Empire State Building in 1930 New York City. The Chrysler Building towers above the New York Cityscape but still well below what would become the world's tallest building for many years.

For New York Travel check out our sections at Travel Highways and History, or click here for New York History.