Hollywoodland, California and the Hollywood Sign

Hollywood California's most famous landmark are huge sheet metal letters spelling "HOLLYWOOD" that sit up on the hillside several miles from downtown Hollywood. The history of this sign is very interesting as it was designed as a way to sell real estate in this area in 1923. After construction of houses in the area many neighbors asked to have the massive letters, falling into disrepair, removed. But protests from city leaders and others led to a change to "HOLLYWOOD" to advertise the burdgeoning film and TV industry of Hollywood.

Depression of 1929

With all the talk of a coming US recession this photo of a depression era breadline should remind us that things could be a lot worse than they are likely to be here in the USA ever again.
Here is a lot more about the US Depression at our travel and history pages.


Following the crash in 1929, the USA continued to decline steadily into depression.

Banks failed, leaving millions without savings. Factories locked up, shops closed, and most remaining businesses struggled. Governments faced great difficulty collecting taxes.

New York City

New York City is such a huge cultural and tourism icon it is very hard to effectively write a great set of New York travel tips. New York City remains one of the world's great cities and most significant business addresses with tens of thousands of corporate headquarters and company offices. The New York Stock Exchange and Wall Street rank among the most important business venues in the world. New York is also a tourist mecca with restaurants and lodging of almost every conceivable type as well as globally known attractions like the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building. I have not been to New York City in many years, though I was lost in the Statue of Liberty as a kid. I still remember that lady of liberty with some trepidation.

Some excellent New York City Travel information links:

History of New York State

Intro Video from NYC Tourism (a very cool New York Video)

NYC Tourism Website

CitySearch New York City

The Gothamist - a savvy New Yorker Blogs about her city

Online Highways New York

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