Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for U.S. travel
An Infamous Battle in Groton
By Linda Tancs
Fort Griswold is a former American defensive fortification in Groton, Connecticut. Named after Deputy Governor Matthew Griswold, the Revolutionary War site marks an infamous 1781 massacre by British troops aided by turncoat Benedict Arnold. Now a state park, the battlefield features the Ebenezer Avery House, which sheltered the wounded following the massacre. Also at the site is the Groton Monument, a granite obelisk honoring the fallen heroes. The 135-foot-high memorial is open for climbing in season.
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The Legend of John Henry
By Linda Tancs
The Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad built their main line between 1869 and 1872 through the labors of thousands of freed African-American slaves and Irish Catholic immigrants. Of thousands of African-American railroad workers, John Henry became the stuff of legend and the subject of a ballad. Historical research suggests that Henry was a real person, a steel driver blasting a tunnel through Big Bend Mountain in West Virginia. Legend has it that he died during a contest between a steel drill and steel drivers. Whether man or myth, a statue of him stands outside Great Bend Tunnel at John Henry Park in Talcott.
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Billed as the Great North American Eclipse, a total solar eclipse will cross North America on April 8, 2024, passing over Mexico, the United States and Canada. The path of the eclipse begins in Mexico, entering the United States in Texas, and traveling through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. The eclipse will enter Canada in Southern Ontario, and continue through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton. This will be the last time any solar eclipse will be visible within the United States until 2045.
Be prepared! So long as supplies last, you can purchase eclipse glasses and other accessories, like a phone app and photo filter, from American Paper Optics, a NASA-approved manufacturer. The link in the preceding sentence is an affiliate link, which means that if you click on the link and purchase merchandise from the page, then I may receive a small commission.
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New England’s Railroad Heritage
By Linda Tancs
The Railroad Museum of New England in Thomaston, Connecticut, preserves and restores New England’s railroad heritage. The museum boasts a diverse collection representative of New England railroading including locomotives, passenger and freight cars, and cabooses. Through its operating subsidiary known as the Naugatuck Railroad (originally chartered in 1845), they tell the story of the region’s rich railroad heritage, conducting scenic and historical excursions between Torrington and Waterbury.
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Tranquility at the Hammond
By Linda Tancs
Founded by American artist Natalie Hays Hammond, the Hammond Museum and Japanese Stroll Garden in North Salem, New York, is a museum with Japanese art and a 3.5-acre Japanese stroll garden. A peaceful oasis amidst the hustle and bustle of Westchester County, the garden is centered around its pond and includes numerous rare Japanese plants and trees as well as species native to the area. Also on the grounds is a traditional Japanese tea room, which was imported from Kyoto and is used for tea ceremony events. The Hammond will open seasonally in April until November.
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Connecticut’s Kate
By Linda Tancs
The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, known as The Kate, is a performing arts center in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. It’s named for the late movie star Katharine Hepburn, the town’s most celebrated resident. Adjacent to the lobby is a museum dedicated to the famed actress featuring letters, photos, home movies, costumes, personal wardrobe items and other memorabilia. In addition to the permanent collection, the museum offers rotating special exhibits and hosts lectures, workshops and film screenings.
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A Founder’s House in New York
By Linda Tancs
Born in New York in 1745, John Jay was descended from French Huguenot refugees. One of America’s most influential Founding Fathers, he was a lawyer, framer of the Constitution and the first chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, among other accomplishments. In Katonah, New York, the John Jay Homestead State Historic Site interprets his life and legacy. The 62-acre site features his home (which remained in the family through several generations until 1959), several gardens and farm buildings.
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Nathan Hale’s Schoolhouse
By Linda Tancs
The Nathan Hale Schoolhouse in New London, Connecticut, is where American patriot Nathan Hale taught from 1774 to 1775 before enlisting in the Revolutionary War. He was the only soldier to volunteer to spy on the British, providing valuable information to George Washington. Before he was hanged by the British in New York on September 22, 1776, he famously uttered “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.” The building is located on Atlantic Street in the city’s Historic Waterfront District.
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Camera Heritage Museum
By Linda Tancs
Touted as America’s largest camera museum, the Camera Heritage Museum in Staunton, Virginia, is devoted to the history, science and art of photography. The facility boasts a collection of over 7,000 cameras from the 19th century to modern times as well as accessories and photographs. Self-guided and audio tours are available. Call ahead for a personal curator tour.
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Billed as the Great North American Eclipse, a total solar eclipse will cross North America on April 8, 2024, passing over Mexico, the United States and Canada. The path of the eclipse begins in Mexico, entering the United States in Texas, and traveling through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. The eclipse will enter Canada in Southern Ontario, and continue through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton. This will be the last time any solar eclipse will be visible within the United States until 2045.
Be prepared! So long as supplies last, you can purchase eclipse glasses and other accessories, like a phone app and photo filter, from American Paper Optics, a NASA-approved manufacturer. The link in the preceding sentence is an affiliate link, which means that if you click on the link and purchase merchandise from the page, then I may receive a small commission.
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Classic Cars in Los Angeles
By Linda Tancs
One of the world’s largest automotive museums, the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California, specializes in automobile history and related educational programs. A must for any car enthusiast, the museum’s collection encompasses both classic and vintage cars, including movie/TV cars (a no-brainer considering the location). The facility also boasts a basement collection known as The Vault, where, for an extra fee, you can see over 200 of the rarest vehicles ever assembled. Visitors will see turn-of-the-century cars, head-of-state vehicles, American classics, the personal rides of Hollywood legends, award-winning hot rods and many others.
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Swinging in Connecticut
By Linda Tancs
One of the longest spans surviving in the country, East Haddam Bridge is a steel swing bridge over the Connecticut River in East Haddam. Boasting a 460 foot swing span, the movable bridge connects Haddam and East Haddam. In addition to the swing span, the other two spans are the Warren deck truss and a Pennsylvania through truss. A local landmark, the structure serves as an alternative to ferry transportation to nearby Gillette Castle.
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Billed as the Great North American Eclipse, a total solar eclipse will cross North America on April 8, 2024, passing over Mexico, the United States and Canada. The path of the eclipse begins in Mexico, entering the United States in Texas, and traveling through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. The eclipse will enter Canada in Southern Ontario, and continue through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton. This will be the last time any solar eclipse will be visible within the United States until 2045.
Be prepared! So long as supplies last, you can purchase eclipse glasses and other accessories, like a phone app and photo filter, from American Paper Optics, a NASA-approved manufacturer. The link in the preceding sentence is an affiliate link, which means that if you click on the link and purchase merchandise from the page, then I may receive a small commission.
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