Author Archives: Dablad1
St George Reef Lighthouse
St George Reef Lighthouse is located six miles off the California/Oregon coast, 144 feet above the Pacific Ocean. Construction began in 1882 but was not completed until 1892 . The cost was the staggering sum of 19.8 million in today’s dollars – twice the cost of any lighthouse ever built! Each of the 1,339 stones … Continue reading
Pt Loma Lighthouse
Pt Loma Lighthouse is located at the mouth of San Diego Bay. In contrast to the previous two entries, Pt Loma was built and opened in the same year (1855) and cost only thirty thousand in today’s dollars. It sits atop a 400-foot cliff and was the highest lighthouse in the country. That also was … Continue reading
Gay Head Lighthouse
Gay Head Lighthouse was built on Martha’s Vineyard in 1856. It had to be moved in May 2015 over a three-day period over a distance of 130 feet and at a cost of $3.5 million. The lighthouse reopened in August 2015 and is seen here in an 1880’s photo. Click to enlarge.
Block Island Lighthouse
Block Island Lighthouse is located about 12 miles off the coast of Rhode Island. It was built in 1875 and stands 200 feet above the Atlantic Ocean, making it the highest lighthouse in New England. Originally it was 300 feet from the cliff’s edge but erosion brought it to within 55 feet. It took 10 … Continue reading
New London Lighthouse
New London Lighthouse is unique for several reasons. It is the oldest in Connecticut (1801) and tallest (89 feet). In addition, in 2013 it was one of five lighthouses in the country chosen to be on a Forever stamp. It is seen here in a photo dated 1905.
Stepping Stones Lighthouse
Stepping Stones Lighthouse in Long Island Sound NY was built in 1877 on top of 900 tons of stones that were barged in. It is only 49 feet high and has a twin brother–the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse-on the Hudson River. A move to collect $4 million to save the structure is underway. The first photo dates … Continue reading
New Glarus, WI.
New Glarus is located in south central Wisconsin about 20 miles south of Madison. It was founded in 1845 by Swiss immigrants and still has a significant Swiss appearance. In 1993, New Glarus Brewing Co. was started–the first brewery ever by a woman. New Glarus is the perfect place for then-and-now pictures owing to its … Continue reading
Grand Canyon South Rim
The Grand Canyon is 1,904 square miles in area, about 50 square miles fewer than Delaware. It is 18 miles wide in spots and 1 mile deep with 277 river miles running through it. Park visitation (about 5,000,000 annually) is 90% South Rim since the South Rim is open year around as opposed to the … Continue reading
El Tovar
Only feet from the South Rim lies the iconic El Tovar hotel built by the Santa Fe Railway in 1905. It has 100 rooms and was designed to attract the railroad’s more well-healed customers.
Hopi House
Directly across from the El Tovar is Hopi House, which also opened in 1905. Hopi craftsmen would demonstrate their skills in making jewelry, rugs, pottery, and blankets which could then be purchased. It’s a smart place to shop, as can be seen by the satisfied customer with the headdress in this 1931 photo. Click to … Continue reading