Minnesota

Home to the longest shoreline of any city on the Mississippi River (26 miles), St. Paul is the site of the current (and third) Minnesota statehouse. Construction began in 1886 when Minnesota had been a state for only 37 years. It opened in 1905 at a cost of 4.5 million dollars (126 million today). In 2017 a 310-million-dollar restoration was completed. The first photo is dated 1905.

New Hampshire

New Hampshire’s capitol is located in Concord where the first alarm clock was invented in 1797. It is the oldest capitol where both houses occupy their original chambers. The building’s construction began in 1816 and lasted three years. It is the fifth oldest capitol

New York

New York’s capitol is located in Albany. The building was built by hand and took 32 years to complete–1867-1899. It has been said that reporters wanting to talk with the then governor Teddy Roosevelt (1899-1900) had to beat him up the 77 steps of the capitol to get an interview. The first photo seems to show some politicians anxiously awaiting a look inside their new building. If so, they would have to wait another 28 years!. The second photo is dated 1899.

Utah

Utah’s capitol is located in Salt Lake City. The building opened in 1916, has a stunning marble interior, and underwent a 310-million-dollar renovation in 2017. Oddly, Salt Lake City is home to more non-Mormons than Mormons. Also, the city is not dry; it has 118 bars, and the first KFC franchise opened there in 1952. The first photo shows the 1916 dedication.

Texas

The capitol of Texas is the largest of all capitols in the U.S. It is located in Austin, which is the largest city in the country without a professional sports team, and whose motto is “Keep Austin weird.” The building was constructed between 1882-1886. It was funded by two Chicago investors who made good on their investment. They were given ten counties consisting of three million acres that eventually became the XIT Ranch, the largest cattle ranch in the world! The first photo, dated 1888, shows the Lady of Freedom statue shortly before it was installed on the capitol dome. Sixteen feet tall and weighing 20,000 pounds, the Lady of Freedom had exaggerated features so her face would be visible from 300 ft. below. A replacement was installed in 1986, and the original now resides in the Bullock Museum.

Vermont

The smallest state capitol (building) is located in the smallest state capital (city) , Montpelier,VT. The building was opened in 1859 making it the 8th oldest capitol in the country. Also, it is the only capital city without a MacDonalds. The first photo is dated ca.1870.

North Carolina

North Carolina’s statehouse is located in Raleigh. It was built in 1840, making it the 7th oldest. The Senate moved out in 1881, and The General Assembly moved in 1961. The statehouse is currently occupied by the Governor’s office. Raleigh is notable for having the first Historically Black College in the South, Shaw University established in 1865. Shaw was the first to admit women and also the first to offer a four-year medical degree. The first photo is dated 1861.

Colorado

The Colorado capitol is located in Denver. Construction of the building took 15 years, beginning in 1886 with the ground breaking. The cornerstone was laid four years later, and the building opened after another four years. However, it was not considered complete until 1901, 30 years after the land was donated by Henry Brown. Oddly, Denver is the site of the most beer brewed in a U.S.city: 200+different kinds per day. The first photo is dated ca.1895.

Tennessee

The Tennessee capitol is located in Nashville and was another long-term construction, 1845-1859. It is one of twelve dome-less capitols and the tenth oldest still in use. Nashville is known as “The Athens of the South” owing to it’s large number of colleges and universities. It has the only full-scale replica of the Parthenon and houses a 42 ft. statue of Athena–the largest indoor statue in the country. The first photo, showing a Union encampment, is dated 1862.

Michigan

The Michigan capitol is located in Lansing. It was built between 1873-78 and designed by the same architect who did Colorado and Tennessee statehouses. Lansing was chosen because so many larger cities were endlessly arguing about being the chosen one. The first photo is dated 1899.

Placerville is located in northern California near Nevada and it’s Mother Lode Region. From 1849-54, it was known as Hangtown, but the name was changed for obvious reasons. Many buildings from the mining days remain, so much so that the entire town is a California Historical Landmark. Several of the more prominent buildings are:

Cary Hotel

The Cary Hotel was built in 1856 and has hosted the likes of Buffalo Bill, Mark Twain, U.S. Grant, Betty Davis, and Elvis, to name a few. The first photo is undated.

Combellack-Blair House

The Combellack-Blair House was built in 1895. It is the subject of a Thomas Kinkade painting known as Victorian Christmas. Kinkade was from Placerville, and the painting was so nostalgic for him that he put Norman Rockwell in the lower left hand corner. The first photo is undated.

Hangman’s Tree Saloon

The Hangman’s Tree Saloon opened in 1895 and operated for several decades. Later it was saved from demolition and opened as an ice cream parlor in 2017. The first photo is dated 1890.

Residence

Note the children on the porch. Photo is undated.

Placerville Hardware

The current Placerville Hardware store was built in 1856. It started as Sturgis & Alderson in 1852, making it the oldest hardware store west of the Mississippi River. Rolling ladders were installed in 1900, and those ladders are still in use today. The first photo is undated.

Main Street

The bell in the tower on Main Street was cast in England in 1860. It arrived in Placerville in 1865, but was not placed in the tower until 1878. A new, steel tower was erected in 1898 and the first photo shows the re-dedication ceremony. The second photo is dated 1900.

Hollywood Sign

Just like Lucy The Elephant, the Hollywood sign was built to attract home buyers. It was constructed in 1923 at a cost of $21,000 and, originally, was intended to last 1 1/2 years. Numerous and frequent repairs had to be made, including in 1947 when the word “land” was removed. A completely new, concrete version replaced the old sign in 1978 at a cost of $250,000. The first photo is dated 1935.

Meramec Caverns

Meramec Caverns, located in Stanton, MO., were built about 400 million years ago (give or take). At 4.6 miles in length, it is the largest cave west of the Mississippi River. Three hundred feet from the entrance is a 50′ x 50′ room that began use as a ballroom in the 1890s. Another prominent feature is the formation known as the “Stage Curtain.” It is 70′ high, 60′ wide, and 35′ thick. Amazingly it is the largest single cave feature in the world and is older than the Grand Canyon! The Caverns true size became known in the 1940s and barns in 14 states soon had signs painted on them advertising the site. That soon grew to 400 barns in 40 states after it opened as a tourist attraction in 1935. Seventy-five of those barn signs remain. The first and third photos are undated.

Paul Bunyon and Babe

The Paul Bunyon and Babe the Big Blue Ox statues were built in 1937 in Bemidji, MN, as part of a winter carnival to promote tourism. There are about 14 versions of these statues in the US. The first photo is dated 1945.

Airplane Gas Station

Located in Powell, TN, this airplane gas station was built in 1931 and was inspired by Lindbergh’s plane The Spirit of St. Louis. The gas station operated for 35 years then served as several commercial ventures. It was abandoned and almost totally destroyed but was saved in 2003 with a $100,000 renovation. It is currently a barber shop. The first photo is dated 1931.

Haines Shoe House

The Haines Shoe House is located in Hallam, PA, and was completed in 1949 by Mahan Haines, who called himself “The Shoe Wizard.” He never lived there, but he used it as a promotional prize for his own lottery at his chain of shoe stores. The lucky winners could stay a week and enjoy a chef, chauffeur, and maid. The shoe is currently open for tours and ice cream. The first photo is dated 1948.

Tea Pot Gas Station

The Tea Pot gas station was built in Zillah, WA, in 1922 as a reminder of the Tea Pot Dome Scandal. In 1978 it was relocated one mile down the new highway and operated there until 2006. In 2012 , it was renovated, moved again, and is now Zillah’s visitor center. The first photo is dated 1925.

Castle Rock

Castle Rock is located in Ignace MI. It stands 195 ft. above Lake Huron and provides a stunning overlook of Mackinac Island. It opened in 1929 and is still operated by the same family. The first photo is undated.

Coral Castle

Coral Castle is located near Miami. It consists of 1,100 large stones, each weighing about half a ton. Edward Leedskaalnin built it by himself, working mostly at night and unnoticed by anyone. He labored for 28 years, finishing in 1951. The stone walls, chairs, doors, tables, sundial, etc. were all cut precisely and lifted in place and, to this day, no one is certain how he did it. The first and third photos are dated 1930.

Dinosaur Park

Dinosaur Park consists of seven life-size replicas on a hillside outside of Rapid City, SD. It opened in 1936 in a region long prized for its dinosauer fossils

Lucy

Lucy is a six-story elephant built in 1881 and made of wood and tin sheeting. It was designed to promote real estate in the Atlantic City area. It is the oldest surviving roadside attraction in the US. Lucy was slated for demolition in the 1960s, but was saved and moved to a vacant lot 100 yards away in 1969. She was then refurbished and opened to the public in 1974. In 2020 Lucy became the only National Historical Landmark that permits overnight stays–$138 per night on Airbnb. For some great interior shots, search New York Times February 27,2020 Lucy. The first photo is dated 1885, the second is from the 1920s, and the third shows moving day .

Old Exchange

The Old Exchange, located at 122 E Bay, was built in 1771. It was originally owned by the British government and operated as a jail during the Revolution. The building was the site where South Carolina approved the U.S. Constitution. It is now a museum operated by the Daughters of the American Revolution. The first photo is dated ca. 1920.

The German Fire Steam Engine Co.

This building is located at 8 Chalmers. It was built in 1851 and was one of the many private fire companies in Charleston before the city created its own. It became an armory in 1888, which lasted until 1907. Current occupancy is law offices. The first photo is dated 1937.

Cabbage Row

This pre-Revolution building is located at 89 and 91 Church. In 1925 the name was changed to Catfish Row for the novel Porgy, which later inspired George Gershwin to write Porgy and Bess. The building is now a gift shop and antiques store. The first photo is dated 1928.

Dock Street Theater

The Dock Street Theater building is located at 135 Church. It was built in 1809 as the Planters Hotel, then converted to a theater in 1935. A nineteen-million-dollar renovation was completed in 2010. The first photo is from the early 1900s.

St Michael’s Church

St. Michael’s Church is located at 71 Broad. It was built during the 1750s and opened in 1761. It still has the original pulpit as well as the oldest functioning colonial tower clock in the U.S. George Washington would have seen the pulpit when he sat in pew 41 in 1791. The first photo is dated 1865.

Charleston SC was founded in 1670 and encountered numerous catastrophes thereafter. Most notable were The Civil War, the earthquake of 1886, and Hurricane Hugo in 1989, which damaged or destroyed 2,000 buildings. Yet, in spite of all that, much remains to enjoy. While next month will show public buildings, this month emphasizes the many historic homes that remain.

The Battery

The Battery is a fortified seawall built in 1820. It is the location of some of the finest homes Charleston has to offer. The first photo is dated 1909. The second is courtesy of Marshall Walker Real Estate’s listing for 5 East Battery.

26 S. Battery. The Col. John Algernon Sydney Ashe House built in ca.1853. First photo is dated 1880.

40 E Battery. Missroon House built in 1808. It now houses the Historic Charleston Foundation. First photo is dated ca.1909.

68 Meeting St. John Cordes Prioleau House. Built ca.1810. First photo is dated 1890s.

180 Broad St. The Cooper-O’Connor House. Built ca.1855. First photo is dated 1865.

17 Chalmers. Known as the Pink House. Built between 1694 and 1712 of Bermuda stone. The second oldest building in Charleston is now an art gallery. The first photo is dated 1880.

Rainbow Row. Thirteen colorful houses comprising the largest group of Georgian row houses in the U.S. The first photo is dated 1910.

Meeker was born in Ohio in 1830. In 1852 he, his wife, son, and brother trekked to Oregon by wagon, traveling over 2,000 miles in the six-month journey. He became a wealthy grower of hops. Although in his late 70s, he decided to retrace his journey. In 1906 he proceeded east, placing markers and gaining publicity for preserving the Oregon Trail. That trip was completed in 1908, and in 1910 he set out again with his oxcart completing that trip in 1912. He flew over the Trail in 1924 and made his last trip by car in 1928. He died later that year at age 97! Owing to his publicity efforts, many photos of Ezra Meeker are available. Here are a few:

At Chimney Rock 1906

Writing his book Ox-Team Days on the Oregon Trail

Caulking His Boat

At Grant’s Tomb 1907

Los Angelas Air Show 1910

At the Alamo 1911

In Seattle at End of DC Trip

End of the Trail Marker The Dalles OR.

Flying East over the Trail to an Army Air Show in Dayton 1924

Meeker’s Car Made to Look Like a Covered Wagon 1928

The Oregon Trail was a 2,170-mile-long pathway that started mostly in Independence Missouri and ended in Oregon . From 1840 to the late 1860s nearly 400,000 people migrated westward. About 80,000 stayed in Oregon while many others took the cutoff to California. The average trip was 160 days in 1849, then dropped to 140 days ten years later. Each wagon train consisted of anywhere from twenty to fifty wagons. They were helped along the way by various landmarks, as seen on the map below.

Chimney Rock

Chimney Rock is located in Nebraska and is seen here in a 1908 photo.

Mitchell Pass/Scotts Bluff

Mitchell Pass and Scotts Bluff are also located in Nebraska. The combined photo showing the landmark in 1914 is provided by the National Park Service.

Several forts along the way greatly aided the travelers. See this blog December 2018 for a look at Fort Laramie.

Independence Rock

Located in Wyoming, Independence Rock can be called one of the early forms of graffiti in the U.S. because many of the travelers carved their names in the soft rock. The first photo, dated 1870, is by William Henry Jackson.

Bessemer Bend

Bessemer Bend in Wyoming was easily recognizable because of the Red Buttes behind it. The first photo, also by Jackson, is dated 1872.

Devil’s Gate

The last Wyoming landmark was Devil’s Gate, seen here in an 1880 photo.

The end of the Oregon Trail was wherever one stopped, but there are three well-known destinations. The first is The Dalles, Oregon, where those who did not want to float the Columbia River or take the arduous land route over the Barlow Road settled. Those who did move on ended up in Oregon City (site of the End of the Oregon Interpretive Center) or in Puyallup, Washington, which has a stone monument also commemorating the Trail’s End. The Trail also ended with the completion of the Trans=Continental Railroad in 1869. However, ruts along the way are still visible in many locations.

Dearborn and Randolph

The corner building on the left in this 1909 picture was built in 1874 as an eight-story office building. Note the Cunard Line office on the first floor. That is now a two-story McDonalds!

Wabash Ave. “L” 1907

Dearborn St. Station

The railroad station was built in 1885 and now houses a shopping mall and offices. The first photo is dated 1915.

Water Tower

Chicago’s Water Tower was built in 1869, making it the second oldest water tower in the country. It served as a pump house to draw water from nearby Lake Michigan and was the only public building to survive the 1871 fire. The first two photos are dated 1869 and 1926 respectively.

Wrigley Field

Wrigley Field opened in 1914, making it the second-oldest baseball park in the country; Fenway is the oldest. The Chicago Cubs started playing there in 1916. The first photo is the 1935 World Series where the Cubs lost to the Tigers four to two. They ended their 108-year Series drought in 2016, beating the Indians four to three.