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By Doug, July 14, 2009 04:30

Bull Run Castle

Proving once again that one man’s pile of trash pile is another man’s castle is Bull Run Castle in Aldie, Virginia. Built by John R. Miller from bits and pieces of scrap he procured for the task, the castle is a real fortress designed to withstand the inevitable Armageddon that’ll certainly take down civilization soon. Inside, John has (or more correctly, “had” since the castle has been sold) an armory, supplies to last until the inevitable looting dies down, strong defenses and secret passages.

In addition to the castle, people can visit the antique store inside. Better yet, why not spend the night? The castle is also a B&B so when the “big one drops” you can be safe and cozy inside. At least until you’re kicked out into the marauding hoards!

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By Doug, July 11, 2009 22:09

Coral Castle

Ed Leedskalnin was set to marry his one true love in his hometown of Riga, Latvia but she stood him up one day before the scheduled nuptials. Now, I’m not sure which was the cause and which was the affect but old Ed went a little coo coo. He moved to Homestead, Florida and started building a castle out of coral. Big chunks of heavy coral. Being a creative sort, Ed named it Coral Castle.

The castle, was started in 1920, took more than 30 years to complete (Ed’s death being the point of completion). Because the undertaking was so massive (and Ed only weighed in at about 100 pounds) and because he was very secretive about his work, lots of strange rumors about floating massive rocks like helium balloons and using a “perpetual motion machine” began to surface. If asked, Ed would simply explain that he knew the secrets of the pyramids. In reality, others have reproduced his work with simple machines.

But, even if he knew the secrets of the pyramids, Ed didn’t know the secrets of good eating habits and he died of malnutrition at age 64.

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By Doug, June 25, 2009 07:21

Silver City, Idaho

Around the turn of the last century, Silver City, Idaho was the county seat of Owyhee County with 75 businesses, a population of 2,500 people and 300 homes. Although most similar mining towns of the era either grew up or burned down, for whatever reason Silver City remains the same; a true ghost town, high up in the Owyhee Mountains. Some of the remaining buildings include a church, hotel, schoolhouse and over 70 other structures. There are also four burial areas with some fascinating gravestones.

As run down as it is, there’s a museum in the schoolhouse, some of the houses are available to rent as cabins and hot food is available in the hotel/bar. The town itself is about 65 miles from Boise, near the Idaho/Oregon border.

Today people come to see the abandoned buildings, go horseback riding, collect rocks and arrowheads or otherwise enjoy the surrounding mountains. Outfitters and guides are available to help you find your way around. Note, although you’re welcome to walk around and see the sights, much of the area is still private property so treat the area with respect. Believe it or not, some people still live there.

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By Doug, June 24, 2009 07:29

Lucy the Elephant, outside Atlantic City, New Jersey

In 1881, 25-year-old James V. Lafferty had some oceanfront land to sell and he needed a gimmick to do it. That gimmick was Lucy, a six-story high, 90-ton wood and tin structure built in the shape of a giant elephant from nearly a million pieces of wood. Lucy worked as intended, Lafferty got a patent on animal shaped buildings and people flocked to his land to see it. Lucy was so popular Lafferty built two more similar structures including one on Coney Island that was twice as high as Lucy but it burned and today the original Lucy is the only survivor.

Throughout her history, Lucy has served as a real estate office (her original purpose), bar, and hotel. Today she serves as a museum. Entry into Lucy is through a door on one of her legs and visitors can go all the way up to “howdah” for commanding views of the ocean.

If you’re in Atlantic City, take a few minutes to drive to Margate, New Jersey and see Lucy in person. Since she can be seen for up to eight miles away, you shouldn’t have any problem finding her!

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By Doug, June 20, 2009 09:28

The Wren's Nest - Joel Chandler Harris' Home

Most people today have heard of Splash Mountain at the Disney parks and some of those people realize the story behind the ride is from a movie called Song of the South. Still fewer people know the origin of that story, Uncle Remus. Joel Chandler Harris wrote the Uncle Remus stories from stories he heard as a child, passed down from slaves. It was a subset of those tales told by slaves that eventually became the story inside Splash Mountain.

Ironically, the movie derived from old slave stories, Song of the South, hasn’t been released in the United States for many years because, rumor has it, Disney is afraid the movie will offend blacks. If you’ve seen the movie, you know the blacks in the movie are the only ones with their heads on straight and it’s the white people who should be offended, but that has nothing to do with the point of this post and I digress.

So much for the insightful history lesson. On to the attraction!

The Wren’s Nest is Harris’ restored home is Atlanta Georgia. Built in 1870, the home was named in 1900 after a pair of wrens nested in Harris’ mailbox that spring. He quickly installed a second mailbox so as not to disturb the nesting pair. Visitors can see his house, buy copies of his books (in either their original form or an easier to read, modern form) and hear the stories of Br’er Rabbit retold by professional storytellers.

If you spend a day or two in Atlanta, I’d recommend dedicating an hour or two to this attraction.

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By Doug, June 19, 2009 21:09

The Mitchell Corn Palace, South Dakota

Back in 1892 the folks of Mitchell South Dakota wanted to tell the world “Hey, South Dakota IS a great place to live! In fact, our soil is so fertile we can decorate our buildings with our surplus corn!” And so the Corn Palace was born. Today, visitors can see the third incarnation of the Palace, stripped down each year and completely redecorated with murals made from several colorful varieties of corn.

Inside, it’s just a high school basketball gym (home of the Kernels) but you can find pictures of all the previous Corn Palace decorations so it’s worth a look inside. And, just in case you’re wondering, the Palace requires 275,000 ears of corn each year, each color planted in a separate field to ensure the color remains true. But don’t worry about waste; the birds and squirrels eat well in Mitchell!

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By Doug, June 16, 2009 10:53

Boot Hill Museum in Dodge City, Kansas

Boot Hill. Instantly upon hearing the name, visions of cowboys, horses, shootouts, saloons and the Old West in general fill our minds. For a visit back in time to a place that truly exists only in our minds, the Boot Hill Museum in Dodge City Kansas is a must.

Boot Hill Museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of the history of Dodge City and the Old West.

Dodge City was founded in 1872 and quickly became the world’s largest shipping point for Longhorn cattle. Dodge was the wildest of the early frontier towns, but law and order was soon established with the help of men such as Bat Masterson, Wyatt Earp, and Bill Tilghman.

Dodge City was a town that persisted and grew, and still honors its western heritage.

The Front Street buildings are reconstructions, exhibiting hundreds of original artifacts. They represent Dodge City in 1876, and were carefully researched through historic photographs and newspapers.

The various exhibits throughout the museum depict life in early Dodge City. There is a collection of over 200 original guns on display, a working print shop, an extensive collection of drug store items, an entire building that was just completely renovated, and many other special exhibits. Each artifact on display is authentic and there are approximately 20,000 artifacts displayed throughout the complex.

Boot Hill Museum is an educational, historical institution with just enough fun added for the whole family to enjoy. We look forward to seeing you in Dodge City!

The name “Boot Hill” actually applies to a number of cemeteries associated with the Old West, particularly where gunfighters are buried, usually with their boots on, hence the name. You may be more inclined to think of Tombstone, Arizona when you think of Boot Hill, but that’s another post for another day!

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By Doug, June 14, 2009 06:31

Bishop's Palace, Galveston, Texas

The Bishop’s Palace is a beautiful stone mansion built on Galveston Island, Texas, in 1892 for a lawyer/railroad magnate named Colonel Walter Gresham. It was designed by Nicholas Clayton and construction started in 1887. Later, the Catholic Church purchased it for use as a Bishop’s residence, hence the name. It is considered one of the top 14 representatives of Victorian homes in the United States.

One of the most interesting details inside the house is the collection of unique, award winning fireplace mantels. It also has details made of rare wood and intricate detail throughout. Of all the houses I’ve visited over the years, across the country, the Bishop’s Palace is the most interesting.