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Portsmouth Naval Hospital

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Virginia, Portsmouth
The Navy Nurse Corps was created by Congress in 1908, allowing women to perform duties that previously had been done by men. They held no rank and were titled “Nurse.” The first 20 to graduate were known as the “Sacred Twenty,” and of them, three reported for duty at Portsmouth in April 1909. Among them was Lenah Higbee, who became Chief Nurse at Portsmouth, and later became the second Superintendent of Nurses for the U.S. Navy. In 1964, the Secretary of the Navy signed his approval to allow male nurses in the Corps.

(Education • Science & Medicine) Includes location, directions, 2 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Portsmouth Naval Hospital

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Virginia, Portsmouth
When the United States entered World War I, immediate steps were taken to expand the hospital. Several temporary wood-framed buildings were constructed to accommodate the ever-growing number of patients. These buildings included 34 patient pavilions and four Hospital Corps barracks. In the course of one month during 1917, the patients increased from 200 to 1,405. The largest monthly admissions were in October 1918 when the number of patients reached 2,257. Treatment of measles and mumps accounted for half of the patients. The hospital also treated large numbers of patients during the Great Influenza Epidemic of 1918.

(Science & Medicine • War, World I) Includes location, directions, 3 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Knight's Bath - Ritterbad - Le bain des chevaliers

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Germany, Thuringia, Wartburgkreis, near Eisenach

Knight's Bath
The main castle building and other surviving structures were restored between 1838 and 1891. Parts of the castle that had been lost, for example the keep and the heated hall building, were reconstructed in their historical form. The final undertaking was the neo-Romanesque Knight's Bath designed by Wartburg architect Hugo von Ritgen (1811-1889).

After the eastern custom of bathing was introduced to western and central Europe by the Crusaders, a bath became a requirement for royal households.

Ritgen knew from medieval sources that there had been a bathing cubicle at Wartburg Castle and assumed, probably correctly, that its original location was near the cistern, adjoining the main building to the south. He based his design on the preserved baths at Friedberg (Hessen) and Girona (Spain).

Once Wartburg Castle gained its own water supply in 1887, a heatable bath could be created for the Grand Ducal Family of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, who were often in residence.

The 1989 tapestry designed by Wolfgang Peuker of Leipzig is based on an idea by Ritgen. It illustrates the legend according to which Ludwig the Leaper, the founder of Wartburg Castle, escaped from imprisonment at Giebichenstein Castle in Halle by leaping fearlessly into the river Saale (hence his nickname).

Ritterbad
Zwischen 1838 und 1891 wurden erhaltene Gebäude wie der Palas restauriert, verlorene Teile der Burg wie Bergfried oder Dirnitz dagegen in historistischen Formen neu erbaut. Als letzte Ergänzung entstand nach den Entwürfen des Wartburg-Architekten Hugo von Ritgen (1811-1889) das neoromanische Ritterbad.

Der im Orient verbreitete Brauch des Badens nahm mit den Kreuzfahrern seinen Weg nach West- und Mitteleuropa; Bäder wurden zum Bestandteil fürstlicher Hofhaltung.

Dass auf der Wartburg eine Badestube existiert hat, war Ritgen aus mittelalterlichen Nachrichten bekannt. Ihren ursprünglichen Standort vermutete er sicher zu Recht in südlicher Anbindung an den Palas und der Nähe zur Zisterne. Seinen Architekturentwürfen lagen erhaltene Beispiele im hessischen Friedberg und in Gerona (Spanien) zugrunde.

Mit dem Bau einer Wasserleitung zur Wartburg 1887 war die wichtigste Voraussetzung geschaffen worden, um das auch beheizbare Bad den modernen Ansprüchen der großherzoglichen Familie von Sachsen-Weimar-Eisenach anzupassen, die heir oft residierte.

Der Bildteppich von 1989 (Entwurf: Wolfgang Peuker, Leipzig) geht auf Ritgens Idee zurück. Er illustriert die sagenhafte Selbstbefreiung des Wartburggründers Ludwig aus seinem Gefängnis auf Burg Giebichenstein in Halle; sein Beiname »der Springer« soll sich vom kühnen Sprung in die Saale hergeleitet haben.

Le bain des chevaliers
[French version not transcribed]

(Churches, Etc. • Forts, Castles • Man-Made Features) Includes location, directions, 5 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Dr. José Matías Delgado

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El Salvador, San Salvador, San Salvador
Al Presbítero
Dr. José Matías Delgado
Prócer de la Independencia
de Centro América
5 de noviembre de 1911.
Homenaje de la Colonia Alemana

English translation:
To Presbyter
Dr. José Matías Delgado
Supporter of the Independence
of Central America
November 5, 1911.
Tribute from the German Community of San Salvador


(Colonial Era • Patriots & Patriotism) Includes location, directions, 3 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Changes in the landscape

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Quebec, Vaudreuil-Soulanges RCM, Coteau-du-Lac
English:
The construction of hydroelectric dams and the St. Lawrence Seaway in the 1950s caused the water level of the river to fall by about 2.5 metres.

At the eastern end of Lake Saint-François, dams, sluicegates and the Coteau-du-Lac dikes divert much of the St. Lawrence’s current into the Beauharnois canal so that it may be used by the Beauharnois power station, which has no natural reservoir of its own.
These waterway developments have considerably affected the landscape of Coteau-du-Lac.

The former shoreline at Coteau-du-Lac
Before the hydroelectric dams and the St. Lawrence Seaway (were) built, the point of Coteau-du-Lac jutted into the river. At that time, water flowed through the “rigolet,” filled the canal and washed into the earthworks ditches.

Were it not for the development which changed the river’s level, you would now be standing with both feet in water!

Look for a row (of) concrete blocks placed along the ground. They indicate the line where the water previously met the shore.

French:
La construction de barrages hydroélectrique et la canalisation de la voie maritime du Saint-Laurent, dans les années 50, ont entrainé une baisse générale du niveau des eaux de fleuve de 2,5 mètres.

A l’extrémité est du lac Saint-François, le cours du Saint-Laurent est dévié dans la canal de Beauharnois par les barrages, les ouvrages de régularisation et les digues de Coteau-du-lac afin d’alimenter la centrale de Beauharnois, qui ne dispose d’aucun réservoir naturel.

Tous ces aménagements sur la voie fluviale ont sensiblement modifié les paysages du Coteau-du-lac.

Les anciennes berges à Coteau-du-lac
Avant la construction des barrages hydro-électrique et la canalisation de la voie maritime du Saint-Laurent, les eaux du fleuve contournaient la point de Coteau-du-lac. Elles inondaient ainsi le canal rigolet, pénétraient à l’intérieur du canal et baignaient les fossés de ouvrages de terre.

N’eut été des aménagement qui ont modifié le niveau de eaux de fleuve, vous auriez présentement les deux pieds dan l’eau!

Observez la ligne sur le terrain formée par les blocs de béton, elle indique l’ancienne limite que les eaux atteignaient sur le site.

(Waterways & Vessels) Includes location, directions, 2 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

The Coteau-du-Lac rapids

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Quebec, Vaudreuil-Soulanges RCM, Coteau-du-Lac
English:
The St. Lawrence River abounded with rapids between Montréal and Kingston, especially in the stretch between Lake Saint-Louis and Lake Saint-François, where a series of “cascades” made navigation impossible. Of all the rapids in this part of the river, those at Coteau-du-Lac were by far the most turbulent. In 1781, M. Pouchot described how this obstacle was crossed in these terms:
“… We punted up the river until we reached Coteau-du-lac… It is a point of land where the water boils and rages so fiercely, that the boats must be unloaded. This portage is sixty paces long. It is necessary to enter the water in order to lift the boat and take it around this point.”
Excerpt from “Mémoires sur la dernière guerre de l’Amérique septentrionale entre la France et l’Angleterre.”

French:
Entre Montréal et Kingston, le fleuve Saint-Laurent était littéralement jalonné de rapides et plus particulièrement entre les lacs Saint-Louis et Saint-François, où une série de «saults» rendaient la navigation impossible. Sur cette section du fleuve, les rapides de Coteau-du-lac s’avéraient sans contredit le plus impétueux. Voici comment M. Pouchot relate la traversée de cet obstacle, en 1781:
«… On monte à la pêche jusques au portage du Coteau-du-lac… c’est une point de terre où l’eau est si agitée, & bouillonne si fort, que l’on y est obligé de décharger les bateaux. Ce portage est de soixante pas. Ils faut se mettre à l’eau, pour monter le bateau & le faire tourner cette point.
Extrait tiré des Mémoires sur la dernière guerre de l’Amérique septentrionale entre la France et l’Angleterre.»

(Waterways & Vessels) Includes location, directions, 4 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

The “rigolet” canal

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Quebec, Vaudreuil-Soulanges RCM, Coteau-du-Lac
English:
Since the “batteau” was difficult to portage, the French has to find another means of getting this heavy boat past the rapids. As a result, they constructed a “rigolet” canal at Coteau-du-Lac in the 18th century.

A “rigolet” canal was simply a dike consisting of rocks piled up to form a line parallel to the shore, at about a dozen feet from it. This shallow navigable channel offered boats protection from the violent currents of the nearby rapids.

The “batteau”
At the beginning of the 18th century, the French started to use a new type of boat, which they called a “batteau.”

Not only was the craft more stable than the canoe, but it could also carry more goods.

The “batteau” was like a flat bottomed barge with pointed ends. It was propelled by oar or pole, and could be fitted with a sail. A crew of 4 to 5 was required to man each boat.

The average “batteau” used on the upper St. Lawrence measured 9 to 12 metres in length and 1.5 to 2.4 metres across at its broadest point; it had a loading capacity of 3 to 5 tonnes.

It was often necessary to unload three-quarters of the cargo. and sometimes even all of it, so that the “batteau” could pass through the “rigolet” canal.

French:
Étant donné que les «batteaux» pouvaient difficilement être portages, les Français durent trouver une solution pour faciliter le passage de ces lourdes embarcations à la hauteur des rapides. C’est ainsi qu’au cours du 18ᵉ siècle, ils construisirent un canal rigolet à Coteau-du-lac.

Un canal rigolet était un simple endiguement formé par une chaine de roches entassées parallèlement au rivage, à une dizaine de pieds de ce dernier. Ce couloir navigable peu profond avait l’avantage de protéger les embarcations de la violence du courant des rapides situes à proximité.

Le «batteau»
Au tournant du 18ᵉ siècle, les Français commencent à utiliser un nouveau type d’embarcation qu’ils nomment tout simplement le «batteau»
Plus sécuritaire, cette embarcation permettait également de transporter plus de marchandises que le canot.

Le «batteau» ressemblait à une barge à fond plat avec des extrémités en forme de pointe. Il était propulsé à la rame ou à la perche et pouvait être muni d’une voile. Un équipage de 4 a 5 hommes suffisait à le manoeuvrer.

Les «bateaux» utilisés sur le haut Saint-Laurent mesuraient de 9 à 12 mètres de longueur par 1,5 à 2,4 mètres de largeur au centre et avant un capacité de charge de 3 à 5 tonnes.

Il était souvent nécessaire de décharger les trois quarts et parfois même la totalité de la cargaison pour qu’un «batteau» puisse franchir le canal rigolet.

(Forts, Castles • War of 1812 • Waterways & Vessels) Includes location, directions, 3 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Inca Garcilaso de la Vega

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El Salvador, San Salvador, San Salvador

En honor al
Inca Garcilaso,
Que acrisolo la culturas
Indigena y española,
Forjandose asi
La nacion peruana.

English translation:
In honor of Inca Garcilaso, who personified the indigenous and Spanish cultures, forging the Peruvian nation.

(Arts, Letters, Music) Includes location, directions, 3 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Triangle of History

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Florida, Monroe County, Islamorada
1. North East end Lower Matecumbe Key - Ancient Water Wells - only fresh water on Upper Keys - Used by Indians, Sailors and Traders in XVII Century. Huge Indian Midden (Kitchen) near Wells.

2. Indian Key - Spanish Trading Post - established by Antonio Gomez, approximately 1695.

3. Lignumvitae Key - Spanish Outpost -Indian burial grounds.

About 1549 Hernando De Escalante Fontaneda - son of a Spanish Comendero serving King Philip II in Carthegena - enroute to Spain for schooling - shipwrecked on the Keys - held prisoner by Caloosa Indians 17 years - His "Memoirs" the first detailed description of Florida.

(Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Exploration • Native Americans • Waterways & Vessels) Includes location, directions, 8 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Ankara Castle

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Turkey, Ankara, Ankara Metropolitan Municipality, Ankara
English:
Its construction date is not known clearly. It it thought to be constructed by Hittites who placed a manial area in the city. But this thought has not been verified with archeological findings. Before Hittites, Ankara Castle had been restored countless times by Romans, Byzantiums and Seljuks and it is formed of inner castle which surrounds the higher part of hills and outer castle which surrounds its around (Outer Castle have 20 towers). Outer castle covers ancient Ankara city. Inner castle is 43.000 km2. There 42 towers most of which are 5 cornered on 14-16 meter high walls. Outer walls lies down 350 m from north-south and 180 m from east-west. Southern and west sides of inner castle forms a horizontal angle. East walls follow recess ledges of hills. Northern hills are protected by walls which have been constructed with different techniques. The most significant part of protection order is 42 pentagon horoscopes which are located in every in every 15-2- meters from west and south walls. Outer and inner castle unites the hill with Eastern Castle from East and hatip river from West. Akkale (naiively “Alitaşi”), the highest point of tower is located at southern-east part of the inner castle. Inner castle which is quadrublex had constructed with Ankara pebbles and collected stones. Inner castle has two big gates. One of them is outer gate, and the other one is Hisar gate. There is also a testament on gate which belongs to Ilhanians. There is a testament on northwest side which indicates that had been done by Seljuks. Bottom sides of walls are made of marble and basalt and despite having highly damaged on bricket parts, Inner castle has come up today. When the city had been invaded in VIII. and IX. Century, Marble Watergates, Coloumns and Marble Blocks of Roman Statues which were used to restore the castle (These are seen in southern side of inner castle.).

The castle have witnessed some periods. Having invaded by Romans at Galatia (Today Ankara), at 2nd century B.C. The City had moved out of the castle. The Roman Emperor had the walls of the castle fixed at 217 B.C. The Castle had been damaged right after Severus Alexander and Valerians defeated by Persians between 222-260. Romans had begun to fix the castle after second perdiod of 7th century. Konstantinos The Emperor constructed outer castle in 688. Leon the IV fixed the castle walls and had gotten the city walls had raised. Emperor Nikephoros and Emperor Basileos had the castle fixed at 9th century.

Seljuks conquered Ankara Castle in 1073. The castle which had been taken over by Raimon commander of Crusaders taken over by Seljuks again at 1227. Sultan II modified and added some parts to the castle which was constructed by 1st Aladdin Keykubatche Governor of Egypt in 1832. Pillar tops, parts of statues and tombs were used to fix the castle.

In the castle, there are many Ankara Houses which belong to different periods. Since The Former Ankara Houses at Kaleiçi neighborhood are located in the city walls, narrow and horizontal areas, their plans were made by considering most significants benefits. They are made of wood, adobe and bricks as double or triplex. As the land was not flat, it caused problems in down floors planing u, but upper floors were built properly with oriels. While down floors have been constructed with thick walls and small windows for winter season, up floors had been constructed with thin walls and air-condition for summer season. Wide fringes and summer rooms called “Cihannüma” are well-known species of Ankara houses. Geometric compositions had been used at wooden ceiling decorative. Some of them had been used at various services. At the middle of 17th century. Evliya Celebi who came to Ankara in 1640 narrates the city and the life in the city. Evliya Celebi said “Ankara has a strong castle which had been made of quadruplex white stones on a higher part of a mountain. The Castle had been surround by triple walls. Inner castle is surrounded by rocks. It is too difficult to climb to castle from these spiky rocks. There are cannons, Weapons, Arsenal and 600 houses in inner castle. Inner castle is surrounded by second wall at below. Third outer walls are located at the hillsides of mountain. All City is protected and covered with outer walls.”

Turkish:
Yapılış tarihi kesin olarak bilinmemektedir. Kentte askeri bir garnizon bulunduran Hititler tarafından yapıldığı sanılmaktadır. Ama bu düsünce arkeolojik verilere dayanarak doğrulanmamıştır. Hititlerden bu yana hep ayni yerde bulunan, Romalılar, Bizanslılar ve Selçuklular dönemlerinde birçok kez onarılan Ankara Kalesi, tepenin yüksek bölümünü kaplayan iç kale ve çevresini kuşatan dış kaleden oluşur (dış kalenin 20’ye yakın kulesi vardır) Diş kale eski Ankara şehrini çevirir. Iç kale yaklaşık 43.000 km2’lik bir yer kaplar. 14-16m yüksekliğindeki duvarların üstünde çoğu 5 köseli 42 kule vardır. Diş surları kuzey-güney doğrultusunda yaklaşık 350 m, bati-doğu doğrultusunda ise 180 m. boyunca uzanır. Iç kalenin güney ve batı duvarları bir dik açı oluşturur. Doğu duvarı tepnin girinti çıkıntılarını izler. Kuzey yamaç ise farki tekniklerle yapılmış duvarlarla korunur. Koruma düzeninin en ilgi çekici yani; doğu, bati ve güney duvarları boyunca 15-20 m. ‘de bir yer alan 42 tane beşgen burçtur. Dış kale ile iç kale, doğuda doğu kalesi’nde batıda hatip çayına bakan yamaçta birleşir. İçkale’nin güneydoğu köşesinde ise kalenin en yüksek yeri olan Akkale (Halk arasında Alitaşı) yer alır. Dört katli olan iç kale Ankara taşından ve toplama taşlarla yapılmıştır. Iç kalenin iki büyük kapısı vardır. Bir dış kapı, diğeri ise hisar kapısı adını taşır. Kapı üzerinde bir de İlhanlılar’a ait kitabe bulunur. Kuzeybatı kısmında Selçukluların yaptırdığını gösteren bir yazı bulunmaktadır. Duvarların alt bölümü mermer ve bazalttan yapılmıştır, üst kesimlerine doğru bloklar arsasında tuğla bölümlerin büyük ölcüde zarar görmesine karşın, iç kale bozulmadan günümüze kadar gelmiştir. VIII ve IX. yy’larda kent istilalara uğrayınca, kaleyi hızla onarmak için, o sıralarda yıkıntı halinde olan Roma anıtlarının mermer blokları, sütun başlıkları, su yollarının mermer olukları kullanılmıştır. (Bunlara özellikle iç kalenin güney yönünde rastlanır)

Kale tarih içinde çeşitli dönemler yaşamıştır. İ. Ö. 2 yy. başında Romalıların Galatya’yı (Ankara yöresi) işgalinden sonra kent büyüyerek kale dışına taştı. Roma İmparatoru Caracaila İ.S. 217’ de kalenin surlarını onarttı. 222-260 arasında İmparator Severus Alexander ve Velerianus, Perslere yenilince kale kısmen tahrip edildi. 7. yy’ ın 2. yarısından sonra Romalılar kaleyi onarmaya başladı. İmparator Konstantinos 688’de dış kaleyi yaptı. IV. Leon ise 740’ da kale duvarlarını onartırken içkale surlarını da yükselmiştir. İmparator Nikephoros ve İmparator Basileios da 9.yy’ da kaleyi onarttılar.

Ankara Kalesi 1073’ de Selçukuların eline geçti. 1101’ de Haçlı komutanı Raimond tarafından alınan kale, 1227’ de bir kez daha Selçukluların eline geçti, Selçuklu Sultanı 1. Alaeddin Keykubat’ ın onarttığı kaleye Sultan II. Keykavus da 1249’da bazı ekler yaptırdı. Osmalılar Dönemi’nde onarım görmeyen kalenin surlarını Mısır Valisi M. Ali Paşa’ nın oğlu İbrahim Paşa 1832’ de onarttı. Surların bazı yerlerinde rastlanan sütun başlıkları, lahit ve heykel parçaları, onarımlarda toplama malzemeden yararlanıldığını gösterir.

Bugün kale içindeki değişik dönemlerden kalmış birçok eski Ankara Evi bulunmaktadır. Kaleiçi Mahallesi’nde bulunan eski Ankara evleri, sur duvarları ile çevrili dar ve dik bir alanda konumlandıkları için, planları dar alanlardan en çok faydalanmayı gözeterek yapılmış. İki ya da üc katlı olarak ahşap, kerpiç ve tuğladan inşa edilmişler, Arazi yapısının düz olmamsı, alt kat planlarının da düzgün olmamasına yol açmış, ama üst katlar cumba tipindeki çıkıntılarla düzgün bir plana kavuşturulmuş. Alt katlar kışlık olarak, kalın duvarlı ve küçük pencereli yapılmış olup üst katlar ise yazlık olarak ince duvarlı ve havadar yapılmıştır. Geniş saçaklar ve “Cihannüma” denilen yazlık odalar Ankara evlerinin belirleyici özelliklerindendir. Ahşap tavan süslemelerinde geometrik kompozisyonlar kullanılmıştır. Bazıları çeşitli hizmetlerde kullanılmaktadır. 17.yüzyılın ortasına doğru, 1640 yılında Ankara’ ya gelen Evliya Çelebi, kenti ve kentteki yaşamı ayrıntılı biçimde anlatmaktadır. Evliya Çelebi önce ünlü Ankara Kalesi’nden “Ankara’nın yüksek bir dağın tepesine dört kat beyaz taştan yapılmış sağlam bir kalesi vardır. Kale iç içe üç kat surlarla çevrilidir. İç kalenin çevresi kayalıktır. Bu yalçın kayalardan kaleye tırmanmak çok zordur. İç kalede topları çeşitli silahlar, cephane ve 600 ev bulunur. İç Kale aşağılarda ikinci sıra surlarla çevrilidir. Dağın eteklerinde ise üçüncü sıra dış surlar yer alır. Bu dış surlarla tüm kent güvenlik altına alınmıştır” diye söz etmiştir.

(Forts, Castles) Includes location, directions, 8 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Father Nicolas Aguilar

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El Salvador, San Salvador, San Salvador

Tonacatepeque, Dic. 16 1742
San Salvador, Sept. 12 1818
Con gran vocacion para la carrerra elesiastica; ejemplo que siguieron posteriormente sus hermanos Vicente y Manuel, Proceres de la Independencia, de quienes era hermano mayor, en 1824 mientras su hermano Manuel se encontraba encarcelado y Don Vicente reconcentrado en Guatemala; Don Nicolas, si bien libre por consideracion a sus años, era vigilado pues aunque viejo y decrepito, era un formidable enemigo, siempre dispuesto a defender las ideas de libertad.
San Salvador, 5 de nov. De 1993.

English translation:
Father Nicolas Aguilar
Tonacatepeque, December 16, 1742
San Salvador, Sept. 12, 1818
He had a great vocation for a life in the church; his example was later followed by his brothers Vicente and Manuel, also Heroes of Salvadoran Independence, of whom he was the older brother, in 1824 while his brother Manuel was imprisoned and Vicente in hiding in Guatemala; Nicolas, although free from most suspicion due to his age, was watched by the government because even though old and decrepit, he was a formidable foe, always ready to defend the ideas of freedom.
San Salvador, November 5, 1993

(Colonial Era • Patriots & Patriotism • Politics) Includes location, directions, 2 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

White Pump Drovers Tavern

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Virginia, Loudoun County, near Philomont
The stone farmhouse just east on Colchester Road operated as a tavern in the late 1790s. By 1800, it was known as the White Pump Drovers Tavern. Drovers moved animals such as sheep, cattle, and hogs along roadways to markets. Colchester was the Fairfax County seaport, predating Alexandria.

On November 30, 1864, Union General Wesley Merritt bivouacked here during his Loudoun Valley barn-burning raid, and local farmer John Dillon provided Merritt's soldiers with two barrels of hard cider. Dillon's barn didn't get burned.

Wagons stopped at the Tavern as late as 1915.

(Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles • War, US Civil) Includes location, directions, 1 photo, GPS coordinates, map.

Sidewheel Riverboat War Eagle

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Wisconsin, La Crosse County, La Crosse

Type: Wooden sidewheel riverboat
Built: 1854, Fulton, Ohio
Sank: May 14, 1870
Length: 219’ Beam: 29’
Cargoes: Mail, package freight, passengers, troops
Propulsion: Paddlewheel
Depth of Wreckage: 10’
Determined Eligible for National Register of Historic Places

Just up the Black River from this point lie the remains of the sidewheel riverboat War Eagle. Built in Fulton, Ohio, in 1854, she boasted 46 staterooms, fine velvet carpets, luxurious furniture, and onboard barbershops. During the Civil War, the War Eagle transported troops and supplies. Her only casualty was a stray bullet that pierced her smokestack in 1862.

After the war, the War Eagle again carried passengers and freight between the bustling towns along the Mississippi River. Connections between steamships and trains made ports like La Crosse important transportation hubs for settlers moving to the western frontier.

On the night of May 14, 1870, the War Eagle was docked at the Milwaukee Road Railroad Depot, just across the river from this spot. The ship’s carpenter was tightening the bands of a leaking barrel of kerosene. His lantern burst, the kerosene caught fire, and soon the ship’s deck was ablaze. The flames engulfed the dock, the depot, and several warehouses and grain elevators. A nearby barge was lost, and two steamers were damaged. Seven passengers, attempting to save their worldly belongings, perished in the fire or drowned.

Many artifacts have been removed from the area of the wreck site, but the hull structure of the War Eagle remains among a tangle of wood, metal and bricks from the burned buildings. Visibility in the river is near zero.

Background Image: Bird's-eye view of riverboats at the Milwaukee Road Railroad Depot in La Crosse, about 1870.

(War, US Civil • Waterways & Vessels) Includes location, directions, 6 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Road and Ferry

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Florida, Monroe County, Islamorada
In April, 1926, Monroe County began construction of a road on the east end of Upper Matecumbe to connect with other islands. It eventually made it possible to drive to Key West by using a ferry.

The first car drove to Key West on Jan. 25 1928 by boarding a ferry here at today's Boy Scout Sea Base and crossing 40 miles of water to No Name Key.

Later the ferry docked at Grassy Key, traveling by road to the west end of today's Marathon. From there a ferry crossed to No Name Key.

It was on the Morning of March 9, 1938 that the daughter of the Cuban Council cut the ribbon opening the road without the ferries by using the widened railway bridges.

A toll booth was erected here to collect $1 for car and driver and 25 cents for each additional passenger. The toll was removed in 1954.

(Bridges & Viaducts • Roads & Vehicles) Includes location, directions, 5 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Granger Subsistence Homestead Project

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Iowa, Dallas County, Granger
Dedicated to the original homestead families and their descendants. Brought to fruition through the efforts of the U.S. Government, the Franklin Roosevelt, MGSR. Luigi Ligutti and the Grace of God. In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Granger subsistence homestead project.

1935-1985

Time capsule buried here
to be opened 2035

(Settlements & Settlers) Includes location, directions, 3 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Andrew S. Rowan

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West Virginia, Monroe County, near Gap Mills
Colonel Rowan was born here, April 23, 1857; graduated from West Point, 1881. Famed for securing vital information from Garcia, rebel leader of Cuba, during the War with Spain, 1898. For this exploit, he was given the D.C.S. Died, Jan 11, 1943.

(Notable Persons • War, Spanish-American) Includes location, directions, 4 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Childhood Home

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New York, Onondaga County, Cicero

Childhood Home
Matilda Joslyn Gage 1826-98
writer and activist leader
of New York and national
woman sufferage associations.
Staunch abolitionist.

(Abolition & Underground RR • Civil Rights) Includes location, directions, 4 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Buffalo Trace

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Kentucky, Mason County, Maysville

Early dwellers and visitors hunted bison, deer, and other game in Northeast Kentucky. Here, hunters take advantage of icy conditions at the shallow winter Ohio River crossing to kill their prey. The bison, or buffalos, ambling toward the Blue Licks salt springs, created a trace, a roadway, now called Buffalo Trace, that follows US 68 southwest.

(Animals • Native Americans • Roads & Vehicles • Waterways & Vessels) Includes location, directions, 3 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Limestone Landing

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Kentucky, Mason County, Maysville

Simon Kenton, local militia leader, often greeted new families at Limestone Creek, emptying into the Ohio. Tobacco is inspected and weighed in the late 1780s, when Limestone is chartered as Maysville and Mason County created by Virginia. Folks settle in, or move west or north. President-to-be James Madison visited here before working on our Constitution in Philadelphia.

(Agriculture • Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels) Includes location, directions, 3 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

La Fayette's Visit to Maysville

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Kentucky, Mason County, Maysville

On May 21, 1825, during a third, triumphal, visit to America, the Marquis de la Fayette, 67, visited Maysville. In appreciation for his services on General Washington's staff, and a commander of American troops, the town rolled out the red carpet and Revolutionary War veterans paraded. Local artist Aaron Corwine painted his portrait as he boated from Cincinnati.

(Notable Persons • Patriots & Patriotism • War, US Revolutionary • Waterways & Vessels) Includes location, directions, 4 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
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