Encircle the United States: I spent over 250 days traveling through the United States. What a delightful experience! My camera captured a fraction of this country’s amazing beauty, history and people. This gallery shows one photo from all 50 states plus Washington D.C. I hope they entice you to explore over 300 U.S. cities on my Encircle Photos website
New Eddystone Rock is a majestic, 237 foot basalt pillar. It was a volcanic vent five million years ago and then shaped by glaciers. The tree-covered tower stands in the Behm Canal between the Revillagigedo Island in the background and an entrance to the Misty Fjords National Monument. It has been a popular sight for visitors since European navigator George Vancouver documented his discovery in 1793.
New Eddystone Rock, Alaska 99901
The Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery opened in 1851. It was Alabama’s fifth capitol and was built in the Greek Revival style on Goat Hill. It was on this front portico where Jefferson Davis became President of the Confederate States in 1861 and where Martin Luther King staged a protest 105 years later. In the foreground is “Duty Called,” a bronze memorial statue by Branko Medenica that honors fallen police officers. Alabama became the 22nd state on December 14, 1819.
600 Dexter Ave, Montgomery, AL 36131
The sand cascading over red sandstone in the Upper Antelope Canyon near Page, Arizona resembled liquid sunbeams. This is only a sample of the amazing beauty and fantastic images you will see during a tour from a Navajo Nation guide through a narrow, twisting passage of sculptured rock. It is also known as “The Crack” or the Navajo name Tsé bighánílíní meaning, “The place where water runs through rocks.”
Indian Rte 222 and AZ-98, Page, AZ 86040
A golden rule of road trips is to never leave a building without using the bathroom. So, after touring the William J. Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock, Arkansas, for two hours, I was waiting near the exit while my wife was in the ladies’ room. Suddenly, without fanfare, Bill Clinton strolled through a side entrance with a Starbucks coffee in one hand and the other waving. After I snapped the picture, shook his hand and exchanged greetings, he was gone. My wife missed the whole thing.
William J Clinton Library and Museum, 1200 President Clinton Ave, Little Rock, AR 72201
The Lone Cypress on the 17-Mile Drive is not only a landmark but also the logo for nearby Pebble Beach Golf Links. For about 250 years, this single Monterey cypress has been perched on this granite promontory with a commanding view of the Pacific Ocean.
3220 17 Mile Dr, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
One spectacular panorama of Independence Monument is from the Grand View Overlook. Only the golden eagles and red-tail hawks have a better view of these towering monoliths. You have 801 people to thank for this scenic drive. The first was William Taft. The president leveraged the Antiquates Act in 1911 to make these 20,500 acres a national monument. The other 800 men created the Rim Rock Drive. The laborious project began during the Depression. It took 18 years to complete by 1950. Colorado National Monument is listed by the U. S. National Register of Historic Places.
Grand View, Rim Rock Dr, Grand Junction, CO 81507
In 1873, Mark Twain moved to Hartford, Connecticut, at the age of 38. He remained a resident until he died in 1910. During this time, Hartford and the neighboring areas began emerging as the, “Insurance Capital of the World.” The companies financially protected people from Twain’s quote, “Apparently there is nothing that cannot happen today.” In the middle of this Main Street view of downtown is Center Church with its gorgeous steeple and columns. Also called First Church, it was built in 1807.
Atheneum Sq & Main St, Hartford, CT 06183
Although built in 1790, Woodburn did not become the Delaware governor’s mansion in Dover until 1965. Residents include several ghosts, like Charles Hillyard, the original owner. He has been seen drinking wine next to the fireplace. Other supernatural sightings have occurred outside, including a young girl and a slave keeper. So, watch for these shadowy figures as you walk by this Victorian Guest House called Hall House. The property was built in 1887.
151 Kings Hwy SW, Dover, DE 19901
This Carrara marble Medici lion is one of two guarding the entrance to the Bridge of Lions in St. Augustine, Florida. These carvings by F. Romanelli were a gift from local philanthropist Dr. Andrew Anderson. The bridge has been called “The Most Beautiful Bridge in Dixie.” It is even more beautiful after an $80 million restoration was finished. The male lion with his paw on an orb was patterned after the originals commissioned in 1576 for the Italian garden of Ferdinando I dé Medici, the Grand Duke of Tuscany. The pair from the 16th century is now in the Loggia dei Lanzi in Florence, Italy.
20 Bridge of Lions, St. Augustine, FL 32080
The CNN Center in Atlanta is the global headquarters of the Turner Broadcasting System. Visitors are wowed by the massive atrium before riding up the largest, freestanding escalator in the world for guided tours of the cable network studios. Near the building’s entrance is their logo in bright red letters where this girl was talking on her cell phone during a break.
100 CNN Center, Atlanta, GA 30303
This elevated view of Hanauma Bay shows an ancient volcanic crater at the base of a sea cliff. It is filled with crystal-clear water flowing over a bed of coral called a fringing reef. The name is derived from two Hawaiian words: hana means bay and uma translates to curved. This gorgeous seascape greets you at the park’s visitor center. The entrance fee is very reasonable.
101 Hanauma Bay Rd, Honolulu, HI 96825
Swirling rainbows arch above roaring water as the Snake River cascades 212 feet down a 900 foot wide, horseshoe ridge at Shoshone Falls Park near Twin Falls, Idaho. The widest torrent is Bridal Veil Falls. This spectacle of nature was formed 14,000 years ago during an outburst flooding from a melting glacier. A small fee per car is required to feel the mist as the water thunders 45 feet higher than Niagara Falls.
Shoshone Falls Park, Champlin Rd, Kimberly, ID 83341
This concave reflection of downtown Chicago was generated by the Cloud Gate. This curiosity is an enormous (33 x 66 x 42 foot), stainless steel sculpture by Anish Kapoor in the AT&T Plaza located in Millennium Park. Also called “The Bean” and inspired by liquid mercury, the artwork acts like a giant funhouse mirror. The shiny surface warps and distorts the images of delighted tourists and especially children since the installation in May of 2006.
55 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Illinois
This exquisite, 24 foot bronze sculpture called Pro Patria by Henry Hering has adorned the World War Memorial in Indianapolis since 1929. The young man encircled by the American flag is a tribute to the soldiers who served in WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam. In the background are Ionic columns of the Neo-classical monument that resembles Greek architecture. Inside are three floors of exhibits.
55 E Michigan St, Indianapolis, IN 46204
Lie on the rotunda floor of the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines and look up: this is what you will see. The blue sky is a suspended canvass. Also suspended is the 1922 banner of the Grand Army of the Republic. The GAR was a fraternal organization of Union Civil War veterans. It ended in 1956 with the last member’s death. This dome is actually a false ceiling. Above it is the exterior brick dome covered in gold leaf. Further up is the cupola. This last feature can only be reached by another staircase.
1007 E Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50319
A popular quote from the 1939 movie “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” is, “Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” This phrase was voted the fourth most famous line in American cinema. Apparently, Dorothy and her Cairn Terrier lived in Wamego, Kansas. This is where the Wizard of Oz museum displays 25,000 artifacts from the movie, including this full-scale replica of the Tin Man.
511 Lincoln Ave, Wamego, KS 66547
The Ascent and River Center buildings help define the skyline of Covington, Kentucky. They are located along the Ohio River at the end of the 1867 John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge. This connects Covington – a city of 40,000 people – with Cincinnati, Ohio. Among Covington’s charms are walking among the mansions in the historic neighborhoods and along the Roebling Point riverfront during sunset.
100 Ted Berry Way, Cincinnati, OH 45202
The grand old south is still alive among the 140 Louisiana plantations that are now National Historic Landmarks. Many of these gorgeous mansions offer guided tours by southern belles dressed in Antebellum hoop dresses. The properties have long, tree-lined driveways with immaculate gardens. The homes are decorated in their pre-Civil War splendor in sharp contrast to the squalor of the slaves’ quarters.
40136 River Rd, Darrow, LA 70725
Credit earthquakes, volcanoes and glaciers for forming the 47,000 acres of pristine forests, rugged coastlines, peninsula fingers and charming inlets of Acadia National Park near Bar Harbor. This cliff with a cluster of exclusive homes is Schooner Head. The gorgeous scene is viewable from the Overlook observation point just off the Park Loop Road.
Schooner Head Rd & Schooner Head Trailhead, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
In the Yard of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, is the Chapel. Its 121 foot copper dome is considerably more impressive than the nearby state capitol building. The “Father of the US Navy,” John Paul Jones, is buried in a crypt here. It was built in 1908, a year after the song “Anchors Aweigh” became the Naval Academy’s official song.
Garden Rd & Truxtun Rd Annapolis, MD 21401
On December 16, 1773, a group named the Sons of Liberty stormed three ships. The protestors threw more than three hundred chests of cargo into Boston Harbor. This defiance to the British Tea Act led to the Parliament’s Coercive Acts. The new law rescinded Massachusetts’ ability to self-govern. More protests followed. In less than two years, the Revolutionary War began. This red museum in Fort Port Channel welcomes tourists to board a ship similar to those historic vessels.
306 Congress St, Boston, MA 02210
While walking up to the Comerica Tiger Field in Detroit, Michigan, there is no question about the name of the baseball team that plays here: Tiger sculptures are everywhere. This one at the North Gate is 15 feet tall. Several more grace the façade. Atop the left field scoreboard are two tigers whose eyes light up after every home run. The statues were designed by Michael Keropian and built by SlowMotion, Inc.
Witherell St & E Columbia St, Detroit, MI 48201
Atop the south portico of the Minnesota State Capitol in Saint Paul is the gilded Quadriga or “The Progress of the State.” The horses represent earth, wind, fire and water. The women represent civilization yet individually they personify industry and agriculture. The man symbolizes prosperity. It was sculpted in 1906 by Daniel Chester French. He is best known for the Abraham Lincoln statue in the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C
75 Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard., St Paul, MN 55155
Two photos of Jackson, Mississippi, are A manhole cover with the words “City of Jackson Mississippi,” and The 180 foot dome of the Mississippi State Capitol with its eight foot eagle made from copper and gold leaf that was built in 1903 plus Magnolia blossoms, the state tree.
The symbol of St. Louis, Missouri, is the Gateway Arch. The landmark is a 630 foot tall, shining ribbon of steel. The world’s tallest arch has 1,076 steps. It is easier to take the tram to the top. Although Franklin D. Roosevelt approved partial funding in 1934, the keystone was not placed until 1965. When it was finished in 1968, Vice President Hubert Humphrey had the honors of dedicating it during an opening ceremony. The $13.5 million project gets its name from the Mississippi River’s location as the gateway to the west.
50 N Leonor K Sullivan Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63102
This mare was nuzzling her foal in an open meadow. They looked so peaceful and content. Wild horses are one of about 15 types of large animals living in and around Glacier National Park in Montana. You might also be lucky enough to see a bighorn sheep, black bear, moose, elk, deer, lynx or mountain lion. Plus, there are 70 species of smaller mammals residing within the one million acres of wilderness.
Near the Joslyn Memorial Art Museum in Omaha, Nebraska, is a playground featuring large abstract sculptures. Children are drawn towards the vibrant colors and then stay for the fun they provide.
2200 Dodge St, Omaha, NE 68102
This diamond-shaped, 25 foot neon sign is actually in the town of Paradise, Nevada, but has been welcoming tourists to fabulous Las Vegas since 1959. And the numbers are fabulous: in 2012, nearly 40 million visitors generated $17 billion in gaming revenues. No wonder the back of the sign reads, “Come Back Soon.”
5200 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89119
There are two scenic byways looping through the White Mountain National Forest. Also winding through the 750,000 acres is the Ellis River. The 17-mile flow begins at the 6,288 foot peak of Mount Washington. Nearby are other mountains named after eight presidents plus notables like Ben Franklin and Sam Adams. Among this gorgeous scenery are quaint villages, museums, covered bridges and tranquil landscapes.
Glen Ellis Scenic Area NH-16, Appalachian Trail, Jackson, NH 03846
The 1934 Monopoly game was patterned after the streets of Atlantic City. The South Jersey resort area has seen booms and declines since first developed along the ocean shores in 1853. Plans for new, mega hotels and casinos were scrapped during the Great Recession. An eye-catching “Odditorium,” sandwiched between Resorts and Bally’s Casinos on the Boardwalk, is the Ripley’s Believe it or Not Museum. Inside this wrecking ball building are over 400 exhibits of the weird and curious.
1441 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ 08401
Around 900 AD, the Pueblo Indians settled on the land now occupied by downtown Santa Fe, New Mexico. The Native Americans continued living there through the Pueblo Revolt against the Spanish in 1680. The uprising was led by Popé, also known as Po’pay. This statue looks similar to the fierce leader of 2,500 Pueblos. The sculpture is located in the Canyon Road Art District. This quaint neighborhood features over 100 galleries of western and Native American contemporary art, sculptures and jewelry.
McLarry Modern, 225 Canyon Rd #8, Santa Fe, NM 87501
In the middle of New York Harbor is an iconic image of the 238 BC Roman goddess named Libertas. Everyone calls her the Statue of Liberty. The gift from France in 1886 was sculpted by Frédéric Bartholdi. Gustave Eiffel created the framework. The crowned and robed figure stands 351 feet on Liberty Island. She welcomed more than 12 million immigrants as they were processed at Ellis Island from 1892 to 1954. They were the ancestors of one-third of today’s U.S. population. She holds a tablet with the date July 4, 1776. Approximately four million people visit her each year.
Liberty Island, New York, NY 10004
After passing through the narthex and entering the nave of the Duke University Chapel in Durham, North Carolina, look up at the oak gallery and marvel at the 1976 Flentrop Pipe organ. It is beautiful! Also called the Benjamin Duke Memorial Organ, the musical instrument is 40 feet tall, contains over 5,000 pipes, is made from African mahogany and is gilded with gold. A brief concert is played on most weekdays at 12:30.
401 Chapel Dr, Durham, NC 27708
In 1884, Theodore Roosevelt’s wife and mother died on the same day, causing him to abandon his early political career. He sought solitude in the Badlands in North Dakota. Roosevelt became a rancher, hunter and deputy sheriff. His Maltese Cross Cabin and Elkhorn Ranch can be visited at Theodore Roosevelt National Park. You are also likely to see wild horses, buffalo, deer, sheep and elk roaming in the vibrant, rolling terrain and patchy grasslands of this 70,446 acre park.
201 E River Rd, Medora, ND 58645
The skyline on the north bank of the Ohio River only hints at the beauty of this city. Once you cross the John Roebling Suspension Bridge, you are greeted by the vibrance of Cincinnati. The population of 300,000 love their sports (seven major facilities), riverfront, entertainment venues, historic buildings, arts and gorgeous outdoor wall murals. Cincinnati is also home to fifteen Fortune 1000 companies including The Kroger Company and Proctor & Gamble. In the foreground is an Ohio River paddle steamer boat and a flock of Canadian geese.
Riverside Dr & Riverside Pl, Covington, KY 41011
When a cannon was fired at noon on April 22, 1889, 50,000 people scrambled to homestead their piece of two million acres of available land during the Oklahoma Land Rush. That historic event is commemorated in the Bricktown District of Oklahoma City with spectacular bronze statues by Paul Moore. This photo shows the first pieces created in 2003. By 2015, the Land Run Monument included 45, 1 ½ size sculptures of horses and covered wagons all fighting to claim the choicest land parcels previously owned by Native Americans.
200 Centennial Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73102
Of all the large animals on exhibit at the Wildlife Safari in Winston, Oregon, the Roosevelt elk’s natural habitat is probably the closest because they live in the Pacific Northwest forests. A herd of 5,000 is at the Olympic National Park in Washington state. The park was created by President Roosevelt in 1909. This gorgeous female elk, also called a cow, can weigh around 600 pounds and live 12 to 15 years in the wild. In protected facilities such as Wildlife Safari, an elk can reach their 25th birthday.
The Seventh Street Bridge was built in 1926. It is one of the “The Three Sisters” suspension bridges crossing the Allegheny River from the North Shore into downtown Pittsburgh. This yellow span is now called the Andy Warhol Bridge. This pays tribute to the city’s native son and pop art icon. Nearby is the Andy Warhol Museum. This bridge is one of over 440 connecting the city of Pittsburgh. This is why its nickname “The City of Bridges” is well deserved.
Andy Warhol Bridge, 7th St, Pittsburgh, PA 15212
Roger Williams, the founder of Providence, Rhode Island in 1636, was exiled from Massachusetts for such radical beliefs as religious freedom and abolishing slavery. Today, along the Woonasquatucket River, is a cobblestone path located a level below the Downcity (downtown) streets. Called the River Walk in Waterplace Park, it provides pedestrian bridges that are reminiscent of Venice. Complete your feeling of visiting the Italian City of Bridges with a gondola ride.
200 Exchange St, Providence, RI 02903
Seven photos of Charleston, South Carolina are (in the four corners) Wonderfully restored Colonial, Antebellum and Civil War era homes from around 1700 through the 19th century in the Battery neighborhood, The Charleston Library Society staircase built in in 1914 but with a history back to 1748, The Old Slave Mart built in 1859 (once called Ryan’s Mart) and, in the center, A gorgeous scalloped column supporting a semi-circle dormer.
Some visions require persistence. The best example might be Crazy Horse Memorial in Custer County, South Dakota. The project was commissioned by Lakota Chief Henry Standing Bear. The sculptor, Korczak Ziolkowski, started carving the Indian warrior on a horse with an outstretched arm in 1948. Fifty years of hard work were needed to finish the face. After his death in 1982, his wife Ruth took control until she died in 2014. Now their children are heeding his advice of “Go slowly so you get it right.” There is no timeframe for completing this 560 foot monument in the Black Hills.
12151 Ave of the Chiefs, Crazy Horse, SD 57730
On November 22, 1963, John F. Kennedy’s limousine drove slowly down Elm Street in Dealey Plaza. At 12:30 P.M., an Italian Carcano, bolt-action rifle emerged from the sixth-floor window (upper right corner) of the Texas School Book Depository on the left. Shots were fired. The bullets wounded Governor Connally and killed the 35th President of the United States. The photo is taken from the spot of the first impact.
411 Elm St, Dallas, TX 75202
If you are self-employed and live west of the Mississippi River, chances are you have mailed or electronically sent your tax return and money to the Internal Revenue Service center in Ogden, Utah. The IRS is the town’s largest employer. If you are in the neighborhood, feel free to hand deliver your check. Afterwards, stop by the Union Station. Outside the building are classic locomotives dating back to 1881. Inside are three museums dedicated to trains, classic cars and Browning Firearms. Or just sit for a moment while you ponder how the government will spend your taxes.
2501 Wall Ave, Ogden, UT 84401
Montpelier is home to the Vermont State House built in 1833. With less than 8,000 people, it is the smallest state capital city. This row of tulips leads to the Doric portico and columns, bronze-like doors and Greek Revival granite walls that resemble the Temple of Hephaestus in Athens. On top of the wood and copper dome that’s gilded with gold is the Roman goddess of Agriculture named Ceres. The surrounding park and wooded hill provide a serene setting for the state’s legislators. Vermont became the 14th state on March 4, 1791.
115 State St, Montpelier, VT 05633
One of the best views overlooking the Potomac River was acquired by George Washington’s great-great grandfather in 1674. 87 years later, this picturesque property became Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate until his death in the master bedchamber in 1799. The first president’s main house is flanked by two others. Also on the grounds are a greenhouse, a coach house, a blacksmith shop and other buildings restored to their 18th century appearance.
3200 Mount Vernon Hwy, Mt Vernon, VA 22121
The most iconic statue of the 16th U.S. President was sculpted from 1916 to 1920 by Daniel French and sits in the Lincoln Memorial. The white marble sculpture is 19 by 19 feet. Surrounding this imposing figure are inscriptions from the Gettysburg Address and Lincoln’s second inaugural speech. An interesting debate is whether his hands form the initials “A” and “L” in sign language. Lincoln has a wonderful view of the Washington Memorial and the U.S. Capitol from across the Reflecting Pool.
2 Lincoln Memorial Cir NW, Washington, DC 20037
The Tacoma Narrows Suspension Bridge was built in 1940. The locals quickly gave it the derogatory nickname Galloping Gertie because it swayed in high winds. Four months later it collapsed. Today there are two, parallel suspension bridges in Tacoma, Washington. This is called Sturdy Gertie. Behind their suspension cables is the downtown skyline.
Tacoma Narrows Bridge, WA-16, Washington 98335
The confluence of the Kanawha and Elk Rivers provide a perfect setting for Charleston. This is West Virginia’s capital and largest city with a population of about 51,000. These flowing waters also provide perfect recreational settings such as the Haddad Riverfront Park. Weekly summer concerts are performed at this bandstand. Many of the musical events are sponsored by Moses Automotive Live. Cruises on a sternwheeler called River Queen are also available.
1 Summerside Rd, Charleston, WV 25312
In 2001, the Milwaukee Art Museum’s Quadracci Pavilion was completed on the shores of Lake Michigan in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The unique architecture was designed by world-famous architect Santiago Calatrava. The external focal point is the beautiful Burke Brise-Soleil. It consists of 217 foot wings. They open and close like a giant butterfly twice a day or during excessive winds. The process takes 3.5 minutes to completely move the steel fins.
500 N Art Museum Dr, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Most of the two million plus acres of Yellowstone National Park are located in Wyoming. The park is famous for the spectacular river canyons, the hundreds of animal species freely roaming the forests and grasslands plus Old Faithful. This favorite tourist attraction is only one of 300 geysers in the park. Yellowstone is the largest volcanic system in North America. Many of the geothermal features emit steam. This turns into billowing clouds when the snow falls. This couple’s umbrella seemed like the perfect solution.
View Avenue, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190