The Corn Palace, Mitchell, South Dakota

This unusual and interesting landmark is a must see

It was first built in 1892 to recognize the region's most important commodity

For more information, visit: http://cornpalace.org/

Biltmore Estate, Asheville, North Carolina

About this estate, there is one thing to say

It is the largest home in the USA

As America’s Largest Home, Biltmore House has captured the imagination of millions with its sheer size – the square footage of four football fields – the 35 bedrooms, the 43 bathrooms, and a full-sized swimming pool in the basement. Yet it was also a warm and welcoming home where a family lived and a little girl grew up. George Vanderbilt’s dream lives on as one of western North Carolina’s rarest treasures.

Biltmore House by the Numbers

•   Located in Asheville, N.C., Biltmore was the vision of George Washington Vanderbilt. Designed by Richard Morris Hunt, Biltmore House - America’s largest home - is a 250-room French Renaissance chateau, and houses the Vanderbilt family’s original collection of furnishings, art and antiques.

•   Biltmore Estate encompasses more than 8,000 acres including renowned gardens designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the father of American landscape architecture.

•   Today, Biltmore has grown to include Antler Hill Village, which features the award-winning Winery and Antler Hill Farm; the four-star Inn on Biltmore Estate; Village Hotel on Biltmore Estate; Equestrian Center; numerous restaurants; event and meeting venues; and Biltmore For Your Home, the company’s licensed products division.

•   The Biltmore Company is owned by William A.V. Cecil and operated by his son, president and CEO William A.V. Cecil, Jr.

•   William A.V. Cecil is the grandson of George Washington Vanderbilt. He assumed sole ownership of The Biltmore Company in 1979. His brother, George H.V. Vanderbilt, formed Biltmore Farms, Inc. that same year.

•   Biltmore does not receive any governmental funding or grants, making it one of the United States’ most significant National Historic Landmarks that is preserved solely through private funding.

  Biltmore employs approximately 2,300 people in Buncombe County and the surrounding counties.

  For more information, visit: http://www.biltmore.com/

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  Photos courtesy of The Biltmore Company

  
  

George W. Bush Childhood Home, Midland Texas

Come see this fully restored home of George's childhood

A tour will certainly make you feel good

A Presidential Site unlike any other

The George W. Bush Childhood Home is a truly unique place in American history. Home to two Presidents, two Governors, and a First Lady, this remarkable 1950’s restoration gives visitors a unique perspective of the Bush family and their legacy, insight into the restoration of this modest home and provides an interesting view of life in 1050s Midland.

Purchased in 2001, the home has been restored to the period of 1950-1951 when George H.W. and Barbara Bush and their family lived here. The restoration process took nearly 5 years to complete. This process included document research, meeting with the former owners, including the Bush Family, historical research into the history of Midland, acquiring necessary approval from the National Register of Historic Places, Texas Historical Commission and other city, county and state agencies. The actual restoration process proved to be quite a challenge given the condition of the home and the modifications which had been made from 1956-2000.

Built in 1939, this home was then located in an area of wide open fields. By the time the Bush family bought the home, many of the surrounding homes had been built and it was a thriving neighborhood with many children with which George W. and Jeb could play.

The home saw lots of laughter and joy during the early 1950’s. Neighborhood barbeques and parties were common and local children would visit the home to play in the spacious backyard. Jeb Bush was born while the family lived here and so was Neil Bush. It was while living here that the family lost their beloved Pauline Robinson (Robin) to leukemia.

When the family outgrew this home they purchased a larger home in Midland where they lived from late 1955-1959.

The George W. Bush Childhood Home was dedicated on April 11, 2006. Since then over 60,000 visitors have toured the home. These include guests from over 80 foreign countries, all 50 states and 3 US territories.

Paul St. Hilaire, Executive Director, is awed by some of the feedback given by visitors, “Many have no idea that George and Barbara had 6 children and the extent to which they dedicated themselves to the community.

Some of their legacy includes volunteering at the hospital, teaching Sunday School at First Presbyterian, serving on the PTA of Sam Houston Elementary and raising funds for our first YMCA building & first Midland Symphony Orchestra. Barbara was in the Womens League and was a den mother for George’s Cub Scout pack. George H.W. established Little League baseball in Midland.

Many visitors are also amazed at the variety of items in the Gift Shop. Toys of the 50s, t-shirts, hats, polo shirts, books written by and about the Bush Family, cookbooks, historical books, patriotic items, collectibles, posters, mugs and many other items line the shelves of the Gift Shop, located across the street from the historic home.

Visit this unique attraction and rediscover an important piece of Midland’s and the nation’s history.

The home is open for tours from 10 AM-5 PM Tues-Sat and 2-5 PM on Sunday Tours given until 4:30 PM. A staff of dedicated volunteers provides the tours.

1412 West Ohio Avenue

Midland, TX 432-685-1112

For more information, visit: www.bushchildhoodhome.org

Flaming Gorge, Manila, Utah

This place is so nice to be found

It is truly a scenic playground

How to Have an Unforgettable Weekend at Flaming Gorge

Indigo waters, colorful canyons, towering buttes, lush rivers, and forested mountains all make Flaming Gorge a treasured destination within the intermountain West. The reservoir’s 91mile length holds hundreds of miles of diverse shoreline that run from the subalpine terrain of northern Utah to the highdesert plains of southwestern Wyoming. This unique National Recreation Area offers a lifetime of discovery both on and off the water. Here are a few suggestions in creating an exceptional weekend at the Gorge.

One of the very best ways to experience Flaming Gorge is by water. There are many ways to enjoy an aquatic outing: boating or paddling, water skiing or wakeboarding, stand up paddleboarding, or reeling in trophy lake or brown trout. Flaming Gorge has several boat launches, developed and primitive, and three full service marinas that make accessing the water easy. Hourly boat, stand up paddleboard, and kayak rentals are available at each marina where they also offer services and supplies. Launch then explore— solitude and adventure are quickly found within this attractive environment.

Time spent on the emerald waters of the Green River below the Flaming Gorge Dam is a real treat. There are reported to be over 14,000 fish per mile in the section known as Little Hole. This zone is the perfect place to watch osprey hunt for fish and see river otters as you cast your fly from the river trail or float your boat through this length of mellow whitewater. With the average fish caught being 15 inches long, anglers will love time spent on the Green.

The alpine lakes of Browne, Sheep Creek and Spirit, found in the neighboring north slope of the Uinta Mountains, offer a cooler retreat during the warmer summer months. Fishing, hiking, backpacking, or viewing wildlife are all fantastic options found in the Flaming Gorge high country. This is an area that is perfect for unplugging and reconnecting with nature.

Some of the best camping at Flaming Gorge can only be reached by water. There are several remote, full service sites that offer a camping experience unlike anywhere else in the west. Whether you reach them by motorboat, paddle out to them by SUP, or kayak, it makes no difference, just load up your gear and head out. Check out the sites on Kingfisher Island or in Hideout Draw.

 For those who prefer moving water, choose from one of 32 riverside campsites found along the banks of the Green River. These sites are located throughout a 20mile section beginning below the dam and ending in the mountain basin of Brown’s Park. This boat/camp will require a car shuttle. Launching from the dam you will float through mellow whitewater. No permits are required for boating this section of the river, but reservations for these sites and the ones found on the lake are recommended. All camps are equipped with tables and fire rings.

Sunrise and sunset are magical times in Flaming Gorge. During dawn and twilight, long light reflects brilliantly off the red, orange, and green in the surrounding environment. You will see how the place gets its name.

This area is known for its dark night skies. Schedule your adventure for the new moon to maximize stargazing and to be wowed by the Milky Way as it paints its way across the heavens above. On the flipside, come during a full moon and witness your moon shadow as you cast for nocturnal fish or simply enjoy the sounds of jumping fish, frogs singing, and birds swooping overhead.

If roughing it isn’t your idea of a weekend getaway don’t worry, Flaming Gorge is home to several great lodges. Rocky Ridge Outpost near Manila offers a true western experience with handcrafted cabin, yurt, and teepee rentals. They have a pond for pedal boats, swimming, and fly casting. Red Canyon Lodge is located near the edge of the scenic Red Canyon overlook and offers cabin rentals, a restaurant, Greens Lakes, a kid’s pond, horseback riding, and hiking. For a more remote retreat you can make your way to the Spirit Lake Lodge. Located in the high alpine zone of the Uinta Mountains, reaching this lodge requires a drive along a stunning scenic byway, passing peaks, creeks, streams, and lakes before arriving. Set on the banks of the pristine Spirit Lake, the lodge is home to a store, grill, and offers rustic cabins for rent.

For an added bonus, schedule your getaway for the holiday weekends of July 4th and Labor Day as visitors to Flaming Gorge will be treated to festivities. July 2nd is the Freedom Festival in Dutch John. September 2 5 are Daggett Daze with daily events, including a fireworks show September 3rd in Manila.

Despite being located in the center of a natural playground, Flaming Gorge is one of the least crowded destinations in the west. Folks travel from all around to revel in its wild scenery, trophy fishing, abundant boating, convenient camping, and comfortable lodging. Some come for the water sports as others come for the hiking and biking, but all who visit will have the opportunity to find a solitude that will allow them to unplug, unwind, and truly relax.

 Flaming Gorge – A Boating Paradise

If you haven’t yet boated Flaming Gorge, you are missing out. This 91mile reservoir, established in 1962, is located within a diverse geologic region that is as dramatic as it is beautiful. Spanning from the mountainous forests, benches, and canyons of northeastern Utah to the rolling sage prairies of southwestern Wyoming, its position within the narrow course of the Green River presents boaters with endless opportunities to explore glassy waters in isolation. From water sports, cruising, fishing, and paddling, the potential for fun on this picturesque reservoir is unlimited.

The guarded position of the lake set low within narrow canyons makes Flaming Gorge a prime destination for water sports. As water temperatures climb into the 70s by late summer, water skiing, wake boarding, and jet skiing are extremely popular here. Access to this colorful playground has been made easy via any number of boat launches, campgrounds, and marinas surrounding the lake.

The deep and fertile waters of the lake have also made it one of the premier fisheries in the United States where trophy fish are reeled in year after year. Seasoned anglers from around the globe troll for brown and lake trout as well as kokanee salmon at depth. Families cast for rainbow trout and smallmouth bass closer to the surface.

Kayaks, canoes, and stand up paddleboards offer a peaceful and quieter way to explore Flaming Gorge, and have grown in popularity in recent years. From short jaunts to multiday excursions, you can build a paddling adventure of any size.

It’s recommended to start from the Lucerne Marina and cross the open waters of Linwood Bay south to the peaceful and wakefree zone of Horseshoe Canyon. From Sheep Creek Bay you can paddle east to Kingfisher Island. Keep your eyes peeled for herons and egrets. And from Cedar Springs Marina, follow the south shoreline into the wakefree Cart Creek Canyon for a great excursion that takes you beneath the suspended Cart Creek Bridge.

But you really can’t go wrong with whatever activity or route you choose. From its deserts to its mountains, Flaming Gorge offers numerous vistas that are not to be missed. On the north end of the lake above the confluence of the Black Fork, be sure to check out the Firehole Canyon, where stone pinnacles of North and South Chimney Rocks, remnants of an ancient volcano, tower over the surrounding sagecovered badlands.

Southwest of Linwood Bay is the area after which Flaming Gorge was named. Despite the actual gorge being submerged below the lake’s surface, one can still see the sunlight reflecting off the varnished red and orange sandstone above. Horseshoe Canyon, a side canyon of Sheep Creek Bay, is an incredible looping canyon that takes you through a narrow waterway with striking cliffs looming high on both sides. The gorgeous Red Canyon begins south of Kingfisher Island and runs to the dam. This narrow section of Flaming Gorge is where the water course turns east and makes its way beneath craggy walls of quartzite that loom 1,400 feet above the lake’s surface. Bighorn sheep are often seen grazing among these brugundy cliffs.

Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area also has several campgrounds so you can extend your adventure along the shores. The campgrounds range from fully developed sites with tables, fire rings, water, and toilets, to primitive sites that have few or no amenities. Opting for one of the scenic boatto camps on Fisher Island in Hideout Draw or deep in Red Canyon is highly recommended. Either will give you an experience not commonly found in the Intermountain West.

Boaters and paddlers also have the option of primitive camping or anchoring somewhere along the 350 miles of Flaming Gorge’s shoreline. With so much space, you are certain to find solitude within this stunning environment. Check out Carter Creek and Trail Creek in Red Canyon for some particularly beautiful and secluded sites.

Flaming Gorge is a National Recreation Area requiring a dayuse fee. Visitors may purchase passes at various kiosks surrounding the lake and at the campgrounds, marinas, and boat launches. There are nine boat launches and three fullservice marinas from which to begin your boating adventures. House boats, power boats, fishing boats, tug boats, canoes, pontoons, kayaks, and paddleboards are all great options for exploring the vastness of Flaming Gorge. Reservoir visitors will need to inspect their boats for invasive mussels and weeds before launching.

Boat rentals are available at the three marinas: Buckboard Crossing Marina on the north end, Lucerne Marina toward the center, and Cedar Springs Marina near the dam. All the marinas at Flaming Gorge offer supplies, fuel, and boat rentals. Gas can be found at any of the marinas and at the dam (diesel is not available).

Whether you come for the water sports, the fishing, or the elbow room, boating on Flaming Gorge offers everyone a chance to unwind and experience the same magical light, color, and country that John Wesley Powell’s Expedition found nearly a century and a half before.

Fishing with the Family in Flaming Gorge

Fishing with your family is one of the least expensive ways to spend time together in nature and Flaming Gorge is the perfect place to do it. It’s true that people come from near and far to hook trophy kokanee, lake, and brown trout at Flaming Gorge, but don’t let that keep you and your family away. The worldclass fishing found at the reservoir and in the surrounding waters is not just for seasoned anglers. These fisheries are practically overflowing with a variety of aquatic game (smallmouth bass, channel catfish, burbot, rainbow trout, and cutthroat trout) that ensure that there are more than enough fish to go around. The scenic country of Flaming Gorge is filled with opportunities to make fishing memories that will last a lifetime.

To get started, you’ll need to acquire the basic necessities. A spinning rod with line and needle nose pliers (to safely remove the hooks), lures and bait (worms, small marshmallows, cheese, powerbait), mediumsized spinners, spoons, or rapalas, and 1/8 to 1/4 oz. brown or black marabou jigs, plus a bobber or two, extra hooks, sinkers, nail clippers, and a tackle box to carry it all. Most of this may be purchased for around $50 and can be found at your local sporting store or at any of Flaming Gorge’s three marinas, where you will also be able to get local advice and knowledge.

Next, you will need to purchase a fishing license. Since Flaming Gorge Reservoir straddles the border of Utah and Wyoming, it would be helpful to plan ahead to determine where you may want to fish. Young children in either state fish for free. In Utah, kids 12 and under are not required to have a fishing license. Threeday, sevenday, or annual licenses are available online at www.wildlife.utah.gov. For Wyoming licenses visit http://www.wgfd.wyo.gov/applyorbuy where you may purchase single days and annual permits. Wyoming residents under the age of 14 do not need a license. Nonresident Wyoming kids under 14 do not need a license if in the presence of an adult with a Wyoming license. If you plan on fishing back and forth across the state line, you will need a reciprocal fishing permit from the other state ($10).

The following areas are easytoreach places that are ideal for kids. At the south end of the reservoir sits the 500foottall Flaming Gorge Dam. Next to it lies an ADA accessible fishing pier stretching out over the deepest part of the lake. Easy access makes an ideal place to cast your line. Try dropping a nightcrawler three to four feet below a bobber, then casting out from the pier where healthy rainbow trout are sure to take the bait. Before leaving be sure to take the free tour of the dam (9am 3:30pm, MondayFriday) and enjoy the view of the Green River as it spills south from the dam.

Moose Pond is a small reservoir found along Highway 44 that is annually stocked with rainbow trout. Surrounded by mature lodgepole pines it is easily accessed, has a paved trail, and if visited near sunset, affords ample opportunities to view deer and moose foraging near its shores. You can easily hook a fish by using powerbait, worms, or casting and retrieving a spinner.

The free Kid’s Fishing Hole at Red Canyon Lodge offers great catchandrelease angling for rainbow and brook trout. Its grassy shores are perfect for young anglers to get the hang of casting. In the evenings, you stand a good chance of seeing deer watering at this pond. Don’t pass up the chance to stop in for lunch or dinner at their restaurant and make sure to head out to the Red Canyon overlook and visitor center.

The blue ribbon waters of the Green River are a must visit for budding anglers. Little Hole is a section of river located in the steep and scenic canyon below the Flaming Gorge Dam. Here you are given easy access to miles of troutfilled water where the average fish caught is over 15 inches long. This part of the river is closed to bait fishing, so try casting and retrieving spinners, jigs, and rapalas and see if you can land a beautiful cutthroat trout. Floating this section of mellow river is highly recommended and is open to boaters with intermediate skills. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled as river otters and birds of prey are often seen here.

Buckboard, Lucerne, and Cedar Springs Marinas all offer great beach/shore side fishing where any method will get the job done. Maximize fun time on the water by fishing from standup paddleboards or tandem kayaks. All of the marinas offer hourly boat rentals for maximum convenience.

During warmer weather, drive up to the Uinta Mountains where the brook, cutthroat, and rainbow trout are so hungry they practically jump out of the water at Browne Lake, Sheep Creek, and Spirit Lake. Bait, spinners, and jigs—all methods will work equally well. For an awesome mountain retreat that your family soon won’t forget, consider renting a rustic cabin at the historic Spirit Lake Lodge for the duration of your stay. Watching the fish leap over the glassy waters of Spirit Lake late in the day just might become an annual tradition.

 Picture this: after a funfilled day spent reeling in the bounty, relax at any number of campgrounds around the lake or on the porch of a cozy mountain cabin. And there, with the smell of juniper in the air, under a starstudded sky, in the center of the natural playground that is Flaming Gorge, your kids will be recounting the day’s events again and again, where their fish grow bigger with each telling of the tales.

For more information, visit: http://www.flaminggorgecountry.com/

Rock of Ages Visitors Center, Graniteville, Vermont

The fact about this place must be known and unfurled

It is the largest deep-hole granite quarry in the world

AFFORDABLE FUN—QUARRY TOUR & FACTORY TOUR 

(Our Quarry Was Featured In The 2009 Star Trek Movie)

 

Dear Visitor to Vermont:

 

Central Vermont was built upon the granite industry, the offspring of pure Yankee tenacity and immigrant fortitude. Rock of Ages, founded by two native Vermonters and one Scotsman, epitomizes the rich cultural heritage of Barre, Vermont. Rock of Ages represents a living industry, not a museum or showcase, but a working, breathing entity that gives rise to some of the finest artistry in stone that our guests have ever seen.

 

We invite you and your family to experience Rock of Ages. Our narrated caravan tours take you to the world’s largest deep-hole, dimension granite quarry—a quarry nearly 600 feet deep!  Peer into its depths; observe our quarriers as they cut blocks from the sheer face and see the mighty steel derricks that tower above the surface and which are capable of lifting up to 250 tons.

 

Our artisans will amaze you when you take our self-guided factory tour. From hand pitching to laser etching, the factory tour allows you to observe the oldest and the latest: hand dressing and sculpting techniques that have remained virtually unchanged for centuries juxtaposed against modern circular diamond saws and laser etchers.

 

Once you’ve toured the quarry and factory, then bowl on our outdoor granite lane, watch our video, explore our exhibits and browse our gift shop, featuring Vermont-made granite gifts, Vermont specialty foods, clothing and souvenirs.

 

The Visitors Center is open May 16-October 31, Monday-Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Visitors Center and all of our tour and factory operations are closed on July 4th.

 

Tours of the quarrying operations consist of a guided caravan trip to the world’s largest dimension granite quarry—nearly six hundred feet in depth! Learn about the equipment and methods used to extract granite as you watch our skilled quarriers cutting the stone. You may even chance to see a giant block of granite being hoisted from the quarry depths by a mammoth derrick! These tours operate Monday-Saturday from the Friday of Memorial Day Weekend to mid-October. (Closed July 4) The guided tour runs Monday-Saturday from 10:15 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. Although our quarriers typically work weekdays only (They do not work holiday and vacation days but tours operate) and end their work day at 3:30 p.m., the site is impressive; and we believe you will enjoy your tour whatever day you come. However, to see the quarry in operation, you must take a tour on a weekday before 3:30 p.m. (Please see Tours.rockofages.com for departure times.) The cost of the tour is just $5.00 per adult, $4.50 per senior adult (62 and older) and $2.50 per child (6-13). Children 5 and under are admitted for free.

 

Free self-guided tours of our 160,000-square-foot manufacturing facility are available Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (Closed holidays and vacation days) From an elevated platform, you may view our skilled artisans as they perform a variety of finish operations, including design layout for the sand-carving process, dimension cutting of the stone and polishing of the stone.  Additionally, master sculptors may be seen as they create statuary and other hand-carved features.

 

We are conveniently located just a few miles off Interstate 89, exit 6, allowing easy access. While in the Barre area, please plan to visit Hope Cemetery, an outdoor showcase of memorial art, featuring such unusual pieces as a racecar, biplane and soccer ball. Also nearby are great recreation trails for hiking and biking: Millstonehill.com, then select “Touring Center”. We are close to several other popular Vermont attractions, including the state Capital, Montpelier, Morse Farm, Bragg Farm, Fairbanks Museum, Ben & Jerry’s and the Stowe resort area, and the Burlington/Lake Champlain region. We are only 185 miles from Boston and just 160 miles from Montreal. We hope that you will make Rock of Ages a part of your next trip or vacation. It’s sure to be a fun-filled adventure for every member of the family. If you have any questions, please feel free to call us toll free at 866-748-6877 or visit our website:  Tours.rockofages.com for travel information or to select from a variety of Vermont-made granite gifts from our on-linestore.

 

​Sincerely,

 

 

​Todd Paton

​Director of Visitor Services

 

 

As seen on the History Channel’s Modern Marvels and the Travel Channel’s Made In America.

 

Yankee Travel Guide to New England Editors’ Pick as “Best Stone Show” 2014

 

Editors’ pick as one of the best attractions in Vermont, Vermont Magazine 1998

 

For more information, visit: http://www.rockofages.com/

Lonaconing Iron Furnace and Park, Lonaconing, Maryland

The fact about this furnace is no joke

To make iron, it used coal and coke

For more information, visit: https://www.mdmountainside.com/attraction/iron_furnace

Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden, Springfield, Massachusetts

Come to this garden and have a good time

For it is dedicated to a man who knew how to rhyme

Springfield Museums are one of the region’s most popular tourist and cultural attractions, over a quarter of a million visitors per year.

They feature four world-class museums covering art, history, and science, plus the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden, all centrally located on one campus. A fifth museum, The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum, will open in 2017.

Lyman & Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History, featuring Springfield-built Indian Motorcycles, Rolls-Royces, and historic firearms by Smith & Wesson.

Springfield Science Museum, with live animal exhibitions, dinosaur skeletons, Native American and African artifacts, and the Seymour Planetarium

Michele & Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts, with works by Winslow Homer, Georgia O’Keeffe, Claude Monet, plus world-renowned print collections from Japan and by Currier & Ives.

George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum, a Victorian-era single collector museum filled with paintings, Asian decorative art, weaponry and armor, and Islamic art.

Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden honoring Theodor Geisel, who was born and raised in Springfield.

For more information, visit: http://www.springfieldmuseums.org/

Mount Rushmore National Memorial, South Dakota

A massive granite sculpture is what you will adore

The number of American Presidents on this mountain is four

For more information, visit: https://www.nps.gov/moru

Birthplace of Kermit the Frog Exhibit, Leland, Mississippi

If you are a fan of the Muppets or Sesame Street

Then visit this place for a special treat

For more information, visit: http://birthplaceofthefrog.org/

Gloss Mountains, Fairview, Oklahoma

These mountains are oh so fine

They are said to really shine

The Gloss Mountain area was originally an inland ocean.  The white gypsum crystals and rock layers were formed as calcium sulfate saturated the water which was trapped in the mud of the sea floor.  Over time, both shale and gypsum were buried beneath several thousand feet of more recent sediments.  Development of the Rocky Mountains caused the broad uplift of the Western United States.  This uplift raised all of Oklahoma above sea level.  Ongoing erosion began exposing the shale and gypsum layers - now known as the Gloss Mountains!

Is it Glass or Gloss Mountains?  That's the question!  Glass Mountains was first used in 1873 on a map issued by the US General Land Office.  In 1875, a second map labeled this areas as the Gloss Mountains but it was apparently a drafting error.  Locals still refer to them as the Gloss Mountains.

A few outlaws have roamed the land.  Desperados like Dick Yeager took refuge in the rugged country.

The "white rings" of gypsum in this area is very high in purity; therefore, it's used in pharmaceuticals and food products - baking soda, bread, candy, beer.  

For more information, visit: http://www.okmajordev.org/gloss-mountain-state-park.html

Bemidji, Minnesota

Come to this town's visitor center, you will find it great

For it has a fireplace built of stones from every state

By Darla Sathre (from The Depot Express newsletter, Fall 2014)

I love rocks. So no matter where I am or what I am doing, rocks can get me sidetracked. The nationally known Fireplace of States located in Bemidji’s Chamber of Commerce Tourist Information Center is made of over 900 rocks from all over the country. It all started in the early 1930s with an idea from Harry E. Roese, district manager of the Federal Reemployment Service, as well as president of the Civic and Commerce Association in Bemidji. His grand idea was of a fireplace containing rocks from every state in the union, from every Canadian province, from all 87 Minnesota counties, and from all the national parks. The building of the fireplace became one the New Deal projects designed to keep people working during the Depression.

A short sidetrack concerning Harry Roese: He was the owner of the classy Shorecrest Resort with the dance pavilion on Birchmont Drive.

He did not work alone. A secretary in Harry’s office, Miss Kathleen Wilson, was directed to write solicitation letters for the rocks. Fifty years later she still marveled at how willing people were to send their rocks to Bemidji, especially considering shipping costs of heavy rocks. As the rocks came tumbling in, each was numbered so an identification key could be compiled.

Mark Morse was the stone mason in charge of building and designing the fireplace. (If I were to go on a sidetrack now I would tell you about the Bemidji State University outdoor fireplace, the Greenwood Cemetery pillars, and Mark’s many other masonry projects in Bemidji).

By the end of 1935, the fireplace was completed as part of the octagonal Bunyan House on the shore of Lake Bemidji. For decades tourists admired the great fireplace and the many rocks.

As a sidetrack, I came across a 1939 newspaper article about Miss Elsie Mae Willsey acquiring some circa 1514 tiles in Puerto Rico, from the home of the Spanish Explorer Ponce de Leon, that she planned to bring back to Bemidji to be added to the fireplace. We are not sure about what happened to these. By the way (a sidetracked way), Elsie was a daughter of the well known Captain Willsey of early Bemidji renown, but that would be a whole ‘nother story.

By the mid-1990s, the building was in poor shape and needed to come down. But the great Fireplace of States was to be saved! It was segmented, shrink wrapped, and moved with a crane into the new Tourist Information Center next to the 1937 statues of Paul Bunyan and his blue ox, Babe. Visitors still love the impressive Fireplace of States. Go see it. The only thing missing is the key. The only rocks that we are certain of the origin are the ones that were engraved by the donors. But it is still worthwhile to check out!

For more information, visit: http://beltramihistory.org/2014/10/02/sidetracked-fireplace-of-states/

Bemidji, the First City on the Mississippi, is a historically charming, progressive northwoods city.  Soon after its birth at Itasca State Park, the world’s fourth longest river- the Mississippi, travels north to Bemidji.  After crossing through Lake Bemidji, it swings south on its 2,552- mile journey to the Gulf of Mexico. 

History, diverse culture, legend and lore mingled with an abundance of bald eagles and waterways, give the Bemidji area its unique character.  400 fishing lakes in a 25-mile radius invite anglers and provide a variety of recreational opportunities all year around. The natural rhythm of changing seasons draw bikers, hikers, skiers and snowmobiling enthusiasts to the area’s State and National Forests.  400 miles of groomed snowmobile trails and 140 kilometers of cross country ski trails wind through the scenic north woods.  Minnesota’s northwoods holds a treasure trove of natural beauty for those seeking peaceful refreshment.    

For half a century, logging was the economic lifeblood of the area.  By way of celebrating the turn-of-the 20th century booming industry, an 18 ft. statue of the legendary lumberjack Paul Bunyan and Babe his Blue Ox were constructed at the waterfront for the 1937 Winter Carnival. This famous duo has posed with visitors for countless memorable photographs ever since – earning Midwest Living magazine’s ‘‘Best in the Midwest” Roadside Attraction Award in 2003.  Paul’s memorabilia, displayed in the adjacent Tourist Information Center, is sure to bring a grin.

 Native American and Scandinavian cultures are woven together into the tapestry of Bemidji’s history.  Several events and galleries showcase the community’s rich and diverse cultural heritage.  A remarkable collection of sculpture and outdoor art throughout the downtown area offers a glimpse into the creativity this beautiful area inspires.  Live performance theater, science and history museums and art galleries dot the downtown shopping and dining district.

Even though Bemidji is a regional retail and educational center, with the amenities of a large city, it still maintains a small-town atmosphere.  The surrounding region abounds with interesting places and things to do.  A few memorable places to visit are; the Headwaters of the Mississippi River at Itasca State Park, the Laurentian Continental Divide, the ‘Lost Forty’ forest of 350 year old trees, historic Camp Rabideau CCC Camp, birding hot spots and the Forestedge Winery.

 Whether you are seeking a traditional vacation, a weekend getaway or want to enjoy your favorite sport, Bemidji is an ideal spot to relax and refresh.

For more information, visit: http://www.visitbemidji.com/