Author: Ms. R.

As the coronavirus pandemic ushered people into their homes, worlds contracted to the ecosystems contained within four walls and whatever nearby landscapes one might encounter on a walk. Confinement didn’t quash curiosity, though, and many people became diarists of their own humble, local wildernesses. Some chronicled the way that buds gave way to flowers. Others picked up binoculars and met the neighborhood birds. More humans logged interspecies encounters on the iNaturalist app last year than ever before. Many of……

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On Texas State Highway 16, an 18-stone arched bridge spans the Brazos River about a mile below the Morris Sheppard Dam—or as the locals call it the Possum Kingdom Dam. Drivers pass over this unique stone arch bridge every day and never give it a second thought, but it has a fascinating history.  So what makes this stone arch bridge special compared to thousands of others? At 433 feet long, it is the longest stone arch bridge in Texas. Construction materials……

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Somehow, neon signs are both opulent and decadent, romantic and depraved. And, like murals and high-rises, they tell the story of a city. That’s the idea, anyway, behind the Neon Museum of Philadelphia, the new emporium of forgotten signs located within the makerspace warehouse NextFab. Many of the displays—among them local legends like Pat’s Steaks, Bookbinder’s, and McGillin’s Olde Ale House—point to a more colorful bygone era in the City of Brotherly Love. The museum also features displays from……

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The Stockholm University campus has many pieces of public art scattered around its grounds. From modern art to detailed busts, most will find something they like if they look long enough. However, the most infamous of these works is a sculpture named “Moby dick,” but known colloquially as the “Duck.”  The statue crafted by Johan Paalzow was one of three sculptures that were the center of a court case between Wikimedia and the Bildkonst Upphovsrätt i Sverige (BUS). The latter……

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Alan and Ruby Inkster’s gardens began with the planting of several saplings in a 60-acre site. Once they had grown, the site was opened to the public in 1997, named Da Gairdins—the local Scots dialect for “the gardens.” The Inksters planted their many trees, pampas grasses, cabbage trees and variety of other vegetation not native to Shetland in part to show naysayers that it could be done. Located in the North Atlantic, Shetland is the northernmost part of Scotland. Similar……

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Located at the base of the Giant Pine Mountain ski jump, host of the World Cup ski jumping competition, the Pine Mountain 500 outdoor staircase has been a staple in Dickinson County for decades The many iterations of the stairs have played host to thousands of visitors and local athletes. Recently redone, the Pine Mountain 500 are a set of concrete stairs climbing nearly half of a mile straight up.  The stairs are open year-round for public use, although……

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The Muslim Cultural Centre of Ljubljana, completed in 2020, is home to one of the most beautifully designed modern mosques in Europe. The modern design and a thin, sharp minaret makes you think you entered a rocket launch facility. Located in a semi-industrial area of the Slovenian capital, the mosque, which can hold up to 1,400 people, is the heart of the six-building Islamic Cultural Centre. All of the buildings are made from white concrete, combined with elements of steel, glass,……

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This museum celebrates the history of the first coast-coast highway created in 1913. The Lincoln Highway traveled from Times Square in New York City to Lincoln Park in San Francisco. The Lincoln Highway Experience takes visitors through the development of the automobile, fill stations, tourist cabins, and other artifacts related to the early days of transportation. The museum showcases a few hidden gems of roadside attractions and most of the exhibits feature multimedia explanations.  A visit to the museum……

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