| Alberta, Banff — Banff Park Museum |
| | Opened in 1895, the Banff Park Museum was moved into this building in 1903. Its cross-log motif exemplifies an architectural style common in the town at the time. Norman Bethune Sanson, the museum’s curator from 1896 to 1932, energetically developed the collections, initially put together by the Geological Survey of Canada. Throughout its early years the museum dealt with natural and human history but by the late 1950s was limited to natural history. While this building was refurbished in 1985, . . . — Map (db m8836) |
| Ireland, Munster (County Kerry), Dunquin — The Blaskets |
| | This group, the most westerly off the Irish coast, comprises 7 sizeable islands and isolated rocks spread in a line west by south over 2½ miles of the Atlantic, the largest (Great Blasket) 2 miles off shore.
Antiquities of the early Christian period include oratories, crosses and “beehive” cells on Inis Mhicileáin and Inis Tuaisceart, and church ruins on the Great Blasket.
The economy of the islands, based mainly on fishing with some farming, in 1839 supported 13 . . . — Map (db m24096) |
| California (Alameda County), Berkeley — "Annie's Oak" — City of Berkeley Landmark — Designated in 1986 |
| | Here a venerable oak tree was saved by Annie Maybeck (1867-1956), wife of architect Bernard Maybeck. She is said to have "marched off to city hall" to protest the cutting of native trees during street paving early in the 20th Century. She and other influential women founded the Hillside Club to promote "building with nature". The Club proclaimed that "the few native trees that have survived centuries should be jealously preserved....bend the roads, divide the lots, place the houses to . . . — Map (db m18562) |
| California (Alpine County), Markleeville — Reynolds Peak — Elevation 9300 Feet |
| | Named in memory of
G. ELMER REYNOLDS
Stockton, California
Conservationist and lover of nature — Map (db m11479) |
| California (Del Norte County), Crescent City — The Metcalf Grove |
| | This grove is given to the State of California for the preservation of these ancient trees by Mr. and Mrs. Jesse H. Metcalf of Rhode Island. — Map (db m1510) |
| California (Mono County), Walker — The C-130 Crew — Lost During the Cannon Fire - June 17, 2002 |
| | In Loving and Grateful Memory of
The C-130 Crew
Steve Wass, Craig Labare and Mike Davis
Who gave their lives to save
our community on June 17, 2002 — Map (db m23036) |
| California (Monterey County), Carmel — Lone Cypress — Perched over the Pacific for Hundreds of Years |
| | Even though Monterey cypress trees prefer this area's rugged bare granite headlands, the Lone Cypress is a testament to the hardiness of these trees. It has withstood Pacific storms and winds for roughly 250 years. Fences and cables now offer added protection in the hopes it will live to be 300.
Due to Samuel F.B. Morse, the preservation-minded founder of Pebble Beach, the Del Monte Forest now consists of nature trails and reserves, spectacular 17 Mile Drive, resorts and golf courses, and . . . — Map (db m8476) |
| California (Santa Clara County), Alviso — Discover Alviso’s Rich History — Alviso Marina County Park |
| | Alviso’s marina today starkly contrasts with its past as a bustling seaport. In the mid-19th century, Alviso was a transportation hub through which crops, goods and people circulated, fueling the economic growth of the South Bay. Port activity in Alviso eventually ceased under the strain of flooding and after the rise of railroads for commerce.
Alviso’s identity has shifted to its new role as a managed wetland. This South Bay area provides critical habitat for migratory birds and . . . — Map (db m24408) |
| California (Santa Clara County), Alviso — Salt Ponds — Past, Present, Future |
| | Beginning with the Ohlone people, who harvested salt for local use and regional trade, small scale salt production on San Francisco Bay expanded into one of the largest industrial solar evaporation complexes in the world. Salt production transformed the South Bay landscape and contributed to the loss of more than 85 percent of the rich tidal marshes that once surrounded the Bay. However, salt ponds can be a natural part of San Francisco Bay.
Twenty-five square miles of former commercial . . . — Map (db m24444) |
| California (Santa Clara County), Alviso — Water Everywhere — Water Seeks Its Own Level |
| | Water in Alviso is a complex issue that touches on the environment, economics, and life safety. Already susceptible to flooding, Alviso’s situation was worsened by regional development. Hard paving, which prevented water absorption into the ground, and increased groundwater pumping caused the water table to drop. As a result, the land subsided, and Alviso dropped 13 feet over the last 100 years. Situated below sea level, it became even more vulnerable to flooding.
More recently, Alviso . . . — Map (db m24414) |
| California (Santa Clara County), San Jose — 945 — First Honeybees in California |
| | Here, on the 1,939-acre Rancho Potrero de Santa Clara, Christopher A. Shelton in early March 1853 introduced the honeybee to California. In Aspinwall, Panama, Shelton purchased 12 beehives from a New Yorker and transported them by rail, “Bongo” pack mule, and steamship to San Francisco. Only enough bees survived to fill one hive, but these quickly propagated, laying the foundation for California’s modern beekeeping industry. — Map (db m3627) |
| California (Santa Cruz County), Big Basin — 827 — The First State Park |
| | A group of conservationists led by Andrew P. Hill camped at the base of Slippery Rock on May 15, 1900 and formed the Sempervirens Club to preserve the redwoods of Big Basin. Their efforts resulted in deeding 3,500 acres of primeval forest to the State on September 20, 1902 to mark the beginning of the California State Park System.
— Map (db m2350) |
| California (Shasta County), Burney — Fountain Fire Vista Point |
| | . . . — Map (db m13741) |
| California (Stanislaus County), La Grange — Tuolumne Gold Dredge |
| | Behind this monument rests the historic Tuolumne Gold Dredge which started operation at Patricksville, just east of this location, on June 15, 1938. A Walter Johnson No. 52 Model, it floated on a self-created pond of water. It was larger than a football field, weighed over 2500 tons, and cost $543,148 to construct. The dredge used electricity to drive 120 4000 lb. buckets 70 ft. deep to recover gold. It ceased operation in July 1951. The total amount of gold recovered is unknown. — Map (db m7323) |
| California (Tulare County), Three Rivers — Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Parks |
| | United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organization
MAB
Program on Man and the Biosphere
By decision of the Bureau of the International Coordinating Council of the Program on Man and the Biosphere, duly authorized to that effect by the council
Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Parks
is recognized as part of the International Network of Biosphere Reserves. This network of protected samples of the world’s major ecosystem types is devoted to conservation of nature and . . . — Map (db m2978) |
| California (Tuolumne County), Sonora — Bonanza Mine — King of the Pocket Mines |
| | Discovered 1851, by Chileans, they took out a substantial amount of free gold.
Early 1870's acquired by James Divoll, Charles Clark, and Joseph Bray, sinking a shaft 1500 ft. in 1877. Big strike came in 1879, 990 lbs. of gold was removed in one week, valued over $300,000.
The mine yielded fortunes to Alonzo Colby, Edward Kiel, Albert Johnson, J.B. Harriman, and David R. Oliver, "All of Sonora".
No true record of the yield, but it ran into the millions. — Map (db m7565) |
| California (Yolo County), West Sacramento — Hydraulic Mining — West Sacramento River Walk |
| | Hydraulic gold mining was introduced in the 1850’s. Men with hoses blasted hillsides with powerful jets of water, which reduced the hills to mounds of gravel 20 times faster than with pick and shovel. Massive quantities of gravel and silt from hydraulic mining washed into the river channel, filling the streambed and contributing to flooding in the valley.
The U.S. Bureau of Mines, estimated that $81 million in gold was removed from California mines in 1852. Between 1848 and 1855, . . . — Map (db m15713) |
| Delaware (Sussex County), Lewes — SC-214 — Menhaden Fishing Industry |
| | The Atlantic Menhaden is a small herring-like fish found in the coastal waters of the Eastern United States. Used by Native Americans to fertilize crops, these oily fish were also used by European settlers to produce fuel for lamps. In the mid-19th century, technological improvements resulted in more efficient processing methods and the menhaden fishing industry was greatly expanded. Products included oil for use in paints and fertilizer to support the growing nation’s agricultural economy. In . . . — Map (db m19428) |
| District of Columbia (Washington), Southeast — Clark Calvin Griffith |
| | [south face of monument]:
{Rendering of Clark Calvin Griffith with the title} "The Old Fox"
Clark Calvin Griffith
Born Clear Creek, Missouri
November 20, 1869
Pitcher - Manager - Owner
Member of Hall of Fame
Won 237 — Lost 140
Devoted 69 years to baseball
Died Washington, D.C.
October 27, 1955.
An expression of love and admiration by his friends and the fans of Washington.
[east face of monument]:
Manager
First manager . . . — Map (db m15615) |
| Florida (Hillsborough County), Tampa — The Pam Callahan Nature Preserve — In tribute to and in memory of Pamela A. Callahan 1947 - 1993 |
| | Pam loved all aspects of nature and had a special feeling for these wetlands. She spearheaded a community effort to prevent this site from becoming yet another dense development. She fought for almost 3 years and never gave up. Despite difficult odds, she proved to the skeptics that one "can fight city hall" and win. Her success in stopping the developer allowed this land to remain pristine and available for ELAPP purchase. We, as well as future generations, owe her a debt of gratitude. Pam . . . — Map (db m13647) |
| Florida (Hillsborough County), Thonotosassa — John B. Sargeant, Sr. — May 29, 1915 - March 6, 1989 |
| | John B. Sargeant is remembered as a "gentle" man who generously gave of his time so that future generations could enjoy the lands preserved here. A Polk County dairyman, he served twenty-seven years on the Hillsborough River Basin Board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District. — Map (db m13678) |
| Florida (Levy County), Cedar Key — F-303 — John Muir at Cedar Key |
| | John Muir, noted naturalist and conservation leader, spent several months in Florida in 1867. He arrived at Cedar Key in October, seven weeks after setting out from Indiana on a "thousand-mile walk to the Gulf." Muir's journal account of his adventure, which was published in 1916, two years after his death, includes interesting glimpses of the quality of life in the post-Civil War south. "The traces of war," he wrote, "are not only apparent on the broken fields, mills, and woods ruthlessly . . . — Map (db m17705) |
| Florida (Liberty County), Bristol — F-46 — Torreya Tree |
| | In this vicinity on the Apalachicola River, Hardy Bryan Croom, pioneer Florida planter and botanist, discovered one of the rarest of coniferous trees, Torreya taxifolia circa 1835, and named it for Dr. John Torrey, prominent American botanist. Only four other species exist, but they are in the widely separated areas of China, Japan, and California. Croom’s promising botanical career ended in 1837 when he perished in the wreck of the steamship “Home” off Cape Hatteras. — Map (db m17753) |
| Florida (Orange County), Orlando — Mathew Robinson Marks |
| | In Memory of Mathew Robinson Marks Mayor of Orlando 1889-1890 through whose vision the planting of our magnificent shade trees was inaugurated. A.D. 1925 — Map (db m6914) |
| Florida (Pinellas County), Dunedin — Dr. Willis Stanley Blatchley |
| | Dedicated to the memory of Dr. Willis Stanley Blatchley, 1859-1940. Distinguished naturalist from Indiana, who from his home across the highway devoted twenty-seven winters, between 1913 and 1940, to the highly skillful exploration of the world of nature around Dunedin and elsewhere in southern Florida, writing some of his fascinating nature-study books and parts of his classic volumes on orders of insects. Erected by the Dunedin Historical Society 1976. — Map (db m4733) |
| Florida (Sarasota County), Osprey — Oscar Scherer State Park |
| | Bequeathed by his daughter
Elsa Scherer Burrows 1884-1955
in memory of her father 1856-1923
"That man may last, but never lives,
who much receives, but nothing gives;
whom none can love, - whom none can thank,
creation's blot, creation's blank."
When Jesus Dwelt
Thomas Gibbons 1720-1785 — Map (db m4885) |
| Florida (Sarasota County), Venice — Loring Lovell |
| | 1938-1994
Utilities Department Director
Loring Lovell exemplified a dedication to the preservation of Florida's water resources, environment, and rich cultural heritage. In recognition of his wisdom, foresight and efforts to provide potable water for Sarasota County residents, the Loring Lovell Interpretive Trail, dedicated to his memory, is an expression of appreciation for his service. — Map (db m4882) |
| Georgia (Chatham County), Tybee Island — Fort Screven Bakery — Building #97 |
| | Activated just prior to the Spanish-American War and inactivated at the close of World War II, Fort Screven served as a military post for almost 50 years. During that time, Fort Screven was a coast artillery installation, an infantry post, District F, IV Corps Headquarters of the Civilian Conservation Corps, and during World War II, the U.S. Army's only Engineering Diving and Salvage training school of its type in the continental United States.
Built c. 1925, the post bakery served the . . . — Map (db m13076) |
| Georgia (Screven County), Sylvania — 124-19 — John Abbot |
| | John Abbot, world famed entomologist and
collector of Lepidoptera came to Georgia
from London in 1790, and settled in
Jacksonboro, where he remained many years
collecting Lepidopterous insects. He was sent
to Georgia by a London collector and publisher.
Abbot, besides being an assiduous collector,
was an artist of some note. Many volumes of
his insects in color, with the particulars of their
habits, food and metamorphoses were
published in London. His books are the . . . — Map (db m24022) |
| Hawaii (Hawaii County), Volcano — Site of Hawaiian Volcano Observatory |
| | 1912-1942
For nearly 30 years, America’s first full-time volcano observatory occupied this site. Under the direction of Dr. Thomas A. Jaggar, world renowned volcanologist, the expertise to monitor and study volcanoes was developed. In 1942, the observatory was relocated to Uwekahuna, overlooking Haema’uma’u, to make way for the Volcano House Hotel.
This concrete piling served as a base for cameras and transits. The mound covers the old Whitney Seismograph Vault, where early seismic instruments were located. — Map (db m2980) |
| Idaho (Boise County), Grandjean — 435 — Emile Grandjean |
| | An immigrant from Denmark where he had studied forestry, he came to this part of Idaho in 1883 to mine, hunt and trap.
Before Idaho became a state in 1890, he built a winter cabin below Grandjean Peak on a site later occupied by Grandjean Ranger Station. Because of his European studies, he became a professional forester here. Then he served as supervisor of Boise National Forest from 1906 to 1922. — Map (db m22638) |
| Indiana (Allen County), Fort Wayne — Early Effort To Build A Park |
| | Around the turn of the century, the nationwide “City Beautiful” movement found local expression through the efforts of Charles Mulford Robinson and nationallly known landscape architect George Kessler. Seeking to reclaim the natural beauty of our rivers, Mr. Kessler incorporated them into a sweeping plan of riverside drives and parks that would bring the Indiana landscape into the heart of the city. Proposed in a report presented to the City's Park Board just days before the . . . — Map (db m17034) |
| Indiana (Allen County), Fort Wayne — These are the Hamilton Women of Fort Wayne |
| | Edith (seated), scholar of Greek and Roman mythology, wrote the classic text, The Greek Way.
Alice (standing), Edith's sister, influential industrial physician, advanced the reform of unsafe working conditions in our nation's factories.
Agnes (with young child), their cousin, accomplished painter and child advocate, worked in settlement houses and founded Fort Wayne's YWCA.
The Hamilton women have made lasting contributions to the well being of citizens on both local and national levels. Fort Wayne is proud of them. — Map (db m16956) |
| Indiana (Fountain County), Attica — 23.2003.1 — Ravine Park |
| | American Indians frequented this area, rich in natural resources. The ravine provided water from natural springs, marl for lime, and clay for bricks for nineteenth-century residents of Attica, platted 1825. City became owner of ravine 1906 when local business aand professional men organized to donate fifty-five acres for a public park.
City purchased thirty-five additional acres 1911, adding to eastern end. Park has served as center for social and recreational activities. Attica Chautauqua . . . — Map (db m3311) |
| Indiana (Fountain County), Covington — Portland Arch Natural Preserve |
| | has been designated a
National Natural Landmark
This site possesses exceptional value as an illustration of the nation's natural heritage and contributes to a better understanding of the environment — Map (db m10093) |
| Indiana (Harrison County), Corydon — 31.2004.1 — John Shields — Lewis and Clark Expedition Member |
| | [Marker Front]:
Shields, born 1769 in Virginia, served as a private for the entire Lewis and Clark Expedition from October 19, 1803 until October 10, 1806; one of its "Nine Young Men from Kentucky," he was a skilled gunsmith and blacksmith.
[Marker Reverse]:
The Corps of Discovery explored lands of Louisiana Purchase and Pacific Northwest, 1803 - 1806. Shields settled in southern Indiana by June 1807; appointed captain in Clark County militia July 1807. Died in Harrison County in December 1809. — Map (db m9642) |
| Indiana (Parke County), Marshall — 61.1968.4 — Turkey Run |
| | Little Ned Garland, son of the first family to settle in Indiana North of the 10 O’clock Line, is said to have named the stream below this cliff because wild turkeys roosted in trees within this chasm. — Map (db m3673) |
| Iowa (Worth County), Northwood — Historic Northern Iowa / Carrie Lane Chapman Catt - (1859 - 1947) |
| | Side A Northern Iowa landforms result from the action of 3 separate glacial ice sheets. Clear Lake, south of here, is one of the many Iowa lakes formed by glacial action. Pilot Knob, a glacially formed hill west of here, is one of highest points in northern Iowa and was used as a landmark by early travellers.
Much of the Western two-thirds of Iowa was prairie when the first settlers arrived. Pioneers in this area travelled through grasses 5 to 7 feet tall. Many of them referred . . . — Map (db m23264) |
| Kansas (Douglas County), Baldwin City — Black Jack Park |
| | (Main marker):
South of this park are 18 acres of virgin prairie. Purchased 1967 by Douglas County from Russell Hays for a permanent prairie preserve and historic site. Evidence of Santa Fe Trail plainly visible. Original site of D.A.R, marker was near pioneer town of Black Jack ½ mile east. (D.A.R. marker):
Santa Fe Trail 1822 - 1872 marked by the Daughters of the American Revolution and the State of Kansas 1906 — Map (db m20062) |
| Maryland, Baltimore — Living Classrooms Foundation |
| | Lady Maryland
The Lady Maryland is an authentic replica of a pungy schooner, a Chesapeake Bay workboat that sailed the Bay in the 1700s and 1800s. Pungies were fast sailing vessels and were primarily used to transport perishable cargo such as watermelons, tomatoes, fish, oysters, and other items that needed speedy delivery to prevent spoilage. Pungy schooners were traditionally painted pink and green and their flat, wide decks made them very efficient cargo vessels. Pungies sailed the . . . — Map (db m6126) |
| Maryland (Baltimore County), Avalon — A Place For Progress |
| | "Along this section of the valley, where once the vibrant hum of a thriving industry could be heard... now the silence of the tomb prevails. The gods of progress direct its movements in mysterious ways." - L.S. LeRendu, W.J. Dickey & Sons employee.
When European settlers discovered the Patapsco Valley, they found a source of untamed beauty rich in resources. Susquehannock and Pscataway Indians hunted and fished the valley full of elk, black bear, bison, gray wolves and deer. The . . . — Map (db m8838) |
| Maryland (Baltimore County), Avalon — Drinking Water for the Public |
| | Demands for cleaner drinking water in Baltimore City and County compelled Catonsville banker and philanthropist Victor G. Bloede to organize and Baltimore County Water & Electric Company in 1909.
In 1910, Bloede's company purchased the abandoned Avalon Iron & Nail Works and build a water filtration plant on the site. A large brick building housed the pumping machinary, and concrete holding ponds settle dirt and debris out of the ater. The remnants of the holding ponds are still visible. . . . — Map (db m8843) |
| Maryland (Baltimore County), Catonsville — The Changing River Valley |
| | Over the last 300 years, the now tranquil Patapsco Valley has seen dramatic changes.
During the industrial revolution, resource-hungry industries stripped trees from the hillsides to make charcoal. Every household needed wood as its lifeline for warmth and cooking - for survival.
Hillsides were left treeless, allowing mud to slither into the river, silting shipping channels, and clogging the port of Elkridge Landing. Factories dumped chemicals into the river, changing its color . . . — Map (db m8875) |
| Maryland (Baltimore County), Catonsville — The Destructive Power of the Patapsco |
| | "[Rainfall] nearly all night with a violent gale of wind. This morning the river begins to rise. The rain pours down furiously all day. The river in a freshet, rising all the time... At night the waters very high, threatening mischief to our works." - John Pendleton Kennedy, 1859.
Washed here by Tropical Storm Agnes in 1972, these truck tanker remains are a testament to the Patapsco River's flooding power. That spring, the water rose 30 ft., scattering trees and cars, gutting houses . . . — Map (db m8870) |
| Maryland (Baltimore County), Catonsville — The River Makes Electricity — Bloede Dame |
| | The Patapsco Electric & Manufacturing Company, organized by Victor Gustav Bloede, harnessed the river's waterpower to generate electricity. Completed in 1907, the Bloede Dam furnished electricity for Ellicott City, Catonsville, Carroll, Halethorpe, Arbutus, St. Denis, Elkridge, and parts west of Baltimore until 1924.
Bloede's company needed an innovative design that would not flood large areas upstream. They built the turbines and generating equipment inside a small dam, making Bloede Dam . . . — Map (db m8873) |
| Maryland (Baltimore County), Lutherville — Jones Falls Watershed |
| | Congratulations! You are helping to protect the environment. By choosing to ride the Light Rail instead of driving a car to your destination, you are conserving fuel, decreasing emissions, and reducing pollutants in the air and water.
Many of the pollutants that impact our streams and reduce water quality come from gasoline-powered cars. The dirt and emissions from vehicles are deposited on the roadway and in the air. Each rain washes the contaminants directly to the stream. . . . — Map (db m8483) |
| Maryland (Calvert County), Prince Frederick — Battle Creek Cypress Swamp |
| | A Bald Cypress Reserve and amphibian sanctuary. One of the last remaining stands of Bald Cypress in Maryland, and the most northerly growth in the Country. Registered as a National Landmark, 1965. — Map (db m3451) |
| Maryland (Charles County), Newburg — 300 Year Old Southern Red Oak |
| | Circumference 15’7”
Height 72’ Spread 98’
This beautiful tree had been preserved by the Potomac Electric Power Company in cooperation with the Charles County Garden Club — Map (db m10169) |
| Maryland (Harford County), Havre de Grace — A Crucial Connection — Wetlands are the vital link between land and water. |
| | Wetlands are a beautiful place to visit. Brightly colored flowers and a variety of birds are just some of the wonderful things to see in a wetland. water rushes off the land in a storm. When the water reaches the wetlands, plants help to slow the water's flow. Then, the spongy soil absorbs the extra water, reducing flooding. Water rushing off the land carries soil, trash and chemicals to the bay. Wetland plants trap this pollution, reducing erosion and keeping the bay clean. The Chesapeake . . . — Map (db m9696) |
| Maryland (Harford County), Havre de Grace — Birds by the Bay |
| | Herons, ducks, and geese gather along the shores and on the waters of the Chesapeake Bay. A Great Blue Heron has caught a fish to eat. Who is this? Domesticated geese are not native to this area. They are from Europe and Asia. The geese probably escaped from a farm and now lives here. Look for American coots spread out in a flock on the water from November to March. Mallard ducks are searching for seeds, snails, insects, and small fish to eat. A Ring-billed gull drops a clam in hopes of . . . — Map (db m9695) |
| Maryland (Harford County), Havre de Grace — Enjoy the Havre de Grace Promenade |
| | Stroll along our boardwalk, stop and listen to the ducks splashing in the water, feel the bay breeze on your cheek, and search the horizon for boats drifting on the water. — Map (db m9705) |
| Maryland (Harford County), Havre de Grace — Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway |
| | Ribbons of green along our shores... The Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway connects natural and historical areas along both shores of the Susquehanna River. Havre de Grace is located on the southwest end of this greenway. Discover Havre de Grace Stroll along our streets and enjoy our museums and shops. The City of Havre de Grace has a rich history... In the late 1700s a small town was forming at the junction of the Susquehanna River and the Chesapeake Bay. By 1798 the . . . — Map (db m9704) |
| Maryland (Harford County), Havre de Grace — President William J. Clinton |
| | On this site President William J. Clinton and Vice President Albert Gore, Jr. delivered addresses in celebration of America's 25th Earth Day April 21, 1995 — Map (db m9702) |
| Maryland (Harford County), Havre de Grace — Welcome to Our Wetland Home |
| | Along the shores of the Chesapeake Bay wetlands provide a home for many different animals. Listen...Look...can you find the animals that call this special place home? Look Up! Can you find the snake? Black rat snakes are skilled climbers searching in trees for birds and eggs to eat. Also look for black rat snakes along the shoreline where they may be hunting frogs and small mammals. This snake is not poisonous but instead wraps its long body around an animal and squeezes . . . — Map (db m9701) |
| Maryland (Prince George's County), College Park — Welcome to the Luther Goldman Birding Trail |
| | The Luther Goldman Birding Trail is dedicated to the memory of Luther Chase Goldman (1909 - 2005), a noted Prince Georges County Resident, field biologist, pioneer national wildlife refuge manager, renowned wildlife photographer, and nature tour leader who became the first official photographer of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service during a career that spanned nearly four decades.
Luther lived in nearby College Park, frequently hiked these trails, and loved to watch birds here. He knew, as . . . — Map (db m7870) |
| Maryland (Prince George's County), Croom — Man and the River — Footprints Along the Shore |
| | The shores of the Patuxent River bear evidence of human habitation dating back more than 8,000 years. Along the River many tribes of Indians practiced primitive farming, pottery making, and hunting with bow and arrow.
The New World colonists brought bustling trade to the River, and port towns developed in the late 17th and early 18th centuries.
The Patuxent was crucial to both the Americans and British in the War of 1812. Commodore Joshua Barney's Chesapeake Bay Flotilla was trapped . . . — Map (db m6613) |
| Maryland (Prince George's County), Oxon Hill — Oxon Cove Park and Oxon Hill Farm |
| | Welcome to Oxon Cove Park. Around here a walk in the park is a walk back in time. Exhibits along the way will help you find the layers of time. The Mount Welby historic house also has exhibits.
Today Oxon Hill Farm is the main feature of Oxon Cove Park. You can experience some of daily life on a working farm from the early 1900s, complete with pigs, chicken, horses, a garden, barns, farm machinery, and much more.
Oxon Cove Park is also a great spot for watching wildlife, walking a . . . — Map (db m4979) |
| Maryland (Prince George's County), Oxon Hill — Shifting Sands: The Story of Rosalie Island |
| |
You’re now standing in the cove protected by Rosalie Island, the point of first landfall for the Woodrow Wilson Bridge in Maryland. Rosalie Island is actually not an island at all–it is a peninsula. Indeed it is not even a natural landform. The “island” was formed from the spoils (castoff sediments) of a huge dredging operation, which also created the cove you see before you. In 1941, the operation kicked into high gear with the rapid construction of the Pentagon. During . . . — Map (db m19859) |
| Maryland (St. Mary's County), Coltons Point — The Shrinking Island |
| | Glaciers, storms, tides and winds are constantly creating and destroying islands and shorelines throughout the Chesapeake Bay region. According to Maryland settler and Jesuit missionary Father Andrew White, St. Clement's Island was 400 acres in 1634. Today, the island, measured with Global Positioning System (GPS), has been reduced by erosion to 62 acres.
During the 1920s, the Federal Government used layers of large stones, called riprap, to control erosion near the Blackistone Island . . . — Map (db m24196) |
| Maryland (Worcester County), Ocean City — Stephen Tyng Mather |
| | July 4, 1887 Jan. 22, 1930
He laid the foundation of the National Park Service defining and establishing the policies under which its areas shall be developed and conserved unimpaired for future generations. There will never come an end to the good that he has done. — Map (db m3789) |
| Nevada (Clark County), Las Vegas — 86 — Tule Springs — (Archeological Site) |
| | Tule Springs is one of the few sites in the U.S. where evidence suggest the presence of man before 11,000 B.C.
Scientific evidence shows this area, once covered with sagebrush and bordered with yellow-pine forests, had many springs. These springs were centers of activity for both big game animals and human predators. Evidence found at these fossil springs shows the presence, 14,000 to 11,000 years ago, of several extinct animals; the ground sloth, mammoth, prehistoric horse and American . . . — Map (db m22303) |
| New Jersey (Mercer County), Princeton Township — The Mercer Oak |
| | The Mercer Oak was named for Brigadier General Hugh Mercer, who fought and was mortally wounded in the Battle of Princeton, January 3, 1777. The white oak is believed to have been here at the time of the American Revolution.
A legend says that Mercer was bayoneted and was laid beneath this tree, refusing to leave the battle until victory was secured. He was actually wounded just uphill, behind enemy lines. Later recovered by his aids, Mercer was carried to the Thomas Clarke House, where he . . . — Map (db m10155) |
| New Jersey (Morris County), Green Village — Dickson's Mill Pond |
| | Across Pine Brook, you can see the remnants of the dam that once turned this valley into a pond and harnessed water to turn a sawmill, later a cider mill. The miller's house was behind you. The mill itself stood between this marker and the brook.
This peaceful little valley, active with wildlife, is one of the most beloved scenes in Harding Township. The 30-acre property, consisting of the stream corridor and surrounding wetlands and woods, was the first acquired by the Harding Land Trust, a . . . — Map (db m21974) |
| New Jersey (Morris County), New Vernon — The Silver Brook Gateway |
| | This 15 acre property was purchased by Harding Township and the Harding Land Trust in 2003 in partnership with the Morris County Open Space Preservation Trust and the State of New Jersey Green Acres program. It is a key link in the Silver Brook environmental greenway. Exceptional wetlands and woods flank the brook, providing homes for a rich diversity of flora and fauna. Just across the bridge along James Street, The Harding Land Trust's wetland enhancement project is improving habitat for a . . . — Map (db m18223) |
| New Jersey (Sussex County), Sussex — High Point: An Early Haven for Sightseers & Sportsmen — High Point State Park |
| | Early Settlement Were Sparse Since prehistoric times the rugged landscape of the Kittatinny Ridge has made it more a place to visit than a place to live. Native Americans hunted the forests and fished the lakes here, but their villages were located in the more fertile river valley below. By the early 1800s a few settlers built farmsteads amongst the rocks. These hardy mountain dwellers survived by logging the forests for cordwood and charcoal, growing crops and raising livestock. The . . . — Map (db m24545) |
| New Mexico (Eddy County), Carlsbad — Stephen Tyng Mather |
| | July 4, 1887 Jan. 22, 1930
He laid the foundation of the National Park Service defining and establishing the policies under which its areas shall be developed and conserved unimpaired for future generations. There will never come an end to the good that he has done. — Map (db m5979) |
| New York (Dutchess County), Poughkeepsie — River That Flows Both Ways |
| | The river before you is in no hurry to reach the Atlantic Ocean. The Native Americans knew that. They called it Muhheakantuck—“river that flows both ways.”
The Hudson’s current changes direction four times every day as ocean tides pulse upriver to the Troy dam. Drop a stick in at Troy. Drifting back and forth, it will take several months to reach the ocean.
An estuary is a place where salt and fresh water mingle. Seawater entering the Hudson meets fresh water . . . — Map (db m2488) |
| New York (Orange County), Monroe — Crane Park |
| | In honor of A. J. Crane, first president Monroe Improvement Association, estab. 1921 to purchase and improve land around the Mill Pond as a public park. — Map (db m23673) |
| North Carolina (Currituck County), Corolla — Duck Blinds |
| | When the last inlet to Currituck Sound closed in 1828, the water began to change. As rain, rivers, and streams poured in to the sound, the water became less salty and tall-grass marsh and wild celery attracted large flocks of migratory waterfowl in winter. The Currituck Sound became a hunters' paradise.
Due to incredibly good hunting conditions, the Knights, avid waterfowl hunters and conservationist, chose this site for a private residence. Experienced local guides ensured the hunters' . . . — Map (db m10686) |
| North Carolina (Swain County), Cherokee — A Mountain Sanctuary |
| | Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a sanctuary. This is one of the few places in the eastern United States where animal populations can live, propagate, and die with relatively little influence from humans. Plants flourish in untold numbers and often achieve record size. Gene pools are remarkably diverse. Some species here are rare or endangered, and new species may yet be discovered.
These mountains have also become a refuge for humans. But a natural area like this benefits people far . . . — Map (db m20057) |
| North Carolina (Swain County), Cherokee — Great Smoky Mountains National Park |
| | United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization MAB
Program on Man and the Biosphere
By Decision of the Bureau of the international coordinating council of the program on man and the biosphere, duly authorized to that effect by the council
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
is recognized as part of the international network of biosphere reserves. This network of protected samples of the world's major ecosystem types is devoted to conservation of nature and scientific . . . — Map (db m20061) |
| North Carolina (Swain County), Cherokee — Land of Blue Smoke |
| | Shaconage, the Cherokee name for this area, means "land of blue smoke." A smoke-like natural bluish haze, and mist-like clouds that rise following a rainstorm, provide the inspiration for the name Smoky Mountains. During the growing season, the Smokies' lush vegetation emits large quantities of moisture and organic compounds. Together they form the natural haze, which is thickest on calm, sunny, humid days. But the misty veil is not all nature's work. Air pollution contributes too. In recent . . . — Map (db m20058) |
| North Carolina (Swain County), Cherokee — Land of Diversity |
| | Few Places in North America sustain a greater variety of life than the Great Smoky Mountains. The forests, streams, and meadows here support more than 100 types of trees, 58 kinds of fish, some 1,500 flowering plants, more than 200 bird species, and an array of mammals that includes black bear, red wolf, and gray fox.
Such abundance is a function of topography and climate. Varying elevations provide endless combinations of moisture, temperature, wind, sunlight, and soil types. Most plant . . . — Map (db m20053) |
| North Carolina (Swain County), Cherokee — The Great Smokies |
| | (Side One):
The Great Smokies: scenic, diverse, culturally rich.
The scenic view here are well known; lesser known is the abundance of life. The Smokies' rugged topography creates a diversity of species found in few other places in North America. And the Smokies' rich human heritage includes the Cherokee, decades of mountain culture, and a unique national park story.
The best experience the Smokies you must leave your car. Walk the trails, visit the historic sites, and enjoy the . . . — Map (db m20066) |
| North Carolina (Watauga County), Grandfather Mountain — N 22 — Andre Michaux |
| | French botanist, pioneer
in studying flora of
western North Carolina,
visited Grandfather
Mountain, August, 1794. — Map (db m20372) |
| Ohio (Ashland County), Loudonville — 7-70 — Clear Fork Gorge — A Feature of Ohio's Forests |
| | Clear Fork Gorge was formed when glacial meltwater cut through the sandstone bedrock that forms its steep walls fourteen to twenty-four thousand years ago. The gorge is one thousand feet wide and over three hundred feet deep. Its seclusion has preserved a rare forest community that includes native white pine and towering eastern hemlock. A National Natural Landmark, the gorge displays a wide variety of other tree species more common throughout the state, with sycamore on the bottomlands, . . . — Map (db m24285) |
| Ohio (Cuyahoga County), Berea — 42-18 — The Ark |
| | The ARK in Berea is the first structure in Cuyahoga County to incorporate sustainable building concepts from the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. Hand built in 1994 as a work of art by environmental artists David and Renate Jakupca, it is a study for future buildings for the Headquarters of the International Center for Environmental Arts (ICEA) and Eco Village. A hybrid structure utilizing cob, straw bales, aluminum cans, used tires, and recycled construction materials, the ARK . . . — Map (db m23221) |
| Ohio (Franklin County), Columbus — 51-25 — First Modern Streamflow Measurement in Ohio |
| | Streams are both a principal economic resource and a natural hazard in Ohio. Accurate and systematic streamflow records are crucial in protecting lives and property and ensuring an adequate water supply. At this site in 1892 and 1893, engineering students from The Ohio State University (OSU) made the first streamflow measurements in Ohio with a current meter - a technology still in use at the beginning of the 21st century. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), an agency that cooperated with OSU in . . . — Map (db m12763) |
| Ohio (Franklin County), Gahanna — Big Walnut Creek Flood of Jan-Feb 1959 |
| | Historical Flood Mark, Jan.-Feb. 1959.
“Encroachment on flood plains, such as artificial fill, reduces the flood-carrying capacity, increases the flood heights of streams, and increases flood hazards in areas beyond the encroachment itself. One aspect of flood plain management involves balancing the economic gain from flood plain development against the resulting increase in flood hazard.”
Federal Emergency Management Agency, February 1, 1983.
This boulder brought from . . . — Map (db m14446) |
| Ohio (Fulton County), Archbold — 2-35 — Draining the Great Black Swamp |
| | The landscape of northwest Ohio was formed by melting ice and glacial lakes left behind in its wake. Because of the low gradient (3 feet fall per mile) to the northeast, the flat lacustrine plain evolved into a large swamp. A massive swamp forest with huge hardwoods, broken only sporadically with intermittent wet prairies and savannas, dominated the landscape. Both prehistoric and historic Indians farmed the flood plains of the Maumee River and its tributaries: Auglaize, Tiffin, and Blanchard . . . — Map (db m4025) |
| Ohio (Hamilton County), Cincinnati — 27-31 — John James Audubon in Cincinnati |
| | The Cincinnati Museum of Natural History is part of Cincinnati Museum Center. The Western Museum Society, organized by Dr. Daniel Drake in 1818, preceded it. The Western Museum Society's collection was built around ornithology, fossil zoology, geology, and Native American artifacts. The Museum's first taxidermist, John James Audubon, was hired in the winter of 1819 to do taxidermy, build collections, and create exhibits. Audubon supplemented his income by drawing portraits, teaching art, and . . . — Map (db m23935) |
| Ohio (Hamilton County), Cincinnati — Piatt Park |
| | The first park in Cincinnati
Donated to the people
in 1817 by
John H. Piatt & Benjamin M. Piatt — Map (db m24308) |
| Ohio (Hocking County), Hocking Hills State Park — Devil’s Bathtub |
| | As the water works its way down through Old Man’s Cave Gorge, one of the first unusual areas that it encounters here at Devil’s Bathtub. This is an area in the sandstone that has been cemented together more tightly than the other nearby rock layers. Because of this constriction of the stream, it has forced the water to carve in the only direction it can, straight down. Over time the swirling action has carved out the “bathtub” shape in the rock.
Legend says the swirling drain . . . — Map (db m2431) |
| Ohio (Hocking County), Hocking Hills State Park — 5-37 — Old Man’s Cave |
| | A Feature of Ohio’s Geology. This recess cave was named for the “old man” Richard Rowe, a recluse who made the cave his home in the 1800’s and is a part of the scenic Hocking Hills State Park. Hocking comes from the Wyandot Indian word “hockhocking,” referring to the Hocking River’s bottle-shaped gorge near Lancaster. Streams and percolating groundwater carved the hollows and caves in this area from layers of sandstone bedrock that vary in hardness. The hollow’s . . . — Map (db m2513) |
| Ohio (Miami County), Piqua — 18-55 — J. Scott Garbry |
| | J. Scott Garbry, a 1986 inductee into the Ohio Conservation Hall of Fame, had a lifelong commitment and passion for conservation, historic preservation, and education. His gift of land and artifacts to the Upper Valley JVS led to the creation of the Willowbrook Environmental Education Center and Garbry Museum. He was also instrumental in providing land for the site of the Piqua High School and for Garbry Woods of the Miami County Park District. These gifts make it possible to appreciate and experience Ohio's natural and historic heritage. — Map (db m17150) |
| Ohio (Montgomery County), Dayton — John Van Cleve — (1801-1858) |
| | John Van Cleve, Benjamin Van Cleve's son, made his own mark on Dayton as an intellectual, a political activist, and an advocate for a more beautiful city. Van Cleve studied botany, mathematics, and music. He served as the mayor of Dayton and published a log cabin newspaper that achieved national recognition. With foresight to desire a beautiful city, John walked the streets of Dayton making lists of needed improvements. He went into the woods and brought back trees and flowers to beautify the . . . — Map (db m22265) |
| Ohio (Morgan County), Bristol — 10-58 — Miner's Memorial Park |
| | Side A:
Agriculture dominated the economy of southeastern Ohio's Morgan County until the 1940s when harvests dwindled, the population declined, and land values dropped. Surface mining the area's rich underground coal deposits replaced agriculture as the major industry and revitalized the declining local economy. As the nation's demand for electricity grew over the next half-century, so did the demand for coal as fuel for nearby power generation plants. During mining's heyday in the 1960s . . . — Map (db m13595) |
| Ohio (Muskingum County), Philo — 8-60 — The Muskingum River Flows North |
| | Thirty-thousand years ago, the streams and rivers in this area flowed north. A ridge extended across what is today the Muskingum-Morgan County line about seven miles south of the Philo Lock. When the Wisconsin Glacier moved down from Canada 25,000 years ago, the glacier blocked the north flowing streams. A large lake formed in Muskingum County. Eventually the water spilled over the ridge and flowed to the Ohio River, carving the Muskingum River Valley. When the glaciers retreated, the drainage . . . — Map (db m13334) |
| Ohio (Sandusky County), Woodville — 6-72 — Woodville “The Lime Center of the World” / Maumee and Western Reserve Turnpike |
| | Woodville “The Lime Center of the World.” Woodville and the surrounding area is situated in the center of a huge deposit of some of the purest dolomitic limestone in the world. The absence of cracks in the rock stratum and relatively level terrain in the area prevents the contamination of the limestone. In recent years, Ohio has ranked as high as first nationally in the production of lime, and fourth in the production of crushed stone. Demand for the lime and lime products as a . . . — Map (db m4024) |
| Pennsylvania (Chester County), Elverson — Anthracite Furnace — A new ironmaking method |
| |
In 1853, the Hopewell partners built a hot-blast anthracite furnace here. This new furnace did not burn charcoal but used anthracite coal to smelt iron — an attempt to reduce fuel costs and increase iron production.
Hopewell's anthracite furnace operated for less than four years. By 1857, furnace machinery had been removed and was installed on a new furnace on the Schuylkill Canal. This suggests that the cost of hauling coal made the furnace operation uneconomical.
[Photograph . . . — Map (db m23867) |
| Pennsylvania (Dauphin County), Harrisburg — Breeze Hill |
| | Quietly nestled at the corner of 21st Street and Bellevue Road is a true historic landmark: the home of the internationally recognized founder of the American Civic Association and modern-day American Rose Society, J. Horace McFarland (1859-1948). It was here on the original 2.4-acre "pie-shaped" lot that one of the most widely known gardens in America was established. The energies of McFarland in bringing national attention to Harrisburg's City Beautiful plan, in advancing the cause of scenic . . . — Map (db m6893) |
| Pennsylvania (Dauphin County), Harrisburg — J. Horace McFarland — (1859 - 1948) |
| | Printer, horticulturist, conservationist, and "City Beautiful advocate. President, American Civic Association, 1904-24, and editor, "American Rose Annual," 1916-43. He worked successfully for preservation of Niagara Falls and creation of the National Park Service. McFarland stressed the duty of civic leaders to build a beautiful, healthful environment. his Breeze Hill home and gardens were in Harrisburg's Bellevue Park. — Map (db m6280) |
| Pennsylvania (Dauphin County), Harrisburg — Mira Lloyd Dock — (1853 - 1945) |
| | Botanist, educator, author, civic leader, conservationist, activist. She served on the State Forestry Reservation Commission, 1901-13. she catalyzed the birth of Harrisburg's "City Beautiful" movement in a speech to the Board of Trade, Dec. 20, 1900. this movement produced the city's park system (including Riverfront Park here) and other major civic improvements. Mira Dock lived on Front Street across from this marker. — Map (db m6255) |
| Pennsylvania (Dauphin County), Harrisburg — Mira Lloyd Dock Residence |
| | Perhaps the single-most important event that would trigger the public's embrace of Harrisburg's City Beautiful movement was the speech given on the evening of December 20, 1900, to the Harrisburg Board of Trade by social reformer and environmentalist Mira Lloyd Dock (1853-1945). Dock, who was born and raised in Harrisburg, formed a collaboration in the 1890's with noted Harrisburg printer and horticulturalist, J. Horace McFarland, to spearhead a new environmental consciousness, which . . . — Map (db m6257) |
| Pennsylvania (Dauphin County), Harrisburg — Mount Pleasant Press - The J. Horace McFarland Company |
| | Located in this building at Mulberry and Crescent Streets was what became known as the "Switchboard of America," the printing business and national clearinghouse operation of J. Horace McFarland (1859-1948), one of Harrisburg's most famous national figures during the first half of the 20th Century. McFarland, who went into the seed catalogue printing business as a young man in the 1880's, moved his operation to this site in 1889. McFarland was devoted to the sensitive stewardship of the natural . . . — Map (db m6850) |
| Pennsylvania (Dauphin County), Harrisburg — Reservoir Park |
| | This land, the largest park in south-central Pennsylvania, and which crowns the city's summit, contrastingly complements Harrisburg's magnificent riverfront. Originally known as Prospect Hill because of its lofty vantage points, the name was changed to Reservoir Park when the first reservoir to be constructed here opened in 1874. Earlier, Harrisburg's principal reservoir was located just north of the Old Capitol on North Street. The addition of a standpipe on the Old Waterworks at Front and . . . — Map (db m6853) |
| Pennsylvania (Dauphin County), Harrisburg — The Old Waterworks |
| | The development and evolution of Harrisburg's early public works infrastructure is captured through the unique Riverfront Park setting of the Old Waterworks, the original stone portion of which was constructed in 1841. At that time water was pumped by this facility directly from the Susquehanna River to the City's first reservoir located just east on North Street where the Commonwealth Keystone State Office Building now stands. The distinctive octagonal base of the stone structure on Front . . . — Map (db m6736) |
| Pennsylvania (Dauphin County), Harrisburg — Wildwood Lake Sanctuary |
| | Here at the base of Blue Mountain and within the City of Harrisburg's northern tier lies the 212-acre Wildwood Lake Sanctuary, the last vestige and magnificent preserve of the Susquehanna flood-plain wetlands which at one time were common prior to the filling of land for the development of Harrisburg. As early as 1901, the emerging plans of Harrisburg's City Beautiful Movement called for the establishment of a great park at what had been traditionally known as Wetzel's Swamp, a park that would . . . — Map (db m7101) |
| Pennsylvania (Dauphin County), Harrisburg — Wildwood Park |
| | Inspired by 'City Beautiful' advocates Horace McFarland and Mira Lloyd Dock, Wildwood Park opened its first trails in 1907. The largest of several Harrisburg parks designed in 1901 by leading horticulturist Warren Manning, it was part of a nationwide movement to enhance recreation, nature preservation and flood control in urban areas. Formerly Wetzel's Swamp, this Dauphin County park provides both educational and recreational opportunities. — Map (db m7106) |
| Pennsylvania (Dauphin County), Middletown — Nuclear Accident at Three Mile Island |
| | On March 28, 1979, and for several days thereafter — as a result of technical malfunctions and human error — Three Mile Island's Unit 2 Nuclear Generating Station was the scene of the nation’s worst commercial nuclear accident. Radiation was released, a part of the nuclear core was damaged, and thousands of residents evacuated the area. Events here would cause basic changes throughout the world’s nuclear power industry. — Map (db m900) |
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