Wacky Virginia

08/07/2024

Found this working pay phone at a convenience store 99 miles outside of Charlottesville, VA — the last one of these I personally saw was in Brooksville, FL a few years ago.

01/04/2024

Tomorrow is April 1st, April Fools— here are the most revered April Fool’s jokes ever played… https://www.wackyexplorer.com/historys-biggest-april-fools-pranks-ever/

31/03/2024

On this day in 1890, this giant Capercaillie was shot by Lord Breadalbraine. Rumored to be one of the heaviest avians that ever existed, it fed a local school for nearly a week.

01/01/2024

John Tyler, America’s 10th President, was born in 1790 just after the American Revolution. He has a living grandson. Yep, we said grandson.

John Tyler's son Lyon Gardiner Tyler Sr. was born in August 1853, when the former president was 63 years old. Then His son Harrison Ruffin Tyler was born in November 1928, when his father was 75 years young. Harrison is now 95 and living in a nursing home. He is also a descendant of Pocahontas! Wild isn’t it?

19/12/2023

This was originally posted in a travel trailer group. Why would you do this?

04/12/2023

On this date in history, General Washington bids an emotional farewell to his troops.

https://www.wackyexplorer.com/general-washingtons-emotional-farewell-at-fraunces-tavern/

28/11/2023

Glenn Curtiss invented the streamlined Aero-Car trailer in 1927 and had them manufactured in Opa-locka. The first photo is of Curtiss with the Aero-Car at his home, the Curtiss Mansion at 500 Deer Run in Country Club Estates(Miami Springs) in 1929. The second photo is a picture of Curtiss in 1927 standing next to an earlier version of the Aero-Car. The third photo is of the Aero-Car Ambulance that was to be used at Hialeah Park and Madison Square Garden in New York. Curtiss also had an Aero-Car dealership in Coral Gables.

23/11/2023

Remember!!!

23/11/2023

Winner: best picture TG 2023. Thank you Vicki Oler for the pic. (Oh, thanks Skip Mahaffey who’s page I took this from)

15/11/2023

Longtime Miami Springs resident Francis S. (Franny) Taylor -1924-1982- “was the founder and President of the Airboat Association of Florida and a member of many other conservation organizations. He was a tireless conservationist known as the “Johnny Appleseed of the Everglades”. He dedicated his time, effort, and money to save the Everglades for future generations to enjoy.
He sought no fame or recognition for his work (which he called a labor of love); however, many posthumous honors have been bestowed in his name, including the Florida Wildlife Federation’s annual “Outdoorsman of the Year” award given in his honor. The single greatest tribute, was the renaming of the “Everglades and
Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area” throughout the State. What an honor and joy it is to drive throughout the Everglades and see signs honoring his hard work and selfless dedication to wildlife conservation.
Franny was considered to be the father of the modern day Airboat. He designed and built the first aircraft aluminum Airboat in the world. Franny’s many innovative design concepts are still the most widely imitated; and, if you own a Taylor Hull, you know the quality that is unsurpassed, as each boat was custom built by hand with great precision.
Franny was a “flag waving patriot” and a decorated WWII Veteran, serving in Europe as a Combat Engineer under the great General George Patton. He deeply loved and honored this great Country and instilled that patriotism in his family."
Information published in the Miami Herald Sept 20, 2007 ”

10/11/2023

On 11-11 at exactly 11:11 am, every Veterans Day, the sun aligns perfectly with the Anthem Veteran’s Memorial in Arizona to shine through the ellipses of the five marble pillars representing each branch of the Armed Forces, illuminating The Great Seal of the United States!

05/08/2023

It took a second for it to register. But I’ve been laughing ever since.

07/07/2023

The history of how the overland highway to Key West, Florida came to be! Read here... https://www.wackyexplorer.com/history-of-the-overland-highway-to-key-west/

07/07/2023

It's hot and I've got to go out and cut grass. Wish someone would invent an air-conditioned lawnmower. Oh. That's right! They did! Way back in 1958! Read about it here...

This futuristic “Air-Conditioned Lawnmower” was built by the Simplicity Manufacturing Company, a U.S. company founded in 1922 by William J. Niederkorn. They built the contraption in 1957 and called it the Wonderboy X-100. The mower was featured on the 1958 cover of Mechanix Illustrated and was c...

02/07/2023

July 2nd is the Real "Independence Day!" Read why here... and please share. https://www.wackyexplorer.com/independence-day-aint-july-4th/

21/06/2023

A cool ride!

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1589269658233134?fs=e&s=TIeQ9V&mibextid=9imq16

26/05/2023

This is a story written over 10 years ago about William "Bill" Lancaster, the most faithful sailor I've ever known, and the legend of the USS Yorktown. I post it every year and it generally gets a modest number of reads. It's never gone viral. I post it anyway. It reminds me of the sacrifice men have made allowing us to enjoy the freedoms we have in America. The story ends on a positive note, something our most faithful sailor -- Bill Lancaster -- would certainly have approved. For you see, he's the one who originally shared it with me. It's the best advice anyone has ever shared with me. And once again, I'm sharing it with you. https://www.wackyexplorer.com/the-faithful-sailor-uss-yorktown/

15/05/2023

Everybody is moving to Florida these days. Bet you won't find a sign like this today. Back in the early 1960's, this was one of the most notorious Realtor signs in Florida. The Realtor's name was George Smith located in New Port Richey. The city currently famous for being featured on the "LivePD" TV show.

06/04/2023

We are still wandering around Panama City Beach and ran across this Top Secret research laboratory today. As legend has it, the world’s greatest scientists – led by Professor Wonder – were given the task of creating a man-made tornado and harnessing the POWER of it. During this experiment, something went awry and the power of the tornado was unleashed throughout the laboratory. This created a swirling vortex that was strong enough to rip the laboratory from its foundation. It was carried thousands of miles away and landed upside-down on the top of a surf shack in Panama City Beach, Florida. That's the legend anyway.

05/04/2023

Found another old Dino in Panama City Beach, Florida yesterday on the mini golf course! Not many of these miniature golf courses still exist as they are slowly going the way of the dinosaur. Also got an interesting shot of the moon last night while walking around the campground.

30/03/2023

April Fool's Joke Gone Wild! Do you remember when two Florida DJ's panicked the community over "Dihydrogen Monoxide?" Learn more about this and the biggest April Fool's pranks ever! https://www.wackyexplorer.com/historys-biggest-april-fools-pranks-ever/

29/03/2023

Six of the most successful April Fool's Day Pranks in History! Like BMW's "Magnetic Tow Technology." "Why burn your fuel when you can burn someone else's?" Plus, enter your best idea for a viral April Fool's prank and Win Cash!
https://www.wackyexplorer.com/historys-biggest-april-fools-pranks-ever/

24/03/2023

At one time, this was the fastest Indian motocycle in the world. The year was 1920 and the man sitting atop this machine broke the world record in Daytona Beach, Florida with a top speed of 115.79 Miles Per Hour. Learn more https://www.wackyexplorer.com/alabama-flash-indian-motocycle/

13/03/2023

129 Years Ago, Coca-Cola Introduced Bottled Coke - Learn more here https://www.wackyexplorer.com/date-coca-cola-bottles-first-appeared/

10/03/2023

Dang time change. Had to go around and fix all my clocks today.

27/02/2023

Hey guys!

22/02/2023

He was the greatest Yankee of all time. Where did he hit his longest home run? A 611 foot blast!
https://www.wackyexplorer.com/tag/facts-about-babe-ruth/

27/12/2022

Here’s a memory a kid will never forget — and a Florida tradition. My friend Chris let the folks at Gatorland put his son Nathan on a live gator a couple weeks ago. Fun fun fun….

24/11/2022

The first car in Brooksville, Florida. In the car are J.C. and Sallie Burwell. Lucy and Grace Burwell are on the porch of their home located at 24 Olive Street.