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Nothing embodies the spirit of Halloween more than the Pumpkin House of Kenova, West Virginia. It boasts more than 3,000...
01/11/2024

Nothing embodies the spirit of Halloween more than the Pumpkin House of Kenova, West Virginia. It boasts more than 3,000 hand-carved pumpkins, a testament to the three weeks of hard work and dedication of hundreds of volunteers who assembled this unique attraction.

The Pumpkin House, which started in 1971 with a modest display of five hand-carved pumpkins for each member of the Griffith family, has grown significantly over the years. By the 1980s, the pumpkins had begun to fill the porch, and soon, they expanded to cover the roofs of the porches and the house. The Griffith family's move to a historic Queen Anne-style house on Beech Street in 1991 set the stage for an even grander display.

🔖 Check out more photos of the Pumpkin House: http://americanbyways.com/destination/pumpkin-house/

Some time ago, my partner introduced me to one of the most intriguing parks in Indianapolis: The Ruins at Holliday Park....
25/10/2024

Some time ago, my partner introduced me to one of the most intriguing parks in Indianapolis: The Ruins at Holliday Park. This unique spot combines my love of history, quirky places (though it’s not technically abandoned), and nature. Situated along the White River in the Delaware Trails neighborhood, Holliday Park came to be through a land donation from John and Evaline Holliday.

The Ruins took shape using remnants from the facade of New York City’s St. Paul Building, one of the city’s first skyscrapers, built in 1898. When the building’s owner, Western Electric Corporation, decided to replace it with a modern skyscraper in the 1950s, the St. Paul Building was demolished in 1958. To preserve its sculptures and architectural details, Western Electric held a competition for cities to propose displays for the artifacts. Indianapolis artist Elmer Taflinger won with his vision for The Ruins and worked with the city for nearly 20 years to bring it to life.

The Ruins finally opened in 1973 after many years of planning.

🔖 More photos and narrative: https://abandonedonline.net/exploring-the-ruins-at-holliday-park-in-indianapolis/

The T.C. Steele State Historic Site is the former home of painter Theodore Clement Steele and his wife, Selma, located i...
01/10/2024

The T.C. Steele State Historic Site is the former home of painter Theodore Clement Steele and his wife, Selma, located in the scenic hills of Brown County, Indiana. The house and its grounds greatly influenced Steele’s impressionist paintings. Visitors can explore the house and grounds that inspired the artist’s stunning impressionist paintings.

🔖 Check out our latest guide: http://americanbyways.com/destination/t-c-steele-state-historic-site/

Kay Moor, West Virginia, was once a company town for the Low Moor Iron Company. At its height, it featured a coal mine a...
26/09/2024

Kay Moor, West Virginia, was once a company town for the Low Moor Iron Company. At its height, it featured a coal mine and processing plant. The town was named after James Kay, an employee of Low Moor Iron, who oversaw its construction at the base of the mountain.

The Kay Moor No. 1 coal mine opened in 1899, located 560 feet above the New River, to provide coal for the company’s blast furnaces in Virginia. A second mine, Kay Moor No. 2, began operations about two miles away in 1903.

However, by the early 1950s, the mines began to run dry and ultimately closed in 1962. They were briefly reopened by a different company but were abandoned again in 1964.

Today, this area is part of the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. Reaching the mine portals requires a challenging hike from the top to the "bench level." From there, you’ll face an even tougher trek down an endless staircase to reach the bottom, where the power plant, coal tipple, and coke ovens are located.

🔖 Check out our latest guide: http://americanbyways.com/destination/kay-moor/

Sandstone Falls is the largest waterfall on the New River within the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in West ...
24/09/2024

Sandstone Falls is the largest waterfall on the New River within the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in West Virginia.

The cascades span the river where it is 1,500 feet wide, dropping 10 to 25 feet. The waterfall marks the transition of the New River from a broad river of large bottomlands to a narrow mountain river through a boulder-strewn gorge.

🔖 Learn more: http://americanbyways.com/destination/sandstone-falls/

I set out to make the most of a weekend photographing some of my favorite locations in West Virginia, knowing it would b...
12/09/2024

I set out to make the most of a weekend photographing some of my favorite locations in West Virginia, knowing it would be my last trip through the area for a while—a sort of farewell to Appalachia. What better place to end my first full day than along the Highland Scenic Highway, a 43-mile scenic byway that winds through the Allegheny Highlands and Plateau within the Monongahela National Forest?

📸 More photos: http://americanbyways.com/destination/highland-scenic-highway/

Nestled in the picturesque Greenbrier River Valley, just north of Lewisburg, West Virginia, Droop Mountain Battlefield S...
23/08/2024

Nestled in the picturesque Greenbrier River Valley, just north of Lewisburg, West Virginia, Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park is a significant site of Civil War history—the location of the last major battle fought in the state.

📸 The lookout tower at Droop Mountain provides one of the most spectacular sites in the state to witness a sunrise:
http://americanbyways.com/destination/droop-mountain-battlefield-state-park/

The earliest pig iron furnaces in the United States smelted iron ore to produce cast iron items, including wagon wheel i...
02/08/2024

The earliest pig iron furnaces in the United States smelted iron ore to produce cast iron items, including wagon wheel iron, fireplaces, kettles, and industrial components. One of the earliest furnaces in Pennsylvania is the Pine Grove Furnace, situated along Mountain Creek. The furnace and the surrounding community have been partially preserved as a state park.

🔖 Learn more about Pine Grove Furnace: http://americanbyways.com/destination/pine-grove-furnace-state-park/

Russell Brook Falls, nestled in the Delaware Wild Forest in Delaware County, New York, offers a picturesque retreat feat...
17/07/2024

Russell Brook Falls, nestled in the Delaware Wild Forest in Delaware County, New York, offers a picturesque retreat featuring two stunning waterfalls and the intriguing ruins of old dams and mills. Once a bustling hub of industrial activity, this area has since been transformed into a serene and permanently protected sanctuary within the western Catskill Forest Preserve. Visitors can now explore the tranquil beauty of the falls while reflecting on its rich history.

🔖 Check out our latest guide on Russell Brook Falls: http://americanbyways.com/destination/russell-brook-falls

Along the Cat Fork of Blaine Creek in Lawrence County, Kentucky, lies a scene straight out of a typical Appalachian stor...
02/07/2024

Along the Cat Fork of Blaine Creek in Lawrence County, Kentucky, lies a scene straight out of a typical Appalachian storybook: a traditional side-gabled hall-and-parlor house and a Silk tree (Albizia julibrissin), a species known for its characteristic pink, fuzzy inflorescences.

🔖 Read on in "From Persia to Kentucky: The Journey of the Silk Tree": http://americanbyways.com/from-persia-to-kentucky-the-journey-of-the-silk-tree/

Ohio's Bicentennial Barns stand proudly along the roadsides across the state, serving as a poignant tribute to the state...
30/05/2024

Ohio's Bicentennial Barns stand proudly along the roadsides across the state, serving as a poignant tribute to the state's history and rich agricultural legacy. In the lead-up to Ohio’s bicentennial celebrations in 2003, the state launched an innovative and heartfelt project in 1997: the Ohio Bicentennial Barn Project. The ambitious mission was simple—adorn a historic barn in each of Ohio’s 88 counties with the official Bicentennial logo, encapsulating 200 years of state history.

On a drive down State Route 93 near Oak Hill earlier this spring, I trekked down an overgrown embankment to an old abandoned railroad right-of-way to capture a few scenes of the Jackson County Bicentennial Barn.

🔖 Check out more of these barns at: http://americanbyways.com/ohios-bicentennial-barns/

Nestled within the vast Hocking State Forest lies the tranquil Big Spring Hollow area, a nature lover's delight waiting ...
28/05/2024

Nestled within the vast Hocking State Forest lies the tranquil Big Spring Hollow area, a nature lover's delight waiting to be explored. While the main draw is the towering 120-foot Big Spring Hollow Falls, reportedly one of the tallest in the state, this hidden gem offers much more than just a breathtaking cascade.

🔖 Read on in our newest Journal entry: http://americanbyways.com/big-spring-hollow-hike-a-seasonal-waterfall-and-wildflower-wonder

Bison Hollow Preserve is a hidden gem spanning Hocking and Vinton counties in the picturesque Hocking Hills region of Oh...
23/05/2024

Bison Hollow Preserve is a hidden gem spanning Hocking and Vinton counties in the picturesque Hocking Hills region of Ohio. Covering over 1,000 acres along the Q***r Creek watershed, Bison Hollow features a narrow, steep-walled Blackhand Sandstone gorge. This gorge is adorned with scenic rock outcrops, cliffs, overhangs, ledges, caves, and waterfalls. The preserve is also home to diverse plant life and a beautiful array of spring wildflowers.

🔖 Check out our latest travel guide: http://americanbyways.com/destination/bison-hollow-preserve/

🥾 Originally managed by the Appalachia Ohio Alliance, Bison Hollow was dedicated as the 146th Ohio State Nature Preserve in January 2024, ensuring that this natural wonder will be preserved for generations to come. It is open for visitation with a permit from the Appalachia Ohio Alliance.

Kentucky unfolds as a landscape adorned with sandstone arches, yet Pharaoh's Tomb in Laurel County stands out. Pharaoh's...
14/03/2024

Kentucky unfolds as a landscape adorned with sandstone arches, yet Pharaoh's Tomb in Laurel County stands out. Pharaoh's Tomb is classified as a false arch, unlike the typical arches that grace the region. A striking cliff separation has given rise to a distinctive square passage.

🔖 Read on: http://americanbyways.com/discovering-pharaohs-tomb-false-arch/

Home away from home.
04/03/2024

Home away from home.

Travel season has arrived, namely for the unseasonably warm weather. At Pine Island Double Falls in Kentucky today, the ...
03/03/2024

Travel season has arrived, namely for the unseasonably warm weather. At Pine Island Double Falls in Kentucky today, the creeks were in full flow. Typically, the combination of waterfalls and sunny weather does not excite me as the sun can be too harsh on the exposed water. However, on this occasion, the sunlight backlighting the water drippings from the sandstone overhangs made the long exposure photograph exceptionally worthwhile.

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On the hottest day of 2024, I thought it would be timely to revisit one of the coldest days of the preceding winter when the Ashland, Kentucky, area was blanketed with heavy snowfall. #AKY

Autumn Flyover of Tater Knob Lookout Tower - Daniel Boone National Forest, Kentucky
Autumn Flyover of Tater Knob Lookout Tower - Daniel Boone National Forest, Kentucky

Fire lookout towers provided housing and protection for individuals whose duty was to search for wildfires. Located on the summit of a mountain or otherwise high vantage point, the spotters could observe for smoke that may develop, determine its location, and call for fire suppression personnel to the fire. Tater Knob Fire Tower was constructed in 1934 by the Civilian Conservation Corps in Rowan County, Kentucky. The 35-foot-high tower was home to a 200-square-foot cab that contained a wood stove, cabinet, storage box, small table, stool, and two cots. The original wooden cab was reconstructed in 1959 which reduced it to nearly half of its original size as the lookouts no longer needed to live in the tower. By the mid-1970s, aircraft replaced lookouts, and the tower was abandoned. The historic Tater Knob Fire Tower was damaged in an arson fire on December 3, 2008. The fire burned all of the supporting wood frame of the lookout cab. ➤ More information on Cave Run Lake: http://americanbyways.com/destination/cave-run-lake/ ➤ More information on Tater Knob Lookout Tower: https://abandonedonline.net/location/fire-lookout-towers/#Tater-Knob-Lookout-Tower

Autumn Flyover of Tater Knob Lookout Tower - Daniel Boone National Forest, Kentucky
Autumn Flyover of Tater Knob Lookout Tower - Daniel Boone National Forest, Kentucky

Fire lookout towers provided housing and protection for individuals whose duty was to search for wildfires. Located on the summit of a mountain or otherwise high vantage point, the spotters could observe for smoke that may develop, determine its location, and call for fire suppression personnel to the fire. Tater Knob Fire Tower was constructed in 1934 by the Civilian Conservation Corps in Rowan County, Kentucky. The 35-foot-high tower was home to a 200-square-foot cab that contained a wood stove, cabinet, storage box, small table, stool, and two cots. The original wooden cab was reconstructed in 1959 which reduced it to nearly half of its original size as the lookouts no longer needed to live in the tower. By the mid-1970s, aircraft replaced lookouts, and the tower was abandoned. The historic Tater Knob Fire Tower was damaged in an arson fire on December 3, 2008. The fire burned all of the supporting wood frame of the lookout cab. ➤ More information on Cave Run Lake: http://americanbyways.com/destination/cave-run-lake/ ➤ More information on Tater Knob Lookout Tower: https://abandonedonline.net/location/fire-lookout-towers/#Tater-Knob-Lookout-Tower

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