American Byways

Home
American Byways

Explore Your America.

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/

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/

11/10/2024

On Thursday, October 10, 2024, a powerful geomagnetic storm energized Earth’s auroras. Equipped with a topographic map and waypoints, I ventured into Hoosier National Forest, aiming to capture the extraordinary light show from the historic Hickory Ridge Lookout Tower, located south of Bloomington.

🔖 More photos and narrative: http://americanbyways.com/auroras-over-indiana-capturing-natures-light-show-from-hoosier-national-forest/

03/10/2024

It’s been about a month since I relocated to Indiana, so a visit to Brown County to explore the legacy of one of the state’s most famous Impressionist painters, T.C. Steele, felt like the perfect next step.

🔖 Check out our latest Journal post: http://americanbyways.com/nature-and-art-intertwined-a-visit-to-t-c-steeles-scenic-studio/

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/

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/

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/

17/09/2024

The calm waters of the farm pond at the Shaw family farm in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, reflect the cool blue tones of the setting sun.

📸 More photos: http://americanbyways.com/a-farewell-visit-to-appalachia/

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/

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/

Address

Website

http://americanbyways.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when American Byways posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Address
Alerts
Claim ownership or report listing
Want your business to be the top-listed Travel Agency?

Country:

City: