I'm sure the owner considers this a form of "landscape art." How on earth does someone end up with nine identical cars? Especially such ugly ones in relatively pristine condition? If I saw them coming down the road toward me, I would start to get a bit paranoid. Or worse, say they came up from... Continue Reading →
Fonts of Knowledge: County Courthouses
By Eilene Lyon Genealogists and county courthouses go together like wine and cheese (you can see how I like to dine). We are a pair. As the Family History Library continues to digitize its microfilm collection and put it online, you might think that the era of visiting courthouses is coming to an end. Not... Continue Reading →
Will This Park Be Gone in 2050?
By Eilene Lyon This National Park could literally vanish during your lifetime. The Everglades National Park was the first national park set aside to protect a threatened ecosystem. The “River of Grass” has been heavily impacted by removal of water to serve the needs of Florida’s burgeoning population. As a result, changing habitat has led... Continue Reading →
Would These Parks Exist Without the Antiquities Act?
By Eilene Lyon You may have surmised by now that I love the desert. Whether I’m counting cacti or tagging tortoises - or just taking a walk through the wilderness - the sunlight, landforms, and wildlife captivate me. Some of the most stunning American desert landscapes are now protected as National Parks and National Monuments.... Continue Reading →
National Parks 2013 – 2017 – Part 3
By Eilene Lyon It’s been a couple weeks since my last post about National Parks and other public lands. As I mentioned before, I highly encourage you to learn more about the history of these places and the threats they face by clicking on the links below. Let’s start with Glacier National Park (feature photo... Continue Reading →
The Kindness of Strangers
By Eilene Lyon I keep this rather unremarkable photograph as a reminder of the kindnesses of strangers to an adventurous college graduate making a solo cross-country trip. June 15, 1985: I left Columbus, Ohio, in this 1972 Pontiac Ventura, pulling a lightweight boat trailer. My boyfriend had built a box on it to haul my... Continue Reading →
An Invitation to Heidelsheim
Week 4: #52Ancestors - Invitation to Dinner By Eilene Lyon “Which of your ancestors would you like to invite to dinner?” asked Amy Johnson Crow. I’d like to turn that around and be the one invited to dinner by my ancestors. Specifically, the Springers in Heidelsheim, Germany, in 1853. That would be the year before... Continue Reading →
Roadside Genealogy
By Eilene Lyon While touring Decorah, Iowa, I was pleased to see that the town managed to name a one-block-long street after my ancestor, William Painter. Considering he donated half the land the town is built on, it’s the least they could do. Taking a road trip to discover family history is really much more... Continue Reading →
Oasis
By Eilene Lyon When you think "oasis," perhaps it conjures an image that starts out as a rippling, liquid mirage on the horizon surrounded by dunes of hot, red sand. As you get closer, it resolves itself into a cluster of palm trees surrounding a cool, blue pool of crystalline water. You dismount from your... Continue Reading →