Category: Explorations

June 21, 2016 / Explorations
June 8, 2016 / Explorations
June 7, 2016 / Explorations

Once a strategically important city at the juncture of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, Cairo, Illinois, is in terminal decline after decades of racial turbulence.

May 31, 2016 / Explorations
May 11, 2016 / Explorations

National Acme, located in Cleveland, Ohio, was one of the largest manufacturers of machine tools in the United States. It began as the merger of two notable machine tool manufacturers, the Cleveland Twist Drill Company and the National Acme Company.

April 28, 2016 / Explorations
March 7, 2016 / Explorations
February 17, 2016 / Explorations
February 1, 2016 / Explorations

Yogi Berra once said to trust your instincts, keep trying, and, most importantly, act. For years, I have been traveling to the southeast corner of West Virginia, exploring its many one-lane roads and scenic byways and taking in all the Mountain State had to offer.  The desire for wanderlust was just too great.

December 4, 2015 / Explorations

My October journey through New York state, filled with autumn splendor, abandoned buildings, and vibrant landscapes, left me with a renewed sense of appreciation for the region’s natural beauty and history.

December 1, 2015 / Explorations

The Van Nattas Pumping Station, located in Ithaca, New York, was constructed by the Ithaca Light & Water Company in 1893. It was built on the site of the Van Natta & Jones Mill.

July 24, 2015 / Explorations

Molly Stark Sanatorium was a tuberculosis hospital in northeastern Ohio. Constructed during a time when the prevailing medical treatment for tuberculosis was sunlight, fresh air, and rudimentary medicines, the building was constructed with large windows, porches, balconies, and rooftop verandas.

July 14, 2015 / Explorations

A few weeks ago, I revisited the Indiana Army Ammunition Plant (IAAP). This facility, renowned for manufacturing smokeless gunpowder and other ordnance, held the distinction of being the largest of its kind worldwide upon its completion.

July 4, 2015 / Explorations
June 7, 2015 / Explorations
May 22, 2015 / Explorations

Concluding a journey through the Rust Belt, the exploration of a temple, observatory, and factory en route to Cleveland, Ohio, provided a fitting conclusion to the trip.

May 4, 2015 / Explorations

Western Pennsylvania is the industrial heart of the Rust Belt, as once-mighty steel mills, coke plants, and machine shops scattered alongside railroads, rivers, and highways have downsized and closed. A globalized economy and increased automation led to many jobs overseas; what remained was a shell, unable to be self-sustaining without government intervention.

April 21, 2015 / Explorations

From the window of my hotel room in Beckley, I could see the leaves billowing down the street among a fine rain punctuated by dark, gloomy skies. It was perfect road trip weather,

March 25, 2015 / Explorations