History Galleries

Abraham Lincoln's Springfield, IL (8-22-09) : For 17 years of his life Abraham Lincoln called the city of Springfield, Illinois home. He bought the now-famous house in 1844 and moved in with his new wife, Mary and his son Robert. The home was much different at first, as you can see in the album. During his time in Springfield Lincoln rose from being a local lawyer, to congressman, to president-elect of the United States. Unfortunately Lincoln was never able to return in life to Springfield from Washington. After his assassination, the president's body was returned to his home town and laid to rest at Oak Ridge Cemetery. The Abraham Lincoln Historic Site contains Lincoln's home and 12 additional structures that have survived since Lincoln's time. On a whirlwind tour, I was able to visit the Historic Site in its entirety along with many of the remaining structures remaining around town to which Lincoln was connected, finishing with his tomb...

Abraham Lincoln's Springfield, IL (8-22-09)

For 17 years of his life Abraham Lincoln called the city of Springfiel ...

Updated: Aug 24, 2009 3:24pm PST

Flight 93 Memorial, PA (6-27-09) : The Flight 93 Memorial remembers those who gave their lives defending our country on September 11, 2001. It is located about 20 minutes off the Pennsylvania Turnpike near the town of Shanksville. Forty passengers and crew died attempting to retake the plane from hijackers who were believed, now, to be targeting the White House. The hodgepodge of monuments and the small informational building are serving as a temporary memorial until the permanent is completed sometime in 2011...

Flight 93 Memorial, PA (6-27-09)

The Flight 93 Memorial remembers those who gave their lives defending ...

Updated: Jul 29, 2009 5:35pm PST

Antietam National Battlefield, MD (6-27-09) : The Battle of Antietam marked the single bloodiest day in American history. Some 23,110 men were killed or wounded in action here on September 17, 1862. The fighting here was a result of Robert E. Lee's first attempt at taking the war north and the Union's attempt, under George McLellan, to stop him. The battlefield preserves such famous landmarks as the Dunker Church, the infamous Cornfield, the Sunken (or Bloody) Lane, and Burnside's (Lower) Bridge. This album follows the course of the battle as told along the self-guided auto tour that circles the park. Where I have been able to find pictures from the time of the battle I have included links to accompany my shots and descriptions...

Antietam National Battlefield, MD (6-27-09)

The Battle of Antietam marked the single bloodiest day in American his ...

Updated: Jul 28, 2009 8:08pm PST

New Market Battlefield, VA (6-23-09) : The Battle of New Market was the result of General Ulysses S. Grant's desire, late in the Civil War, to gain control of the Confederacy's breadbasket...the Shenandoah Valley. In spring 1864 Union Major General Franz Sigel's army of 10,000 began there trek south to subdue the valley. Opposing them was a much smaller Confederate force of about 5,000 under the command of General John C. Breckenridge. Among the rebel force was a regiment of cadets from the nearby Virginia Military Institute. The battle took place on on a stormy day; May 15, 1864. Reluctant to use the cadets as cannon fodder, General Breckenridge at first held them back. It soon became clear however that, to break the Union lines, the cadets must be put in... The following series of photos sets you in the footsteps of the cadets as they marched into battle that day...

New Market Battlefield, VA (6-23-09)

The Battle of New Market was the result of General Ulysses S. Grant's ...

Updated: Jun 30, 2009 12:34pm PST

Washington D.C. (6-22-09) : A collection of pictures from a summer day spent in our nation's capitol. We walked the mall from the Capitol Building to the Lincoln Memorial and then crossed the Potomac to catch the train back to the car. The following places were some of the highlights of the trip...

Washington D.C. (6-22-09)

A collection of pictures from a summer day spent in our nation's capit ...

Updated: Jul 20, 2009 5:29pm PST

Galena, IL (7-8-08) : Galena was a pleasant surprise. This little town tucked into the northwest corner of Illinois is positively oozing history. Dozens of historic structures lie within city limits. Pressed for time I simply folloewd the brochure given to me at the visitors center and proceeded to get quick snapshots of some of the highlights of the town. The overcast skies and busy streets made for tricky photography and I wasn't real happy with the full-color results. So I'm trying this album in sepia to help the "feel" of the album. Hope you enjoy!

Galena, IL (7-8-08)

Galena was a pleasant surprise. This little town tucked into the nort ...

Updated: Aug 22, 2008 12:21am PST

Chimney Rock, Pony Express Museum, Lewis & Clark Memorial - NE & IA (7-6-08) : On our way back across the plains we decided to make a few pitstops to break things up a bit. First we detoured up to Chimney Rock, a famous landmark for the pioneers travelling the Oregon Trail. Next we stopped briefly at the Pony Express Station in Gothenburg, NE. The station is one of a very few that remain today. Finally, on our last day of the trip, we drove over to the Lewis & Clark Memorial in Council Bluffs, Iowa. It was interesting to be standing atop the same bluffs they had back when this was still unknown territory. Overall it was a nice, brief look at the history of the plains...

Chimney Rock, Pony Express Museum, Lewis & Clark Memorial - NE & IA (7-6-08)

On our way back across the plains we decided to make a few pitstops to ...

Updated: Aug 14, 2008 9:49pm PST

Mesa Verde National Park, CO (7-3-08) : Mesa Verde is a place truly umatched by any other in the country. The area was occupied by native Puebloans between 600-1300 A.D. Within the park are literally hundreds of ancient structures from ancient pit dwellings to the cliff dwellings the park is most famous for. We only had a short day but were fortunate to be able to auto tour most of the park as well as enjoying two guided tours (Cliff Palace & Balcony House). The combination of the stunning scenery and historical sites a millennia old make this the most spectacular park I've ever toured...

Mesa Verde National Park, CO (7-3-08)

Mesa Verde is a place truly umatched by any other in the country. The ...

Updated: Jul 28, 2008 8:54am PST

Fort St. Joseph & St. Joseph Island, ON (9-10-07) : I decided to go out for a "Dan" day and headed north of the border. I wandered my way over to St. Joseph Island to do some lighthouse hunting and visit the ruins of Fort St. Joseph. The colors were just starting to show which was a nice bonus. I also enjoyed the priviledge of having the fort all to myself, it was a nice day out. Oh, and if you want to check out the lighthouses I found go check out my ONTARIO LIGHTHOUSES page, enjoy!

Fort St. Joseph & St. Joseph Island, ON (9-10-07)

I decided to go out for a "Dan" day and headed north of the border. I ...

Updated: Apr 10, 2008 4:55pm PST

Andersonville National Historic Site & Cemetery, GA (2-23-07) : Andersonville was perhaps the most notorious prison camp of the Civil War. Though it was only operational for 14 months over 13,000 prisoners died here due to malnutrition, exposure, and murder. Of all the Union Prisoner of War deaths, Andersonville accounted for nearly half half. This was a very moving place to visit, and very different from other Civil War sites...

Andersonville National Historic Site & Cemetery, GA (2-23-07)

Andersonville was perhaps the most notorious prison camp of the Civil ...

Updated: Apr 10, 2008 2:55pm PST

Chickamauga National Military Park, GA (2-21-07) : The Battle of Chickamauga was the culmination of weeks of fighting between Major General Rosecrans Army of the Cumberland and the rebel Army of the Tennessee under General Braxton Bragg. The Union forces had forced the Confederates steadily backwards before, on September 19, 1863, Bragg decided to make a stand near the West Chickamauga Creek. The battle raged for two long days. The Confederates slowly pushed the Union back before, on the second day, a fatal blunder by the Union command opened a gap in the center of their lines just as the Confederates under James Longstreet attacked. Half the Union army promptly fled the scene, along with their commanding general, William Rosecrans. Fortunately for the Union army another general by the name of George Thomas made a defiant stand at Snodgrass Hill which stemmed the Confederate tide preventing the Army of the Cumberland from total annihilation. Chickamauga was one of the bloodiest battles of the war with combined casualties numbering over 34,000 men. Unfortunately, we didn't have much time to explore the area in detail so we made a quick loop along the auto tour route. Additionally, I didn't resurrect these photos until nearly two years after I took them. This combination means that making a linear story of the battle, like I am fond of doing in my other albums, was impossible. I've done my best to match my shots with reports from others and maps I carried home with me. I always welcome comments if you notice that something isn't quite right. Anyway, enough of me...please, enjoy the album!!

Chickamauga National Military Park, GA (2-21-07)

The Battle of Chickamauga was the culmination of weeks of fighting bet ...

Updated: Jul 31, 2009 10:09pm PST

Gettysburg National Military Park, PA (11-22-06) : A quick half-day tour of the battlefield I took near Thanksgiving. I can't really describe the feelings I had as I wandered over this sacred ground. The pictures are in chronological order according to the events of the battle. At the end are a few pics of the Gettysburg National Cemetery, established after the battle, and the site of the famous address by President Lincoln...

Gettysburg National Military Park, PA (11-22-06)

A quick half-day tour of the battlefield I took near Thanksgiving. I c ...

Updated: Apr 05, 2008 7:12pm PST

National D-Day Memorial, Bedford, VA (8-18-06) : Opened in 2001 the National D-Day Memorial stands in tribute to the troops who served the cause of freedom in Operation Overlord in WW2. The memorial is located in Bedford, Virginia. This town was chosen because it paid the highest price in blood per capita of any town in the USA. This was a very moving place to visit...

National D-Day Memorial, Bedford, VA (8-18-06)

Opened in 2001 the National D-Day Memorial stands in tribute to the tr ...

Updated: Apr 05, 2008 3:55pm PST

Appomattox Court House National Historical Park, VA (8-18-06) : Appomattox Court House was the scene of the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia, Robert E. Lee commanding, to General Ulysses S. Grant effectively ending the Civil War. The McLean House, where the surrender was signed, is open to tour as are a number of buildings portraying the village as it was in the mid-to-late 1800's...

Appomattox Court House National Historical Park, VA (8-18-06)

Appomattox Court House was the scene of the surrender of the Army of N ...

Updated: Apr 05, 2008 3:38pm PST

St. Augustine, Castillo de San Marcos, Ponce Inlet Light, FL (March 2006) : A spring 2006 trip to central Florida. We visited the 300-year old Castillo de San Marcos, the lighthouses at Ponce Inlet and St. Augustine, & briefly visited historic city of St. Augustine...

St. Augustine, Castillo de San Marcos, Ponce Inlet Light, FL (March 2006)

A spring 2006 trip to central Florida. We visited the 300-year old Cas ...

Updated: Apr 05, 2008 2:55pm PST

Charleston & Beaufort, SC (Jan. 13-14, 2006) : A quick trip my family and I took in January '06. We visited 3 lighthouses (Charleston, Morris Island, Hunting Island), Ft. Moultrie, and toured the historic downtowns of Charleston and Beaufort. It felt like we had just scratched the surface of these two towns and I look foreward to the day we can return...

Charleston & Beaufort, SC (Jan. 13-14, 2006)

A quick trip my family and I took in January '06. We visited 3 lightho ...

Updated: Apr 05, 2008 1:11pm PST

Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains NP, TN (10-2-05) : A tour along the Cades Cove Auto Road. Although the crowds in this part of the park are almost unbearable the history and scenery that come to gether at Cades Cove should not be missed. Pics were taken in early October 2005.

Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains NP, TN (10-2-05)

A tour along the Cades Cove Auto Road. Although the crowds in this par ...

Updated: Oct 06, 2008 4:30pm PST

U.S. State Capitol Buildings : This small album represents the handful of state capitols I've had the opportunity to visit and photograph. The architecture of these buildings is always impressive and unique to each state. Included with each shot is a bit of background info on each building. I look forward to visiting more and helping this album grow...

U.S. State Capitol Buildings

This small album represents the handful of state capitols I've had the ...

Updated: Aug 26, 2009 2:19pm PST

Historic Structures of Antrim & Otsego Counties, MI : A collection of state and federally designated historic sites from acroos Antrim and Otsego Counties. The few sites in Otsego County are all within the city of Gaylord while the Antrim County sites are scattered amongst the communities of East Jordan, Bellaire, Alden, and Elk Rapids...

Historic Structures of Antrim & Otsego Counties, MI

A collection of state and federally designated historic sites from acr ...

Updated: Mar 01, 2009 9:15pm PST

Historic Structures of Charlevoix County, MI : A collection of the State and National historic sites from mainland Charlevoix County in northern Michigan. The structures are located in and around the towns of Charlevoix, Boyne City, East Jordan, & Horton Bay.

Historic Structures of Charlevoix County, MI

A collection of the State and National historic sites from mainland Ch ...

Updated: Apr 11, 2008 9:18am PST

Historic Structures of Cheboygan County, MI : A collection of state and national historic landmarks from around Cheboygan County in northern Lower Michigan. Many of the sites are located in or around the communities of Cheboygan, Indian River, & Mackinaw City.

Historic Structures of Cheboygan County, MI

A collection of state and national historic landmarks from around Cheb ...

Updated: Sep 25, 2008 8:16pm PST

Historic Structures of Chippewa County, MI : A collection of state and national historic landmarks from Chippewa County in the eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Most of the sites center on Sault Ste. Marie but a few are from more remote locations.

Historic Structures of Chippewa County, MI

A collection of state and national historic landmarks from Chippewa Co ...

Updated: Jan 07, 2009 5:42pm PST

Historic Structures of Emmet County, MI : I recently took it upon myself to visit the State and Nationally Registered Historic Sites in Emmet County. Most are around Petoskey and Harbor Springs but there are a few elswhere. In alphabetical order they are...

Historic Structures of Emmet County, MI

I recently took it upon myself to visit the State and Nationally Regis ...

Updated: Apr 10, 2008 5:51pm PST

Historic Structures of Grand Traverse County, MI : A collection of state and national historic landmarks from Grand Traverse County in Northwest Lower Michigan. Most of the sites are located in and around Traverse City and the Old Mission Peninsula.

Historic Structures of Grand Traverse County, MI

A collection of state and national historic landmarks from Grand Trave ...

Updated: Aug 15, 2009 5:14pm PST