Boring, Maryland, USA

Sometimes the best thing about a post office is the name of the town it serves: Boring, in this case. For that you can thank Postmaster David Boring, who saw to it that his town had a name that was not boring at all, at least compared to its original name: Fairview. How boring was that! [1989 and 1991]

Quenemo, Kansas, USA

Some people still go to the post office to collect their mail. Others get it delivered to their homes, a service that was at one time available only in cities. As you travel, observe the variation in post office architecture. There is perhaps no other category of public building that exhibits such diversity: from small and shabby to large and showy. [2021]

Lost City, West Virginia, USA

The number of Post Offices peaked in 1901 at 76,945. Rural free delivery, changes in demographics, and new transportation patterns all contributed to the steadily declining numbers. In 2010, there were 27,077 independent Post Offices in the United States. Here in Lost City, the postmistress has just locked up for the day. [2021]

New Harmony, Indiana, USA

When New Harmony was founded by the pietist Harmonites in 1814, they sought a location isolated from the world. And, isolated it remains, even to this day. That wasn't enough for the Harmonites, though. They abandoned the town a decade after they founded it. The so-called Harmonites appear to have been malcontents. [2022]

Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA

What is art? Anything that is part of the designed world, and that includes just about everything. Signs, flags, windows, and fonts are all designed and often redesigned. The anonymous designers of these cultural curiosities are all human, but nature can be a champion designer as well, so attune yourself to the full panoply of landscape aesthetics. [2022]

Camden, Maine, USA

These boys must now be on the verge of retirement, and they may not even live in Maine any longer. Wherever they are, though, just think how much reminiscing they must do about all the fun they had reeling in the crabs right from the Main Street docks in Camden, one of Maine's classic coastal villages. [1974]

Ocean City, Maryland, USA

Fall comes to the Delmarva Peninsula. Today, in fact, only the third day of fall, the temperatures betray the season. The low-sun season is just beginning, but already there is no mistaking autumn for the summer left behind. Do you think the birds have already closed up their summer homes and headed south? [2020]

Beaufort, North Carolina, USA

Fall comes to the Carolina Coast. Today, in fact, is the first full day of fall in the Northern Hemisphere. Blue skies reflected in still waters are a trademark of the season, but the story of seasonal change is told by the transition of the cordgrass marshes from summery green to autumny gold. [2021]

Jones, Kansas, USA

Fall comes to the Great Plains. Today, in fact. It's the autumnal equinox. All over the Middle Latitudes trees and shrubs will be signing off for the season with one final show of colorful glory. Along the Cimarron River the palette of place may be more muted than in the East, but it is still cast in all of nature's glory. [2018]

Dobbins, California, USA

The Bullards Bar Dam was built in the early 1960s to provide flood control on the Yuba River system. Is it located in Northern California or Southern California? If you don't know, just look at the landscape. [2006]

Burlington, Vermont, USA

Compare this urban tableau with the sidewalks in your city. Burlington's (at least here in the downtown) are wide enough for two double-wide strollers to be out for a morning walk side-by-side. Let's hear it for pedestrian space! [2011]

Eyota, Minnesota, USA

♫ If you think that you're strong, wanna fight well come on and line up - line up. ♫ What would you expect of Minnesota? Huge snow plows, useless during the summer and lined up for safe-keeping along the railroad tracks. [2019]

Colonial Beach, Virginia, USA

♫ 'Cause livin' up against the wall, yeah, has got us locked up. Come on and line up. ♫ In the 1930s, the ancient graves at the Washington Family Cemetery were lined up and brought into the 20th century. Here at Pope's Creek are buried George Washington's parents, grandparents, and great grandparents. [2011]

Dolan Springs, Arizona, USA

♫ If you got all the stuff, and you can't get enough, then line up - line up. ♫ In this case, "stuff" means mail for the desert secluses. Recognize Aerosmith? [2022]

Graceham, Maryland, USA

If this lady bug flies away home, somebody is not getting their mail. But why would she want to leave her duty post? She gets fed a steady diet of letters every day. [2013]

Yocumtown, Pennsylvania, USA

Look closely. There is a mailbox attached to this out-sized donut. Is it a ploy to make the mailman stop in for a donut a day? Or, maybe it works on every passer-by. Maple Donuts has been a York County staple since the 1940s. [2010]

Beckley, West Virginia, USA

All creatures wild and wonderful, all creatures great and small: The party is over, and the guests seem to have retreated to the outdoors to relax and get some fresh air. Let's hope that pair on the porch hasn't had too much punch. [2022]

Beckley, West Virginia, USA

All creatures wild and wonderful, all creatures great and small: It looks like the party is continuing for several more days. It also looks like some of the guests have time-traveled pretty far to be with you today. [2022]

Beckley, West Virginia, USA

All creatures wild and wonderful, all creatures great and small: They have come to celebrate your birthday today! One creature for each year, including a baby just like your little brother. But, they tell me more will be coming to usher you into the future. [2022]

Chesapeake, Virginia, USA

"Never Forget" honors the police and firefighters who lost their lives on September 11, 2001, when the World Trade Center is New York was decimated by terrorists. This is a piece of steel from ground zero. [2020]

Kansas City, Missouri, USA

It looks a little too modern to be historical, but better than nothing to proclaim pride in city history. Some cities do a good job at preserving buildings. Others excel at preserving ensembles of buildings and landmarks that add up to historical landscapes. [2021]

Corydon, Indiana, USA

Who stole the historical marker? Maybe, though, its absence is an opportunity. Let's get the high school history classes to write a new one. Then, have a competition to see which class does the best job. [2022]

Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

Representing the Reptilian order of Crocodilia is the ghariel, whose snout is uniquely adapted to eating fish. It is native to the Indian Subcontinent. Ghariels are the largest of the crocodilians. [2011]

Omaha, Nebraska, USA

Representing the Reptilian order of Squamata, genus Varanus (monitor lizards), is the perentie, which can grow up to 8 feet long. It is a native of Australia, a carnivore, and a top predator. [2019]

Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA

Representing the Reptilian order of Squamata, suborder Serpentes (snakes), is the puff adder, so named because it puffs up when threatened. It is a native of Africa, where it may be the most widespread snake on the continent. [2020]

Topeka, Kansas, USA

Representivng the Reptilian order of Testudines is the red-footed tortoise. They are native to South America. The red-footed tortoise is classified as vulnerable primarily because it is hunted for both food and the pet trade. [2021]
 

Burlington, Vermont, USA

You might not be drawn in by the watercraft on display at the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, but you might be curious enough to learn more about Champ, the 'Lock Ness Monster' of the lake. He has been sighted for centuries and is now a protected species. [2011]

Blackfoot, Idaho, USA

Does your city or town have a museum that honors local culture? Blackfoot's contribution to the nation has been putting potatoes on the tables of Americans nationwide. In fact, that has been the contribution of Idaho, as well. Ergo, the Idaho Potato Museum in Blackfoot. [2020]

Frisco, Colorado, USA

What becomes of one-room school houses? Some become museums or historical society headquarters. In fact, a community is lucky if their school has survived the ages to remind up-coming generations of scholars what is used to be like to get an education. [2013] 

Middletown, Rhode Island, USA

♫ School days, school days, dear old Golden Rule days. Reading and 'riting and 'rithmetic, taught to the tune of the hick'ry stick. You were my queen in calico, I was your bashful, barefoot beau. And you wrote on my slate, ‘I Love You, Joe,’ when we were a couple o' kids. ♫ [2008]