Century, Florida, USA

You don't even have to invite Lady Liberty to your picnic (or pay her airfare from New York). She's already at the park waiting for you and the gang in Century, Florida. Perhaps she got confused. After all, she came to the U.S. to mark a century of the French Revolution. [2005]

Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

Here is some art in the heart of Minneapolis:

In Indiana, it's not. In Minnesota, it is.

By Indiana, it is. But unique, it's not.

[2021]

New York, New York, USA

February is all about the number two, and 2/22/22 is a palindrome too (a 5-digit palindrome)! On this day in 1877, the U.S. Congress accepted Lady Liberty as a gift from France, but she didn't make her appearance in New York Harbor until 1885, when (because of the original torch) she was classified as a lighthouse. Be sure to see yesterday's post. [2020]

Greeley, Colorado, USA

February is all about the number two, and 2/22 is a palindrome too! She is not in New York Harbor but on a courthouse lawn in Colorado. She was one of perhaps 200 that originated as a BSA project in the euphoria over winning World War II. BSA? That's Boy Scouts of America. Be sure to see tomorrow's post. [2013]

Moyock, North Carolina, USA

Twenty years ago, this day marked the last full day of life for 2,977 people killed in the attacks of 9-11. Almost 9 out of 10 of them were victims of New York City's Twin Towers collapse after each was hit by a hijacked aircraft. The day has etched itself into our memories and, in different ways, into cemetery memorials around the country. [2019]

Wichita, Kansas, USA

Cable-stayed bridges have become very popular since the 1990s, even for pedestrian crossings. But, the eye-catcher here is probably the Keeper of the Plains, the guardian of Wichita, who thinks this cable-stayed bridge was modeled on Indian bows and arrows. [2021] 

Taipei, Taiwan

The world has embraced Robert Indiana's oft-replicated LOVE sculpture. It grew out of the artist's boyhood in, yes, Indiana. Now, it has become a pop culture icon that graces landscapes around the world, sometimes in English, as here in Chinese-speaking Taiwan, and sometimes in other languages. [2012]

Pearlington, Mississippi, USA

Fortunately, the Apollo 13 lunar lander is outside. So, even though the Infinity space center is closed by dictum of the great god Corona, you can still see a NASA antique. When it was located at the nearby Louisiana Welcome Center, though, it was even more visible. [2009]

Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

Look closely and don't scream when you discover it is not simply a decorative sphere. It's a world globe. Do you see Australia and Southeast Asia trying to make their screams heard? What is the entire world screaming about? Global warming. Planet Earth is calling out for help. And the City of Charlotte wants you to know it. Thanks, Edvard Munch. [2020]

Uluru, Northern Territory, Australia

Last day of 2020: Alleluia! The year will linger on in memory as an inselberg, a distinctive mountain of memories that will diminish in size only as the years to come push it farther onto the horizon. Inselbergs are symbolic of the isolation we have all felt this past year: We lived our lives in the image of Uluru (formerly known as Ayers Rock). [1988]

Amsterdam, Netherlands

♫ These Are a Few of My Favorite Things ♫ ~ Cemeteries: Cemetery space may be the last space we can call our own. Why not use it tell our story? That is the trend in memorialization, and it is well illustrated by Zorgvlied Cemetery, where an iconic Amsterdam symbol (XXX) serves as a "headstone." See also: Geographically Yours Cemeteries. [2015]

New York, New York, USA

Quiz: 1. What is the name of the island where the Statue of Liberty is located? 2. What is the name of the island where One World Trade Center is located? 3. Lady Liberty was a gift from what country? 4. What event leveled New York City's old World Trade Center? 5. How tall is One World Trade Center in feet? [2020]

Cuzco, Peru

Is it the rainbow flag? The one used by the LGBTQ community? No, it's the flag of Cuzco, and it reflects the palette of place perfectly. Both flags are late 20th century creations, and both gained quick popularity. Let's hope they can coexist peacefully. It would be sad to see Cuzco adopt a new flag just because . . .  [2001]

Tensed, Idaho, USA

"Only YOU can prevent forest fires": so says Smokey Bear. But who can prevent coronavirus? Maybe we need signs like this erected at the border of every municipality to communicate the "Coronavirus Danger Today." [2019]

Virgin, Utah, USA

Here is the type of covered wagon that served settlers moving westward from the prairies. It amounted to a farm wagon outfitted with a cover. In fact, you wouldn't even call it a covered wagon if you grew up in Pennsylvania. An authentic one had to come from the Conestoga area of Lancaster County; hence, the name Conestoga wagon. [2019]

Big Springs, Nebraska, USA

With one exception, wheels created Big Springs. First came wagon wheels (think: Oregon Trail). Then came steam-train wheels (think: spring water). Then came automobile wheels (think: Lincoln Highway). So, what's the exception? The Pony Express (think: hoofs, not wheels). [2019]

Camp Verde, Arizona, USA

What is your superpower? For Kokopelli, with his Hopi pedigree, it's fertility, and he is also a flute-player, a mischief-maker, and, now, a pop culture icon. As a meme, he may even preside over burials (as on this headstone from Cottonwood), particularly if the departed shared Kokopelli's superpowers. [2019]

Lake Havasu City, Arizona, USA

England or America? Answer: It's a little bit of England in America. London Bridge in Lake Havasu City used to cross the river Thames. In 1967, it was purchased and moved to the Arizona desert. Nearby was developed an English Village, which, of course, meant that a red telephone box had to be appropriated, too. [2019]

City Centre, Gibraltar

In the tradition of Roman Catholicism, saints are remembered on the day they died (rather than they day they were born). Here is a secular saint (among some!) who died on this date more than half a century ago. His name: Che Guevara. What is he doing on this sign? [2015]

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Famous cities have famous streets, and the signs that bear their names become iconic. Why not replicate those icons at the airport (in this case O'Hare) to say "welcome" or "welcome back"? Successful branding efforts replicate icons (and iconic personalities) that have become entrenched in popular culture. [2019]