Greenfield Village, Michigan, USA

Defining Main Street: The Nostalgia. Let's end where we began, with Sinclair Lewis. Main Street was the most influential component of American urbanism for more that a century. Do you think it will ever be eclipsed by nostalgia for strip malls, retail strips, big-box stores, or shopping malls? [2008]

White River Junction, Vermont, USA

Happy New Year! January has been the first month of the year since 153 BC. Before that (and in some parts of the West, long after that), the new year began in March. Which one seems more logical to you? [2022]

Ocean City, Maryland, USA

Tomorrow, the journey begins all over again! May your trek across 2023 be as straight as U.S. Highway 50 across the continent. Be prepared to stop in a few small towns, to brave a passel of commercial strips, and to linger at your choice of innumerable historical sites. Route 50 is one of America's "blue highways." [2021]

Dallastown, Pennsylvania, USA

Every small town needs at least one coffee shop. It's a matter of livability, a place to be seen, and a key to community building. If the corporate sector is not responding along your Main Street, maybe one of the churches will. That's the story of Common Grounds. See the fish swimming around in the cup of coffee? [2019]

Brunswick, Georgia, USA

Welcome to Geography Awareness Week: It's time to appreciate maps on the landscape! The Governor's Office in Georgia apparently thinks a map will convince you to voluntarily buckle your seat belt. But, just in case the state map (in cautionary yellow) doesn't inspire enough compliance, a nasty threat has been added: "Click It or Ticket." [2010]

Providence, Rhode Island, USA

Welcome to Geography Awareness Week: It's time to appreciate maps on the landscape! "Think Globally, Drink Locally": a perfect slogan to illustrate with a world map (though the proprietor might think of adding a dot for Providence). The take-away: maps sell! [2021]

Harrington, Delaware, USA

Welcome to Geography Awareness Week: It's time to appreciate maps on the landscape! Everyone has grown just a tad tired of seeing so many yard signs, but at least they're disappearing now that election season is over. Have you noticed how many use a map? Why? What's the iconic value of an outline map of Delaware as an election prop? [2022]

Grand Island, Nebraska, USA

Unexpectedly Funny! For the supine souls in the basement of this funeral home, time has not just come to a halt; time has run out completely. Beyond that, however, just the idea that a funeral home has mounted a clock outside tickles the funny bone. Time to stop in for a visit? [2009]

Liberty Hill, Texas, USA

Unexpectedly Funny! President Reagan would love being honored with a street named after him. Here's what he would not love: seeing the drive-by public being told to turn Left! As for "America's Builder," don't you wonder how many immigrant laborers he used to build those homes? [2015]

Mobile, Alabama, USA

Unexpectedly Funny! The Church of Christ's welcome sign points directly to the "Just say no" sign. The phrase was in common usage in late 20th century thanks to the "war on drugs" mounted by the Gipper and his better half. Juxtaposition can, indeed, be amusing. [1988]

Harborton, Virginia, USA

Harborton is one of the most picturesque towns on Virginia's Eastern Shore. It has retained a post office (and, therefore, an identity) of its own. It also seems to be proud of its postal history. To see more of Harborton's postal identity, check out Geographically Yours Welcome today. The entire month is devoted to postmarks and post offices of Accomack County. [1992]

Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Most people could not name, let along locate, Bulgaria's second largest city, but this directional signpost makes it look like Plovdiv is at the center of everything. It casts a spell of importance over the city's central square. Okayama, Japan, is only 8300 km away and Petra, Jordan, is only 549 km. [2010]

Boring, Maryland, USA

How would you like to be a Methodist minister with this church on your resume? The Boring United Methodist Church, located in Boring, Maryland. Almost 30 years separate the two signs. Compare them, and the times they represent. What changes do you predict have beset the congregation? [1991 and 2019]

Oak Hall, Virginia, USA

Don't you love these roadside sermons? This one is well-suited for the times: mid-July to early August in Tidewater, Virginia. If heat records are going to be set, they will be set now. But, if "you think it's hot here . . ." [2022]

Hartford, Connecticut, USA

 

There are no signs of religious piety here, are there? The sign is secular. However, this secular message seems to grow out of the Second Great Commandment: "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:39). The advice sounds like something everybody could get behind without argument. Does it remind you of some other messages? [2022]

Pierre, South Dakota, USA

Covid Behaviors: Eat in your car (maybe alone). "We are open." How surprising! Because you were closed for months. "Drive thru only." How unprecedented! Because your indoor dining room remained closed for the duration of peak Covid. [2021]

Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA

Covid Behaviors: Wear your mask. Most of us are no longer wearing masks except in the most crowded of places. But, we will always remember the years of ubiquitous reminders to Mask Up. On this city bus the driver wore his mask and his passengers had to, as well. [2022]

Mint Spring, Virginia, USA

Happy Memorial Day! Happy Mint Julep Day! The two go together perfectly: a colder-than-cold drink for a hotter-than-hot summer day. So let's add one more salutation: Happy First Day of Summer! (You know it is!) Do you think you could find a mint julep in Mint Spring on this Memorial Day or any day this summer? [2021]

Huntington, West Virginia, USA

They are called power boxes. Their job is to give access to the underground cables that provide electricity to a passel of homes or businesses. Usually, they are as drab as can be, but starting sometime this century, they came to be noticed by mayors and muralists for their artistic potential. What's the purpose of this one? To amplify the power of place. [2022]

Jeffersonville, Indiana, USA

And then there were four! According to ancient Greek science, four elements constituted the building blocks of the world: earth, air, fire, water. Which one of those ducklings has the personality of earth? of air? of fire? of water? As they learn to fly and take on personalities of their own, they will be the building blocks of future worlds! [2022]