Linda A. Tancs's Blog: The Long and Short of It, page 18

A Golden Site in California

By Linda Tancs

Coloma, California, is one of the most significant historic sites in the nation. That’s where James W. Marshall discovered gold in 1848 on the South Fork of the American River in a valley that the Nisenan Indians knew as Cullumah. About 70% of the town of Coloma is included in Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, where you can pan for gold. The park features buildings that have survived the gold rush and includes a museum with gold-rush-era exhibits and other historical information. You can take a walking tour of the park as well as a short lesson on gold panning.

A Scottish Neuk

By Linda Tancs

Famous for its idyllic fishing villages, Scotland’s East Neuk (nook) is generally accepted to comprise the most northerly part of the Firth of Forth and the land and villages slightly inland. St. Monans is the smallest of the East Neuk fishing ports, and that’s where you’ll find a picturesque windmill that was used in salt production to provide the power to pump sea water from tidally-fed reservoirs cut into the rocks offshore into salt pans. The industry is credited to Sir John Anstruther, who became the local laird in 1753. A village was named for him, which happens to be the largest of the Neuk and features a fisheries museum that tells the history of the fishing industry in the region. The festive spirit is in full swing this time of year, complete with loads of lights and Christmas markets.

The Story of Western Montana

By Linda Tancs

In Lolo, Montana, the extensive private collection of Bill and Ramona Holt at Holt Heritage Center tells the story of Western Montana. On the one hand, there’s the Western Collection, a treasure trove of cowboy artifacts like saddles, boots, hats and equipment, including property of celebrity cowboys and cowgirls like John Wayne, Roy Rogers, Ronald Reagan, Dolly Parton and many others. There’s also a Rodeo Collection including trophy saddles, buckles, clothing, posters, photos and artifacts. On the other hand, there’s an exhibition of local Native American cultures (Nez Pierce, Salish and Crow) featuring beadwork, porcupine quillwork, dance outfits, silver and turquoise jewelry, moccasins, cradle boards and saddles. Even the location is historic, situated on a trail used by Lewis and Clark in the 1800s. Contact the venue to schedule a tour.

Pencil Sharpeners in Ohio

By Linda Tancs

Reputedly the largest pencil sharpener collection in America, the Paul A. Johnson Pencil Sharpener Museum in Logan, Ohio, features more than 3,400 pencil sharpeners collected by Reverend Paul Johnson. It also includes a recently donated collection of 1,000 or so sharpeners from the estate of Frank Parades of Tampa, Florida. Located at the Hocking Hills Regional Welcome Center at 13178 St. Rt. 664 South, admission is free.

A Giant Easel in Kansas

By Linda Tancs

A big piece of art is blooming in Goodland, Kansas. That’s where you’ll find “the world’s largest painting on an easel,” a reproduction of Van Gogh’s Three Sunflowers in a Vase. The 24 foot by 32-foot canvas stands on a steel easel that is 80 feet tall. The site, on Cherry Avenue, was chosen due to its connection to sunflower agriculture.

The History of Basildon Park

By Linda Tancs

Basildon Park is a country estate in Berkshire, England, with an interesting history. The 18th-century Palladian-style mansion was owned by Francis Sykes, who made his fortune in the East India Company. In modern times, the house was used as a 50-bed convalescent home for officers and soldiers of the Berkshire regiments during World War I and was used during World War II for D-Day training as well as a prisoner-of-war camp for German and Italian soldiers. Suffering damage as well as disuse, the house and estate were later restored by Lord and Lady Iliffe, who gifted the house and 400-acre parkland to the National Trust in 1978. Today Basildon Park is perhaps better known as a popular filming location for shows like Bridgerton.

Minnesota’s Highest Waterfall

By Linda Tancs

Three viewing decks at High Falls provide visitors to Minnesota’s Grand Portage State Park with various vantage points to see and photograph the state’s highest waterfall. High Falls Trail is an easy, one mile round-trip hike; you might also opt for the rugged 4.5-mile hiking trail to Middle Falls, with spectacular ridgetop views of Lake Superior and Canada. One of the smallest state parks, it is the only one whose land is owned not by the state but rather by the Bureau of Indian Affairs on behalf of the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, who manage the park jointly with the state.

The Gem of the Catskills

By Linda Tancs

Located in the Great Northern Catskills of Greene County in Hunter, Kaaterskill Falls is the highest cascading waterfall in New York State. Dropping in two tiers over 260 feet, the waterfall has been one of the region’s most popular destinations among locals and tourists for centuries. A convenient way to access the falls is to park and take the trolley, which stops in locales like Tannersville, Haines Falls, Palenville and throughout the Kaaterskill Clove (the gorge). A roundtrip hike to the falls, a moderately challenging route, is less than 2 miles on a marked path.

A Legacy in Bristol

By Linda Tancs

Blithewold (meaning “happy woodland” in Old English) is an estate in Bristol, Rhode Island, that chronicles the Van Wickle, McKee and Lyon families. Shunning the nearby grandeur of Newport, the story begins with the wealthy couple Augustus and Bessie Van Wickle, who purchased the property in 1894 to create a rural retreat on Narragansett Bay. It’s one of the few late 19th and early 20th century New England estates that retains its integrity and authenticity down to the details of plant materials and interior furnishings, family archives and artifacts present in the 45-room mansion. It’s also one of the most fully-developed and intact examples of the Country Place Era in the United States and represents the influence of the Arts and Crafts movement in the country. The 33-acre estate features gardens that combine layouts from the 1800s with contemporary settings. Opening times vary with the season.

What’s Hot in Idaho

By Linda Tancs

Numerous natural hot springs pools can be found along Idaho’s Highway 21, also known as the Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway. One of those sites is Kirkham Hot Springs outside Lowman. Nestled on the South Fork of the Payette River below a highway campground, a staircase leads adventurers down to the soaking pools. What distinguishes this locale from other geothermal pools are the small, steaming waterfalls as well. The site is open for day use only. You can enjoy the warm water this time of year without the summer crowds when the site is swarming with tourists and the lack of shade heats up the place.