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Home
Journal
Map
Destinations
- Historic Site
- National Park
- Nature
  - Arch
  - Bog
  - Canyon
  - Cave
  - Desert
  - Dune
  - Lake
  - Prairie
  - View
  - Waterfall
  - Wetland
  - Wilderness
- Point of Interest
  - Cemetery
- Transportation
Regions
- Mid-Atlantic
- Midwest
  - Indiana
  - Michigan
  - Ohio
- Northeast
- Southeast
  - North Carolina
  - Tennessee
- Southwest
  - Arizona
  - New Mexico
Prints & Downloads
About
Search

20050918-DSC_1290

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My partner and I spent the evening hiking a loop t

My partner and I spent the evening hiking a loop through the Fire Wave, Kaolin Slot Canyon, and White Domes Slot Canyon—several hours in the dry, 100°F heat of Valley of Fire. The trail led us through vivid bands of Aztec Sandstone, carved into domes and narrow passageways over millions of years. Despite the heat, the shifting light and color revealed a depth and detail in the landscape that made every step worthwhile.

#stayandwander #WildernessCulture #OptOutside #folkscenery #RAW_landscape #RAW_seasons #RAW_allnature #rawusa_jul25 #VisittheUSA #wanderingusa @visittheusa #Nevada #TravelNevada #VisitNevada #ExploreNevada #NVstateparks @travelnevada

Driving east on US Route 40 through Putnam County,

Driving east on US Route 40 through Putnam County, Indiana, the evening light struck a farmstead in warm gold.

Barns and grain silos rose against the sky, their shapes darkening at sunset. Strings of LED lights spelled out “Jesus Is The Reason” and “Noel,” a quiet roadside glimpse of local faith and rural life.

The farm, known as Shields Farm, includes a two-story brick house built around 1843. Its five-bay façade, gable roof, modest porch, transomed doors, and segmental-arched windows reflect Greek Revival and Italianate styles typical of mid-19th-century Indiana homesteads.

The farm holds historical significance. Locally known as the Shields Farm, it features a two-story brick residence built around 1843. The house combines Greek Revival and Italianate elements, including a five-bay façade, gable roof, modest entry porch, doors with transoms and lights, and segmental-arched windows, characteristics typical of mid-19th-century homesteads.

#RAW_landscape #AmericanRural #rawusa_nov25 #VisittheUSA #wanderingusa #SmallTownValues #LiveAuthentic #ThisIsHome #RoadsideAmerica #Indiana #VisitIndiana #igersIndiana #ExploreIndiana #myIndiana #putmeinputnam

The sun dropped low over White Domes Road, casting

The sun dropped low over White Domes Road, casting long shadows through Nevada’s Valley of Fire.

Out here, light moves differently, cutting across sandstone in hard angles and soft glows. The road winds through a maze of red rock and pale domes, the oldest state park in Nevada, stretching out in ridges and washes. At dusk, the cliffs flare up—pink, orange, gold—before falling into quiet hues.

#RAW_landscape #RAW_seasons #RAW_allnature #rawusa_aug25 #VisittheUSA #wanderingusa @visittheusa #roadgeek #Nevada #TravelNevada #VisitNevada #ExploreNevada #NVstateparks @travelnevada

We were in town for work but made time one cool ev

We were in town for work but made time one cool evening to explore the southern end of the Las Vegas Strip on foot. From the MGM Grand, we walked south to the iconic “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign. Designed by Betty Willis in 1959 and installed in the unincorporated town of Paradise, the sign quickly came to symbolize the city’s glitz, neon, and optimism. In 2009, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places; by 2014, solar panels made it energy neutral—a small nod to sustainability in a city built on spectacle.

On our return walk, we passed the shuttered Diamond Inn, once the Desert Isle Motel (1955). Expanded in 1964 and later renamed, it featured a whimsical pink elephant statue. It closed in 2023, part of a wave of closures along the Strip’s older stretch.

Nearby, the towering neon sign of the Pinball Hall of Fame lit up the night—44-foot letters spelling “Pinball” and 6.5-foot circles in a 54-foot-wide display.

We also saw the remnants of the Laughing Jackalope, formerly Wright’s Motel (1950s), and later a quirky bar. Most of it is gone now. The Desert Oasis Motel, opened in 1963 as the Half Moon, stands in decay—perhaps not for much longer.

One bright spot: a small egg shop with great breakfast and the restored Nirvana Hotel—rare preservation in a corridor known for demolition. We ended at the ruins of the White Sands Motel, opened in 1959 as a quiet retreat. It closed in 1999 and was declared dangerous by 2015.

Even a short walk in Las Vegas reveals a layered past—marked by ambition, nostalgia, decline, and reinvention. Who knows what will remain next time.

#Historic #HistoricPreservation #Deserve2Preserve #Abandoned #urbex #UrbanExploration #AbandonedPlaces #SaveTheDecay #raw_abandoned #rawusa_may25 #VisittheUSA #wanderingusa #VintageVegas #VegasHistory #OffTheStrip #HiddenVegas #ClassicVegas #NeonBoneyard #LasVegasPhotography #VegasLocal #GoogieArchitecture #RoadsideAmerica #Nevada #TravelNevada #LasVegas

Sturgeon Point Lighthouse stands along the Lake Hu

Sturgeon Point Lighthouse stands along the Lake Huron shoreline in Haynes Township, just north of Harrisville, #Michigan. Built where a shallow reef extends more than a mile into open water, the station marked a persistent hazard along Michigan’s northeastern lower peninsula. The brick tower, distinguished by its white and red daymark, remains an active aid to navigation while anchoring the broader landscape of Sturgeon Point State Park.

Congress appropriated approximately $15,000 in 1867 after the United States Lighthouse Board identified the reef as a danger between established lights on Lake Huron. A 60-acre site was secured in 1868, and construction of the limestone foundation, brick tower, and attached keeper’s dwelling was largely complete by late 1869. The light was first exhibited in 1870 using a kerosene-fueled lamp and Fresnel lens. Perley Silverthorn served as the first keeper, overseeing operations during a period of growing vessel traffic tied to lumbering and regional trade.

In 1876, a station of the United States Life-Saving Service was established adjacent to the lighthouse, reinforcing the site’s role in rescue work along this exposed reach of shoreline. Technological improvements led to automation in 1913, and after the creation of the United States Coast Guard in 1915, responsibility for the station gradually shifted. Full automation was achieved in 1939, and staffing ended by 1941.

Congress appropriated approximately $15,000 in 1867 after the United States Lighthouse Board identified the reef as a danger between established lights on Lake Huron. A 60-acre site was secured in 1868, and construction of the limestone foundation, brick tower, and attached keeper’s dwelling was largely complete by late 1869. The light was first exhibited in 1870 using a kerosene-fueled lamp and a Fresnel lens. Perley Silverthorn served as the first keeper, overseeing operations during a period of growing vessel traffic tied to lumbering and regional trade.

#PureMichigan #HistoricPreservation #GreatLakesLighthouses #LighthousePhotography

The Bernice D. was a gasoline-powered fishing boat

The Bernice D. was a gasoline-powered fishing boat that once operated on the nearby Black River. It is now preserved and displayed next to the Sturgeon Point Lighthouse in #Michigan.

#boatlife #PureMichigan #AbandonedPlaces

Enjoyed a peaceful evening stroll through White Ri

Enjoyed a peaceful evening stroll through White River State Park the other day—golden light on the canal, a soft breeze, and the city skyline reflecting in the water. It’s one of those places where nature and city life blend effortlessly. Hard to beat for a quiet walk at sunset.

#Indy #loveIndy #igersindy #indyarchitecture #Indiana #VisitIndiana #igersIndiana #ExploreIndiana #myIndiana #IndianaDNR #RAWbridges #amazingshots_bridges #Total_Bridges #rawusa_mar25 #VisittheUSA #wanderingusa #bestoftheusa_urban #SeeYourCity #raw_seasons #Water_Perfection #Water_Brilliance #wb_water_brilliance #folkscenery #folkgreen #stayandwander #OptOutside #earth_shotz #raw_country_spring

My girlfriend and I ventured to the picturesque Ho

My girlfriend and I ventured to the picturesque Hocking Hills for a few days of winter relaxation as we welcomed the new year. Surrounded by stunning landscapes of snow-dusted trees and calm trails, we absorbed in the atmosphere and enjoyed quality time together, making unforgettable memories to start the year off right.

📸 (1) Lower Falls; (2) Cedar Falls; (3) Ash Cave; (4) Bridge over Old Man's Creek; (5) Bridge over Old Man's Creek; (6) Between Old Man's Cave and Lower Falls; (7) Blackhand Sandstone

#folkscenery #folkgreen #stayandwander #WildernessCulture #OptOutside #earth_shotz #raw_country_winter #raw_landscape #Water_Perfection #Water_Brilliance #wb_water_brilliance #Waterfall #Winter #WinterWonderland #raw_seasons #Appalachia #appalachian_explorers #rawusa_jan25 #VisittheUSA #wanderingusa #Ohio #OhioExplored #beautiful_ohio_scenes #OhioTheHeartofitAll #WeAreOhioSE #naturalohio #OhioStateParks #HockingHills #TheHockingHills

The waters of Lake Vesuvius in Wayne National Fore

The waters of Lake Vesuvius in Wayne National Forest near Ironton, Ohio, have been lowered to allow repairs to a faulty dam gate. An initial repair attempt was made in August, but further work is required. The lake was being drawn down about 31 feet to provide access to the gate, with normal water levels expected to return after fall and winter.

#RAW_landscape #rawusa_sept25 #Appalachia #appalachian_explorers #Ohio #OhioExplored #beautiful_ohio_scenes #OhioTheHeartofitAll #WeAreOhioSE @ohioexplored #naturalohio

Driving east through the Oklahoma City area along

Driving east through the Oklahoma City area along old U.S. Route 66, we had set our sights on Yukon, mostly to pass by Garth Brooks’ childhood home. But scanning the map to see what else was in Yukon, another pin caught our attention: “Prairie Dog Field.” It seemed out of place among the usual chain fast-food restaurants and gas stations, so we decided to take a short detour.

At the corner of the 1958 alignment of U.S. Route 66 and Caravel Road, a public field once held a large colony of black-tailed prairie dogs. Even though much of the land had been sold for development and part of the colony relocated in 2024, we could still see the small animals darting in and out of their burrows, standing upright to chirp warnings to one another. The field was surrounded by signs of growth, construction equipment, and new commercial projects, but the prairie dogs carried on, reminders of the wildlife that once dominated this stretch of prairie.

These colonies are fascinating to watch. Black-tailed prairie dogs are the only species in Oklahoma, and they live in tightly knit communities with complex burrow systems. Their barks carry across the grass, each signaling that the group heeds. Despite the encroachment of neighborhoods and shopping centers, some colonies like this one manage to adapt to the Great Plains’ urban edge.

#RAW_allnature #rawusa_sept25 #VisittheUSA #wanderingusa #Route66 #HistoricRoute66 #MotherRoad #Oklahoma #TravelOK #OKHereWeGo #DiscoverOklahoma #OklahomaPhotographer #OklahomaTourism #ThisIsOklahoma #OKC #OklahomaCity #SeeOKC

The air was crisp, if not a little damp, on this s

The air was crisp, if not a little damp, on this spectacular autumn morning at the Hickory Ridge Lookout Tower in the Hoosier National Forest in southern Indiana. Constructed in 1936 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the 110-foot steel structure features a seven-foot-square cab manufactured by the Aermotor Company and was initially equipped with an alidade for fire location. The tower ceased to be staffed in the 1970s, and it now serves as an observation point on the boundary of the Deam Wilderness.

#Historic #HistoricPreservation #Deserve2Preserve #AmericanRural #rawusa_jan25 #Autumn #AutumnColors #FallColors #leafpeeping #raw_seasons #VisittheUSA #wanderingusa #Indiana #VisitIndiana #igersIndiana #ExploreIndiana #myIndiana #IndianaDNR

Tucked away in the wooded hills of Monroe County,

Tucked away in the wooded hills of Monroe County, the Cedar Ford Covered Bridge has an interesting story of resilience and revival. Built back in 1885 by the famous Kennedy Brothers to cross Indiana's Little Blue River, this Burr arch truss bridge faced years of neglect after being moved to the Shelby County fairgrounds in the 1970s. However, Monroe County saw a chance to bring it back to life. They managed to blend the original timber with modern engineering to create a bridge over Bean Blossom Creek. After a $1.6 million restoration finished in 2019, the bridge now stands as a proud symbol of Indiana's covered bridge legacy and the community's dedication to preserving its history.

#Historic #HistoricPreservation #Deserve2Preserve #AmericanRural #rawusa_jan25 #RAWbridges #amazingshots_bridges #Total_Bridges #Indiana #VisitIndiana #igersIndiana #ExploreIndiana #myIndiana

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