located photos on Flickr

Model 5 - Monaca, PA by TrainsAndSirens1

1

Located in Monaca, PA at Freedom Fire Station. Active, usage/testing are unknown.

Garden Cross, P. D. Gwaltney Jr. House, Smithfield, Virginia, United States by Billy Wilson

2

Located at no. 304 South Church Street.

"P. D. Gwaltney Jr. House is a historic home located at Smithfield, Isle of Wight County, Virginia. The house was built about 1900, and is a large two-story, rectangular, Queen Anne style wood frame mansion with three porches. It features an elaborate profile punctuated by a corner turret, projecting bays, and a complex roof form. It was the primary residence of Pembroke Decatur Gwaltney Jr. of the Gwaltney meat empire.

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. It is located in the Smithfield Historic District.

The mansion remained in the Gwaltney family until 2016.

Smithfield is a town in Isle of Wight County, in the South Hampton Roads subregion of the Hampton Roads region of Virginia in the United States. The population was 8,089 at the 2010 census.

The town is most famous for the curing and production of the Smithfield ham. The Virginia General Assembly passed a statute defining "Smithfield ham" by law in 1926, with one of the requirements that it be processed within the town limits. Smithfield Foods, a Chinese Fortune 500 company that owns Smithfield Packing Company and others, is the world's largest pork processor and hog producer. The company, based in Smithfield, raises 12 million hogs and processes 20 million pounds of them annually." - info from Wikipedia.

The fall of 2022 I did my 3rd major cycling tour. I began my adventure in Montreal, Canada and finished in Savannah, GA. This tour took me through the oldest parts of Quebec and the 13 original US states. During this adventure I cycled 7,126 km over the course of 2.5 months and took more than 68,000 photos. As with my previous tours, a major focus was to photograph historic architecture.

Now on Instagram.

Become a patron to my photography on Patreon or donate.

Rock of Cashel 03 by Bumbus

2

The Rock of Cashel (Irish: Carraig Phádraig [ˈcaɾˠəɟ ˈfˠaːd̪ˠɾˠəɟ]), also known as Cashel of the Kings and St. Patrick's Rock, is an historic site located at Cashel, County Tipperary, Ireland.

According to local legends, the Rock of Cashel originated in the Devil's Bit, a mountain 20 miles (30 km) north of Cashel when St. Patrick banished Satan from a cave, resulting in the Rock's landing in Cashel. Cashel is reputed to be the site of the conversion of the King of Munster by St. Patrick in the 5th century.

The Rock of Cashel was the traditional seat of the kings of Munster for several hundred years prior to the Norman invasion. In 1101, the King of Munster, Muirchertach Ua Briain, donated his fortress on the Rock to the Church. The picturesque complex has a character of its own and is one of the most remarkable collections of Celtic art and medieval architecture to be found anywhere in Europe. Few remnants of the early structures survive; the majority of buildings on the current site date from the 12th and 13th centuries.

The oldest and tallest of the structure is the well preserved round tower (28 metres, or 90 feet), dating from c.1100. Its entrance is 12 feet (3.7 m) from the ground, necessitated by a shallow foundation (about 3 feet) typical of round towers. The tower was built using the dry stone method. Modern conservationists have filled in some of the tower with mortar for safety reasons.

Cormac's Chapel with parts of the cathedral on either side

Cormac's Chapel, the chapel of King Cormac Mac Carthaigh, was begun in 1127 and consecrated in 1134. It is a sophisticated structure, with vaulted ceilings and wide arches, drawing on contemporary European architecture and infusing unique native elements. The Irish Abbot of Regensburg, Dirmicius of Regensburg, sent two of his carpenters to help in the work and the twin towers on either side of the junction of the nave and chancel are strongly suggestive of their Germanic influence, as this feature is otherwise unknown in Ireland. Other notable features of the building include interior and exterior arcading, a barrel-vaulted roof, a carved tympanum over both doorways, the magnificent north doorway and chancel arch and the oldest stairs in Ireland. It contains one of the best-preserved Irish frescoes from this time period. The Chapel was constructed primarily of sandstone which has become waterlogged over the centuries, significantly damaging the interior frescoes. Restoration and preservation required the chapel be completely enclosed in a rain-proof structure with interior dehumidifiers to dry out the stone. It is now open for limited tours to the public.

Irish High Cross at the Rock of Cashel

The Cathedral, built between 1235 and 1270, is an aisleless building of cruciform plan, having a central tower and terminating westwards in a massive residential castle. The Hall of the Vicars Choral was built in the 15th century. The vicars choral were laymen (sometimes minor canons) appointed to assist in chanting the cathedral services. At Cashel, there were originally eight vicars choral with their own seal. This was later reduced to five honorary vicars choral who appointed singing-men as their deputies, a practice which continued until 1836. The restoration of the Hall was undertaken by the Office of Public Works as a project in connection with the European Architectural Heritage Year, 1975. Through it visitors now enter the site.

In 1647, during the Irish Confederate Wars, Cashel was sacked by English Parliamentarian troops under Murrough O'Brien, 1st Earl of Inchiquin. The Irish Confederate troops there were massacred, as were the Catholic clergy, including Theobald Stapleton. Inchiquin's troops looted or destroyed many important religious artefacts.

In 1749, the main cathedral roof was removed by Arthur Price, the Anglican Archbishop of Cashel. Today, what remains of the Rock of Cashel has become a tourist attraction. Price's decision to remove the roof on what had been called the jewel among Irish church buildings was criticised before and since.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ensor School by Adam Paris

Located around Hwy 142 and Hwy 144 intersection.

Asia - Philippines / Cebu Radisson Blu hotel by RURO photography

3

Ideally located on Serging Osmeña Boulevard and the corner of Juan Luna Avenue, this Cebu accommodation boasts spectacular views of the city and the Mactan Channel. The hotel houses 400 rooms and suites furnished with all the amenities expected of a first-class hotel, including iPod® docking entertainment system with alarm clock, 37-inch LCD television with cable channels and Free high-speed, wireless Internet. All of these Cebu hotel rooms also provide a luxurious memory foam bed paired with goose feather/down pillows and duvets for a restful stay.

Offering either an expansive view of the city or the serene Mactan Channel, a stay in a Deluxe Room treats guests to complete comfort with a memory foam bed and goose feather/down pillows and duvets. Each Deluxe Room at this Cebu accommodation comes furnished with a 37-inch LCD television with cable channels, iPod® docking entertainment system, Free high-speed, wireless Internet and ASIRA bathroom amenities. The hotel boasts 320 Deluxe Rooms, three of which are handicap-accessible.

Abandon by R Ness photos

1

Located in Glendive ,MT a abandon gas station.

Xi Shang Ting by Neil Noland

1

Xi Shang Ting (Pavilion for Bestowing Wine) is located on the left side of the Ning Shou Gong Hua Yuan in the Forbidden City. This small garden was designed by Emperor Qianlong and constructed in 1776.

The Forbidden City (also known as Gugong, and currently housing the Palace Museum) is one of China’s most notable tourist attractions. Located in the heart of Beijing, it has been the center of Chinese government for the better part of the past six centuries. (For a much more comprehensive and interesting history than what I’ve included below, along with a few nice pictures, please check here: www.kinabaloo.com/fcb.html. The site is both in English and Chinese and quite well-presented, including fascinating information about how many people it took to build the Forbidden City and nice details about the building orientations and what the colors represent.)

Currently, the Forbidden City is simply a museum – a massive museum paying homage to the final five centuries of dynastic China. (The current government convenes in buildings adjacent to Tiananmen Square, which is directly south of the Meridian Gate of the Forbidden City.)

The history of the Forbidden City is pretty succinct. After the dynasties moved the national capital around a few times (between Xi’an, Beijing, Nanjing, and a few other cities), it eventually returned to Beijing and remained there until the end of dynastic rule in 1911.

Palace construction began in 1406 and ended in 1420. Between 1420 and 1911, 24 emperors (from 2 dynasties) lived on the grounds. 14 Ming Dynasty emperors lived here and, after the Ming gave way to the Qing in 1644, 10 Qing emperors lived here between 1644 and 1911. The last emperor, Puyi, was forced to abdicate, but allowed to live on the grounds and “rule within the palace” as a figurehead. (He was but a young boy when he abdicated, so it was basically an elaborate charade to appease a boy.)

Eventually, the Republic of China forced Puyi to leave the palace for good and the Palace Museum was established here in 1925. Within the palace were all of the imperial treasures, but these were diminished (spread around) over the next 25 years – first with the takeover by the Japanese in the 1930s and then by the Nationalist government (Chiang Kai-Shek’s Kuomintang) and relocated to Taipei. The Japanese have returned some of the treasures, but there are still others that currently reside in museums in Japan and a great deal in Taipei.

The buildings, obviously, were harder to move. Physically, the grounds are rectangular, on a north-south axis, with dimensions of 961 meters by 753 meters. Within the grounds are 980 surviving buildings with approximately 9,000 rooms. The city is divided into two sections – the outer court on the south, used for ceremonial purposes, and the inner court on the north, which was used for residential purposes. Almost all of the buildings within the city have glazed yellow roofs, as yellow is the color of the emperor. There are two notable exceptions: the library (which has a black roof, signifying water, as it’s fireproof) and the Crown Prince’s residences, which have green roofs (signifying wood, or growth).

The buildings within the city are aligned by ancient Chinese customs (ancestral temples in front of the palaces, etc.). It’s such a massive complex that it’s quite hard to cover it all in one trip or, if you try, you would need a full day to do so. The main palaces and halls are on a center axis and along the right and left sides are many smaller residences, museums, and so on. The rear of the palace has a pleasant garden. During dynastic rule, the price of admission for non-invited people was execution. Nowadays, the cost is only 60 RMB in summer and 40 in winter (with an additional 10-20 RMB inside if you choose to go to the National Treasures museum and Hall of Clocks – 10 RMB each, assuming both are open). Just brace yourself for a massive crowd of people regardless of the day and probably for construction and renovation as well. To enter, you have to go in through the Meridian Gate across from Tiananmen Square on Changan Dao and you exit the north end of the palace at the foot of Jingshan Park.

For a nice panoramic view (smog permitting) of the grounds, cross under the street and walk up Jingshan Hill (2 RMB) for a gorgeous view of the grounds. (Beihai Park just to the northwest also offers panoramic views if you prefer to spend 10 RMB to go to that park and climb up the white tower in the center of the park.) Having been to the two parks, I think Jingshan is probably a slightly better choice with regards to the Forbidden City. In addition, the pavilion on top of Jingshan Hill is the geographic center of (old) Beijing, which is pretty interesting. (Of sad note, though, Beijing’s ancient city walls are all but demolished, though the gate names exist in the names of various subway stations throughout the city such as Andingmen, Dongzhimen, etc.) All in all, a trip to Beijing probably won’t be considered complete without a visit to the Forbidden City.

Storefront Building Mesker Detail (Spring Green, Wisconsin) by courthouselover

3 2

Located at 124-130 West Jefferson Street, this structure features elements manufactured by the George L. Mesker Iron Works of Evansville.

Spring Green, Wisconsin is a charming community located in southwestern Sauk County near the Wisconsin River.

(unreleased) Enemies located by DocChewbacca

3 1

Unreleased picture from the Toy Wars miniseries.

OCT 2-2014 John Muir Home, looking at the west facing side of the house built in 1882 and located at the John Muir National Historic Site in Martinez CA, USA T3i 243 by lonewolfpics

The John Muir National Historic Site is located in Martinez, in the San Francisco Bay Area, California. It preserves the Italianate Victorian mansion where the naturalist and writer John Muir lived, as well as a nearby 325 acres (132 ha) tract of native oak woodlands and grasslands historically owned by the Muir family. The main site is on the edge of town, in the shadow of State Route 4, also known as the "John Muir Parkway".

John Muir’s home was among the grandest of its time, and costing $20,000 to build, an extravagant amount in its day. An article in the Martinez Gazette, written while the house was being constructed, said “with but one or two exceptions, it will be the finest and most complete private residence in the county.”

The house, completed in 1882, was built for Dr. John and Louisiana Strentzel, Muir’s parents-in-law. The Strentzels gave their original house to John and his bride Louie as a wedding gift. When Dr. Strentzel died in 1890, the Muirs moved into this house.

The seventeen-room home is in the Italianate style of late Victorian architecture, and is constructed mostly of redwood. The architects were Wolfe and Son of San Francisco. The home incorporates key features of the Italianate style, including: a rectangular, symmetrical shape, wide eaves with brackets and cornices, a porch with balustrades, a square cupola and high, double-paned windows with hood moldings.

The interior of the 10,000 square-foot house with 12-foot-high ceilings has retained many of its original features, including the Douglas fir floor and black walnut staircase banister. Note the crack in the transom over the front door, which occurred during the Port Chicago explosion of World War II. Phone service was installed in 1884 by Dr. Strentzel, and the house was one of the first in the area to have it (the phone in the downstairs hallway is not original).

The house suffered some damage during the 1906 earthquake, including two of the Italian marble fireplaces. Muir replaced the east parlor’s damaged fireplace with a large, Mission style brick one. He described it in a letter to a friend, “In particular I've built a big fireplace, almost suitable for mountaineers, into which I roll a jolly pair of logs two feet in diameter and pile a half dozen smaller ones between and back of them making fires that flame and roar and radiate sunny heat like those we built on the frosty Coyote Meadows above the canyon of the Kern.” (January 7, 1907)

Furnishings in the home are from the period, but did not belong to the Muirs or Strentzels. An exception is John Muir’s original desk in his “scribble den,” where he penned most of his published works, including his books—writings that paved the way to preserving our nation’s most beautiful natural lands, or “wild places.”

Upstairs, the small balcony at the end of the hall is where Muir slept on many clear nights, seeming to prefer having the stars over his head to a roof.

When John Muir died in 1914 (nine years after his wife), his grown daughters Wanda and Helen sold the house. It remained in the hands of private owners until local citizens (including those who established the John Muir Association) worked for the historic structure’s establishment as a public treasure. The National Park Service bought the house in 1964, along with nine acres of the Muir’s fruit ranch. In 1993, NPS bought an additional 326 acres, known as Mt. Wanda.

Next to Alhambra Creek, about a mile from the house, Muir was buried next to his wife on what was once part of the original 2,600-acre ranch.

The grounds of the 9 acre main site contain grapevines and an orchard with many types of fruit trees as well as many mature exotic trees from around the world that were growing at the time Muir lived. Also to be found are exhibits and machinery of ranch life in the late 1800's.

A 'must see' on the same property is the preserved Vincente Martinez Adobe home built in 1849.

While living here, Muir realized many of his greatest accomplishments, co-founding and serving as the first president of the Sierra Club, in the wake of his battle to prevent Yosemite National Park's Hetch Hetchy Valley from being dammed, playing a prominent role in the creation of several national parks, writing hundreds of newspaper and magazine articles and several books expounding on the virtues of conservation and the natural world, and laying the foundations for the creation of the National Park Service in 1916.

The park's museum collection includes historic documents and artifacts that relate to the writing, travels, political activities and daily life of John Muir and his family in Martinez. Significant portions of the collections include over 1,000 plant specimens collected by Muir during his many travels, photographs of his travel, correspondence to and from Muir, books from his personal library, and first editions of his published works. Many of Muir's original items were graciously donated by Muir family members.

The collection also includes Victorian era furnishings, clothing, household goods, farm implements, books and textiles that are not unique to Muir or his home; however, these pieces allow us to interpret the day-to-day life on the Martinez fruit ranch. The collections are displayed in the home, carriage house and through exhibitions in the Visitor Center.

The Muir house was documented by the Historic American Buildings Survey in 1960.

It became a National Historic Site in 1964, is California Historical Landmark no. 312, and National Historic Landmark, and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

In 1988 nearby Mount Wanda Nature Preserve was added to the Historic Site.

Flag Poles Located On Grounds Of Limerick University [Public Art] REF-105132 by William Murphy

Flag Poles Located On Grounds Of Limerick University [Public Art]

Laminated solid wood polished and varnished. The base is fitted with steel plates bolted through the curved stone base to piled foundations.

25m high x 1m base to 200mm top.

Located on grounds, Main Entrance to campus

The University Of Limerick has a policy of commissioning and acquiring exemplary works of art.The University's own arts collection includes some outdoor sculpture by international artists including Michael Warren, Peter Logan, Alexandra Wejchert, James McKenna, Tom Fitzgerald, Antony Gormley and most recently Sean Scully. These sculptures have added significantly to the artistic and cultural ambience of the University.

Dubai Dinner Cruise a Memorable Evening in Dubai by Khalid Albudoor

Dubai is a city located off the Persian Gulf. The city is endowed with numerous waterways and exceptional attractions that you will enjoy. Arabia Horizons Tours therefore offers Dubai Dinner Cruise tours for you to experience the best of Dubai’s waters and its attractions. These range from traditional dhow cruises to a 5 star Bateaux Dubai cruise which will give you a unique night tour of Dubai’s water ways.

Dubai Dinner Cruise Routes

A dinner cruise with Arabia Horizons tours will take you on a sightseeing tour of the following Dubai waterways;

Dubai Marina

This is an artificial canal district built along the Persian Gulf. You will get to see the following sights on a Dubai Marina cruise;

●Dubai Marina Mall

●Palm Jumeirah

●Jumeirah Beach Residence

Dubai Creek

Dubai Creek is a creek in Dubai which extends into the Persian Gulf. Among the sights you will be able to see on a Dubai Creek cruise include;

●Dubai Creek Tower

●Al Maktoum Ridge

●The Floating Bridge

Dubai Canal

The Dubai Canal is an artificial canal in Dubai. Among the sights you will get to see on a Dubai Canal Cruise includes;

●Palm Jumeirah

●Business Bay

Dubai Dinner Cruise Packages

You can book the following Dubai Dinner cruise packages with Arabia Horizon tours;

Dubai creek dhow Dinner Cruise (Direct Reporting)

This is a two hour cruise along the Dubai Creek in a traditional Arabic dhow. The boat is two tiered with a fully air conditioned lower deck and an open air upper deck. You will receive a red carpet welcome before embarking on the cruise that will take you on a grand tour of the Dubai Creek. An International buffet dinner with soft drinks and refreshments will be served during the cruise. The cruise also includes soothing Arabic, Hindu or English music as entertainment.