A National Park that's Underwater?!?

Biscayne National Park is located in southern Florida, south of Miami. The park preserves Biscayne Bay and its offshore barrier reefs. Ninety-five percent of the park is water, and the shore of the bay is the location of an extensive mangrove forest. The park covers 172,971 acres (69,999 ha) and includes Elliott Key, the park's largest island and first of the true Florida Keys, formed from fossilized coral reef. The islands farther north in the park are transitional islands of coral and sand. The offshore portion of the park includes the northernmost region of the Florida Reef, one of the largest coral reefs in the world.

A quick video of us taking off from the Sea Isle Marina, headed toward the open ocean, and toward our first shoot for Dance Across the USA!

A wonderful end, to a fantastic first day. Many, many more to come.

Explore a 19th Century Fort and snorkel crystal clear water with incredible marine life

Almost 70 miles (113 km) west of Key West lies the remote Dry Tortugas National Park. The 100-square mile park is mostly open water with seven small islands.  Accessible only by boat or seaplane, the park is known the world over as the home of magnificent Fort Jefferson, picturesque blue waters, superlative coral reefs and marine life,  and the vast assortment of bird life that frequent the area.

For more information on visiting Dry Tortugas, follow this link-

http://www.nps.gov/drto/index.htm

Little River Canyon National Preserve

Known as the "Grand Canyon of the East", Little River provides rich cultural heritage and an abundance of Natural Recourses. It is even possible to see all of its beauty along the outer rim, by driving along Highway 35. The river is Great for Kayakers, the mountain is beautiful for scenic viewers, and the entire site is perfect for a little picnic or bbq in the hot summer days. 

For more information on visiting the Little River Canyon. follow this link- https://www.nps.gov/liri/index.htm

Shortly after the French founded New Orleans in 1718, engineers drew up a formal city plan for Nouvelle Orleans---the area that we now call the French Quarter. The city quickly expanded beyond those original boundaries to become an important American port. People arrived from all over the world, joining the early inhabitants of the area to create a distinct culture rich in food, music, and tradition.

For more information on visiting the French Quarter, follow this link-

http://www.nps.gov/jela/french-quarter-site.htm

Water tupelo and bald cypress trees can live in deep water for long periods. After taking root in summer when the swamp is nearly dry, the seedlings can stay alive in water deep enough to kill other plants. This trail leads to an abandoned river channel. As the channel fills with silt and vegetation, black willow, sycamore, red maple and other trees will gradually replace the bald cypress and tupelo. Don't hurry, the change will take several hundred years.

For more information about visiting Cypress Swamp, Natchez Trace follow the link-

http://www.nps.gov/natr/planyourvisit/jackson-to-tupelo.htm

Hot springs in the middle of town?

Water. That's what first attracted people, and they have been coming here ever since to use these soothing thermal waters to heal and relax. Rich and poor alike came for the baths, and a thriving city built up around the hot springs. Together nicknamed "The American Spa," Hot Springs National Park today surrounds the north end of the city of Hot Springs, Arkansas. Come discover it for yourself.

For more information about visiting Hot Springs National Park, follow the link- 

http://www.nps.gov/hosp/index.htm

An Oklahoma Oasis

Springs, streams, lakes-whatever it's form, water is the attraction at Chickasaw National Recreation Area. Little Niagra, and Rock Creek beckons waders and swimmers. Relax in the coolness of shaded stream or take a dip in a swimming hole. Veterans Lake calls anglers to test their skills. Lake of the Arbuckles provides excellent motorboating, skiing, fishing and swimming.

For more information about visiting Chickasaw National Recreational Area, follow the link-

http://www.nps.gov/chic/index.htm

Known today as The Alamo, this Spanish mission complex was the first of six San Antonio missions founded by Catholic missionaries along the San Antonio River in the early 1700s. The mission was a town and learning center to acculturate the local indigenous people to Christianity and Spanish life.  After the mission secularized at the end of the 18th century, Spanish soldiers used the mission church as a fort during Mexico’s fight for independence from Spain. During the Texas Revolution, a small garrison of Texan soldiers died defending The Alamo against the Mexican army. Today, The Alamo, a National Historic Landmark, is located in the heart of downtown San Antonio.

For more information about visiting The Alamo, follow the link- 

http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/american_latino_heritage/The_Alamo.html

Like No Place Else on Earth

Rising from the heart of the Tularosa Basin is one of the world's great natural wonders - the glistening white sands of New Mexico. Great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand have engulfed 275 square miles of desert, creating the world's largest gypsum dunefield. White Sands National Monument preserves a major portion of this unique dunefield, along with the plants and animals that live here.

For more information about visiting White Sands, follow this link- 

http://www.nps.gov/whsa/index.htm

Garden of the Gods

Garden of the Gods is an outstanding illustration of the lithologic character of sedimentary rocks, and of the vertical forces that produced the front range of the Rocky Mountains. Located within Garden of the Gods Park, the site contains the uncommon honey ant, and is one of the best sites in Colorado for observing white-throated swifts, swallows, and canyon wrens.

For more information about visiting the Garden of the Gods, follow this link-

https://www.nature.nps.gov/nnl/site.cfm?Site=GAGO-CO

The Majestic Basin and Range...

In the shadow of 13,063-foot Wheeler Peak, 5,000 year old bristlecone pine trees grow on rocky glacial moraines. Come to Great Basin National Park to experience the solitude of the desert, the smell of sagebrush after a thunderstorm, the darkest of night skies, and the beauty of Lehman Caves. Far from a wasteland, the Great Basin is a diverse region that awaits your discovery.

For more information about visiting the Great Basin National Park, follow this link-

http://www.nps.gov/grba/index.htm

Hoodoos and forest mixed together

There is no place like Bryce Canyon. Hoodoos (odd-shaped pillars of rock left standing from the forces of erosion) can be found on every continent, but here is the largest collection of hoodoos in the world! Descriptions fail. Cave without a roof? Forest of stone? An imagination an wonder will serve you when visiting Bryce Canyon National Park.

For more information about visiting Bryce Canyon, follow this link-

http://www.nps.gov/brca/index.htm

Chevelle Heller & Gabby Pulido

The Heart of the Continent

Voyageurs National Park lies within the heart of the North American Continent.  Here you can see and touch rocks half as old as the world, experience the life of a voyageur, immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of a boreal forest, view the dark skies, or ply the interconnected water routes.

Leave your car behind and set out on the water highways of the North Woods.

For more information about visiting Voyageurs National Park, follow this link-

http://www.nps.gov/voya/index.htm

Jewels of Lake Superior

Along windswept beaches and cliffs, visitors experience where water meets land and sky, culture meets culture, and past meets present. The 21 islands and 12 miles of mainland host a unique blend of cultural and natural resources.  Lighthouses shine over Lake Superior and the new wilderness areas. Visitors can hike, paddle, sail, or cruise to experience these Jewels of Lake Superior.

For more information about visiting the Apostle Islands National lakeshore, follow this link-

http://www.nps.gov/apis/index.htm

Wild Beauty on the Lake Superior Shore

Sandstone cliffs, beaches, sand dunes, waterfalls, lakes, forest, and shoreline beckon you to visit Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Hiking, camping, sightseeing, and four season outdoor opportunities abound. The lakeshore hugs the Lake Superior shoreline for more than 40 miles. Lake Superior is the largest, deepest, coldest, and most pristine of all the Great Lakes.

For more information about visiting Pictured Rocks National lakeshore, follow this link-

http://www.nps.gov/piro/index.htm

And she's about 10' off the ground here, looking cool as can be.

Sacred Space

The mounds preserved here are considered sacred by many Americans, especially the Monument's 20 culturally associated American Indian tribes. A visit offers opportunities to contemplate the meanings of the mounds and the people who built them. The 200 plus American Indian mounds are located in one of the most picturesque sections of the Upper Mississippi River Valley.

For more information about visiting Effigy mounds National Monument. follow this link-

http://www.nps.gov/efmo/index.htm

Last Stand of the Tallgrass Prairie

Where's the tall grass?

Tallgrass prairie once covered 170 million acres of North America. Within a generation the vast majority was developed and plowed under. Today less than 4% remains, mostly here in the Kansas Flint Hills. The preserve protects a nationally significant remnant of the once vast tallgrass prairie and its cultural resources. Here the tallgrass prairie takes its last stand.

For more information about visiting Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, follow this link-

http://www.nps.gov/tapr/index.htm

Gateway to the West

The Gateway Arch reflects St. Louis' role in the Westward Expansion of the United States during the nineteenth century. The park is a memorial to Thomas Jefferson's role in opening the West, to the pioneers who helped shape its history, and to Dred Scott who sued for his freedom in the Old Courthouse.

For more information about visiting the Gateway Arch, follow this link-

http://www.nps.gov/jeff/index.htm

Pioneer Mother's Memorial Forest

Pioneer Mother's Memorial Forest, located within Hoosier National Forest, is one of the best examples of an original, undisturbed pre-settlement forest in Indiana. The site contains the finest examples of forest-grown walnut trees in the United States.

For more information about visiting Pioneer Mother's State forest, follow this link-

http://www.nature.nps.gov/nnl/site.cfm?Site=PIMO-IN

A PHENOMENON NOT FOUND ANYWHERE ELSE!

Known as Niagara of the South, Cumberland Falls is named after the largest waterfall in the south. With a full moon and a clear night sky, you just might see the most famous lunar rainbow! The "moonbow" that will appear from the mist, at the base of the falls.

Don't lose a chance to see this most enchanted, magical phenomenon!

For more information about visiting the Cumberland Falls, follow this link-

http://kentuckystateparks.reserveamerica.com/camping/cumberland-falls-state-resort-park/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=KY&parkId=91904

Come Explore the Cumberland Plateau

Encompassing 125,000 acres of the Cumberland Plateau, Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area protects the free-flowing Big South Fork of the Cumberland River and its tributaries. The area boasts miles of scenic gorges and sandstone bluffs, is rich with natural and historic features and has been developed to provide visitors with a wide range of outdoor recreational activities.

For more information about visiting Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, follow this link-

http://www.nps.gov/biso/index.htm

The gentle sloping and curving alignment of the current route closely follows the original foot passage. Its design harkens back to the way the original interweaving trails aligned as an ancient salt-lick-to-grazing-pasture migratory route of the American Bison and other game that moved between grazing the pastures of central and western Mississippi and the salt and other mineral surface deposits of the Cumberland and Plateau. The route generally traverses the tops of the low hills and ridges of the watershed divides from northeast to southwest.

Native Americans, following the "traces" of bison and other game, further improved this "walking trail" for foot-borne commerce between major villages located in middle Mississippi and central Tennessee. The route is locally circuitous; however, by traversing this route the bison, and later humans, avoided the endless, energy-taxing climbing and descending of the many hills along the way. Also avoided was the danger to a herd (or groups of human travelers) of being caught en-masse at the bottom of a hollow or valley if attacked by predators. The nature of the route, to this day, affords good all-around visibility for those who travel it. At all times the route is on the high ground of the ridge dividing the watersheds; and affords a view to either see or catch the scent of danger; from a distance great enough to afford time to flee to safety; if necessary.

By the time of European exploration and settlement, the route had become well known and established as the fastest means of communication between the Cumberland Plateau, the Mississippi River, and the Gulf of Mexico settlements of Pensacola, Mobile, and New Orleans. In the early post-American Revolutionary War period of America's (south) westward expansion, the Trace was the return route for American flat-boat commerce between the territories of the upper and lower Ohio, Tennessee, and Cumberland River valleys. The Americans would construct flat-boats, load their commerce therein, and drift upon those rivers, one-way south-southwestward all the way to New Orleans, Louisiana. They would then sell their goods (including the salvageable logs of the flat-boats), and return home via the Trace (for the middle section of their return trip), to as far away as Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Improved communications (steam boats, stagecoach lines, and railroads) and the development of ports along the rivers named above, (e.g., Natchez, Memphis, Paducah, Kentucky, Nashville, and Louisville, Kentucky) made the route obsolete as a means of passenger and freight commerce. As a result, no major population centers were born or developed along the Trace, because of its alignment, between its termini Nashville and Natchez. The two cities of note, near or on the Trace's alignment (Jackson, Mississippi, and Tupelo, Mississippi), developed only as a result of their alignment along axis of communication different from the Trace. Thus the Trace and its alignment come down to us today almost completely undeveloped and unspoiled along its whole route. Many sections of the original footpath are visible today for observing and hiking the Parkway's right-of-way.

For more information on visiting the Tennessee Natchez Trace Parkway, please click on the below link:

https://www.nps.gov/natr/planyourvisit/tennessee.htm

Along the "Crooked River"

Though a short distance from the urban areas of Cleveland and Akron, Cuyahoga Valley National Park seems worlds away. The park is a refuge for native plants and wildlife, and provides routes of discovery for visitors. The winding Cuyahoga River gives way to deep forests, rolling hills, and open farmlands. Walk or ride the Towpath Trail to follow the historic route of the Ohio & Erie Canal.

For more information about visiting the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, follow this link-

http://www.nps.gov/cuva/index.htm

Winter Cloaked Hillsides 

Experience wintry conditions and bracing temperatures along both groomed cross-country skitrails and natural snowshoe trails in the folded hilly landscape of the park. Reflect on the story of stewardship, of people taking care of places – sharing an enduring connection to the land - as you observe the tall trees, wildlife and experience the peacefulness of the woods.

For more information about visiting the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic park, follow this link-

http://www.nps.gov/mabi/index.htm

THE LAND OF MANY USES

The White Mountains, a 800,000 acre forest, is a part of every village and every town in the area. It is widely visited, and commonly popular amongst the wildlife, and harvesters. Most of its major peaks are over 4,000 feet high and offer a miraculous view at the top. There are over 1,200 miles in hiking trails over 20 various camping sites and ski areas. The white mountains have much to offer, and much more to explore!

For more information about visiting the White Mountains, follow this link;

http://www.fs.usda.gov/whitemountain

The First Eastern National Park

People have been drawn to the rugged coast of Maine throughout history. Awed by its beauty and diversity, early 20th-century visionaries donated the land that became Acadia National Park. The park is home to many plants and animals, and the tallest mountain on the U.S. Atlantic coast. Today visitors come to Acadia to hike granite peaks, bike historic carriage roads, or relax and enjoy the scenery.

For more information about visiting the Acadia National Park, follow this link;
http://www.nps.gov/acad/index.htm

Here is a place . . . 

. . . where you can walk a Civil War-era fort, visit historic lighthouses, explore tide pools, hike lush trails, camp under the stars, or relax while fishing, picnicking or swimming-all within reach of downtown Boston. Youth programs, visitor services, research, wildlife management, and more are coordinated on the park's 34 islands and peninsulas by the Boston Harbor Islands Partnership.

For more information about visiting The Boston Harbor Islands, follow this link;

http://www.nps.gov/boha/index.htm

Our location in Rhode Island will be the National Historic Landmark known as Ocean Drive.

Ocean Drive begins at an intersection with Ocean Avenue, a short distance from the southern terminus of Bellevue. It follows the shoreline closely in a roughly east-west direction, meandering as it does, to Brenton Point State Park on Aquidneck Island's southwestern corner, the only place it turns away from the shoreline. It then continues along the shore again, with views toward Conanicut Island, before it ends just south of Fort Adams.

The topography along the road consists mainly of dunes and low hills, on which houses were built in a variety of late 19th and 20th century styles. The hills are mostly open, with occasional patches of scrubby bush and copses of trees. Land use is almost exclusively residential. Of the 53 buildings within the district, the few commercial structures are the clubhouses of private beaches and associated outbuildings (one, Gooseberry Beach, is open to the public). Unlike Newport's other historic districts, none of them are separately listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Gillette designed the castle and most of its contents personally, periodically checking every phase of their construction. Built of local fieldstone supported by a steel framework, it took twenty men five years (1914-1919), to complete the main structure. Gillette began his semi-retirement in his new home; and in the following years, he supervised the many thousands of refinements created by local craftsmen.

The woodwork within the castle is hand-hewn southern white oak. Of the forty-seven doors within the structure, there are no two exactly the same. And each door has a handsome external latch intricately carved of wood. Even the Castle's furnishings are indications of Gillette's inspirations. The built-in couches, a movable table on tracks, and light switches of carved wood all point to his creative genius.

Outside on the grounds, Gillette's influence is no less in evidence. The trails often follow, over trestle and through tunnel, the actor's three mile long narrow gauge railroad. Gillette's own walking paths were constructed with near-vertical steps, stone-arch bridges, and wooded trestles spanning up to forty feet. Other outdoor attractions include a vegetable cellar, the railroad station (Grand Central), and Gillette's goldfish pond.

Gillette was born in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1853, the son of former U.S. Senator Francis Gillette and his wife Elizabeth Daggett Hooker Gillette, a descendent of Thomas Hooker, the founder of Hartford. As a child, Gillette was captivated with the stage and acting pursuits, an interest that his parents did not encourage. At age thirteen, he reputedly had built a small stage and amused himself by frequently giving puppet shows for his friends. At age twenty, he left home to follow his chosen career; but success was slow in developing. He attended classes at numerous colleges including Trinity, Yale, Harvard, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and College of the City of New York, but never received a degree. His first recognition as an actor was attained when the lead became ill in "Broken Hearts" at the Globe Theater in Boston, and Gillette's stand-in performance was well received. This led to other and better roles for Gillette. He is most famous for his portrayal of "Sherlock Holmes". Besides his activities as an actor and playwright, Gillette is known to have written two novels, invented many trick stage props and lighting techniques, and often produced and directed the plays in which he appeared. After his semi-retirement in 1910, Gillette was welcomed by theatergoers countless times during his four revival tours. His last performance was at the Bushnell in Hartford in 1936, the year before his death.

For more information on Gillette Castle, please click on the link below:

http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=325204&deepNav_GID=1650%20#directions

Grand Central Terminal is also referred to as Grand Central Station or simply as Grand Central.  It is a commuter, rapid transit (and former intercity) railroad terminal at 42nd Street and Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States. Built by and named for the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad in the heyday of American long-distance passenger rail travel, it covers 48 acres (19 ha) and has 44 platforms, more than any other railroad station in the world. Its platforms, all below ground, serve 41 tracks on the upper level and 26 on the lower, though the total number of tracks along platforms and in rail yards exceeds 100.

The terminal serves commuters traveling on the Metro-North Railroad toWestchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties in New York, as well as to Fairfleld and New Havencounties in Connecticut. Until 1991, the terminal served Amtrak, which moved to nearby Pennsylvania Station upon completion of the Empire Connection. The East Side Access project is underway to bring Long Island Rail Road service to the terminal.

Grand Central Terminal has intricate designs both on its inside and outside. In addition, it contains a vast interior main concourse. The terminal is one of the world's most visited tourist attractions, with 21.9 million visitors in 2013.

Unlike other Metro-North stations, Grand Central Terminal is not owned by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, but by a private company known as Midtown TDR Ventures.

For more information about visiting Grand Central Station, follow this link:

http://www.gcthistory.com/

President Calvin Coolidge used his authority under the Antiquities Act to declare the statue a national monument in 1924. In 1937, by proclamation 2250, President Franklin D. Roosevelt expanded the monument to include all of Bedloe's Island, and in 1956, an act of Congress officially renamed it Liberty Island. Ellis Island was made part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument by proclamation of President Lyndon Johnson in 1965.   The United States historic district;   a single listing on the U.S.  National Register of Historic Places, was designated in 1966.

The islands were closed during Hurricane Sandy in October 2012 and suffered severe damage. Liberty Island reopened July 4, 2013. Extensive repairs on Ellis Island are still being made.

Significance

The Statue of Liberty is a world-famous symbol of freedom, given in the 1880s by France to the United States in celebration of friendship. Nearby Ellis Island was the first stop for millions of immigrants to the U.S. in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The national monument recalls this period of massive immigration to the United States.

Inside the statue, a plaque is engraved with words from"The New Colossus", the poem by Emma Lazarus:

Give me your tired, your poor,

your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!

For more information about visiting The Statue of Liberty, visit the following link:

https://www.nps.gov/stli/index.htm

The River, the Valley, and You

Paddlers slip down the river between low forested mountains; anglers wade the trout streams; hikers scan the valley from the ridge or peer into the 1000-foot-deep Water Gap. The valley has known human hand and voice for 10,000 years. Floodplains nourished the Native farmer; waterfalls drew the Victorian vacationer. Today, a 70,000-acre park welcomes those who seek the outdoors close to home.

For more information about visiting the Delaware Water Gap, follow this link;

http://www.nps.gov/dewa/index.htm

Remi Rosenwald

Layla Goodwin

Remi Rosenwald

Layla Goodwin

"We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal..."

Independence Hall echoes these words. Nearby the old cracked Bell proclaims liberty. The spirit of Franklin is alive in his adopted city. Become part of America's journey in discovering its past.

For more information about visiting the historic Independence Hall, follow this link;

http://www.nps.gov/inde/index.htm

Nikki DiGiorgio

Ayla Flowers

Nikki DiGiorgio

Ayla Flowers

Beaver Valley

Beaver Valley consists of land originally purchased in the early 1900s by Quaker industrialist and conservationist William Poole Bancroft , whose goal it was to preserve as much land as possible along the Brandwine River to ensure its scenic rural beauty remained for future generations as the cities of Wilmington and Philadelphia continued to expand. Much of the land has remained unchanged since it was set aside for preservation, and it includes forests and rolling farmsteads that were once primarily settled by the Quakers who followed Penn to America. The tract is adjacent to Delaware's Brandywine Creek State Park, and the Brandywine Valley National Scenic Bywayruns through it.

Beaver Valley is owned by the National Park Service. It is approximately 12 miles north of the park headquarters in New Castle. Beaver Valley is the largest component of First State National Historical Park, comprising 1,100 acres (220 of which extend into southeastern Pennsylvania). It is open for recreational activities such as hiking, horseback riding, biking, and kayaking.

For more information on visiting First State National Historic Park, please click on the below link:

https://www.nps.gov/frst/index.htm

Photo credit:  National Park Service

Gabe Needle

Riley Miknich

Gabe Needle

Riley Miknich

Life on the Edge

Want to live on the edge? Visit a place recreated each day by ocean wind and waves. Life on Assateague Island has adapted to an existence on the move. Explore sandy beaches, salt marshes, maritime forests and coastal bays. Rest, relax, recreate and enjoy some time on the edge of the continent.

For more information about visiting Assateague Island National Seashore, follow this link;

http://www.nps.gov/asis/index.htm

Bryanna Krause

Anna L. Russell

Ella Foster

May Kesler

Masha Balovlenkov

Our dancers, with Officer Giebel on his horse, Guinness (Left) and Officer Brown and his horse, Chrissy (Right).

Apparently, Guinness likes Anna's tutu! NOMNOMNOM

Everywhere we go, people want to know, who we are, so we tell them... Dance Across the USA!!!  These folks were here for a leadership conference, and we asked them to not just watch, but to get in on this DATUSA thing!  Here with the lovely Masha Balovlenkov.

The Statue:

Lying between the north and south chambers is the central hall containing the solitary figure of Lincoln sitting in contemplation. The statue was carved by the Piccirilli Brothers under the supervision of the sculptor, Daniel Chester French, and took four years to complete. The statue, originally intended to be only 10 feet (3.0 m) tall, was, on further consideration, enlarged so that it finally stood 19 feet (5.8 m) tall from head to foot, the scale being such that if Lincoln were standing, he would be 28 feet (8.5 m) tall. The extreme width of the statue is the same as its height. The Georgia white marble sculpture weighs 175 short tons (159 t) and had to be shipped in 28 separate pieces.

The statue rests upon an oblong pedestal of Tennessee marble 10 feet (3.0 m) high, 16 feet (4.9 m) wide, and 17 feet (5.2 m) deep. Directly beneath this lies a platform of Tennessee marble about 34.5 feet (10.5 m) long, 28 feet (8.5 m) wide, and 6.5 inches (0.17 m) high. Lincoln's arms rest on representations of Roman fasces, a subtle touch that associates the statue with the Augustan (and imperial) theme (obelisk and funerary monuments) of the Washington Mall. The statue is discretely bordered by two pilasters, one on each side. Between these pilasters and above Lincoln's head stands the engraved epitaph, composed by Royal Cortissoz, shown in the box to the left

For more information about visiting the Lincoln Memorial, please click on the below link:

https://www.nps.gov/linc/index.htm

Construction of the monument began in 1848, and was halted from 1854 to 1877 due to a lack of funds, a struggle for control over the Washington National Monument Society, and the intervention of the American Civil War. Although the stone structure was completed in 1884, internal ironwork, the knoll, and other finishing touches were not completed until 1888. A difference in shading of the marble, visible approximately 150 feet (46 m) or 27% up, shows where construction was halted and later resumed with marble from a different source. The original design was by Robert Mills, but he did not include his proposed colonnade due to a lack of funds, proceeding only with a bare obelisk. Despite many proposals to embellish the obelisk, only its original flat top was altered to a pointed marble pyramidion, in 1884. The cornerstone was laid on July 4, 1848; the first stone was laid atop the unfinished stump on August 7, 1880; the capstone was set on December 6, 1884; and the completed monument was dedicated on February 21, 1885. It officially opened October 9, 1888. Upon completion, it became the world's tallest structure, a title previously held by the Cathedral. The monument held this designation until 1889, when the Eiffel Tower was completed in Paris, France.

The monument was damaged during the 2011 Virginia Earthquake and Hurricane Irene in the same year and remained closed to the public while the structure was assessed and repaired. After 32 months of repairs, the National Park Service and the Trust for the National Mall reopened the Washington Monument to visitors on May 12, 2014.

For more information on visiting the Washington Monument, please click on the below link:

https://www.nps.gov/wamo/index.htm

Chelsea Brown

Chelsea Brown

Nature’s Calling!

Just 75 miles from the bustle of Washington, D.C., Shenandoah National Park is your escape to recreation and re-creation. Cascading waterfalls, spectacular vistas, quiet wooded hollows—take a hike, meander along Skyline Drive, or picnic with the family. 200,000 acres of protected lands are haven to deer, songbirds, the night sky…and you. Plan a Shenandoah escape today!

For more information about visiting Stony Man mountains, Shenandoah National Park, follow this link;

http://www.nps.gov/shen/index.htm

Natalie Butt

Alessandra Martinez

Rachel Burt

Avery James

"What a magical Place to be.."

Rugged beauty, fast flowing trout stream, in a boulder strewn canyon with mountainous vistas, this is the place to be. With a fully operable Grist Mill, created by a combination of three different mills that once dotted the state. Still in operation, this monument provides freshly grounded cornmeal and buckwheat flour, which you can purchase on your adventure.

For more information about visiting Babcock State Park, and Grist Mill, follow this link;

http://www.stateparks.com/babcock_state_park_in_west_virginia.html

Alise Knight

Alyssa Hall

Vivianna Olander

A place to engage your senses

The sound of ocean waves, the starry night sky, or the calm of the salt marshes, you can experience it all. Shaped by the forces of water, wind, and storms these islands are ever changing. The plants, wildlife, and people who live here adapt continually. Whether you are walking on the beach, kayaking on the sound, or climbing the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse there is something for everyone to explore!

For more information about visiting Cape Hatteras, follow this link;

http://www.nps.gov/caha/index.htm

Maggie Caines

Miranda Saliva

Kendra Brown

Anna-Katherine Risalvato

We were at Congaree NP on National Public Lands Day, Sept 24th!  Volunteers from all over cam to help do a trail cleanup, and they wanted to get in on the action with Dance Across the USA.  Thanks folks!

Congaree National Park preserves the largest tract of old growth bottomland hardwood forest left in the United States. Located in South Carolina, the 26,546-acre (41.48 sq mi; 10,742.79 ha; 107.43 km2) national park received that designation in 2003 as the culmination of a grassroots campaign which had started in 1969. The lush trees growing in this floodplain forest are some of the tallest in the Eastern U.S., forming one of the highest temperate deciduous forest canopies remaining in the world. The Congaree River flows through the park. About 57 percent (15,000 acres or 61 square kilometers) of the park is designated wilderness area. (Source - Wikipedia)

Arianna Gavrilas

Arianna Gavrilas

Arianna Gavrilas

In our little campsite at Sea Camp, Number 15.  What a lovely place to visit!

As we were leaving the island, a rainbow appeared, which we just had to capture as well.  What a way to end our cross-country journey!

Biology and ecology

Cumberland Island National Seashore contains a dense diversity of coastal flora and fauna. The National Park Service employs a full-time wildlife manager and scientists, and hosts researchers periodically. The park contains at least 23 distinct ecological communities, making it the largest and most biodiverse of Georgia's barrier islands. Birds, particularly migratory waterfowl, have been studied.

Recreation

The public areas of Cumberland Island are part of a national seashore managed by the National Park Service. NPS restricts access to 300 people on the island at a time, and campers are allowed to stay no more than seven nights. The island is only accessible by boat. The Cumberland Queen ferry runs three times a day from March 1 to September 30. From October 1 to November 31 it only runs twice a day. From December 1 to February 28 the boat runs twice a day only on Mondays - Thursdays to Cumberland Island from the mainland (St Marys, Georgia). Visitors cannot bring vehicles or bikes on the ferry, and there are no paved roads or trails. Bikes are available for rent at the Sea Camp Dock, on a first-come, first-served basis. Visitors may bring their own bikes to the island via private or charter boat. There is one camping area with running water and bathrooms with cold showers; the other camping sites do not have facilities. All food, ice and supplies must be shipped from the mainland, as there are no stores on the island.

For more information on Cumberland Island National Seashore, please click on the below link:

https://www.nps.gov/cuis/index.htm