Jesse James Museum, Stanton, Missouri

Jesse James Wax Museum
U.S. 66 - I. 44
Stanton, Missouri
Rudy Turilli who has researched the life of Jesse James for the past 20 years is thoroughly convinced that the figure seated next to him shows Jesse James as he looked when he was 102 years of age.  Mr. Turilli spends most of his time talking to people inside the museum.












Left to Right - Zerelda James Samuels, Mother of the James boys; Cole Younger, Frank James, QUANTRILL and Jesse James.
At Jesse James Museum, Stanton, Missouri
Where you will See AND Hear the True Story

Visit the museums website here: http://www.jessejameswaxmuseum.com/

Bok Tower, Lake Wales, Florida

Marble steps lead to the huge door of hand hammered brass.   This door is composed of twenty-six separate pictures, depicting in brass repousse the Genesis story of the Creation, up to the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden.

Anton Brees and the Carillon

This is the room in which Anton Brees, the world's greatest carillonneur, plays the carillon on the clavier, or keyboard, and makes the music which gives the Singing Tower its name.  The bells themselves do not seing but are rigid, and are struck by clappers worked by levers and operated my the manuals and pedals of the clavier in this room.

No brush can paint nor pencil trace,

The charm and beauty of this place;

Where stands a wondrous monument,

The Singing Tower magnificent.

The Singing Tower, Lake Wales, Florida

The Mountain Lake Sanctuary and Singing Tower were presented to the public by Edward W. Bok.  Everything that genius and art could devise have been done to make this garden spot beautiful and inspiring.  On Iron Mountain, the highest point of land in Florida, the Tower of Georgia marble and Coquina rock, rises 205 feet, to have its beauty duplicated by the reflection in the little lake at its base.  Music from the Carillon, one of the finest in the world, enhances the charm that makes this Sanctuary so memorable.

Hemlock Hall, Blue Mountain Lake, New York

"Great Fireplace", Hemlock Hall
A secluded Hunting Lodge with private beach on beautiful Blue Mountain Lake in the Central Adirondacks. Fishing excellent!
A friendly place at the end of the road surrounded by forest and lake. American plan at reasonable rates for a carefree vacation. Open May 1st to December 1st.


A September view from a bedroom window of this beautiful lodge. Glorious Autumn Coloring!
Comfortable rooms with private bath. Separate cottages on the lake. Boats and Canoes. Excellent fishing! May and June for top trout catches. Delicious food - informal atmosphere - pleasing service. Open May 1st to November 1st. AAA recommended.


This personally owned and operated vacation resort has acquired an enviable reputation for its quiet, congenial atmosphere; immaculate housekeeping and excellent home style meals. These services appropriately supplement its superb and secluded location in the unique Adirondack Mountains Forest Preserve.
A perfection of relaxation and recreation is experienced on the surrounding lake shore, islands and mountain slopes which are so pleasingly covered with ferns, flowers and trees; notably canoe birch, white pine, hemlock, spruce and the fragrant balsam.


A September view from the porch of this beautiful lodge. Glorious autumn coloring! Comfortable rooms with private bath. New Motel Units, efficiency cottages, as well as larger cottages on the lake. Boats and canoes, excellent fishing. May and June for top trout catches. Delicious food - informal atmosphere - pleasing service. Open May 15 to October 20th. AAA & Duncan Hines recommended. One mile from highway, secluded and quiet.

View from "Hemlock Hall's new Motel and Cottages on Birch Knoll".

These beautiful lakeside accomodations, nestled in a forest setting of white birch, balsam and pine trees, have everything the experienced vacationist is looking for; comfort, unspoiled beauty, seclusion, quiet. Appetizing home-type meals. AAA recommended. This is in the midst of 2,500,000 acres of Forest Preserve, Lakes & Mountains. Our many friends and guests know that such a paradise does exist!!

Early reservations are always advisable. Included in the reasonable rates are attractive social quarters, recreational and library facilities, boats, canoes, motors, diving float etc.

Weeki Wachee, Florida

I don't recall ever having been to Weeki Wachee, but it looks like fun. They have mermaid shows in the spring, a riverboat cruise down the Weeki Wachee River, and animal shows. Perhaps it will have to be an upcoming trip. They still seem to be open and you can visit their site at http://weekiwachee.com.

The Weeki Wachee Mermaids pose for photographers with the Mermaid Statues which adorn the newly decorated front of Weeki Wachee, just north of Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater, on US19.

New York City, New York

Interior of the Radio City Music Hall, New York City

Municipal Building

Located at the junction of Park Row and Center Street, opposite City Hall Park. The largest structure of its kind in the world, as it contains all city departments and occupies two city blocks, one of the streets running through the building. It is 5880 feet - 14 stories - high, and rests on 116 caissons sunk 260 feet below the street level. The statue on the tower, "Miss Civic Fame", is 30 feet tall.

Tampa, Florida

Gasparilla week opens with a full scale invasion of Tampa by the Pirates of Ye Mystic Krewe Of Gasparilla in Tampa, Florida.
(I remember going to the Gasparilla Parade when I was a kid. It was fun because they threw all kinds of crap off the floats into the crowd.)


Rainbow Pool at Fairyland in Lowry Park "Children's Paradise"
Tampa, Florida


Bridges across the bay and Bayshore Drive to Davis Islands, Tampa, Florida.
(This has to be the most fabulous postcard ever. If I saw this in the store I would buy dozens and send them to everyone I know. Everyone needs a postcard of an overpass!)

Administration Building

University of South Florida

Tampa, Florida

Sierra Blanca - New Mexico

Sierra Blanca (Old Baldy)

On Scenic Highway 70 situated in the Mescalero, Apache Indian Reservation in Southern New Mexico, this Scenic Drive is one of the most beautiful in the southwest. This view is between Alamogordo and Roswell and only a few minutes from Ruidoso, year-around mountain resorts.

Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico

Visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park website at http://www.nps.gov/cave/index.htm.

Totem Pole
This TOTEM POLE is 42 feet high and is found in the BIG ROOM, where the ceiling arches to 150 feet high. It is near the trail in the world's largest caverns.



Lunch Room
Every day, hundreds of visitors can be served each hour, in the mammoth underground Lunch Room, 750 feet below the surface. Box lunches with hot or cold drinks are served.


Bat Flight From Natural Entrance
The bat flight is one of the park's greatest attractions. Flying from the caverns each evening from April through October, bats in incredible numbers spiral upward out of the entrance and fly southward over the rim of the escarpment to feed in the valleys of the Black and Pecos Rivers below.


Rock Of Ages
This large formation is found in the BIG ROOM. Its height is approximately equal to a five story building. The orange coloring is caused by iron oxide stain. The caverns are open the year 'round.


Queen's Chamber
One of the 4 beautiful scenic rooms, it contains the largest drapery formations in the Caverns, along with the rare root-like helictites. Carlsbad Caverns National Park is open every day in the year. For complete tour information, write the Superintendent, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, N.M.


Veiled Statue
Located in the Green Lake Room, the first scenic room to ve entered on the cavern tour, this huge column forms a striking picture. Standing alone on a huge block of debris it justifies its name, appearing like a huge statue ready for unveiling. Carlsbad Caverns National Park is open all year. For complete tour information write the superintendent, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Carlsbad, New Mexico.


Crystal Spring Dome
Located in the Big Room, the Crystal Spring Dome is Carlsbad Caverns' largest active stalagmite. Recent studies indicate that its present rate of growth will add the thickness of a coat of paint to its surface in 80 to 100 years.

The Breakers

To find out more about The Breakers and the other Newport mansions visit their website http://www.newportmansions.org/.


Cornelius Vanderbilt Mansion
"The Breakers"
Newport, Rhode Island
Built in 1895, it is situated on Ochre Point Ave., off Bellevue Ave., sometimes referred to as "Mansion Row". It faces famous "Cliff Walk" and offers a magnificent view of the Atlantic Ocean. the symmetry of design, opulence and lavish use of alabaster, marble, mosaics, and antique woods makes a visit to this Newport mansion something that will be long remembered.


The Morning Room
The Breakers
The Morning Room, designed by Van der Boyen and fashioned in France, features Italian Renaissance paintings of eight of the muses done in oil on silver leaf. "The Breakers", built for Cornelius Vanderbilt in 1895, is opened to visitors under the auspices of The Preservation Society of Newport. Guided tours - Admission charge.

The Great Hall

The Breakers

The Great Hall rises over forty-five feet through two full floors. The grand staircase divides at the landing and rises in a graceful sweep to the upper level. "The Breakers", built for Cornelius Vanderbilt in 1895, is opened to visitors under the auspices of The Preservation Society of Newport. Guided Tours - Admission charge.

New York City, New York

This is Times Square which is the heart of New York's theatrical district with the New York Times Building marking the division of 7th Avenue from Broadway. Within the radius of 10 blocks are scores of theatres. The tall building with clock houses the Paramount Theatre, one of the leading motion picture palaces. Next to it is the Hotel Astor.


With its shining spire of Nirosta steel literally scraping the sky, reaching a height of 77 stories - 1046 feet, 4 3/4 inches, the Chrysler Building takes its rightful place among the wonders of the modern world. From the Observatory on the 71st floor over 1600 square miles are visible. The building contains more than 1,000,000 sq. ft. of office space and is planned to house and serve comfortably 15,000 tenants and employees, a population equal to that of each of one hundred good sized American towns.


Everybody who comes to New York takes a trip thru Central Park, a small corner of which is shown in this picture. The park, which comprises 840 acres is surrounded on all sides by beautiful hotels and apartment houses. Here are shown the Plaza, Savoy Plaza, the Sherry-Netherlands and Pierre Hotels, near the 59th Street and 5th Ave. entrance to the park.

Ormond Beach, Florida

I thought that this was a really cool statue at Tomoka State Park in Ormond Beach north of Daytona. I've never been but now maybe I need to put it on my list of places to see. For more information on the park visit their site at http://www.floridastateparks.org/tomoka/default.cfm.


Giant Chief Tomoka
Tomoka State Park
Ormond Beach, Florida
Believing no power is superior to his, spills the waters of the Fountain Of Youth and is shot by the indian maid Oleta of the enemy tribe & gaurdian of the sacred cup never touched by human hands & symbol of the celestial spirit.
Fred Dana Marsh, Sculptor


A Florida alligator rests on the marshy banks of the Tomoka River near Ormond Beach, Florida. A beautiful, but rare, sight, typical of the Florida vanishing frontier.

Canandaigua, New York

Sonnenberg Entrance, Canandaigua, N.Y.


Mrs. F.F. Thompson's "Summer Cottage." This forty room mansion constructed in 1887 at Sonnenberg Gardens, Canandaigua, N.Y., overlooks the ten magnificent gardens on this fifty acre, turn of the century, garden estate.


The colorful Italian Garden at Sonnenberg Gardens, Canandaigua, N.Y. One of ten magnificent gardens on this fifty acre, turn of the century, garden estate.

Mount Snow, Vermont

This postcard is from 1979. I like the ski lift. The little pods look like alien faces with big giant eyes.

Mount Snow, Vermont 05356

A Mountain of Skiing - A Valley of Fun

A complete 4 season resort for Alpine Skiing, Golf and Tennis. Located in the Green Mountains of Southern Vermont. Exhilarating runs on over 50 trails and slopes for all skiing abilities. A novice run 2 miles long. Snowmaking to the summit. Here the Exhibition Trail offers great intermediate skiing.

West Point, New York

Air View, U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y.


Visitors Reviewing Dress Parade, U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y.

Cadets Marching To Parade Grounds, U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y.

Woodstock, Vermont

The Woodstock Inn from the second postcard is still open. http://www.woodstockinn.com/


Middle Bridge
Woodstock, Vermont


Woodstock Inn
Woodstock, Vermont
Opened November 1969


The Center of Woodstock, Vermont

New Paltz, New York

I thought that this looked pretty impressive. Well, this hotel is still in business and so I popped over to their website. WOW! This view doesn't hold a candle to some of the pictures in their photo gallery. Pop over yourself and take a look at http://www.mohonk.com/. Looks like a fantastic place to visit during any season.

Putting Green View

Mohonk Mountain House

New Paltz, N.Y. 12561

Ponce De Leon Springs, Florida

Ponce De Leon Springs

U.S. Route 17, De Leon Springs, Florida

Old Methuselah, a 2713 year old bald cypress is one of many spots within easy walking distance of the Fountain of Youth. This spot is also a highlight of the Jungle Cruise and the sightseeing train ride.

The Kapok Tree Inn - Clearwater, Florida

The Kapok Tree was a fantastic restaurant in Clearwater Florida. I have fond memories of visiting there when I was a kid. The fountains were fascinating. For a great in depth look at the Kapok Tree visit this fantastic sight http://benzplace.com/kapok/index.html.


Country Dinners served beside Florida's Famous Kapok Tree in the midst of exotic Italian gardens. Located on Route 593 just north of Gulf to Bay Blvd. (Rt. 60) east of U.S. Route 19.


The Kapok Tree was brought from India as a seedling over 100 years ago. It blooms in February.


Country Dinners served beside Florida's Famous Kapok Tree in the midst of exotic tropical gardens. Located on Route 593 just north of Gulf to Bay Blvd. (Rt. 60) east of U.S. Route 19.

The Kitchen Kabaret - Walt Disney World, Florida

Today a couple of Disney postcards from the 80's (just a little newer than the usual posts). See pictures from this attraction on my other blog http://disneyvacationkingdom.blogspot.com/2009/10/kitchen-kabaret.html.


Seasoned Performers
Enjoy some spicy numbers on good nutrition at the Kitchen Kabaret, in The Land. Acts include Fiesta Fruit, Dairy Goods, and the hit of the Breakfast Circuit, Ham & Eggz. Presented by Kraft.


The Kitchen Krackpots

During your tour through The Land, you will see a wacky show called Kitchen Kabaret, which tells the story of nutrition in a very unusual way.