Wandering Wednesday - Delaware

State: Delaware
Capital: Dover
Entered the Union: December 7, 1787 (1st state)
Facts:
Named for Thomas West, Third Baron of De La Warr
Born here: Henry Heimlich (you know the Heimlich maneuver?)
First state to ratify the constitution of the United States
Oldest Protestant Church in the U.S. - Holy Trinity built in 1698
Only state without any National park System
The sheaf of wheat, ear of corn, and ox on the state seal symbolize the farming activities of early Delaware
Of the 50 US states Delaware is 49th in size and 45th in population
At its widest point Delaware is 35 miles across

Capital building:

They let us sit behind the senate desk and play with the gavel.

 A large doctors bag with stethoscope in Stanton

Miles the Monster at the Dover raceway

Wandering Wednesday - Connecticut

Wandering Wednesday:
State: Connecticut
Capital: Hartford
Entered the Union: Jan 9,1788 (5th state)
Facts: the name derived from and Indian word (Quinnehtukqut) meaning “beside the long tidal river”
Born here: Mark Twain, PT Barnum, Ethan Allen, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Katherine Hepburn, Nathan Hale
In the Revolutionary war they served as the Continental armies supplier called the “Arsenal of the Nation”.
Cattle branding started here when farmers were required by law to mark their pigs.
1889 the first car insurance was issued in Hartford.
In 1901 the first automobile speed limit was passed in CT set at 12 mph
Home to the oldest U.S. newspaper still being published – The Hartford Courant est. 1764
The first telephone book had 50 names and was published in New haven 1878
State Song: Yankee Doodle 

The capital building

with its amazing dome. The light and colors were vibrant

Lovely Statues
This is a replica of the "Genius of Connecticut" which was once mounted on top of the dome but was damaged in a hurricane in 1938.

 Nathan Hale - A soldier in the American revolutionary war who was captured and executed he is best known for his last words - " "I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country."

Senate chair -  made from the wood of the charter oak tree, which fell down in 1857. The top of each post has an acorn springing from oak leaves, while the posts and arms are entwined with branches of oak with leaves and acorns. An eagle is at the back center. The state coat of arms is in the shield on the back. they actually let us tourists sit in it. It isn't very comfortable.

And a cannon ball embedded in a tree

 
 A hungry squirrel

 Mark Twain

 and his house

Wandering Wednesday - Colorado

Wandering Wednesday:
State: Colorado
Capital: Denver
Entered the Union: August 1, 1876 (38th state)
Facts: known as the Centennial State because Colorado was admitted to statehood during the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The name Colorado comes from the Spanish for “colored red”.
Eastern Colorado was acquired as part of the Louisiana Purchase (1803), ten Central portion in 1845 with the admission of Texas as a state, and the Western part in 1848 as a result of the Mexican war.
The first license plate on a car in the United States was issued in Denver, Colorado in 1908
Denver is nicknamed the "mile high city" because its official elevation is exacetly one mile above sea level.
Colorado has the highest elevation of any state with 1000 rocky mountain peaks over 10,000 ft and 54 towering 14,000ft.
The first license plate on a car in the United States was issued in Denver, Colorado in 1908.

I've only been to this state twice. The first time was driving through on my cross country move. The second time a friends wedding. Not really enough time to explore a lot.

Colorado river

 Red Rock Amphitheater (someday I will see a concert here)

Denver Convention center big blue bear

The wedding:

Wandering Wednesday - California

Capital: Sacramento
Entered the Union: September 9, 1850 (31st state)
Motto: Eureka ( I have found it) It is widely believed this is because of the discovery of Gold
Facts: The first Spanish Mission was established in 1769 at San Diego. On Jan 24, 1848 gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill ( by James W. Marshal) and the California Gold Rush bringing with it a large number of settlers. California has both the lowest point (death Valley 282 ft below sea level) and the highest point ( Mt Whitney 14,491 ft) in the lower 48 states. California is the birthplace of the Frisbee, Barbie Dolls, skateboards and Video arcade games.

The California state Capitol building is gorgeous a lot of ornate sculptures.

  Also the state Seal says Eureka.

 Sutter's Fort which was key to the settlement of Sacramento and shelter to the survivors from the Donner Party.

 San Fransisco and the famous Ghirardelli square.. great hot cocoa on a cold day

 The Golden Gate Bridge

 Alcatraz. I was suppose to take a walking tour but the government shut down so it was cancelled :( maybe next time.

 Famous Pier 39

 and the Sea lions

 Winchester Mystery house:
This is the house owned by the widow to the inventor of the Winchester rifle. She believed that ghosts were out to kill her and as long as she kept up construction on the house they would nt find her. There is a stairway to the ceiling. , a door in the floor, and a lot of other odd things. It is an amazing tour! This place is HUGE and a must see in northern California.

 Venice Beach with my dad. I grew up about 5 miles from here so as a child this was my stomping grounds!

 Venice Canals. I great walking area. or if you have a boat you can paddle around.

 My favorite part of California - the sunsets!

 And You can't visit southern California without at least seeing the Hollywood sign...

 I took the hiking path up to it, or rather behind it.

 Lastly, Catalina island where southern Californians go to escape...

Wandering Wednesday - Arkansas

Wandering Wednesday:
State: Arkansas 25th state on June 15, 1836
Origin of name: French interpretation of the Algonquin Indian word "Ookansa" meaning "south wind"
History: Birthplace of Bill Clinton and Johnny Cash the U.S. acquired Arkansas in 1803 as part of the Louisiana Purchase.
The first woman elected to the U.S. Senate was from Arkansas, Hattie Caraway in November 1932.

I only visited the Capitol building which took 16 years to build (1899-1915) This year it turns 100 years old. At the time the Capitol building was built on the site of the state penitentiary and prisoners helped in its construction. They lived in a dormitory that was left on the Capitol grounds during construction.

 If you look closely at the second image you can see a pineapple above the entry. The pineapple is an expression of welcome symbolizing warmth, welcome, friendship and hospitality. The pineapple in various forms is seen a lot in the southern states.

 I like their dome with the chandelier hanging in the center. I tried to line it up so it was centered but I failed.

 They also have a great display with their seal. I always look for the state seal in the capitol building but it isn't always there.

Wandering Wednesday - Arizona

Wandering Wednesday Arizona
Statehood: February 14, 1912 48th state
Capitol: Phoenix
History: Arizona was part of the land we fought over in the Mexican-American War. Was Originally part of the New Mexico territory and almost ended up as part of New Mexico. The most famous gunfight in the Old west happened in tombstone at the O.K corral. During World War II many military bases were constructed since there was a large amount of undeveloped land, cheap labor, and railroads this helped to revitalize the Arizona economy. If you visit one small town in Arizona it should be Oatman that place rocks!

 'standing on the corner in Winslow Arizona' (2012)

  Oatman Donkeys an old Gold mining town where the domestic Donkeys out number the population (2006)

 Grand Canyon 2006 - Arguably one of the 7 natural wonders in the World is the Grand Canyon. If you have ever stood on the edge you would easily agree. I will never forgot the feeling of stunned peace that first glance over the edge. Mere words cannot describe the scope of what you see. That first moment was made even better since it was so over cast. Visibility was limited and then the clouds lifted. It was like looking through a window at the most beautiful view imaginable.

Some Grand Canyon Facts:
Grand Canyon became a National park in 1919 at its widest it is 18 miles (4 miles at its narrowest), 277 miles long, and 6000 feet deep. John Wesley Powell led the first expedition down the Grand Canyon in 1869, he was also the first to use the name “Grand Canyon”.

My First view f the Canyon. This was late March and a bit foggy

 Oh look it cleared a little..

 Hiking was an adventure. We were a little unprepared for snow, mud, and hail

 But when it cleared up

 It was a stunning view

 We returned June 2012 and it was simply magnificent. If you visit one sight in America I dare say this is the place to go.

Lake Havasu where you can visit an actual London bridge (2012)

 Yes we drove over it!