Washington

• Space Needle, Seattle –  The Space Needle is a tower in Seattle, Washington, and a major landmark of the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Located at the Seattle Center, it was built for the 1962 World’s Fair, during which time nearly 20,000 people a day used the elevators, with over 2.3 million visitors in all for the World Fair. The Space Needle is 605 feet (184 m) high and 138 feet (42 m) wide at its widest point and weighs 9,550 tons. When it was completed it was the tallest structure west of the Mississippi River. It is built to withstand winds of up to 200 mph (320 km/h) and earthquakes up to 9.5 magnitude. The Space Needle features an observation deck at 520 feet (160 m), and a gift shop with the SkyCity restaurant at 500 feet (152 m). The Space Needle is a tower in Seattle, Washington, and a major landmark of the Pacific Northwest …
• National Air and Space Museum, Washington DC – The National Air and Space Museum (NASM) of the Smithsonian Institution is a museum in Washington, D.C., and is the most popular of the Smithsonian museums. It maintains the largest collection of aircraft and spacecraft in the world. It is also a vital center for research into the history, science, and technology of aviation and spaceflight, as well as planetary science and terrestrial geology and geophysics. Almost all space and aircraft on display are originals or backup crafts to the originals. The National Air and Space Museum is widely considered one of Washington’s most significant works of modern architecture. Because of the museum site’s close proximity to the United States Capitol, the Smithsonian Institution wanted a building that would be architecturally impressive but would not stand out too boldly against the Capitol Building. St. Louis-based architect Gyo Obata of Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum accepted the challenge and designed the museum as four simple travertine-encased cubes containing the smaller and more theatrical exhibits, connected by three spacious steel-and-glass atriums which house the larger exhibits such as missiles, airplanes and spacecraft. The museum, built by Gilbane Building Company, was finished in 1976. The west glass wall of the building is used for the installation of airplanes, functioning as a giant door
• Mount St Helens, Washington – Mount St. Helens is an active stratovolcano located in Skamania County, Washington, in the Pacific Northwest region. It is 96 miles (154 km) south of Seattle and 53 miles (85 km) northeast of Portland, Oregon. Mount St. Helens takes its English name from the British diplomat Lord St Helens, a friend of explorer George Vancouver who made a survey of the area in the late 18th century. The volcano is located in the Cascade Range and is part of the Cascade Volcanic Arc, a segment of the Pacific Ring of Fire that includes over 160 active volcanoes. This volcano is well-known for its ash explosions and pyroclastic flows. Mount St. Helens is most famous for its catastrophic eruption on May 18, 1980, at 8:32am PDT which was the deadliest and most economically destructive volcanic event in the history of the United States. Fifty-seven people were killed; 250 homes, 47 bridges, 15 miles (24 km) of railways, and 185 miles (298 km) of highway were destroyed. The eruption caused a massive debris avalanche, reducing the elevation of the mountain’s summit from 9,677 feet (2,950 m) to 8,365 feet (2,550 m) and replacing it with a 1 mile (1.6 km) wide horseshoe-shaped crater. The debris avalanche was up to 0.7 cubic miles (2.9 km3) in volume. The Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument was created to preserve the volcano and allow for its aftermath to be scientifically studied
• Mowich Lake, Mount Rainier National Park, Washington – Mowich Lake is a lake located in the northwestern corner of Mount Rainier National Park in Washington State at an elevation of 4,929 feet (1,502 m). The name “Mowich” derives from the Chinook jargon word for deer. Access to the lake is provided by a 17 miles (27 km) long unpaved road which opens to vehicles in mid June to early July. Mowich Lake is also a busy campground during the summer with 30 walk-in tent camping spots. Bathrooms, tables, and trash bins are provided. From the Mowich campground, hikers can reach the Wonderland Trail, Eunice Lake, Tolmie Peak, Spray Park, and Spray Falls. Old-growth trees, waterfalls, creeks, cliffs, and wildflower meadows are also located in and around the area.
• Marsh’s Free Museum. Located in the town of Long Beach, this little museum has been around for years, drawing anyone who happens to find themselves traveling in the area. The name is accurate, as the museum itself is free, giving you the chance to gander at a wide range of strange artifacts, such as Jake, the mummified half man/ half alligator, who is said to have been part of the staff of a local brothel, where he would lead men to the young women waiting eagerly to give them some time, in exchange for some silver. The many odd exhibits here are countered with a vast gift shop, that offers plenty of equally unique trinkets to take home, to commemorate your visit.
• Ye Olde Curiosity Shop, in Seattle. While not a museum, it is a strange little gift shop. This place that offers a modern look into the traditional freak show exhibit. Meaning that it has some one of a kind items for sale, for anyone who has a very disturbing taste in décor. When you first walk in, you are greeted by the shop’s mascots, a male and female mummy couple, of which originally came from here in the US. While I am not sure how it is they died, Sylvia and Sylvester set a tone for the rest of the visit. From real shrunken heads, to an entire ‘mermaid’ family, to a monkey who’s insides have been turned into a wig, you can be sure to find something interesting to take home here.
• Grave of the Pickled Pioneer. The story goes like this: a man named Dr William Keil wished to lead a team of 250 people within a religious sect he led, known as the Bethelites, to a new home. He had promised his son, William Keil, that he could lead the train, and the nineteen year old eager accepted the responsibility.

  But shortly before the wagon train was to depart, he came down with Malaria, and passed away. His father, devastated, but wishing to fulfill his promise, built a lead-lined casket, and filled it with whiskey, placing his son in the center, and sealing it shut. Placing the casket in a black wagon, he put it at the front of the train, and allowed his son to lead, as he had wished. His grave is now in Menlo, and is one of the strangest attractions in Washington, but also one of the lesser known.

August 17, 2011 | Categories: Art, History, Homeschooling, Parks, Restaurants, Roadside Attractions, States | Tags: Washington | Leave a comment