March has come in like a lion and the experience has grown evermore complex. The giant storm is now far out at sea, but it’s influence continues. Jamaica Plain suffered much damage. We are now in our third day without heat at 39 Saint John Street. Something I enjoy about this situation. Taken back to…
Category: History
Wupatki National Monument
The Wupatki National Monument protects 56 square miles of dry, rugged land on the Southern Colorado Plateau. Here, a part of the Puebloan people called Wupatki lived in the midst of this vast dry area, which included trading routes both north and south, east and west. The choice of a place seemed brilliant from my observation,…
Sunset Crater Volcano
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument is one of the less known, but extraordinary places, where we have an opportunity to learn much about Nature and Humanity. The experience was special because Hilary Clark had made arrangements for the presentation of the Olmsted Play at the Amphitheater located in a magnificently beautiful and an educational marvel for all…
Petrified National Forest
Here’s a scene which really gets you to thinking about history, the present and the past. The Petrified Forest is a rock solid door into the incredible past of Planet Earth. Clearly, my mind has never been as focused on the ancient history of humans and the movements of air, rock, and water, which have…
Red Rock Park
Arriving in Gallup, New Mexico, my mind and heart again went back to 1962 when I was traveling through Gallup and stopped on my way to the Grand Canyon. Visions of the experience floated through my mind. The one clear image was visiting an Indian Reservation. Having read much about the conditions of poverty and…
The Pueblo of the Pecos River & Valley
The Pueblo of the Pecos River and Valley were rooted in a fertile valley with natural resources… the complete opposite of the “El Malpais,” the Bad Lands (read about my experience here). For centuries, they had farmed the land, creating products of woven materials, jewelry, along with much artwork. They had traded with tribes in…
“El Malpais”: The Bad Lands
Once again, the drive off the highway was a long, winding, slowly climbing experience. Along with the magnificent Sandstone formations, there were fields that appeared to be covered with black rock. Philip at the Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge (read about it here) had spoken of volcanic activity at this place, which he had recommended. A…
New Mexico: Fort Union
In leaving Maxwell National Wildlife Refuge (read about it here), the thoughts of visiting Fort Union National Monument had become the mission. How interconnected the landscapes and humanity had become in my mind, heart, and spirit. The geographic and geological features of the land had been great motivators for the movement of civilizations. Strong forces…
WBUR Interview
If you didn’t have a chance to catch the interview of Gerry that aired on Friday, you can check it out online: 150 Years Ago, Olmsted Released His Historic Yosemite Report.
On the Road: Springfield to St. Louis
Leaving the Lincoln Home, I headed toward St. Louis, where I would cross the Mississippi, and pass near the Jefferson Memorial Site, recognizing the beginning of the Lewis & Clark’s Expedition. This journey was a result Jefferson’s success in negotiating the Louisiana Purchase and wanting to get a report on the land acquired. As a…
Dispatches From Olmsted 