Finding the unexpected in the everyday.
January 5, 2013 Philosopher’s Way, a 2.7-mile (4.3-kilometer) loop trail around the perimeter of John McLaren Park in San Francisco, was opened to the public. This trail is the first and only one in the United States to be built primarily for philosophers. The key features of Philosopher’s Way include a total of 14 stone... Continue Reading →
January 3, 1942 Just a little less than a month after the United States entered World War II on the side of the Allies, a yacht was acquired by the U.S. Navy from William F. Ladd for use in that global conflict. (Ladd had been adjutant general of Connecticut between 1930 and 1939 and would... Continue Reading →
December 29, 1933 With New Year’s Eve fast approaching, it was definitely a case of “out with the old, in with the new” on the southwest tip of the Hawaiian island of Oahu due to the replacement of one lighthouse with another there. (At the time, Hawaii was a U.S. territory; it became the 50th... Continue Reading →
December 27, 1893 A pivotal test ride took place for a newly completed truss railroad bridge in eastern-central Missouri. This four-span truss bridge, crossing the Missouri River at Bellefontaine Bluffs and serving as a link between Charles County and St. Louis County in the Show-Me State, had been built for the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy... Continue Reading →
December 21, 1926 The Ross Island Bridge in Portland, Oregon, was opened in what the Associated Press (AP) called “a fitting dedicatory ceremony.” This cantilever truss bridge, which carries U.S. Route 26 (Mount Hood Highway) across a section of the Willamette River between the southwest and southeast parts of Portland, is approximately 800 feet... Continue Reading →
December 20, 1984 The Polanco Station on Line 7 of the Mexico City Metro first went into service. (The Mexico City Metro, which is operated by the Sistems de Transporte Colectivo [STC], is a rapid transit system serving the metropolitan area of Mexico’s capital; it ranks second only to the New York City Subway as... Continue Reading →
December 15, 1874 In southern California’s Los Angeles area, Point Fermin Light on the west side of the entrance to San Pedro Bay had its inaugural lighting. This structure had been designed by architect and civil engineer Paul J. Pelz, who was serving the U.S. Lighthouse Board at the time as its chief draftsman. Point Fermin... Continue Reading →
December 8, 1930 The diesel-powered vessel Aras was launched by her manufacturer Bath Iron Works at the Maine-based company’s location on the Kennebec River. Measuring 243 feet and nine inches (74 meters) in length, this luxury yacht had been built for paper and wood products magnate Hugh J. Chisholm. His wife Sara (“Aras” is her... Continue Reading →
December 6, 1860 Railroad executive Howard Elliott was born in New York City. He started his longtime railway career during the summer of 1880 when -- while on vacation from college -- he worked as a surveyor’s assistant for the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad. After graduating from Harvard University’s Lawrence Scientific School with a... Continue Reading →
November 23, 1942 The first flight of the experimental Vought V-173 aircraft took place. This plane, which became better known as the "Flying Pancake," was designed by pioneering aeronautical engineer Charles H. Zimmerman for Vought Aircraft Companies. The "Flying Pancake" turned out to be one of the most unorthodox types of aircraft ever created. This plane was... Continue Reading →
Transportation History 