World Heritage Site new “Tentative List” Places to Love”: Serpent Mound

by Jamie Rhein on

For the Gadling series “World Heritage Site new “Tentative List”: Places to Love” we are covering the 14 sites that have been submitted for possible inclusion as an official World Heritage Site in the United States. The sites will not be posted in order of importance or in the order they appear on the list.

Number 12

Name of site: Serpent Mound

Location: Adams County, Ohio

Reason for importance (in a nutshell): The largest serpent effigy in the United States. At more than 1/2 mile long and more than three feet high in places, this mound of earth is shaped like a coiling serpent. This mysterious structure was created by the Adena culture somewhere between 800 BC-AD 100.

Jamie’s Take: When I moved to Ohio, I knew all about the Anasazi culture of the Southwest but little about the ancient folks who used to inhabit this part of the United States. When I visited Serpent Mound I was fuzzy about what it is. It’s like the Stonehenge of the Ohio in a way. Instead of huge slabs of rock that people ponder over, there’s this serpent shape. There is conjecture that the placement of the serpent has meaning. The alignment of the head and tail may be in relation to the directions of the summer solstice sunset, the winter solstice sunrise and the equinox sunrise. It’s purpose has an aura of mystery. You really need to come and see it. Adams County is also one of Ohio’s most beautiful.

Bananas, politics and the economy

by Jamie Rhein on

If you eat bananas in your cereal for breakfast and don’t refrigerate them because you were taught not to, there’s a reason. There’s a new book out called Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World that explains those habits, as well as how the Victorian era folks had a penchant for masking its shape lest it offend anyone. Most importantly, the book covers the politics of how the banana gained its fame, making fortunes for some and misery for others.

Terry Gross interviewed Dan Koeppel, the author of the book on Fresh Air yesterday. I caught part of the show and was fascinated. The story of the banana incorporates much of the world, offering insight into world economics and politics, particularly in Central America. The banana, for example, led to the overthrowing of the president of Guatemala in the 1950s and his exile.

During the conversation they also talked about the various types of bananas there are in the world and why they aren’t sold in the U.S. Buying various types of bananas overseas is a market going pleasure. I’ve found that the ones not much bigger than a finger are often the sweetest. There are these reddish colored ones, though, that are quite yummy. Reading this book, I think, would make a person eye those bananas in the grocery store in a different light. I do.

(Here’s the link to the broadcast page.)

No Wrong Turns: Portland’s Powell’s, Ponies and Police

by Kelsey Mulyk on

After a harrowing drive from Calgary to Vancouver due to ice, snow, and psychotic truck drivers, Tom and I managed to make it to Vancouver to visit with family and get one more vaccine for our trip.

Next up was Portland, Oregon. But we had to cross the US border and play nice with the officers. The conversation that took place in the car before went like this:

Me: “Ok, so I know they ask all sorts of personal questions but it is their country.”
Tom: “I know, I know, but I hate telling them stuff.”
Me: “I know, but you cannot refuse to answer questions or be difficult, they can send us home.”
Tom: “I KNOW!”
Me: “Kill ’em with kindness.”

Fortunately all went well at the border. They did make us pull over and go inside, but I think that was because Tom carries a New Zealand passport, not a Canadian. He had to fill out some random card that asks if you were a Nazi (even if you were, would you answer yes?), get fingerprinted, and have a photo taken that apparently will remain on file forever. Tom was pretty pissed about having things on file forever but that seems to be how the US rolls these days. Really, who can blame them? On the plus side the officer who helped us was really nice. I am not sure if that is any consolation for Tom.

We arrived in Portland late at night after managing not to be killed by the speedy highway drivers. Portland has a great vibe and our host was extremely pleased to have us stay there. In our wanderings we found out a few really neat things about Portland:

They have the largest independent bookstore in the world called Powell’s. It takes up a whole city block and carries both used and new books. We spent an entire afternoon perusing the aisles and barely made it past two sections.

Another interesting tidbit about Portland is its plastic ponies. You know, like the kid’s toy. They are found in older parts of Portland tied to metal rings that are embedded in the sidewalks. Back in the day these rings were used to tie one’s horse to in the city. It all started as an art project, called The Horse Project. In 2005, Scott Wayne Indiana decided that horses should be tied to these rings again. So he started tying these miniature horses to the rings, and eventually gained notoriety. The plastic ponies of Portland have stuck. Tom and I only managed to see one, though we spent lots of time looking. The website has a map of locations for those interested.

One more interesting fact about Portland: I saw police officers on Segways. Two burly guys in fluorescent-yellow jackets rolled right by us. Unfortunately I was not fast enough with my camera, because I was too busy trying not to stare and laugh. You’ll just have to take my word for it.

Next up: the California Coast.

“No Wrong Turns” chronicles Kelsey and her husband’s road trip — in real time — from Canada to the southern tip of South America in their trusty red VW Golf named Marlin.

Ohio’s got you covered when it comes to presidents’ houses

by Jamie Rhein on

Ohio has the nickname “Mother of Presidents” because eight U.S. presidents were elected from here. Seven of the eight were born in this state.

Although the site of Rutherford B. Hayes’ birthplace in Delaware (about 30 minutes from Columbus) is no longer there (I think there’s a gas station on the site), there are other presidents’ houses and landmarks still standing. A tour of all of them covers a lot of ground.

Ulysses S. Grant’s birthplace in Mt. Pleasant is now a museum run by the Ohio Historical Society. Although it’s open only certain times of the year, this is a lovely place on the Ohio River west of Cincinnati. You can also see the school house where Grant attended in a nearby town.

James A. Garfield’s house in Mentor in the northern part of Ohio is a National Historic Site. Although it is open year-round, there are seasonal hours.

Benjamin Harrison was born on a farm near Cincinnati, although, there is not a landmark. To visit his house, head to Indianapolis. He may of been born in Ohio, but Indiana became home.

William McKinley has a mega tribute in Niles, his birthplace. Along with the site where he was born there is a memorial, a museum, a research center and a library. McKinley’s honor comes partly because he was a respected governor of the state as well.

William H. Taft’s elegant home is in Cincinnati. This house, now an National Historic Site, also has an education research center.

Warren G. Harding’s former home in Marion is part of the Ohio Historical Society. Most of the furnishings belonged to Harding and his wife. The hours are seasonal. Harding is also buried in Marion about one hour from Columbus heading north.

William Henry Harrison wasn’t born in Ohio. Even though he was born in Virginia, he moved to Ohio and was elected president from his home in North Bend not far from Cincinnati. The house isn’t there, but Harrison is buried in North Bend. His tomb is part of the Ohio Historical Society’s properties.

(see Ohio Presidents)

Celebrating history: Presidential oddities

by Anna Brones on

Today is President’s Day, and as Bill Bryson says in I’m A Stranger Here Myself, the holiday was never well received as “you didn’t receive presents or get to go out on a picnic or anything.” So well put. But here we are on another day when we are encouraged to make cherry pie and think about American history.

Fortunately to get you a little more excited about all those influential heads of state, USA Today has put together a list of 10 Great Places to Hail Presidential Peculiarities. The list has all of the hot spots to discover the odder side of presidential history. Here are just a few:

Ronald Regan Presidential Library, Simi Valley, California — Not only does the library have a complete collection of Reagan films, but it also features a mosaic of the 40th president made completely out of jelly beans.

Lincoln’s Tomb, Springfield, Ilinois — How is a tomb an out of the ordinary site? It’s not only a tomb, but also the only place where someone has ever attempted to snatch a dead presidential body; in 1876 two thieves hoped to steal Lincoln’s body and ransom it in exchange for a member of their own gang. The thieves managed to get the casket partway out of a window before it jammed, and since there was no law in Illinois against stealing a body, once they were apprehended, were only charged with destroying the lock on the tomb door.

The Willard Hotel, Washington D.C. — President Grant was not a big fan of hanging out in the White House, so when he wanted to get out for a drink in the evening he made his way to the Willard. People would wait in the lobby for Grant to arrive so they could discuss with him informally about what they needed or wanted done. They earned the name “lobbyists” and special interests were born.