Markers

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Down through our history, we have placed markers along our paths, by-ways and highways. These are some of those “markers.” When Washington D.C. was first plotted, the area dedicated was a square with 10 mile sides. At the end of each one mile, a marker (stone) was erected. This is one of the 40 stones that were used to mark the original Washington D.C area. At the Mason-Dixon Line between Pennsylvania and Maryland, markers were erected by two surveyors, Mason and Dixon (the original Mason-Dixon Line, as surveyed by Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon in 1763 to 1767). It is said that the name Mason is on the north surface of each stone and Dixon on the south surface. In keeping with that surveyor practice, when the National Road was created, now known as US 40, mile markers were erected to show the distance between locations. This is one of many restored mile markers on US 40 and can be found east of Uniontown, PA. Some of the markers on US 40 were destroyed. In Ohio, the ODOT placed one at a rest stop on I-70 to show the type or roadway markers used. US 40 runs parallel to I-70 in Ohio. Out west, no one really knows how the practice started but cowboys would place their boots on fence posts along the roads. These boots are along US 26 east of Llewellyn, NE. An up close view of one of the boots. This marker is outside the county building in Troy, OH. Being it depicts the Ten Commandments, neither the City of Troy nor Miami County has experienced any of the problems seen in the south. Upper Peninsula Michigan is the home of this marker. It seems to be making a patriotic statement. Alternative power sources markers are plentiful in California. This field overlooks the Mojave Desert on state route CA 58. Our rail system is not free of markers. The Tehachapi Loop is a 360 turn for trains crossing into the San Joaquin Valley from the Mojave Desert. This allows trains to reduce the slope of their descend to the valley floor below. Along I-70 in Pennsylvania a farmer marks what his product is - Drink Milk! Education out west can be very precious. One room school houses still mark the current methods which were carryovers from pioneer days. There are several one room school houses in the Montana area. Marking a “pastural” view, a Texas farmer maintains a scenic Texas blue bonnet field, complete with farm implements and a shady Spanish Oak tree. This farm can be found north of Johnson City, TX. The “Loneliest road in America” is the marker put on US 50 in Nevada. Along the “loneliest road in America” can be found this shoe tree. Travelers seem to have a need to place their discarded shoes in the tree. The tree is on US 50 east of Fallon, NV. One of the more famous of our highways and byways is Route 66. As the song goes - it goes all the way from Chicago to LA. Many “old markers” still exist along the way. In Albuquerque, NM, Central Ave is Route 66. The Aztec Motel is still in business and still carrying on the Route 66 tradition. In Holbrook, AZ, the Wigwam Motel on Route 66 still offers individual wigwams for rooms. Note the Studebaker in the driveway! The other two cars are also of another era. Not to be outdone, a farmer in Amarillo, TX, planted Cadillacs in his fields. The farmer has departed us but his legacy lives on. This field of Cadillacs is west of Amarillo and south of I-40. I-40 follows Route 66 west. Nature has its own markers on Route 66/I-40. During construction of a bypass of Kingman, AZ, construction workers cut through some hills. This geological variance was discovered and marks the side of the road. The geological shift occurred many more years before the construction I-40. Our diverse peoples have their own markers. In Amish country of Lancaster, PA, the roads are marked by the slower methods of transportation. This view occurred during a “visiting” day - Sunday. Numerous black and gray buggies dotted to roads. Nationally, we have marked our country side - The four Presidents of the Black Hills of South Dakota. For Native Americans, an emerging sculpture is taking shape to mark one of the great chiefs - Chief Crazy Horse on his steed. Crazy Horse’s face can be clearly seen and the area above the hole will be his outstretched hand. His horse’s head will be to the right and below his hand. A marker in our space history is the shuttle. Though the Enterprise never took a powered flight, it was the test bed for all of the shuttles. Here the Enterprise is being transported around Vandenberg AFB, CA, to test the vehicle’s compatibility with ground transport. Though Vandenberg never became operational as a launch site, Space Launch Complex 6 was modified as an alternative site and this ground transport vehicle was to be used to transport the shuttle between various complexes. Our military folks leave markers. These are the unit insignia of US Army and other forces that train at the National Training Area at Fort Irwin, CA. It is a very impressive display of controlled graffiti. Marking of a bicentennial - In 2002-2003, each Ohio County was given an on-location-cast bell commemorating the Ohio Bicentennial. This is the bell for Miami County. Also marking the Ohio Bicentennial was the Ohio Bicentennial Covered Wagon train that crossed the state along US 40, the National Highway. Commercial marking is vividly displayed by Kellogg in Battle Creek, MI. This anchor memorial marks the spot where seven U.S. Navy destroyers in 1923 ran aground at Honda Point, now part of Vandenberg AFB, CA. A more serious nature in our history is the marking of our fallen loved ones. The most recognizable marker is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA. The changing of the Guard takes place every 30 minutes and leaves a very strong mark on each who observes the process. Not far from the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier lies the burial place of many who lost their lives in the only civil war the US has ever experienced. The bodies of men who were not identified from Bull Run and the Road to Rappahannock rest at this location. Their resting place lies between the home of Robert E. Lee and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers in the Arlington National Cemetery. The civil war also marked internment camps for enemy soldiers. Many did not make it through these camps. Andersenville in Georgia was one of those camps. A cannon at Andersonville. The prisoners were housed across this valley. Only one stream ran through the camp for use by the prisoners. This sculpture and the burying fields on both sides mark the entrance to Andersonville. Gettysburg - one of many battlefields, looking east from Seminary Ridge. North Caroline Memorial for the NC unit that participated in the Battle at Gettysburg. 42 NY Infantry marker on the Union side. A quiet American town with its markers of communications - Clear Spring, MD. A highly visible marker of our freedom - The USAF Thunderbirds. May we never forget the markers we see and leave behind so others may learn of us and what we did.