Native American Smithsonian Museum Dome
Native American Dome
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Tag Archives: Architecture
Wedge Bank Building
Wedge Bank Building, Alton, IL
We were in Alton, IL, a few weeks back, when I spied the unusually shaped Wedge Bank building. It is not near as tall as NYC’s Flat Iron building, but it shares a similar floor plan. Alton is a Mississippi River town that is steeped in American history. Alton has three claims on the reflected glory of Abraham Lincoln. A walking tour of downtown can easily take you to all three commemorative sites. They are only a few blocks apart.
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Just up the street from the Wedge building is the Ryder building, now the home of the restaurant, Just Desserts. Then the building served as the local circuit courthouse and as a young attorney Lincoln tried cases there. Once he represented Simeon Ryder, then the building’s owner and successfully collected a debt for him.
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When Lincoln was an Illinois state legislator, he criticized then Illinois State Auditor James Shields. Mary Todd Lincoln exacerbated the situation by writing a letter containing vicious personal attacks on Shields. Shields challenged Lincoln to a duel. Reluctantly Lincoln accepted and chose an island in the Mississippi at the duel’s site and calvary swords as the weapons. The fateful morning dawned. To ‘warm-up’, Lincoln took to hacking at a willow tree with such ferocity that Shields decided to settle matters peaceably.
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The site of the final Lincoln-Douglas debate is near the riverfront. Both famous orators were campaigning in 1858 for the US Senate. Their debates had become high political theater and this one drew citizens from miles around. Lincoln lost the election, but went on to defeat Douglas and become President two years later.
This stroll down Illinois history serves as only preamble to today’s historical events. Today, on Martin Luther King Day, President Barack Hussein Obama was sworn in for a second term as our nation’s 44th president. Obama’s inaugural address held unmistakable echoes of Lincoln’s second inaugural address. I have to believe that Obama’s presidency is the physical embodiment of Abraham Lincoln’s dream. I pray that this country does not have to wait another 150 years to see Barack Obama’s dreams become realized.
Flat Iron Building, NYC
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Flat Iron Building, NYC
Saint Louis Central Library
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- Main Entrance, Saint Louis Central Library
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- Foyer’s Beaux Arts Ceiling
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- Great Hall Chandelier and Ceiling
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- Locust Street Atrium
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- Harold and the Purple Crayon, Crockett Johnson, Children’s Room
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- Stained Glass Window, Grand Staircase
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- Stained Glass Skylight Outside the Carnegie Room
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- Exterior Atrium
Recorded thought is our chief heritage from the past.
The most lasting legacy we can leave to the future.
Books are the most enduring monument of man’s achievements.
Only through books can civilization become cumulative.
Frederick M. Crunden – Head Librarian, Saint Louis
This is the engraved text on the lintel of the main entrance
A hundred years ago, a project begun by Mr. Crunden was completed. A million dollar donation from Andrew Carnegie was matched by the people of Saint Louis. The Central Library of Saint Louis opened in 1912. Two and a half years ago the library closed for renovation. After $70M it opened to the public on Sunday afternoon. Your ace blogger was there to bring you the entire story.
The librarians withdrew the collection, primarily to the old Famous Barr warehouse off of forty. The construction workers came in and gutted the building, but also carefully preserved the building’s architectural heritage. When the collection was eventually restored, including the illuminated manuscripts of the special collection, it found the 21st Century waiting for it. Wall-to-wall Wi-Fi, interactive light tables and computers galore stood ready to welcome the collection home. The workmen were complemented by craftsmen who rejuvenated the centenarian architectural detail. The end result is magnificent.
I took a lot of photographs, but the ones that I’ve decided to share here are dominated with shots that are looking up. The restoration of the original ceilings is fantastic. I have more to share, so look for further photos in the future.
The Ubiquitous Arch
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The Ubiquitous Arch
Red Birds 6, Hostiles 3
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- Construction on Dan’s Place 1
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- Construction on Dan’s Place 2
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- Construction on Dan’s Place 3
I listened to yesterday’s Cardinal and Braves Wildcard Playoff Game on KMOX radio, so I couldn’t see all that was going on, but it sounded pretty wild, even for a Wildcard game. Yesterday’s one game playoff series is a novelty of this year’s baseball season. Major League Baseball added a second wildcard spot and this one game playoff with the object of increasing the importance to teams of winning their division.
The Braves jumped out ahead with a 2-0 lead. The Cards came back with three runs, capitalizing on a Braves error. Two more Braves errors later, by the bottom of the eighth, the Cards were up 6-3, which turned out to also be the final score. The Braves were threatening, with men on first and second. The batter hit an easy pop-up, but confusion between two Cardinal fielders led to the fly being dropped. This didn’t matter though, because the umpire had invoked the infield fly rule.
I’ll leave understanding the infield fly rule as a homework assignment for the discerning reader. Commentary has criticized the timing of this call and to a lesser extent the call’s correctness. The Atlanta fans erupted in a twenty-minute temper tantrum, throwing trash on to the field and delaying the game. Play restarted, with the Red Birds eventually winning.
On Sunday, Saint Louis will host the Washington Nationals. I expect Saint Louis to be a more hospitable town than Atlanta was to us. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again:
GO CARDS!
Dan texted Anne these three photographs. The paparazzi, meaning me, managed to eventually get his hands on them. Hardwood floors, bright lighting and plenty of windows make this place look pretty nice.