I'm a New Yorker VG, not naive enough to answer that one! ☺
Facts and History of my State, please share yours.
The State Flower of Alabama is Camellia Japonica.
This is Camellia Japonica ' Professor Charles Sargeant'. [Scutler Plant Files]
The State Wild Flower of Alabama is the Oakleaf Hydrangea, Hydrangea quercifolia.
The State Bird of Alabama is the Wild Turkey.
This message was edited Feb 9, 2008 7:18 PM
Wild Turkeys. Zion Nat'l Park.
Great state flower and wildflower!
What about the turkeys?
They're cool!
I have some hens out in the field behind me.
turkeys are strange... and neat all at the same time
No one is jumping in here and helping me with Maine so i'm on my own.
90% of the country's toothpick supply is produced in Maine. (so think of me when you pick your teeth!)
Portland is the birthplace of poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
Senator Margaret Chase Smith stood up in the senate and gave the famous Declaration of Conscious speech, speaking out against the McCarthy era. Senator Smith was the first female presidential candidate.
Author Steven King is a resident of Bangor.
Former President George Bush has a summer home in Kennebunkport.
Freeport is the home to the L.L. Bean Company.
The skating scene in the movie "The Preacher's Wife" was filmed in Deering Oaks Park in Portland.
The chickadee is the official state bird. (and boy do we have tons of the little guys)
Maine lies farther northeast than any other state.
Maine's nickname as the Pine Tree State comes from the pines that once dotted the state's forests. (clear cutting is going to take care of those soon)
I came up with 50 different facts and history trivia bits for Maine and i've only posted 29 so far. Where the heck are all the Mainiac's when you need them??
With a total area of 33,215 square miles the state covers nearly as many square miles as the other five New England states combined.
(see why I never get out of Maine? )
31. The state flower is the white pine cone and tassel.
32. The coastline boasts so many deep harbors it is thought all the navies in the world could anchor in them.
33.Maine lobsters have won international fame for their flavor and contribution to the culinary world.
34. The Penobscot Marine Museum in Searsport houses numerous historic buildings and marine memorabilia.
34. Fort Knox erected in 1844 is a state historic site originally built to protect the Penobscot River Valley from British naval attack. The fort was constructed from granite from nearby Mount Waldo.
36. Numerous lighthouses dot the Main coast including Fort Point Lighthouse at Fort Point State Park in Stockton Springs and Grindle Point Lighthouse on Isleboro.
( I rented a 1920's camp in Stockton Springs a few years ago, it is one of the quietess little towns i've ever come to love. The glass sliding doors to the camp open and 3 large slabs of granite are your steps. By the time you are on the 2nd slab, the sand is all around you and you are steps away from the water. It was an amazing place to relax.) Here is the link to the rental with pictures....notice the stairs going up the hillside? You can only access the house/beach by walking 200' across the beach or.......those stairs!
http://www.cyberrentals.com/USA/Maine/vacation-cottage-Stockton-Springs/p110099.htm
Here is some more on Long Island:
From Wikipedia
The Native American name for Long Island is Paumanok, meaning "The Island that Pays Tribute" —more warlike tribes in the surrounding areas forced the relatively peaceful Long Islanders to give tributes and payment to avoid attacks.
Long Island is separated from the mainland by the East River, which is actually not a river, but a tidal strait.
The western portion of Long Island was settled by the Dutch, while the eastern region was settled by English Puritans from New Haven, Connecticut, settling in Southold on October 21, 1640. The entirety of Long Island came under English dominion when the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam was taken over by the English and renamed New York in 1664. During the American Revolutionary War, the island was captured by the British early on in the Battle of Long Island and had a notable loyalist influence, especially in Hempstead. Yankees in northern and eastern parts were more inclined to Rebel sentiments. The island remained a British stronghold until the end of the war.
Thanks Anita! Very interesting, is the tidal strait still called a river?
Yes - it's called the East River. Here is some more info on it http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_River
Ok, I reconize the name of 'Sound River' as it was once known.
Interesting facts Pixie. I've been to Fort Knox - no money there ;( ,and have had lobster there.
Wisconsin has a state dance - the polka
The state fish is a muskellunge, which I have caught, but not a legal one(over32")
Not much for big movies in this state, Meet the Applegates was filmed a few miles from here years ago.
Al, Fort Knox is a neat historic place to explore..on a hot summer day. The tunnel/rooms are very damp, cool, and somewhat creepy on an overcast day. Same idea with Fort Popham, but Fort William Henry in Pemaquid isn't as bad.
We were there on July 4th, but it wasn't hot. We went to Baa Habaa that day for the fireworks and it was canceled because of the 50 degree fog that rolled in.
That fog is pretty common isn't it, Celeste?
This Fort is maybe 15 - 17 miles from my house and where I spend most every July 4th to watch the fireworks:
Fort Halifax on the Kennebec
Northern Outpost for the Massachusetts Bay Colony
Fort Halifax, in Winslow, Maine, is a National Historic Landmark and the oldest blockhouse in the United States. It included two main blockhouses, a barracks, and a main building, as well as two additional blockhouses overlooking the area from atop a nearby hill. The blockhouse is all that remains of the fort today built by English settlers in 1754-1755, to defend the upper Kennebec River Valley from possible attack by the French and their Native American allies.
During the 1600s and 1700s, conflict was common between England and France, both in Europe and the New World. When hostilities between the two nations erupted again in 1753-1754, the government of Massachusetts (which included Maine at the time) felt very threatened because the French could easily travel along Quebec’s Chaudiere River to reach English lands in the Kennebec River Valley. Deciding that a defensive work was needed to protect the valley, Massachusetts ordered the construction of Fort Halifax.
After five days of difficult travel by river and land from Fort Western (in present-day Augusta), Major General John Winslow arrived here with a force of 600 to establish Fort Halifax on July 25, 1754. Winslow described the activities that followed his arrival: ...On the next day, laid out the ground, began to clear it, seated our guns and mortars, hoisted the Kings colors with the beat of drum and sound of trumpet and discharge of our whole artillery and small arms, drank to his Majesty and called this place Fort Halifax....in this place we continued employing our people... in cutting timber and pickets,...sawing boards and plank, building storehouses, getting clapboards and shingles, procuring stones out of the river, making bricks, burning coals, etc. and by the seventh of August got in a good posture of defense.
When the flood of April 1, 1987, dismantled the blockhouse, crews recovered logs as far south as the Richmond-Dresden Bridge, forty miles downstream (photo at right). The blockhouse was painstakingly reassembled and remains on its original site today.
(The flood of '87' was one of the worst in our area, my special son was stuck in Waterville on the other side of the river. His worker had to travel 20-25 miles down the river to find another bridge to cross. There was only one open in Augusta, Maine... a town that then had 2 bridges. I sat on top of a hill and watched pallets of food float out of our local I.G.A. grocery store and down the river. I watched as 2 houses were swept into the river and a historicl library was threatened, it was spared but with much damage and loss.I will never forget that day.)
Yes Victor, on the coast it is very common.....and really thick at times!
When Eric and i drove through Maine last summer, we were surprised to find that it is the home of a major cultural institution (a little further off the beaten track than expected):
Victor, do you know who is buried in Grant's Tomb? ;)
Here's a tidbit about CT that really doesn't amount to much, lol, but makes for an interesting debate. Some would say that the first president of the US came from CT. Sam Huntington, in 1779, was the President of the Continental Congress, and then President of the United States in Congress Assembled. Now, some say that makes him the first prez; others say no, that was a completely different office. I'm not sure which side I come down on as of yet. However, the town in which I live has a section named Huntington in his honor. It used to be a separate town before joining with Shelton.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Huntington_%28statesman%29
And of course my hometown of Bridgeport lays claim to P.T. Barnum, even though he was born in Bethel (also in CT). Tom Thumb was definitely a Bridgeporter, though.
Fun thread! Lots of good info and fun stuff here. This is making me want to do more research on the New England states. Oh well, what do you expect from a history geek?
Al got me thinking of movies....
1. Love and Death on Long Island (1998)
A novelist (John Hurt) becomes infatuated with an American pop star (Jason Priestly). PG-13.
2. The Brothers McMullen (1995)
This movie was directed and written by Edward Burns and filmed in his family's Valley Stream home. It focuses on three Irish-Catholic brothers and their relationships with women. R.
3. The Godfather Collection (1972-1990)
Parts 1 and 3 of this classic trilogy were shot in Mitchell Field in Garden City, the Sands Point Preserve, and in Mill Neck.
4. Meet the Parents (2000)
This comedy, starring Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller, takes place on Long Island. It was filmed in various Long Island locales including Port Washington and Oyster Bay. PG-13.
5. Sabrina (1954)
This classic film, that stars Audrey Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart, was filmed in Glen Cove mansions.
6. Sabrina (1995)
This remake of the 1954 classic stars Harrison Ford and Julia Ormond. Like the first one, it's also filmed in Glen Cove mansions. PG.
7. Scent of a Woman (1992)
Al Pacino plays a retired (and blind) U.S. Army Lt. Colonel. He and the man hired to take care of him (Chris O'Donnell) travel to New York City. Scenes were filmed at the Hempstead House on the Sands Point Preserve.
8. Raging Bull (1980)
Robert De Niro plays boxer Jake LaMotta. Scenes were filmed at the Lido Beach Hotel in Lido Beach. R.
9. Zelig (1983)
Woody Allen filmed this fictional documentary in Long Beach. It stars Mia Farrow. PG.
10. Love Story (1970)
This tear-jerker is based on a novel by Erich Segal. Scenes were filmed at Old Westbury Gardens. PG.
Here's a Newsday article about some others - I found it interesting -http://www.newsday.com/community/guide/lihistory/ny-starring_li_film,0,5989676.story?coll=ny-lihistory-navigation
Wow! Way cool Anita! ☺
Originally comprising vast areas of the North Shore of Long Island, from Great Neck to Huntington, the Long Island Gold Coast, as it was called, was a favorite retreat of the rich and famous. Starting at about the turn of the century and through the 1930's, the North Shore was a virtual Who's Who of High Society. From the Astors to the Vanderbilts, this was THE place to be for some of the most notable Americans. The mansions constructed during that period numbered in the hundreds.
http://www.ligoldcoast.com/lihistory.html
How interesting...not surprised "The Godfather" was filmed there. Where else they going to film a movie like that? LOL
Newport, maybe? ha, ha.
38. The Sailor's Memorial Museum in Isleboro features displays depicting life at sea.
39. Located in Thorndike Village, the Bryant Stove Works and Museum displays an eclectic collection of antique cast iron stoves, parlor heaters, roadsters and touring cars. In addition, the museum features antique layer pianos, pipe organs and music boxes, calliopes, nickelodeons, and hurdy-gurdys.
40. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was considered the most influential poet of his day. The writer was born in Portland, on February 2, 1807. His most popular works include "The Courtship of Miles Standish", "Evangeline" and "Hiawatha".
41. The nation's first sawmill was established near York in 1623.
42. York became the nation's first incorporated city in 1642.
43. The first ship build by English colonists in Americas was launched on the Kennebec River in 1607.
44. The first naval battle of the Revolutionary War was fought off Machias in 1775.
45. Maine was admitted to the Union as the 23rd state on March 15, 1820.
42 is interesting, I didn't know that Celeste.
Wisconsin has the largest ginseng fields in the world - in Wausau, I have been by them, they are all under nets.
First typewriter was made in Milwaukee.
Largest waterpark in the US is still in Wisconsin Dells(Noah's Ark) - haven't been there - what a summer zoo.
we drove thru the dells a few years ago. there was a place - roller rink? - that looked like the trojan horse. it was cool. i love weird tourist stuff.
So Al, is ginseng cheaper in WI? I find it to be an expensive spice to buy raw here in Maine.
Here are the last 4 of my 50 facts for Maine:
46. The honeybee is the official state insect.
47. Maine contains 542,629 acres of state and national parks.
48. Edmund S. Muskie became the first Democratic United States senator ever elected by popular vote in Maine. He was also elected governor for two terms. He was born in Rumford.
49. Eastport is the only United States owned principality that has been under rule by a foreign government. It was held from 1814 to 1818 by British troops under King George following the conclusion of the War of 1812.
50. Maine's government entities are comprised of 16 counties with 22 cities, 435 towns, 33 plantations, 424 unorganized townships and 3 Indian reservations
49 is really interesting, what year was the war of 1812 held in ;)
I haven't bought ginseng lately, tell me what the pound price is and I'll compare. I know our milk isn't cheaper because of those goofy pricing methods.
Watching the dog show last night reminded me that the American Water spaniel was first bred in New London 15 miles from here.
One of the first proconservation books was written south of here 'A sand county almanac' by Aldo Leopold.
Quote:"what year was the war of 1812 held in?" LOL
Off the top of my head, I couldn't tell you what ginseng is going for but i'll look next time im in town.
Milk, cheaper in WI? Really? I'm paying almost 5.00 for a gallon and lets talk eggs!!!!! The chickens must of died or went on strike because last week it cost me $3.63 for 18 eggs!!!!!!
There was a different war in 1814, and besides the 1812 Overature wouldn't mean anything if the War of 1812 wasn't in 1812.
Pixie - I'm not from Maine but I'll help you out a bit. You mentioned Mt. Katadin being the highest mountain in Maine.
Mt. Katadon or Baxter peak is also the end (or beginning) of the Appalachian Trail. And it is also located in Baxter State Park, the largest state park in the country. It has the best hiking trails on the east coast, has very limited access, a fantastic place. I try to go their on vacation every year and my wife has instuctions to dump my ashes at the top when the time comes.
Have been to and hiked some of both. Both are equally beautiful and great places to vacation. Thanks for the help!
Gloria - they could use the 1812 Overture part 3 for the War of 1814 right?
We're seriously considering Maine for vacation this year - was thinking only Acadia / Bar Harbor. But maybe it's worth a trip to Baxter - but it's just so far!