Historical Markings
Description
3rd grade 2020 project
Since its opening in 1976, the Babe Didrikson Zaharias Museum has worked to share the history of the most influential female athlete of the early 20th century. Ella "Babe" Didrikson dominated women's basketball, golf, and track and field from the 1930s to 1950s. The museum is free and open to the public, and includes trophies and awards that Zaharias acquired throughout her career. The museum also holds a variety of exhibits containing sports memorabilia, newspaper clippings, and photographs. Funds raised by the museum helps to fund scholarships for female student athletes at Lamar University.
Built in 1895, this Queen-Anne style home in Atlanta became the birth home of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in January 1929. King was born in his parent's bedroom and lived in this home until age twelve. The property was acquired by the National Park Service and is part of Atlanta's Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park. NPS rangers provide interpretive tours of the home.
Built in 1958 and holding its first race the following year, Daytona International Speedway is one of the most famous and important racetracks in the United States. The track was designed by William France Sr., the founder of NASCAR. Prior to the creation of this dedicated 2.5 mile tri-oval racetrack, the famous Daytona race occurred on part of the A1A highway and part of the beach.
One of the most prominent figures in early American history is represented by this 10-foot-tall outdoor bronze sculpture by American sculptor James Earle Fraser. The Alexander Hamilton Statue stands atop a granite base created by Henry Bacon. The base features multiple inscriptions pertaining to the "Father of the American Monetary System." It is located on the on the south patio (Alexander Hamilton Place, NW) of the U.S. Treasury Building in Washington D.C.
After the Titanic struck an iceberg and sank on April 14th 1912, the Cunard ship Carpathia brought the 675 survivors to New York. They arrived at Pier 54 of the Chelsea Piers on April 20th, where they were greeted by a crowd of more than thirty thousand people. The Chelsea Piers was New York’s primary terminal for passenger ships, as well as a point of departure for the nation’s soldiers leaving for Europe during the First and Second World Wars. During the 1950s and 1960s it was used as a cargo terminal, though its services diminished during the mid- to late-60s. Despite being protected by the Hudson River Park Trust, Pier 54 was recently dismantled to be replaced with a large floating recreational island.
Times Square, also known as the "Crossroads of the World," is one of, if not, the most iconic places in New York City and is one of the world's busiest pedestrian areas. Stretching from West 42nd to West 47th Streets, this junction of Broadway and 7th Avenue holds a plethora of sights to enjoy. Take time to gaze at the numerous stores located around Times Square as well as the gigantic advertisements on the surrounding buildings! Make sure to arrive early if you plan to watch the ball drop on New Year's Eve!
The Mayflower arrived in Plymouth Harbor in 1620, and according to oral tradition, Plymouth Rock was the site where William Bradford and other Pilgrims first set foot on land. Even though this story may not be completely true, it is holds an interesting take on U.S. history. There is actually no 17th century references to the Pilgrims landing on a rock. There is only two accounts of the 1620 arrival at Plymouth, neither place a significance on their first steps on land. The first time this story came about was 120 years later when James Thacher wrote in that a pier was about to be built over the rock, this is when Thomas Faunce came out with the story. He had a habit of taking his children and grandchildren to the rock and telling them the story as his father had told it to him. Which is, this rock had “received the footsteps of our fathers on their first arrival.” Though, this seemed to be a large time gap, Faunce's father arrived in Plymouth 1623 on the Anne. By about 1633, he was married and Thomas was born about 1647. His family were very close with the other pilgrims, and knew almost all of them. So, the legend began. Throughout the 1700s people looked to rock as a symbol of independence. In the 1800s while trying to move the rock it accidently broke in half, the lower half remaining on the shore, while the top half was moved around to different museums. People loved, cared, and protected this rock. Though many of us still ask the question, is this really where the Pilgrims first stepped foot? Too many people today it is an important icon of the U.S. history, and whether or not the story is really true, the story itself gave way to make interesting history. “What we can declare, however, is that this Rock – located on Plymouth's shore near the foot of “First Street” – marks the spot where something significant happened. We may never know if here the first footfall happened. We do know that here the first settlement began. And, after all, the importance of Plymouth is not that the Pilgrims landed here, it is that the Pilgrims stayed here. Here they built their homes, here they created their Colony, here New England began.” –Peggy Baker
The George Washington Masonic National Memorial is a Masonic building and memorial honoring the first President of the United States. Built by his fellow Masons between 1922 and 1932 at a cost of six million dollars, the 333-foot-tall memorial was inspired by a mixture of classical European buildings and modeled after the ancient lighthouse at Alexandria. It is located atop Shooter's Hill (also known as Shuter's Hill) in Alexandria, Virginia. The site is a tourist destination; research center and library; community center; performing arts center and concert hall; banquet and celebration site; and a meeting site for local and visiting Masonic lodges and organizations.
Designed by architect James Hoban and built in coordination with George Washington and other American leaders, the Executive Mansion is known informally around the world as "The White House." Although President Washington oversaw construction, he never lived in the house. President John Adams, elected in 1796 as the second President, and First Lady Abigail Adams were the first residents of the White House, which was still unfinished at the time. It completed in 1800, though construction and restoration projects have taken place ever since. It was partially burned by the British in the War of 1812. Contrary to the popular story that it was painted white to hide burn marks, the White House was simply painted white in 1818. The building was known as the White House prior to this time because of lime-based whitewash that was used to protect the exterior. The White House also includes two wings: the West Wing, built in the early 1900s under Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft, and the East Wing, first built by President Theodore Roosevelt and significantly expanded in 1942 to include an underground bunker and office spaces. In all, the White House complex covers around 18 acres and includes gardens and spacious lawns.
An iconic symbol of freedom stands in the center of our nation’s capital: the Lincoln Memorial. This grand monument to one of our most influential presidents has been the site of countless concerts, speeches, and protests -- including Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Dedicated to the Savior of the Union, the memorial and its history call to mind the human rights struggles our nation has faced, from the Civil War to the March on Washington. Today, it is overseen by the National Park Service and is part of the National Mall and Memorial Parks.
Established in 1872, Yellowstone became the first national park in the United States. The park encompasses over 2.2 million acres of land, full of environmental beauties. Famous for its volcanic calderas, Yellowstone National Park is full of geysers, canyons, lakes, mountains, rivers, and all of the critters that live in those places. Aside from the wildlife and tourists attractions, the Yellowstone area is full of American history.
The Staples Center is a historic arena that is home to four professional sports teams: The Los Angeles Lakers, The Los Angeles Sparks, The Los Angeles Clippers, and The Los Angeles Kings. The Arena opened October 17th, 1999 and has housed many great moments in both sports and cultural history. The Staples Center has been home to everything from Kobe Bryant's 81 point performance against the Toronto Raptors in 2006 to Michael Jackson's memorial service in 2009. The Lakers, Sparks, and Kings continue to bring many championships to LA while playing in the Staples Center, and the four teams continue to make history (Both good and bad) every year. However the Lakers recently finished the 2015-2016 Season with the most losses in the Staples Center's history in one season with 65 losses in an 82 game season. The Staples Center is however still one of the most win associated stadiums in sports.