#uss maine national monument

[fixfoto]

Central Park South (Shot 2019)

Main Scyscraper 220 Central Park , Sculpture The Maine Monument (1913) located Central Park South Street at the Merchants' Gate entrance to Central Park, Columbus Circle.

[rabbitcruiser]

The battleship USS Maine exploded and sank in Havana harbor in Cuba, killing 274, on February 15, 1898. This event leads the United States to declare war on Spain.  

Remember the Maine Day

Today we remember the Maine, the American battleship that  blew up on today's date in 1898 while anchored in Havana Harbor.  Commanded by Captain Charles G. Sigsbee, it was one of the first  American battleships, cost more than $2 million to build, and weighed  more than 6,000 tons. Ostensibly, its mission in the harbor was  friendly, but its real purpose was to protect American lives and  property. Cuba was in the midst of rebelling from Spain, and as Cuba  sought its independence, it was believed that a full-blown war could  break out at any time. The United States had also long had its eye on  Cuba, hoping to expand its influence there and in the region.

About 350 crew members were aboard the ship on that fateful Tuesday evening. Shortly after 9 p.m., the ship's bugler, C.H. Newton,  blew taps. Around 9:40 p.m., an explosion rocked the boat. A second,  massive explosion followed, and broke apart the bow, throwing debris  over 200 feet into the air. The ship quickly sank, and approximately 266  of the ship's crew perished.

The American press immediately started pointing to an external  explosion—either by a mine or torpedo—at the hands of Spain as the cause  of the ship's demise. In March, the U.S. Naval Court of Inquiry  determined that a mine had caused the explosion, but they didn't  directly blame Spain for it. Although there wasn't enough evidence to  prove that Spain blew up the ship, the American public and members of  Congress ignored this, and put blame on them, and then called for war.  "Remember the Maine" became the war cry.

On April 25, 1898, the United States formally declared war against  Spain. By August, the United States was victorious and an armistice was  signed. The war officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris  on December 10, 1898. Spain relinquished the Philippines, Puerto Rico,  and Guam to the United States. Cuba soon gained independence, but the  United States maintained a powerful influence there.

Ultimately, the cause of the explosion of the Maine is still  inconclusive. Some still believe Spain was to blame. In 1976, Adm.  Hyman Rickover of the U.S. Navy began an investigation into the cause.  The results showed that the explosion came from within the ship, likely  from a coal bunker fire. Most people agree with this assessment.

Various locations hold events for the day. A service is held at the Battleship Maine  Monument in Davenport Park in Bangor, Maine, where the shield and  scrolls recovered from the shop are located. Beginning in 2011, a group  started holding an "all-day patriotic pub crawl through historic Boston"  where participants attempt "to drink at least 266 beverages as a  festive commemoration of the 266 brave men who died on the USS Maine on  February 15, 1898, in Havana Harbor as a result of Spanish treachery."  Patriotic costumes are worn, and those who don't know the story of the Maine  are educated and encouraged to join in on the festivities. New York has  also participated in some years, and organizers have also allowed  virtual participation, so those who don't live in those cities can still  take part in a drink-filled remembering of the Maine.

How to Observe Remember the Maine Day

Here are a few ideas on how to remember the Maine:

Attend the ceremony held at the Battleship Maine Monument in Bangor, Maine. Veterans organize the event, but anyone can attend.

Visit the USS Maine National Monument in New York City or the USS Maine Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery.

Visit the Monument to Victims of the Maine in Havana, Cuba.

Attend the Remember the Maine Day patriotic pub crawl in Boston. The pub crawl has also taken place in New York City. According to the event's Facebook page,  2020 is the last year it is being held. In the past, those who can't  make it to Boston have been encouraged to celebrate virtually. If you  can't get to Boston, or if the event is no longer being held, you could  also hold your own Remember the Maine patriotic pub crawl in your community. Dress up in patriotic garb and hit the town!

View photos of and related to the Maine.

Watch a documentary about the Spanish-American War, such as Crucible of Empire: The Spanish-American War or The Spanish American War: First Intervention.

Read a book about the Maine. 

Source

[sa7abnews]

Visit Mississippi and experience a trip filled with history, beauty, fun

New Post has been published on https://sa7ab.info/2024/08/16/visit-mississippi-and-experience-a-trip-filled-with-history-beauty-fun/

Visit Mississippi and experience a trip filled with history, beauty, fun

If you are traveling to Mississippi, there is no shortage of activities to take part in during your travels. Mississippi is filled with ravishing natural beauty and museums where you can take a deeper dive into history. In Mississippi, there is something for everyone, from scenic hikes to testing your luck at the blackjack table at one of the state’s numerous casinos. EXPLORING NEW MEXICO: A TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENTUse this guide as inspiration for stops to make during your trip to Mississippi. Mississippi is home to many different museums throughout the state. One popular one to visit is the Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale. The Delta Blues Museum is the state’s oldest music museum, according to its website. The museum is filled with exhibits that explore the history of blues music. Check the museum’s website to see the exhibits that will be running during your visit. 5 SECRET SUMMER TRAVEL PACKING HACKS TO MAXIMIZE CARRY-ON SPACE AND MINIMIZE STRESSAnother museum located in Mississippi is the GRAMMY Museum. This museum can be found in Cleveland. The 28,000-square-foot museum has more than 24 exhibits that cover different music genres, from rock to hip-hop to country, according to its website. Mississippi has many different luxurious casinos throughout the state where you can play slot machines and table games. One of the most popular to visit is Beau Rivage Casino in Biloxi. In addition to the games you can play, there are also many dining opportunities and a hotel on-site if you want to stay at the casino. There is live entertainment at the casino, too, so be sure to check in and see who will be playing prior to your visit.Biloxi Beach is a popular tourist attraction in Mississippi. NEW JERSEY TRAVEL GUIDE TO EXPLORE SPARKLING BEACHES, THEME PARKS AND MOREYou can take a walk in the sand along the beach after visiting Beau Rivage Casino. While at the beach, you can also enjoy many of the main fishing spots and grab a bite at one of the delicious seafood restaurants by the beach.For great views of the beach 24 hours a day, stay at one of the many beachside hotels with quick access to the sandy shore. Vicksburg National Military Park is full of Civil War history. The Vicksburg campaign was a success for the Union Army, according to History.com, and one of the longest campaigns of the Civil War.The Vicksburg Campaign began in 1862 and continued until July 4, 1863, with the Confederate surrender, according to the National Parks Service. Today, you can visit Vicksburg National Military Park and see the 1,325 historic monuments and markers that fill the location, according to NationalParks.org.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTERYou can also find a restored Union gunboat, the USS Cairo, here and the Vicksburg National Cemetery. Not far from Port Gibson is Windsor Ruins. This location is where the Windsor plantation once stood but was destroyed by a fire in 1890, according to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. Today, there are 23 columns left standing.You may recognize the ruins from the movies they have been featured in: “Raintree County” and “Ghost of Mississippi.” Guests can visit the ruins during operating hours at no cost.Longwood is a mansion in Natchez.For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyleThe mansion is unique in its octagonal shape and an attraction that many tourists make time to see while they are visiting the state.Guests can take a tour of Longwood seven days a week between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., according to the Visit Natchez website.The Natchez Trace Parkway is a 444-mile scenic road that runs through three different U.S. states: Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee. There are many places to hike or bike along the trail. If you enjoy camping, there are numerous places to pitch a tent on the trail after a long day of hiking or driving. The Mississippi Aquarium in Gulfport is a great destination for kids and adults alike. This aquarium provides hours of family fun with so much to see during your visit. This aquarium features an alligator habitat, Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, a freshwater river and a touch pool for guests to get up-close to horseshoe crabs, baby sharks and more. For an additional cost, guests can also book special encounters with dolphins, penguins and others. Elvis Presley was born in Tupelo on Jan. 8, 1935. If you are a fan of the King of Rock and Roll, stop at the two-room house where Presley was born. When the house was originally built by his father, $180 was used to put together the home, according to Visit Mississippi. The house is now part of the 15-acre Elvis Presley Park. Here you can also find the “Elvis at 13” statue, a popular photo stop on the property, and Presley’s childhood church. 

[manhattan-forever]

Listen to free jazz at Columbus Circle this fall in collaboration with Jazz at Lincoln Center. After a Tony-winning performance as Aaron Burr in the Broadway hit musical Hamilton, Leslie Odom Jr. is ready to take on the world. His new album, the self-titled Leslie Odom Jr. — just released on S-Curve Records — puts his beautiful vocal range on display. Songs range from show tunes to jazz classics. On September 6, Odom will appear at Sessions at the Circle, a free concert series at The Shops at Columbus Circle. Odom sat down with us to talk about jazz, his inspirations, and more. (The Shops at Columbus Circle - 10 Columbus Cir, New York, NY 10023)

└─►Time Out New York

[todaysdocument]

Memorial Day 1917: Rear Admiral Charles Sigsbee places a wreath on the USS Maine Memorial Monument

At Columbus Circle, New York, N.Y., 1917, Memorial Day exercises were held by the veterans of Foreign wars of the U.S. More than a hundred floral pieces were placed on the Maine Memorial monument. Rear Admiral Charles D. Sigsbee, who was in command of the Maine when the battleship was blown up placed two wreaths. More than 7,000 people gathered about the monument. Photo shows Rear Admiral Charles D. Sigsbee placing a wreath on the Maine Monument.

File Unit: Ceremonies - Liberations - Memorial Day, 1918, 1917 - 1918. Series: American Unofficial Collection of World War I Photographs, 1917 - 1918. Record Group 165: Records of the War Department General and Special Staffs, 1860 - 1952

More on the sinking of the USS Maine

[hadrian6]

Detail : USS Maine National Monument. Columbus Circle NYC. Attilio Piccirilli. Italian 1866-1945. marble.     http://hadriann6.tumblr.com

[primadonnalife-blog]

Moving To Columbia South Carolina 

Columbia, SC, is known for being "famously hot," with summer temperatures matching the enormous number of fun things to do in South Carolina's capital city. Whether you're headed to town on business or to drop off your college freshman at the University of South Carolina, here are 10 things to know about the new Southern hot spot so you'll fit right in. Columbia is the first city in the US named for Christopher Columbus. The name Columbia won over the other popular option, Washington.

The Soda City was founded in 1786, but you won’t see many 18th or early-19th century buildings there. That’s because two-thirds of Columbia burned to the ground during the Civil War when Gen. William T. Sherman entered the city in 1865. 

Not only is Columbia the state capital, it is also South Carolina’s largest city. The 2012 census reports 131,686 residents within the city limits and 784,785 residents in the surrounding metro area. Columbia is located 13 miles away from the geographic center of South Carolina and situated on the fall line of the Congaree River. The city’s official nickname is “The Capital of Southern Hospitality.” According to areavibes.com, the cost of living in Columbia is 8.9% lower than the national average, which makes Columbia a very affordable city to live in.

Columbia is home to South Carolina’s largest university – the University of South Carolina. The school is a major player in the Southeastern Conference of NCAA sports with three conference titles. The university is also one of the city’s largest employers along with the South Carolina state government, Palmetto Health, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of SC. Major manufacturing facilities in the area include Michelin, Trane, and Bose Corporation. Columbia’s modern business landscape is quite different from the city’s early economic success and growth, which primarily came from the cotton industry.

Midlands Technical College - Midlands Tech is part of the South Carolina Technical College System It is a two-year, comprehensive, public, community college, offering a wide variety of programs in career education, four-year college-transfer options, and continuing education.

Public education in South Carolina has recently composed a state-wide goal known as the 2010 SC Performance Goal, in which all districts will strive to make South Carolina's students achievements rank in the top half of the US. Various programs like the District Open Enrollment, which affords parents the opportunity to enroll their child in any public school in a district, regardless of assigned attendance zone, the Virtual School Program, which allows more students the opportunity to take AP courses when they may not have otherwise been able to, and the Personal Pathway to Success, which allows and makes a student's education relevant to their aspirations and abilities, have been constructed in an effort to make a better economy and quality of life for everyone in South Carolina.

The Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, which opened in September 2004 as South Carolina's only downtown convention center, 40 is a 142,500-square-foot (13,240 m2), modern, state-of-the-art facility designed to host a variety of meetings and conventions. The main exhibit hall contains almost 25,000 square feet (2,300 m2) of space; the Columbia Ballroom over 18,000 square feet (1,700 m2); and the five meeting rooms ranging in size from 1500 to 4,000 square feet (400 m2) add another 15,000 square feet (1,400 m2) of space.

Fort Sumter: The fort was annexed into the city in the fall of 1968, with approval from the Pentagon In the early 1940s, shortly after the attacks on Pearl Harbor which began America's involvement in World War II , Lt. Colonel Jimmy Doolittle and his group of now-famous pilots began training for the Doolittle Raid over Tokyo at what is now Columbia Metropolitan Airport 10 They trained in B-25 Mitchell bombers, the same model as the plane that now rests at Columbia's Owens Field in the Curtiss-Wright hangar. 

Points of interest include Fort Sumter National Monument, Fort Moultrie, Fort Johnson, and aircraft carrier USS Yorktown in Charleston Harbor; the Middleton, Magnolia, and Cypress Gardens in Charleston; Cowpens National Battlefield; the Hilton Head resorts; and the Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Garden in Columbia.

The historic Congaree Vista , a 1,200-acre (5 km2) district running from the central business district toward the Congaree River, features a number of historic buildings that have been rehabilitated since its revitalization begun in the late 1980s.

Not the kind of shagging that Austin Powers was talking about… The 'Carolina Shag' is a partner dance born in South Carolina This mixture of the jitterbug and swing dancing is a lot of fun and not too hard to learn—especially since South Carolinians practically learn it before they learn to walk.

Kiplinger Magazine recently named Columbia one of the “10 Great Cities to Live In.” Columbia has also been named a top mid-sized market in the nation for relocating families. You don’t have to go far to rub shoulders with celebrities, either. Columbia is home to a number of famous artists and athletes, as well as musicians including: Hootie and the Blowfish, Band of Horses, Samuel Beam (better known as Iron & Wine), and Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty.

As a result of its central location, comfortable lifestyle and temperate climate, Columbia enjoys a robust economy and was ranked 14th in BusinessWeek Magazine's list of "40 Strongest Metro Areas" in both 2009 and 2010.  Columbia ranks in the top 25th percentile, nationwide, among the 366 metropolitan statistical areas (MSA) designated by the U.S. Census Bureau, and first in economic strength in South Carolina.

Columbia has a diversified economy that includes major employers such as Palmetto Health hospital system;  Blue Cross Blue Shield of SC and its subsidiary, Palmetto GBA; the University of South Carolina;  and the southeastern hub of United Parcel Service.  There are 70 foreign affiliated companies in the region and fourteen Fortune 500 companies here including the corporate headquarters of SCANA.

The City of Columbia has also won an award from The International Downtown Association for its rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of historical buildings in the historic Congaree Vista, a 1,200-acre district running from the central business district toward the Congaree River.  This area, until recently, was a visual blight to the entrance of downtown resulting from business closures or relocations to the suburbs.  But, historic buildings now house art galleries, restaurants, unique shops, museums and professional office space while still retaining the historical perspective.

Columbia South Carolina has always had a lure about it and that lure as only grown in recent years.  Its a great place to raise a family and has seen many family's  relocating their. Make sure you look for good Long Distance Moving Companies to handle your relocation to Columbia South Carolina.

[marcellusbitsandpieces]

Bits and Pieces - 25 Historic Places to See Before I Die  7/18/21

The other day I was having lunch with a niece and her two girlfriends visiting Saugatuck. In the course of the conversation, I mentioned that I was putting some of my things in order. Young people are rarely ever keen on hearing something like that.

Then today in my inbox, I got an email about the 25 Classic American Landmarks To See Before You Die. It hit my curiosity button to see how many of them I had seen. How about you?

1.       The Grand Canyon, Arizona – CHECK    Actually I have seen it more than once and have loved it each time. I have even seen the approach to the Canyon from the Colorado River on a whitewater rafting trip – great view either way.

2.       Mount Rushmore, South Dakota – CHECK   I have also seen this one more than once, including the long time ago before the big update when it was even more pristine. No matter, it is a thriller every time.

3.       The Delicate Arch, Utah – NOPE                    Been to Utah many times, but never to the Arches National Park. It is a great movie shot, so added to my bucket list.

4.       The Golden Gate Bridge – CHECK    Curt and I saw it, and I drove across it (twice) on our honeymoon. It was a clear day, thank goodness. Not sure I’d like to drive it in the fog with my fear of bridges.

5.       Old Faithful, Wyoming – CHECK    The eastern route was closed, so (rerouted) we made it with just minutes to spare. Curt said, “How long until it erupts again?” Someone in the crowd said, “Only two minutes, but who’s taking care of the birds at Rolling Hills?” I can’t take him anywhere he isn’t known to somebody!!

6.       Hoover Dam, Nevada – CHECK    The day after locking ourselves out of a running parked car in Death Valley, Laura Dunn and I went to see Hoover Dam. Along the route, we also stopped at the candy store of the famous Lucy Riccardo-Ethel Mertz candy packing scene.

7.       Half Dome, California – NOPE      We went through Yosemite National Park on our honeymoon, too, but didn’t see the Half Dome. A good reason to return there.

8.       Chimney Rock, Nebraska – CHECK    On a trip to Durango, Colorado to take the cool train ride, I saw this other important historic site.

9.       Oak Alley Plantation, Louisiana – NOPE   I have not seen this particular plantation, but I have seen many also with beautiful interlocking trees lining the approach and the grounds having an intense story of plantation life.

10.   Statue of Liberty, New York – CHECK&NOPE    Though I have seen the statue from the air as I was flying into Newark airport, I have yet to visit it in person. This is definitely a bucket list item.

11.   Devils Tower, Wyoming – CHECK    This was another stop on our trip to Yellowstone and The Tetons. It was impressive, but I thought The Badlands was overwhelmingly impressive. How did early pioneers traverse The Badlands in a wagon? (Wagon ruts still visible)

12.   Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C. – CHECK   I cannot count the number of times I have visited this site, along with the rest of the awe-inspiring monuments and memorials in D.C. Every year in which I took my 8th graders on the D.C. trip, I was as excited as they were. Seeing these places of honor at night was the most breathtaking way to remember them.

13.   Fort Sumter, South Carolina – CHECK   What a gorgeous city! I even went through the USS Yorktown with my sister, Chris, and her family. Just across the street from the Historic Charleston City Market is a delightful restaurant that makes THE best coconut (7-layer) cake – right, Laura?!!

14.   Antelope Canyon, Arizona – NOPE    I never even heard of this one. It appears to be more of a cavern than an open canyon. I’ve been to Mammoth Caves, and that will do it for me. I’m not fond of caves – too claustrophobic.

15.   Monticello, Virginia – CHECK   This site, Mount Vernon (Washington’s home), Jamestown and Williamsburg were all usually part of the D.C. trip for the students. I still get thrilled just thinking about the times I was there.

16.   Middle Fork of the Salmon River, Idaho – CHECK    Not only have I been there, but Curt has fished the Salmon River. He had a friend from bird convention days (BP = Before Paula), who invited him to come fishing at his place on the Salmon River. That was also the trip when I got to see the place Sacajawea met her brother on the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

17.   The Breakers, Rhode Island – CHECK   When I moved to Michigan, my first job was Program Manager for JA in Kalamazoo. The Executive Director and I went to an annual conference in Boston. I saw the fireworks over the Charles River on July 4th, visited Harvard, Cheers bar and the JFK Library and Museum. We followed up the conference with a trip throughout New England. The Breakers was a stop with a photo op on the back patio(!) posing as Betty Grable.

18.   Crater Lake, Oregon – NOPE

19.   Space Needle, Washington – CHECK   Another convention opportunity with my friend, Anne.

20.   Portland Head Light, Maine – NOPE   Though this is the oldest working lighthouse in Maine, I have seen Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse and many other important lighthouses along the shores of Michigan.

21.   Denali, Alaska – CHECK  The day we saw this beautiful site, it was still named Mount McKinley. It was a clear day, and we were told how special it was to be able to see it. We went to the Visitors’ Center and saw a group of Amish emerging from a van with an Indiana plate. They turned out to be from Centerville, Michigan and one guy had Brad Hemenway’s pigs on his farm.

22.   Taos Pueblo, New Mexico – CHECK   This was a stunning visit. My sister, Chris, took me there on my last visit to New Mexico. Apartment complexes today couldn’t withstand the time or weather that these structures have endured.

23.   The Alamo, Texas – CHECK   Again, this is an historic site that I have seen often. Like Mount Rushmore, I was able to see this landmark before updating for tourists began. It wasn’t on the edge of town – I am not quite that old, but entering was primitive and exciting. The last visit was too commercialized.

24.   Southernmost Point Buoy, Florida – CHECK   The colorful buoy rests at the point of Key West only 90 miles from Cuba. Now, there is another bucket list item for me – Havana, Cuba.

25.   Jenny Lake, Wyoming – CHECK   Part of The Tetons, it was another special place in this national park.

I don’t need James Stewart to tell me that I’ve had a “wonderful life,” and I’m not done yet. Curt and I have “places to go (Seuss),” things to see and do yet. Hope you found that you have seen some of these and have more to go. See you on the road.

[caveartfair]

The Forgotten Story of Audrey Munson, Famous Muse and Fierce Advocate for Women Artists

Audrey Munson with Arnold Genthe’s cat, Buzzer. Courtesy of the Library of Congress.

Alexander Stirling Calder working on a sculpture for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco in 1913. Courtesy of the Library of Congress.

Not many people know Audrey Munson by name—but if you’ve spent any time in New York City, you’ve seen her face. After all, Munson’s likeness tops some of the city’s grandest buildings. She’s the subject of a handful of its largest sculptures, and is featured in a whopping 30 statues at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Her influence extends further, too, all the way to the White House, which holds a piece that borrows Munson’s features and fierce gaze.

How did one woman come to captivate so many? In the early 1900s, Munson—an artist’s model, actress, and writer—was a household name in the United States, lauded by many as both the “American Venus” and the “Perfect Woman.” The country’s most celebrated artists, like Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney and Daniel Chester French, invited her into their studios. Hollywood enlisted her to star in trailblazing films, like Inspiration (1915), directed by George Foster Platt. And newspapers ran her first-person, tell-all articles to the delight of readers hungry for more insight into this great, gutsy beauty. (If the rumors are true, it would have been hard to find an American schoolboy circa 1915 who didn’t harbor a passionate crush on her.)

But, like so many women of her time, Munson’s star faded fast and hard—eclipsed by the male artists she worked with as model and muse. Even when she is remembered, it’s often for the more scandalous and tragic events in her life (controversy around her nude modeling; struggles with depression) rather than her essential role in the creative process, and her work as an advocate for the rights of creative women.

Audrey Munson in her role as an artist’s model in the film Inspiration, 1915.  Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

“There were tragic aspects to her life, and that’s a juicy story to tell,” artist Andrea Geyer explained to Artsy. Geyer, whose practice is research-based and often focuses on the untold stories of women, made a series of photographs and collages inspired by Munson’s life: an attempt to rewrite her distorted, mostly forgotten legacy. “It’s also important to tell Munson’s story with the agenda that she had in mind—one where she not only had agency, but also creative power,” Geyer continued.

Munson was born in 1891 in Rochester, New York. Before she was 10 years old, her parents divorced, setting off a life of financial struggle for Munson and her mother (who had sole custody of her daughter). But Munson had dreams of supporting herself as an actress, and between 1907 and 1909, both she and her mother relocated to New York to pursue her goal.

It was around this time that Munson, still in her teens, was scouted while walking through Manhattan; a photographer, captivated by her beauty, asked her to sit for him. The gig jumpstarted Munson’s role as artist’s muse, and led to her first major job: modeling for a then-famous sculptor named Isidore Konti.

Konti, though, had one non-negotiable request: He wanted Munson to pose nude for one of his sculptures. His intentions, he insisted, were pure. “To us, it makes no difference if our model is draped or clothed in furs,” he claimed. “We only see the work we are doing.” Munson’s mother was eventually convinced.

USS Maine Monument in New York City, NY, USA. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

Soon after, Munson became one of New York’s most sought-after nude models, inspiring the greatest sculptors and painters of her time, from Vanderbilt Whitney and Chester French (of Lincoln Memorial fame) to Attilio Piccirilli and A. Stirling Calder. She posed with the dramatic flair and sensitivity of an actress, and artists’ interpretations of Munson began surfacing all over the city. You could find her likeness in the New York Public Library, leaning against a horse; on top of the Manhattan Municipal Building, gilded and presenting a crown with aplomb; and at Columbus Circle, a stern, stone figure serving as the centerpiece for the USS Maine monument. By 1915, when she was selected as the model for a large series of highly publicized works commissioned for the World’s Fair in San Francisco, Munson was undoubtedly one of America’s most recognizable figures.

Hollywood and Broadway took note and began producing blockbuster silent films and plays in which Munson acted as a version of herself: a bold model whose work was marked by both agency and artistry. With titles like Inspiration (1915), Purity (1916), and The Girl O’ Dreams (1918), they highlighted Munson’s essential role as an active—rather than passive—muse.

These films, with their smattering of nude scenes, were also controversial, and many theaters banned them. Through them, “the fine line of art was examined,” as writer Justin White (whose grandmother and aunt knew Munson) put it in his 2007 essay “Rediscovering Audrey.” Indeed, Munson’s films exposed both the “true skill and instrumental role a model plays in the creation of the human form in art” to a large, national audience. “To pose nude for an artist in privacy was one thing,” White continued, “but to bring it to the masses was a courageous, perhaps even bold, move on her part.”

Munson’s unwillingness to be a silent partner in the artistic process manifested in other media, too. In 1921, she penned a series of 20 articles about her life and work for the popular magazine The New York American, a Hearst publication. Across Queen of the Artists’ Studios, as her articles were collectively titled, she emphasized the collaborative nature of the artistic process and the important role of the model. She also exposed salary discrepancies (between women and men, as well as between female actresses and artist’s models), and alluded to the inherent sexism of the art world in the early 1900s.

Audrey Munson, 1915. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

Advertisement for the film Purity, in Moving Picture World, 1916. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

“In a successful play the principal actors and actresses who contribute to its success are given due praise…and such honors mean increases in salary and a step at least one notch higher on the road to fame and prosperity. Not so with the artist’s model,” Munson wrote. “She remains ever anonymous. She is the tool with which the artist works…though she provides the inspiration for a masterpiece and is the direct cause of enriching the painter or sculptor.”

While Munson wrote the articles at the height of her career, she began to see something that her contemporaries hadn’t yet: that her legacy, like those of other women like her, was by no means set in stone.

For some, the chance to have an image survive into posterity seemed like it should have been enough. To Norman Rose, who interviewed Munson during her heyday, she was “a slender, graceful girl who will live in marble and bronze and canvas, in the art centers of the world, long, long after she and everyone else of this generation shall have become dust!” But Munson, in her own accounts, seemed to predict a different future: “Where is she now, this model who was so beautiful? What has been her reward? Is she happy and prosperous or is she sad and forlorn, her beauty gone, leaving only memories in the wake!”

In 1922, a year after Munson wrote these words, she attempted suicide. By that point, modeling requests and film roles had begun to slow, and she had been embroiled in two scandals that seemed to negatively affect her reputation. The first came in 1919, when Munson’s landlord murdered his wife because, according to him, he wanted to marry his famous tenant. Munson denied any romantic relationship and was cleared, but the media latched onto the story nonetheless.

Film still of Audrey Monson in Heedless Moths, 1921,  on the cover of Movie Weekly, 1922. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

Daniel Chester French, The Four Continents at the Alexander Hamilton Custom House, Bowling Green, New York, 2015. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

The other incident, which took place in 1922, bears a striking resemblance to recent stories that have emerged in the wake of the #MeToo movement—and Harvey Weinstein’s conduct in particular. In Munson’s telling, a powerful Broadway producer (whom she never named) entered her dressing room during the production of a play called The Fashion Show. He made sexual advances, to which, as she later recalled, she boldly rebuffed: “Don’t touch me. I hate you. Your touch is repulsive to me. I would rather have a snake crawl over me than to feel your hand upon me.” The lecher didn’t react well. A few days later, Munson was told—without explanation—that the play was closing imminently. From then on, she struggled to find work.  

Afterwards, Munson also battled mental illness; she was eventually committed to the St. Lawrence State Hospital for the Insane in Ogdensburg, New York, at the age of 40. It was there that she died in 1996; typical of Munson’s tenacity, she lived to the remarkable age of 104.

But, as she predicted, it would be years until she was recognized for her unique contributions by historians and artists, like Geyer. After Munson died, she was buried in an unmarked grave—an ironic end to the life of a woman rendered all over the United States in stone and gold.

Geyer, for her part, is intent on raising money for a gravestone to mark Munson’s resting place. “She not only stood up for her own rights, but also became an activist and organizer fighting for the recognition of other women,” the artist explained. “For that and many other achievements, she deserves to be remembered by name.”

from Artsy News

[rabbitcruiser]

The battleship USS Maine exploded and sank in Havana harbor in Cuba, killing 274, on February 15, 1898. This event leads the United States to declare war on Spain.  

Remember the Maine Day

Today we remember the Maine, the American battleship that  blew up on today's date in 1898 while anchored in Havana Harbor.  Commanded by Captain Charles G. Sigsbee, it was one of the first  American battleships, cost more than $2 million to build, and weighed  more than 6,000 tons. Ostensibly, its mission in the harbor was  friendly, but its real purpose was to protect American lives and  property. Cuba was in the midst of rebelling from Spain, and as Cuba  sought its independence, it was believed that a full-blown war could  break out at any time. The United States had also long had its eye on  Cuba, hoping to expand its influence there and in the region.

About 350 crew members were aboard the ship on that fateful Tuesday evening. Shortly after 9 p.m., the ship's bugler, C.H. Newton,  blew taps. Around 9:40 p.m., an explosion rocked the boat. A second,  massive explosion followed, and broke apart the bow, throwing debris  over 200 feet into the air. The ship quickly sank, and approximately 266  of the ship's crew perished.

The American press immediately started pointing to an external  explosion—either by a mine or torpedo—at the hands of Spain as the cause  of the ship's demise. In March, the U.S. Naval Court of Inquiry  determined that a mine had caused the explosion, but they didn't  directly blame Spain for it. Although there wasn't enough evidence to  prove that Spain blew up the ship, the American public and members of  Congress ignored this, and put blame on them, and then called for war.  "Remember the Maine" became the war cry.

On April 25, 1898, the United States formally declared war against  Spain. By August, the United States was victorious and an armistice was  signed. The war officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris  on December 10, 1898. Spain relinquished the Philippines, Puerto Rico,  and Guam to the United States. Cuba soon gained independence, but the  United States maintained a powerful influence there.

Ultimately, the cause of the explosion of the Maine is still  inconclusive. Some still believe Spain was to blame. In 1976, Adm.  Hyman Rickover of the U.S. Navy began an investigation into the cause.  The results showed that the explosion came from within the ship, likely  from a coal bunker fire. Most people agree with this assessment.

Various locations hold events for the day. A service is held at the Battleship Maine  Monument in Davenport Park in Bangor, Maine, where the shield and  scrolls recovered from the shop are located. Beginning in 2011, a group  started holding an "all-day patriotic pub crawl through historic Boston"  where participants attempt "to drink at least 266 beverages as a  festive commemoration of the 266 brave men who died on the USS Maine on  February 15, 1898, in Havana Harbor as a result of Spanish treachery."  Patriotic costumes are worn, and those who don't know the story of the Maine  are educated and encouraged to join in on the festivities. New York has  also participated in some years, and organizers have also allowed  virtual participation, so those who don't live in those cities can still  take part in a drink-filled remembering of the Maine.

How to Observe Remember the Maine Day

Here are a few ideas on how to remember the Maine:

Attend the ceremony held at the Battleship Maine Monument in Bangor, Maine. Veterans organize the event, but anyone can attend.

Visit the USS Maine National Monument in New York City or the USS Maine Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery.

Visit the Monument to Victims of the Maine in Havana, Cuba.

Attend the Remember the Maine Day patriotic pub crawl in Boston. The pub crawl has also taken place in New York City. According to the event's Facebook page,  2020 is the last year it is being held. In the past, those who can't  make it to Boston have been encouraged to celebrate virtually. If you  can't get to Boston, or if the event is no longer being held, you could  also hold your own Remember the Maine patriotic pub crawl in your community. Dress up in patriotic garb and hit the town!

View photos of and related to the Maine.

Watch a documentary about the Spanish-American War, such as Crucible of Empire: The Spanish-American War or The Spanish American War: First Intervention.

Read a book about the Maine. 

Source

[sa7abnews]

Visit Mississippi and experience a trip filled with history, beauty, fun

New Post has been published on https://sa7ab.info/2024/08/09/visit-mississippi-and-experience-a-trip-filled-with-history-beauty-fun/

Visit Mississippi and experience a trip filled with history, beauty, fun

If you are traveling to Mississippi, there is no shortage of activities to take part in during your travels. Mississippi is filled with ravishing natural beauty and museums where you can take a deeper dive into history. In Mississippi, there is something for everyone, from scenic hikes to testing your luck at the blackjack table at one of the state’s numerous casinos. EXPLORING NEW MEXICO: A TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENTUse this guide as inspiration for stops to make during your trip to Mississippi. Mississippi is home to many different museums throughout the state. One popular one to visit is the Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale. The Delta Blues Museum is the state’s oldest music museum, according to its website. The museum is filled with exhibits that explore the history of blues music. Check the museum’s website to see the exhibits that will be running during your visit. 5 SECRET SUMMER TRAVEL PACKING HACKS TO MAXIMIZE CARRY-ON SPACE AND MINIMIZE STRESSAnother museum located in Mississippi is the GRAMMY Museum. This museum can be found in Cleveland. The 28,000-square-foot museum has more than 24 exhibits that cover different music genres, from rock to hip-hop to country, according to its website. Mississippi has many different luxurious casinos throughout the state where you can play slot machines and table games. One of the most popular to visit is Beau Rivage Casino in Biloxi. In addition to the games you can play, there are also many dining opportunities and a hotel on-site if you want to stay at the casino. There is live entertainment at the casino, too, so be sure to check in and see who will be playing prior to your visit.Biloxi Beach is a popular tourist attraction in Mississippi. NEW JERSEY TRAVEL GUIDE TO EXPLORE SPARKLING BEACHES, THEME PARKS AND MOREYou can take a walk in the sand along the beach after visiting Beau Rivage Casino. While at the beach, you can also enjoy many of the main fishing spots and grab a bite at one of the delicious seafood restaurants by the beach.For great views of the beach 24 hours a day, stay at one of the many beachside hotels with quick access to the sandy shore. Vicksburg National Military Park is full of Civil War history. The Vicksburg campaign was a success for the Union Army, according to History.com, and one of the longest campaigns of the Civil War.The Vicksburg Campaign began in 1862 and continued until July 4, 1863, with the Confederate surrender, according to the National Parks Service. Today, you can visit Vicksburg National Military Park and see the 1,325 historic monuments and markers that fill the location, according to NationalParks.org.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTERYou can also find a restored Union gunboat, the USS Cairo, here and the Vicksburg National Cemetery. Not far from Port Gibson is Windsor Ruins. This location is where the Windsor plantation once stood but was destroyed by a fire in 1890, according to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. Today, there are 23 columns left standing.You may recognize the ruins from the movies they have been featured in: “Raintree County” and “Ghost of Mississippi.” Guests can visit the ruins during operating hours at no cost.Longwood is a mansion in Natchez.For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyleThe mansion is unique in its octagonal shape and an attraction that many tourists make time to see while they are visiting the state.Guests can take a tour of Longwood seven days a week between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., according to the Visit Natchez website.The Natchez Trace Parkway is a 444-mile scenic road that runs through three different U.S. states: Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee. There are many places to hike or bike along the trail. If you enjoy camping, there are numerous places to pitch a tent on the trail after a long day of hiking or driving. The Mississippi Aquarium in Gulfport is a great destination for kids and adults alike. This aquarium provides hours of family fun with so much to see during your visit. This aquarium features an alligator habitat, Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, a freshwater river and a touch pool for guests to get up-close to horseshoe crabs, baby sharks and more. For an additional cost, guests can also book special encounters with dolphins, penguins and others. Elvis Presley was born in Tupelo on Jan. 8, 1935. If you are a fan of the King of Rock and Roll, stop at the two-room house where Presley was born. When the house was originally built by his father, $180 was used to put together the home, according to Visit Mississippi. The house is now part of the 15-acre Elvis Presley Park. Here you can also find the “Elvis at 13” statue, a popular photo stop on the property, and Presley’s childhood church. 

[viralafeed]

Protesters vandalize Central Park monument and clash with police

Protesters vandalize Central Park monument and clash with police

Protesters clashed with police in Manhattan on Thursday night after a monument was vandalized by cop-haters in Central Park. Six people were arrested in Columbus Circle near the USS Maine National Monument, which was defaced with anti-police graffiti, cops said. “ACAB,” an acronym for “All Cops are Bastards,” and “F–k 12,” which means “F–k the police,” were spray-painted onto the…

[mainefromabove]

Fort Allen Park

I visited Fort Allen Park on a clear, chilly day on 12 February 2021 to get some fresh air and learn a little more about this place I have come to enjoy many times. Upon first moving to Portland I fell in love with the Eastern Promenade (who wouldn’t?) and at Fort Allen Park was of course drawn to the iconography of the twin cannons and the large ship’s mast that towered above the gorgeous, sweeping views of Casco Bay. The park stands at the southern end of the Eastern Promenade, on a sloping hill leading to a steep drop-off down to the paths overlooking the shore below. Multiple memorials and historical objects dot the landscape. Though I have traversed this park many times and taken brief glances at the plaques and informational signs scattered around the area I’ve never taken the time to learn the history of this location until now. Fort Allen began its life as a Revolutionary War Fort in 1775. It was rebuilt to guard Portland and Casco Bay in the War of 1812. In 1890 the city of Portland, under Mayor James P. Baxter purchased the land[1] and the city’s Chief Engineer, William Goodwin[2], designed the park that has now remained for over a century. Fort Allen is now home to a multitude of historically significant structures and memorials. It is home to a Civil War monument and a gun[3] from the USS Maine, whose sinking in 1898 triggered the start of the Spanish-American War. Two civil war era cannons overlook the bay and have been restored in the last decade at great expense.[4] Though there are more monuments and tributes at the site perhaps the most striking is the restored mast from the USS Portland, a heavy cruiser with an impressive battle record in the Pacific Theatre in World War II. Sweet Pea, as her crew affectionately named her, was singled out by Admiral Chester Nimitz to accept the Japanese surrender at Truk[5], Japan’s important naval base, which happened simultaneously as the more famous ceremonies aboard the battleship Missouri. The Portland was sold for scrap in 1959, yet retired Navy Captain Arthur T. Forrestall arranged to save the ship’s mast, bridge shield, and bell which remain here at Fort Allen Park in honour of all the ship and of those who served, fought, and died aboard the Portland. Today, Fort Allen serves two important functions. Firstly, a beloved public park which is appreciated for its splendid views as well as a place where summer concerts and other festivities are held surrounding its historic bandstand. Secondly, as a way for the city to preserve its history, significantly its military history, and honor and remember those who served and fought and died as Americans. Maine’s history is inexorably tied to its coasts and waters. Despite all of these historic objects being landbound, each of them is also tied deeply into Maine’s maritime history. So bundle up, grab your mask and a matching scarf, go make a snow angel at Fort Allen Park and take some time to learn a little bit about this slice of history nestled into the edge of Portland Peninsula, and the many people who have served the nation in which it lies.

References:

[1] https://easternpromenade.org/history

[2] https://www.portlandmaine.gov/2236/Fort-Allen-Park

[3] https://bangordailynews.com/2014/09/09/news/lepage-return-of-gun-from-sunken-uss-maine-to-highlight-portland-parks-bicentennial-celebration/

[4] https://www.pressherald.com/2011/07/06/reclaiming-the-high-ground_2011-07-06/

[5] https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/museums/nmusn/explore/photography/wwii/wwii-pacific/japanese-surrender/surrenders-outside-japan/80-G-499474.html

[coachkai]

“100% of me nothing compared to 1% of the whole team.” — @kipchogeeliud And we proved that with tonight’s workout. So, don’t stop nagging your friends to join us and don’t stop showing up because we are better together. LET’S KEEP BUILDING. _ #teamwork #nycrunninggroup (at USS Maine National Monument) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGBaQ6vHnWA/?igshid=1fg5a3a5jm2h5

[oldnewyorkpictures]

Looking north up "Victory Way," 1919. To help raise money for the Fifth Liberty Loan Drive, the stretch of Park Avenue from 45th Street to 50th Street was closed to traffic and converted into a temporary "temple of victory.” Harold Van Buren Magonigle (who designed the USS Maine Monument in #ColumbusCircle) was in charge of the decorations, and chose #ParkAvenue for its proximity to #GrandCentralTerminal, as well as to 5th Avenue, making it easily accessible to paradegoers who gathered to watch the patriotic parades thrown by the city to salute the soldiers and sailors who fought in the war. The stretch was lined with 56-foot tall columns topped by eagles, along with flagpoles flying the flags of the allied nations and of the 48 states. Surrounding buildings were festooned with wreaths, garlands, and bunting. Colorful displays with maps and large panoramas showed how the war was fought, and members of the #military demonstrated various pieces of captured equipment, such as tanks, cannons, and machine guns. Following the parades, floats would line up on the street, and soldiers would periodically engage in small-scale reenactments of battles in which they had fought. The centerpieces of Victory Way were two large pyramids, each made of 6,000 German helmets, and surrounded by statues of Nike (the Greek goddess of victory) sculpted by Herbert Adams. Anyone who sold over $1000 in bonds for the drive received one of the helmets, which were captured in Coblenz. Every evening, a dedicated speaker gave an address, which was broadcasted to the assembled crowd over a system of 112 speakers installed by the American Telephone and Telegraph Company; this system also allowed folks to give speeches from Washington. The podium was surrounded by large murals of triumphant battles, and the whole display was lit up by spotlights at night. Victory Way remained open for several weeks, culminating in a grand parade featuring groups of marchers from 29 nations dressed in traditional costumes #NYC #midtown #WWI #victory #midtown #TBT #history #NYChistory #DiscoveringNYC via ✨ @padgram ✨(http://dl.padgram.com) https://www.instagram.com/p/BeFp_KpHEHR/

[photochannyc]

Located at the southwest corner of Central Park in NYC, the USS Maine National Monument was installed in 1913. It commemorates the Battleship USS Maine which blew up in Havana Harbor in 1898, 258 American sailors lost their life. @centralparknyc #centralparknyc #ussmainenationalmonument (at Central Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBYL5uQnVYg/?igshid=18vtgo3v7plmn