Tawas Point Lighthouse, Lake Huron, Michigan

Tawas Point Lighthouse on the western shore of Lake Huron

This picturesque Great Lakes lighthouse has been in operation since 1876.  It is situated on the western shore of Lake Huron at East Tawas, Michigan.  The lighthouse tower is 70 feet tall.

According to information from the Michigan Historical Center, the light shines with two colors, white and red.  The white light can be seen from 16 miles offshore in Lake Huron.  The red light marks the entrance to Tawas Bay and can bee seen from 12 miles away.

Those interested in learning more about this lighthouse and its history should visit the Tawas Lighthouse page on Terry Pepper's informative site, Seeing the Light.

The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado

The Stanley Hotel

Location: Estes Park, Colorado

The Stanley Hotel was built in the early 20th century by F.O. Stanley, co-founder of the Stanley Motor Carriage Company, which built a steam-powered car known as the "Stanley Steamer."  As the story goes, Mr. Stanley moved to the town of Estes Park, Colorado in 1903 for health reasons.  He purchased a large tract of land on which he built the Stanley Hotel.

The hotel, which opened for business in 1909, features  neo-Georgian architecture and luxurious furnishings. Among the many well-known people who have stayed at the Stanley Hotel over the years is the writer Stephen King.  Mr. King's novel The Shining is said to have been inspired by his stay at the Stanley, and portions of the TV mini-series based on that book were filmed at the hotel.  (The feature-length film of the same name was filmed elsewhere.)

For more about the Stanley and its history, visit the Hotel's website, and the Wikipedia page about the Stanley Hotel.

Museum of Science, Boston

Museum of Science

Location:  Boston, Massachusetts, USA

I photographed this image of Boston's Museum of Science from a boat on the Charles River.  This is not a new photo, but I still like it -- perhaps because it evokes the memory of a clear October day spent in the company of good friends.

Boulder County Courthouse, Colorado

Boulder County Courthouse

Location:  Boulder, Colorado, USA

This is the Boulder County Courthouse, in Boulder, Colorado.   It is known around town as the "old" courthouse, but it is not the original court building in Boulder.  The original courthouse was built in the 1880s, but it was destroyed by a fire in 1932.  This courthouse building replaced the original one.

 According to the Boulder County Web site:

...The replacement building, designed to project the image of a progressive area with emphasis on the then-current art deco style, was built on the same site and dedicated on May 7, 1934.  Two wings were added to the Courthouse in 1962, bringing the Courthouse to its present-day form.

I photographed this building yesterday.  Look at that sunny, crystal-clear blue sky.  Were it not for the bare branches on the trees, you might think it was a summer day!

Aspen's Dancing Fountain

Nicholas DeWolfe Memorial Fountain

Location:  Aspen, Colorado, USA

At the corner of Hyman and Mill Streets in Aspen, Colorado, is the Nicholas DeWolfe Memorial Fountain, also known as the 'dancing fountain' of Aspen.   Completed in 1979, the water plays from street-level jets in an intricate computer-generated pattern.  On warm days, children run through the waters of the dancing fountain to cool off -- a summer tradition in Aspen.

The fountain is named for the late Aspen resident and pioneer computer engineer Nicholas DeWolfe, who designed and built the computer apparatus and software that run the fountain.  In the background of this photo is another Aspen landmark -- the Wheeler Opera House, completed in 1889.

Elks Building, Aspen, Colorado

Elks Building

Location:  Aspen, Colorado, USA

There are very few large buildings in the town of Aspen, Colorado.  This one, known as the Elks Building, was built in 1891 during the silver mining boom.  Built of brick and sporting a flagpole-topped dome, it is quite an imposing edifice, and it has become a landmark in the town.