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20 vintage photos show what life was like in America's small towns 100 years ago

20 vintage photos show what life was like in America's small towns 100 years ago

Between the early 1900s and the 1940s, Oatman and nearby Gold Road were Arizona's biggest gold producers, and the town used to be a bustling center with over 10,000 inhabitants.During the 2023 census, it had a population of just 102 people.Today, the "lively ghost town" is defined by its streets of historic buildings, burros on the streets, and people wearing old-timey clothing and gunfighter costumes, as reported by Legends of America.
The town was founded in 1881 and was named for O.H. Manning, a politician.The town of 1,500 is about 2 miles long and 2 miles wide, and its Main Street was paved in 1915, as reported by a community website.
The town was established on land taken from the Cheyenne and Arapaho people. According to the Oklahoma Historical Society, at the end of the 19th century, a general merchandise store with a post office was established nearby. The name of the town honors a postal employee, Wayne W. Cordell.
In 1905, a prospector found gold, and within a year, its population had reached 4,000, Travel Nevada reported.Today, about 125 people reside in the town, and residents often refer to their community as a "living ghost town," per Nevada's state tourism agency.
Though the town enjoyed decades of prosperity for the resources provided by Grasshopper Creek, by the 1930s, few residents remained.In the following decade, the local school had to close down due to a lack of students, effectively turning the once-prosperous town into a ghost town, per Legends of America.The now-abandoned town where gold was first discovered in the state is now part of a state park where dilapidated buildings are preserved.
In 1925, Dayton, Tennessee, became famous for the Scopes Trial. In 1925, a Dayton high school science teacher, John T. Scopes, was tried and found guilty for teaching Charles Darwin's theory of evolution in what became known as the Scopes Trial.
Fleischmanns, New York, was a vacation town for those looking to escape the New York City heat. Farmers discovered they could make money from people leaving the city, and hotels and guest houses popped up throughout the town.Today, the town houses around 205 people, according to 2023 census estimates.
Provincetown, Massachusetts, began as a fishing and whaling community. In 1914, the Provincetown Art Association and Museum was founded by a group of prominent local artists. They worked with local businesses to create an art collection and educate the public in the arts. The town is known for being the 1620 landing site of the Mayflower.
Lumber operations are pictured in Crossett, Arkansas, in the 1920s. The town was named after Edward S. Crossett, a lumber entrepreneur.
Stillwater, Minnesota, was incorporated in 1854 and also began as a lumbering town. The town "had all the ingredients for a lumbering town," as reported by the Washington County Historical Society. The town features rivers connecting the small community to the pine forests of northern Minnesota and Wisconsin, and still waters that allowed for the raft assembly industry to flourish locally.In 2011, Forbes named it as one of America's prettiest towns.
Holy City, California, was established by a cult leader and white supremacist, William E. Riker, in 1919. Holy City was created not as a religious oasis, as the name would indicate, but instead as "a commune and tourist trap created in the 1920s by a white-supremacist huckster," the San Francisco Chronicle wrote.The Chronicle also reported that Holy City was reduced to "a few derelict buildings" after facing fire, neglect, and a new freeway that cut off the compound from major roads. Mercury News reported in 2016 that the town was purchased after a decade on the market by Robert and Trish Duggan, billionaire Scientologists.
Historians estimate that the ancestors of Taos Pueblo people built their living structures, as well as pottery and ceremonial buildings, as far back as 1000 AD, according to Taos.org.
Wrangell, Alaska, pictured below in the early to mid-1900s, was discovered by the Tlingit tribe. The Native Alaskan populations remained isolated until the early 1800s, per Wrangell's website. Lt. Dionysius Zarembo, a Russian-American ship commander, landed on present-day Wrangell in 1833. It is the only city in Alaska to be ruled by four nations and under three flags — Tlingit, Russia, England, and the United States — according to the town's website.
South Pass City, Wyoming, was founded as a gold mining town. It was later abandoned.
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Wyoming rededicates its Liberty Bell replica as part of celebration
Wyoming rededicates its Liberty Bell replica as part of celebration

Yahoo

time13-07-2025

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Wyoming rededicates its Liberty Bell replica as part of celebration

CHEYENNE — Gov. Mark Gordon reminisced on the sounds that rang from the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia in July 1776 as he rang Wyoming's Liberty Bell replica after it underwent restoration and was placed in a new frame and location. Wyoming's replica bell sat on the southwest corner in front of the Wyoming State Capitol for many years, slowly falling into disrepair. When the Capitol began undergoing comprehensive renovation and restoration, the bell was removed as part of the Capitol Square Project. Since around 2018, visitors wishing to see the bell would have to call to schedule a visit to an off-site storage area. Gordon said the bell was not in good shape. 'If you walked by the western edge of the Capitol Complex some time ago, before we redid the Capitol, and looked at this bell, you can understand why people were saying, 'Good Lord, we've got to do something about putting that in storage. Because it's old, it's tacky, it's not looking good,'' he said. Kevin Ramler, director of the Wyoming State Museum, said the yoke at the top of the bell had completely collapsed because it couldn't support its own weight, so it was placed on wooden beams. To address this, the bell was shipped to Shoshoni on a semitruck for repair. A few months ago, it was installed in a new frame and mostly restored in a display in front of the Wyoming State Museum. On Thursday, it was officially rededicated by Gordon. Ramler said preservation of the bell will be ongoing, and it will remain in front of the museum for the foreseeable future. At the rededication ceremony, Nick Neylon, deputy director for Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites and Trails, spoke about the symbolic importance of having the bell on display for the public. He said the bell is a wonderful metaphor for the American experiment — deeply flawed and imperfect. 'Our nation was born out of imperfection, and we have reimagined and reformed our nation many times and many ways over the generations,' he said. 'Like the bell, we persevered through our imperfections and emerged a stronger nation each and every time.' Dave Glenn, director of Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites and Trails, said it was a large task, as the bell weighs around a ton-and-a-half, but it was relatively inexpensive and worth the cost, as it weighs even more heavily on the cultural and historic integrity of the community. Ramler spoke a little bit about the history of Wyoming's Liberty Bell replica, as one of many across the nation that were distributed to each state across the union in 1950. He said the original intent of the replica bells was for the U.S. government to sell saving bonds. When it was given to Wyoming around 75 years ago, as in other states, it was driven across the Cowboy State to display in various towns. Those who purchased bonds and were a U.S. citizen were given the opportunity to ring the bell. Now on display for the public again, Gordon said he is reminded of the words Benjamin Franklin reportedly spoke after the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787. 'A woman came up to him and said, 'What kind of government do we have?' And he said, 'A republic, if you can keep it,'' Gordon said. The rededication of the bell was part of a daylong series of events in downtown Cheyenne on the 135th anniversary of Wyoming's statehood, originally on July 10, 1890. Other portions of the celebration included a tour of the Wyoming Capitol, showcasing new displays throughout the building to allow visitors the opportunity to learn more about the state and its history. Some of these displays are more recent, while others have been in place for a few years, since the Capitol renovations began. This includes a hallway honoring women's suffrage and a hallway honoring the building's architecture and history, which features a video of Nellie Tayloe Ross, the nation's first female governor, signing her oath of office. In addition to celebrating Wyoming's statehood, the events Thursday were also part of a kickoff to a celebration of America's 250th anniversary. This celebration will include events throughout the year leading up to the anniversary on July 4, 2026. On Thursday, other festivities included a presentation on Wyoming's suffrage story, a performance by the University of Wyoming Brass Quintet, food trucks around the Capitol and a military vehicle display.

Spiro Mounds named one of Oklahoma's most endangered places
Spiro Mounds named one of Oklahoma's most endangered places

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time22-06-2025

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Spiro Mounds named one of Oklahoma's most endangered places

SPIRO, Okla. (KNWA/KFTA) — Archaeological sites linked to the Spiro Mounds have been named one of Oklahoma's Most Endangered Places for 2025 by Preservation Oklahoma. The nonprofit's annual list, started in 1993, identifies historic sites at risk due to neglect, deterioration or development, according to a news release. This year's list includes eight locations, including the Spiro-area sites in LeFlore County. The Spiro Mounds are part of a larger network of archaeological resources linked to prehistoric Native American culture. Spiro was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1969. Occupied from AD 950 to 1450, it was a cultural and economic center with ties to surrounding communities in the Arkansas River Valley, according to Preservation Oklahoma. Between AD 900 and 1300, Spiro leaders formed wide-ranging cultural and political ties across the region, sharing traditions like mound building and ceremonies, according to the Oklahoma Historical Society. Fort Smith mother to file lawsuit against Alma school, alleges teacher kicked her 4-year-old son The site declined by AD 1450 but stayed inhabited for 150 more years. The people were likely Caddoan speakers. The area was abandoned by 1600 and later farmed by the Choctaw, who avoided disturbing the mounds until the Great Depression. Covering 150 acres with 12 mounds, the site remained largely undisturbed until farming in the late 1800s, according to the Oklahoma Historical Society. Excavations in the 1930s revealed important artifacts, prompting early preservation laws. While the main site is protected by federal and state agencies, nearby related sites face threats from erosion, flooding and looting. According to Preservation Oklahoma's list, these risks, particularly on private land, have led to the sites being labeled endangered. Chickamauga Nation responds to future Franklin County study Inclusion on the list does not ensure preservation or funding but is intended to raise awareness and encourage action. 'I'm so happy with this year's most endangered places and proud of the work that Preservation Oklahoma does to bring attention to these incredible resources,' POK Board President Tori Raines said in the release. 'It's also really gratifying when properties that have previously been on this list end up being saved, and I really do credit the list itself and attention it generates with being a small part of that.' Other sites on the 2025 list include: The Prairie House, Norman Orpheum/Cook Theater, Okmulgee West Winds Motel, Erick Canadian County Jail, El Reno The Vogel House, Vinita Remnants of WWII POW Camp, Alva Grady County Historical Society Museum, Chickasha For more information and photos of the 2025 Most Endangered Places, visit Preservation Oklahoma's website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Friends of Niagara Turtle mourn loss of building's designer
Friends of Niagara Turtle mourn loss of building's designer

Yahoo

time11-06-2025

  • Yahoo

Friends of Niagara Turtle mourn loss of building's designer

Supporters of an effort to reawaken 'The Turtle' in downtown Niagara Falls are mourning the loss of one of the building's creators. Dennis Sun Rhodes, the Arapaho architect who worked with Tuscarora sculptor Wilmer 'Duffy' Wilson to help design the former Native American Center for Living Arts on Rainbow Boulevard, passed away on Thursday. Friends of the Niagara Turtle, the local non-profit that is working on preservation plans for the building, made attempts in recent years to contact Rhodes and make him aware of their effort. Rhodes did not weigh in publicly or endorse the idea of preserving the building in recent years. 'We are grateful for the design and joy this building gave both the Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, as it sits just feet from Niagara Falls,' Friends of the Niagara Turtle board member Carl Skompinski wrote in a message posted to his group's Facebook page. 'We hope to honor his legacy, that of Duffy Wilson, and all those who worked tirelessly within its doors to bring native culture to our community and nations. Remember, this Indigenous Cultural Center pre-dates the Smithsonian's Museum of the American Indian and was well known throughout North America. May Mr. Sun Rhodes rest in peace.' Sun Rhodes was born on the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming, according to the website for Montana State University where he graduated with a degree in architecture. According to the university's website, Sun Rhodes went on to become a principal at architectural firms in St. Paul, Minnesota, and over the years developed a reputation for incorporating into his building designs symbolic shapes reflective of elements from Indigenous cultures. In addition to the Turtle building in the Falls, Sun Rhodes is credited for designing buildings for tribes across the country, including the Minneapolis American Indian Center, the Division of Indian Work building in Minneapolis and the Piya Wiconi Building at Oglala Lakota College on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. The turtle building operated as a center for Native American arts and culture from 1981 to 1995. The building is currently owned by the private firm Niagara Falls Redevelopment. NFR has indicated that it has not yet received any 'viable' plans for redeveloping the structure. Local efforts to develop a plan for preserving the building got a boost last month when the National Trust for Historic Preservation announced that it had been added to the group's 2025 list of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. The group's designation described the Turtle as a 'powerful symbol of Indigenous heritage,' while noting, 'Unfortunately, the building has been vacant for almost 30 years, and the owner previously shared plans for demolition. A coalition has formed in hopes of 'reawakening' the Turtle once again.'

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