3/23/2021

The Grand Village of the Illinois (Old Kaskaskia Village) Near Utica in Illinois

The Grand Village of the Illinois, also called Old Kaskaskia Village, is a site significant for being the best documented historic Native American village in the Illinois River valley. It was a large agricultural and trading village of Native Americans of the Illinois confederacy, located on the north bank of the Illinois River near the present town of Utica, Illinois. French explorers Louis Joliet and Father Jacques Marquette came across it in 1673. 

The Kaskaskia, a tribe of the Illiniwek people (and later, other Illiniwek tribes) lived in the village. It grew rapidly after a mission and fur trading post were established there in 1675, to a population of about 6,000 people in about 460 houses.







Chief Nemacolin's Trail / Braddock's Road

 



General Braddock's March (points 1–10) follows or parallels (and improves upon) Chief Nemacolin's Trail from the Potomac River to the Monogahela. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braddock_Road_(Braddock_expedition)





The National Road aka (The Cuberland Road)

 



The National Road

The National Road (also known as the Cumberland Road) was the first major improved highway in the United States built by the federal government. It was built between 1811 and 1837.








Pecumsaugan Creek-Blackball Mines

Nature Preserve Area: 
3
County: 
La Salle
Location and Access: 
This site is currently closed to the public. Access for scientific research is by permit only.
Description: 
The Pecumsaugan Creek area has beautiful dolomite cliffs, dolomite prairie, upland forest, floodplain forest and savanna communities of the Grand Prairie Natural Division. The preserve is best known for the large abandoned limestone mine and its colonies of bats. Blackball Mine is one of the largest bat hibernacula in Illinois. Five species of bats are known to use the mines, including the federally endangered Indiana bat. Bats in Illinois are strictly insectivorous and one bat can devour up to 4,000 insect pests in a single evening. Generally speaking, bats are the nocturnal counterpart of the diurnal purple martin. Other notable animals in the preserve include a relic population of timber rattlesnake and the mottled sculpin, an unusual fish found in Pecumsaugan Creek. The preserve also provides a variety of habitats for threatened and endangered plants species. Visitors can see many of the unique natural features of this preserve from the I & M Canal towpath, however, entrance to the preserve requires a permit.

Ownership: 
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Dedicated: 
July 1984
Size: 
211.17 acres with buffer

Topographic Quad: 
La Salle
Topo Map: 
Directions: 
For further information: 
Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Biologist, Silver Springs State Park, Dan Kirk, 1360 Fox Road, Yorkville, IL 60560(630) 553-1372.




3/20/2021

Cover Southwest US Canals With Floating Solar Panels


 

Interesting Idea

Cover Southwest US Canals With Floating Solar Panels. Lowers evaporation and generates powerr.

https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/03/the-economics-of-covering-californias-water-system-with-solar-panels/


Another good location would be underneath power lines on current right of way. The land is already owned, it is often not used and it is close to power lines.



3/14/2021

Carnegie Library in Bradenton, Florida

 


Bradenton Carnegie Library

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Bradenton Carnegie Library
Bradenton FL Carnegie Library01.jpg
Bradenton Carnegie Library is located in Florida
Bradenton Carnegie Library
Location1405 4th Avenue W, Bradenton
FL 34205
Coordinates27°29′46″N 82°34′33″WCoordinates27°29′46″N 82°34′33″W
Built1918
Built byT.W. Hullinger & Son
Architectural styleClassical Revival
NRHP reference No.87000616
Added to NRHP9 April 1987[1]

The Bradenton Carnegie Library is a Carnegie library in Bradenton, Florida. It was founded in 1918, served as Bradenton's main library for 60 years, and now houses the Manatee County Historical Records Library. In April, 1987, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

History[edit]

Steel magnate and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie provided funding for more than 3,000 Carnegie libraries in the United States, Canada, and Europe.[2] The Bradenton Carnegie Library, in BradentonFlorida, was one of ten Florida Carnegie libraries to receive grants from the Carnegie Corporation of New York between 1901 and 1917,[3] six of which still stand.[4]

Bradenton Carnegie Library

The library was built in the Classical Revival style to Carnegie Library Plans #205.[1] Carnegie Libraries were normally constructed with basements, however due to being in Florida this was not able to occur, so the library is two stories tall to fulfill requirements.[4][better source needed] The original Bradenton Carnegie library opened in 1918 and served as Bradenton's main library for 60 years.[4]

Although its address is 1405 Fourth Avenue, West, the library actually faces onto 14th Street, West. The original 14th Street facade has been obscured by an addition that did not follow the style of the original building.[5]

On April 9, 1987, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

Today, it is the Historical Records Library operated by the office of the Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court, and houses governmental records, marriage licenses, maps, yearbooks, voter registration books, and military discharge books among many other items, that date back to 1856. The library also houses the Herb Loomis Manatee County Postcard Collection and the Steve Belack Crosley collection.[6] Its staff provide assistance to researchers and those seeking to learn about the county's history.



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bradenton_Carnegie_Library