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The location is considered public and may be visited by anyone at any time.

Mission Espada

After a pleasant conversation, I got out of the Uber I had taken from my hotel in San Antonio. It was a beautiful sunny day as I walked toward the crumbling walls of what I presumed must have been an impressive structure. I had no idea what to expect as I'd never visited a Spanish Mission before. Two days prior, I had walked some of the grounds of the Alamo, but the huge number of tourists, and lengthy lineup deterred me from actually entering.

As I entered the complex, the most noticable feature was, of course, the bare outlines of the former mission. One could see where the outer walls once stood, and one got a vague sense as to how others must have lived along the inside of these walls, probably sharing in their protection. I was struck by the relative quiet, and tiny number of tourists milling about the grounds.

St. Louis Cemetary, New Orleans

St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, located in New Orleans, Louisiana, is the oldest and one of the most prominent cemeteries in the city. Established in 1789, it replaced the older St. Peter Cemetery, which was no longer in existence after the city was redesigned following a devastating fire in 17881. The cemetery is situated eight blocks from the Mississippi River, on the north side of Basin Street, just beyond the inland border of the French Quarter1. It has been in continuous use since its foundation, making it a significant historical site in New Orleans.

Fortress Louisbourg

The Fortress of Louisbourg, located on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, Canada, is a significant historical site with a rich and complex history. The original settlement was founded in 1713 by French settlers from Terre-Neuve and was initially called Havre à l'Anglois. The French began constructing the fortress in 1719, and it was completed by the mid-1740s. Named after King Louis XIV of France, Louisbourg quickly grew into a major commercial port and one of the most extensive European fortifications in North America

York Redoubt - York Shore Battery

Originally constructed in 1793, defenses have lined this bluff overlooking the entrance to Halifax Harbour, and have played an important role throughout the 19th and 20th centuries before finally closing in 1956.

Point Pleasant Batteries

It was a sunny, warm day, and we drove into the parking area near the container pier beside Point Pleasant Park. Only a few moments in, and it was clear that this was a popular place as I watched people come and go, and an almost steady stream along the path. I got out, map in hand, and set out in search of three particular pieces of history, the Point Pleasant Battery, Fort Ogilvie, and the Cambridge Battery.

Connaught Battery

Built between 1912 and 1917, this battery was named after Queen Victoria's third son, and then Governor General of Canada, the Duke of Connaught. It was armed with three 4.7" quick-firing guns, two of which came from Fort Clarence, and the third from Fort Charlotte. They fired 12, 45-pound, projectiles per minute to an effective range of 8,000 yards.

USS Midway

The USS Midway, an iconic aircraft carrier, has a rich history that spans nearly five decades. Commissioned on September 10, 1945, just days after the end of World War II, the Midway was the largest ship in the world at the time. It was named after the Battle of Midway, a pivotal naval battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II. The Midway was the first of a new class of carriers that were designed to handle the larger and heavier aircraft that were being developed during the war. Throughout its service, the Midway played a crucial role in various military operations and was a symbol of American naval power.

Rose Blanche Lighthouse

Construction of this lighthouse began in July, 1871, as granite was quarried from nearby. Advice and equipment were supplied by D&T Stevenson, an engineering firm from Scotland. With a light standing 95 feet above sea level, it could be seen as far away as 13 miles in clear weather.

Kingston Penitentiary

We arrived on a bright and sunny May morning, parked and proceeded to the front entrance to begin our tour. My attention was initially distracted by the person positioned there to check me in and give me instructions before I noticed the sheer magnitude and domination of this entrance. Of course, that was its design... Instant intimidation of anyone entering through the massive doors.

Auschwitz II - Birkenau

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