Monday, May 18, 2015

Heading South - Day Two

Most of the second day on the road was rainy but it didn't matter because we were just driving anyway.

 

 

The new bridge in St. Louis, Missouri was beautiful, even in the rain. It's the 3rd largest suspension bridge in the United States and opened a year or so ago.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By the time we got to Paducah, Kentucky for a sightseeing stop, the rain had disappeared. Paducah is a fine old southern city with most of its beautiful downtown buildings still intact and occupied. Twenty blocks are listed on the National Register of Historical Places, happily protected forever.

The riverfront on the Ohio River is still bustling with river barge traffic and the streets are lively with traffic and people.

 

An arts program that brought local artists into emptying historic buildings is now a model program for other US cities. In 1996 a huge mural project was begun by Louisiana artist Robert Dafford on the floodwall along the levee protecting the city. More than 50 paintings cover several city blocks and depict the rich history of the town.


 

 

We absolutely loved it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Here are a few of the 50 scenes.

Most of the panels were painted from photographs and the detail is wonderful. It was our favorite stop on the way south and we were wishing we could spend the weekend there. The Natinal Quilt Museum is incentive enough for me to return someday!

15 comments:

  1. Those murals are fabulous. We passed through St. Louis on Saturday, but on 44/55 near the arch. We'll have to go back on 270 to see the new bridge.

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  2. Your photos are detailed and wonderful, too!

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  3. Amazing murals, what a wonderful sight.

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  4. Ooh! That mural of the ice all the way to Ill. sent shivers through me. Brrr! But I agree with you that the detail is wonderful. Good to hear from you.

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  5. Love the mural, never been to Kentucky. Hope you have a safe journey.

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  6. Love to travel with you by your photo's. St.Louis I have been too, long ago, but without the bridge ...Those murals are very nice with interesting stories.

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  7. The murals are beautifully done, each telling a story...

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  8. I admire that you travel by cars for a long distances but your gas is extremely cheap 70% cheaper than in European Union so that why we fly ii is cheaper

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  9. I'm enjoying your trip. Those murals are fantastic. Stay safe!

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  10. I'd be at the National Quilt Museum in a heartbeat.
    Don't those photographs remind you of the WPA projects of the 1930s?

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  11. What a huge amount of work for one artist! The detail is amazing. Glad you are enjoying the journey.

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  12. I love that painted wall! Would love to see that in person. Enjoying your trip.

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  13. Wow those murals and the history that goes with them is something else...I would like to visit there someday too! :)

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