If you're driving down Route 66 in this neck of the woods, be prepared for two incredible sights…read more-painted rocks that look like living creatures! This one is near the intersection of West Main (Rt 66) and Stone House Road. It's a gorgeous rendition of a bald eagle. This beautifully painted rock outcropping has seen various lives as a whale, a shark, a frog, and a turtle. In 1989, a high school student repainted it as an eagle, and its lived on as an eagle ever since. Over the years, it gets repainted every once in a while and the year it was touched up is also painted under the eagle's beak. This is a freaking gem !!!

When I was little we would drive by this on the journey from New Haven to Hampton to visit family…read more It instantly became the thing my brother and I looked for on the way. I moved to this area and on a backroads drive randomly rediscovered this in all of it's patriotic glory. The eyeballs are slightly more terrifying than as a child I remember them being but it's still 200% 'Merica.

Wonggumbaug. Now…read morehonestly, isn't that the coolest word you've read today? It's an Indian word that means "crooked pond" and that's how the natives described the area that eventually ended up as Coventry, CT. Coventry was the birthplace of Nathan Hale, one of America's first heroes of the Revolution. He was on an espionage mission for General Washington when he was captured and hung by the British in Manhattan. He was 21 years old. On a cheerier note, Coventry was also the birthplace of the Lakes Actors Colony - a community of entertainment stars from the early days of vaudeville and radio. This is a two-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission in the familiar white lettering on a blue background. Located in front of Town Hall, it has different inscriptions on each side. It dates to 1980 and is in very good shape on the front side, but is in much worse shape on the back side with big hunks of peeling blue paint.

There is a ton of eclectic information on both sides of this marker…read more Town land was bought from the Indians way back in 1676. The town's first nickname was the unflattering "Pump Town". A minister who was kicked out of Hebron may have coined the phrase "Blue Laws". A law school opened here in 1810. For a short time, automobiles were manufactured here. This is a two-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission, with the familiar white lettering on a blue background. The marker dates to 1979 and is in very good shape. It's located on the Town Green just in front of the gorgeous Old Town Hall in Hebron's historic district. The view of the bright blue marker in front of the stunning old white building makes for a very nice image.

First thing I learned is we've all had his name wrong…read more It's not "Smokey the Bear", it's "Smokey Bear". Makes sense, right? Think about it ... it's not "Donald the Duck or "Mickey the Mouse", is it? (Wise-ass remark from the back of the room) -"Yo, what about Kermit the Frog"? Hey, there's an exception to every rule. Anyway, the character of Smokey Bear was created way back in 1944 to make the country more aware about the dangers of forest fires and to preach fire prevention. Smokey's longevity makes him the longest running public service campaign in American history. I was surprised to learn that in 1984, he was honored with a U.S. postage stamp to mark his 40th anniversary. There are hundreds of these Smokey Bear signs all across the country. They publicize the threat level of wildfires. This Smokey Bear sign is located at the entrance to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection complex on Route 66. It's one sweet piece of Americana.

Very realistic yet non threatening portrayal of a North…read moreAmerican brown bear. Helpful in determining whether campfires/bonfires are appropriate by advertising how dry it is outside. Denim jeans are somewhat too provocative.

Things I learned from the Lebanon Historical Marker:…read more 1) The area was first settled by colonists way back in 1665. 2) A Revolutionary "War Office" and Council of Safety was established here because Lebanon was at the cross roads of travel between Norwich and Hartford and Boston. 3) Some pretty important people - George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and French officers French officers Count de Rochambeau, and Lafayette, among others, met here. 4) But my favorite is this- all hail native son William Beaumont -described as a "pioneer researcher in gastric digestion". This two-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission has the familiar white lettering on a blue background. It's located in a veteran's park directly across the street from Town Hall. The marker was installed in 1976, and is in great shape with crisp white lettering and an unmarred blue background- both are in very good condition. The full inscription reads: Lebanon Poquechaneeg, the Indian name for the Lebanon area, was ceded to Englishmen in six tracts; the first was to Major John Mason in 1665. Settlement was begun in 1695 with fifty-one proprietors who apportioned among themselves home lots around the common. The town was formally organized in 1700 by gathering of a church and calling Pastor Joseph Parsons. By 1756, the population was 3,274, sixth in size in Connecticut. Jonathan Trumbull was Governor of Connecticut 1769-1784. In May, 1775 the General Assembly established a Council of Safety to plan the defense of the colony during the Revolutionary War. On the cross roads of routes from Norwich to Hartford and Boston to New York, Lebanon was the logical place to meet. Trumbull's store became the War Office, where met nearly 1200 sessions of the Council of Safety. Here conferred Washington, Franklin, Jefferson and William Williams, a native son and signer of the Declaration of Independence, with the French officers Count de Rochambeau, Duke de Lauzun, and General Lafayette, who commanded French troops that had been quartered in Lebanon during the winter of 1780-1781. The Trumbull family guided Lebanon folk in gathering supplies for the Continental Army making Connecticut the "Provision State". Lebanon is the birthplace of William Beaumont, pioneer researcher in gastric digestion, and of these Governors of Connecticut: Jonathan Trumbull. Jr 1797-1809 Clark Bissell 1847-1849 Joseph Trumbull 1849-1850 William A. Buckingham 1858-1866 Erected by the Town of Lebanon and the Connecticut Historical Commission 1976

In 1747, Andover was cobbled together from bits of Lebanon, Hebron, and Coventry…read more A famous clockmaker was born here. So was an Army major that served in the Revolutionary War. A 6,000 man army led by General Rochambeau marched through Andover on their way to Virginia to assist General Washington. They must have really liked the town, because a year later, they camped here on their return march. This is a two-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission, with the familiar white lettering on a blue background. It has the same inscription on both sides. The marker dates to 1976 and is in a bizarre state. The white lettering looks bright and in good condition. The blue background is also bright and is in mostly very good shape, except for the peeling chips at the very top of both sides. It's located on a strip of grass between Town Hall and a school.

Just ten years after the Civil War ended, this solemn 16' tall granite monument was dedicated in…read moreSept 1875 to those from Colchester who lost their lives in the American Civil War. It's a wonderful likeness of an austere looking Union soldier wearing a long unbuttoned overcoat and cape. He holds his hat in his hand and is looking down as though he is in deep thought. Look at the amazing detail on the statue - the soldier's sad eyes and flowing beard and mustache, his rifle, bayonet, and cartridge box, the "U.S" on his belt, the folds of cloth on his cape, and the cavalry bugle on the top of his hat. There are a lot of engravings on every side of the monument. You can see a slogan reading "NOT OURS BUT / THE NATION'S". You'll see emblems of the Shield of the United States, a field of stars, and the Connecticut Seal. You'll see a "Roll of Honor" with 44 names. The main engravings read: COLCHESTER HONORS ITS DEAD WHO FELL IN THE WAR FOR THE UNION, 1861 - 5. ERECTED / SEPT. 17, / 1875.

The land that became Windham was gifted to local settlers in an Indian Chief's will way back in…read more1675, and the town's name was based on Wynmondham, England the original home of some of those settlers. Windham greatly supported the "Patriot cause" and repudiated British policies when their Sons of Liberty was formed. This is a two-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission with the familiar white lettering on a blue background. You'll see it on a small Town Green in front of the Windham Library, more or less where Routes 203 and 14 meet. The sign dates to 1976 and is starting to show minor signs of wear with small areas of peeling on both sides.

Jonathan is a cute Husky statue that was donated by the alumni, sculpted by Larry Waisele. It is…read morelocated in the Thomas and Bette Wolff Family Park, located to the west of the Athletics Ticket Office. There are a couple of benches in there where you can sit down, relax, and just enjoy the view of the statue. The nose and the ears are worn, as students seem to rub it for good luck. Definitely a cute thing to check out if you're on the UConn campus :D +located in the Thomas and Bette Wolff Family Park +sculpted by Larry Waisele +located to the west of the Athletics Ticket Office

Jonathan the Husky is the mascot and symbol of the University of Connecticut…read more He is named after the state's Governor Jonathan Trumbull who served way back during the Revolutionary War. Jonathan became the school's official mascot in 1934 when it won a naming contest in a landslide. There is a real life Jonathan. His proper name is Jonathan XIII and he is a purebred Siberian Husky, white in color. He was born in Pennsylvania on December 17, 2006 and makes public appearances on behalf of UConn. This 1995 statue of Jonathan is located right outside of Gampel Pavillion, which serves as UConn's basketball arena. It's located in a mini-park at the main entrance to Gampel. There are benches and a long stone wall around the statue and it's a common sight to see students lounging around or rubbing Jonathan's nose for good luck.