Some of the backbone of the city is the beautiful decor like these murals. There are i want to say…read more16 in the city but this may be the earliest and best, worth checking them all out if you are in the city and have a chance.

There's a cool Miral that is in Keene New Hampshire cool city there's a lot of cool art I must say…read moreI really like this railroad one and I took a few pictures of it with my kids and it was just kind of a neat little art display that the city definitely has a lot of

Tucked away in the heart of Chepachet, Rhode Island, The Hen House is the kind of place you stumble…read moreupon by chance and leave wondering how you ever lived without it. It's not just a shop--it's a testament to the local artisans who pour their soul into every piece of jewelry, every jar of honey, every loaf of artisanal bread. You can feel the passion in every corner, where art and craftsmanship blend seamlessly. One of the owners, Kim, welcomed us like old friends, giving us a personal tour of her eclectic collection, a rare and beautiful mix of everything you'd want in a one-stop shop. We traveled all the way from Hawaii and found this gem--worth every mile.

What a cool little eclectic shop in the heart of Chepachet. They share all the local fare! Coffee,…read morehoney, ice cream, handmade items, canned goods, scents, herbs, art...you get the idea! It's a 'you have to be there' kind of store for sure! The store is well laid out and very inviting. You will want to try everything so bring your wallet! The hours aren't extremely prolific, so be sure to check the website for information. Enjoy!

Located in front of the Sharon Public Library, this monument is tribute to Deborah Sampson…read more(1760-1827). Deborah Sampson became a hero of the American Revolution when she disguised herself as a man and joined the Patriot forces. She was the only woman to earn a full military pension for participation in the Revolutionary army. Born on December 17, 1760 in Plympton, Massachusetts near Plymouth, Sampson was one of seven children to Jonathan Sampson Jr. and Deborah (Bradford) Sampson. At age 18 she worked as a teacher during summer sessions in 1779 and 1780 and as a weaver in winter. In 1782, as the Revolutionary War raged on, the patriotic Sampson disguised herself as a man named Robert Shurtleff and joined the Fourth Massachusetts Regiment. At West Point, New York, she was assigned to Captain George Webb's Company of Light Infantry. She was given the dangerous task of scouting neutral territory to assess British buildup of men and materiel in Manhattan, which General George Washington contemplated attacking. In June of 1782, Sampson and two sergeants led about 30 infantrymen on an expedition that ended with a confrontation--often one-on-one--with Tories. She led a raid on a Tory home that resulted in the capture of 15 men. At the siege of Yorktown she dug trenches, helped storm a British redoubt, and endured canon fire. For over two years, Sampson's true sex had escaped detection despite close calls. When she received a gash in her forehead from a sword and was shot in her left thigh, she extracted the pistol ball herself. She was ultimately discovered--a year and a half into her service--in Philadelphia, when she became ill during an epidemic, was taken to a hospital, and lost consciousness. Receiving an honorable discharge on October 23, 1783, Sampson returned to Massachusetts. On April 7, 1785 she married Benjamin Gannet from Sharon, and they had three children, Earl, Mary, and Patience. She received a military pension from the state of Massachusetts. Although Sampson's life after the army was mostly typical of a farmer's wife, in 1802 she began a year-long lecture tour about her experiences--the first woman in America to do so--sometimes dressing in full military regalia. A true hero and a story I've never heard before. [Review 15255 overall, 757 of 2021, number 1114 in Massachusetts.]

The Bajnotti Fountain was unveiled on June 26, 1901, the gift of Paul Bajnotti to the city of…read moreProvidence in memory of his wife, Caroline Mathilde Brown. It is officially known as The Carrie Brown Memorial Fountain. The bronze central group of figures was cast at Gorham and represents the Struggle of Life. The commission was a result of a competition in 1899 in which eighteen designs were submitted. The winner was Enid Yandell, a young woman who had studied with Rodin and the successful American sculptor Fredrick MacMonnies. Yandell worked on the design in Paris. A plaster-cast of this fountain was displayed at the 1901 Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo. It is located in Burnside Park, just across from Kennedy Plaza. Most of the time, the powerful jets of water provide a dynamic view of the park, the city and downtown. At night, lights brighten up this work of art, for many to admire.

Like much "contemporary" art, I generally don't understand it. And this piece is another that is…read morebeyond my understanding. They're nice rocks, A 7 foot tall one leaning on a 5 foot tall cubic one. But why that's art and especially why it's "Perseverance" that has anything to do with Abraham Lincoln, I do not know. The caption is as follows... Perseverance Darrell Petit, 2005 "... you can not fail if you resolutely determine that you will not." Lincoln is often regarded as a model for overcoming life's little adversities. He experienced many setbacks in life including: * Defeated in his first run for the Illinois state legislature * His first business, a store, failed * His sweetheart died * Defeated to be Speaker of the Illinois state house * Defeated for nomination to Congress * Defeated for U.S. Senate * Defeated again for U.S. Senate * Lost two sons - one at nearly four years of age, one at age 11 * Publicly maligned for his political positions Despite these stumbling blocks, and perhaps because of them, Abraham Lincoln is widely regarded as one of the most revered presidents and possibly the most admired American in U. S. history. [Review 15165 overall, 667 of 2021, number 21 in Connecticut.]

"You used to call me the top You put me up on the throne…read moreYou let me fall with a drop And now I'm out on my own" (Billie Holiday) Fans of Game of Thrones know the Iron Throne in Westeros was made from the surrendered swords of enemies. Today I learned the White Oak Leaf Throne in Hartford's Bushnell Park was made from the Hoadley Oak. It was a dead 180-year-old White Oak tree that was a park eyesore. On September 10, 2024, it became the latest piece of public art to join the dozens of attractions and monuments spread across the park. Local artist Tao LaBossiere transformed that huge dead tree into a 9 1/2-foot-tall throne with ornate carvings all over its surface. The structure was sealed with five coats of marine-grade urethane to protect it from the elements. You'll find it on the east side of the park by Jewell Street. The throne has landing steps at the front, so you can climb up, and have a seat for a few minutes of solitude or an epic photo op. PRO TIP The Hoadley Oak is believed to be a descendant of Connecticut's historic Charter Oak. In an early act of resistance against the British, in 1662, Connecticut colonists hid their colony's Royal Charter in that tree to keep it safe.

I have seen this statue countless times in a variety of sizes in museums all over but now this full…read moresized sculpture has let me research the rest of the story. The Puritan is by sculptor Augustus St. Gaudens of Springfield. In 1881, Chester W. Chapin, a railroad tycoon and congressman from Springfield commissioned the sculptor to create a bronze likeness of his ancestor, Deacon Samuel Chapin (1595-1675), one of the early settlers of the City of Springfield. By 1881, Springfield had become one of America's most innovative industrial and manufacturing centers, and was one of the wealthiest cities in the United States. The sculpture, cast at the Bureau Brothers Foundry in Philadelphia, was unveiled on Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 1887 in Stearns Square, between Bridge Street and Worthington Street. In 1899, the statue was moved here to Merrick Park, on the corner of Chestnut and State Streets next to the old city library, which would later become part of Springfield's Quadrangle cultural center. The statue has remained there ever since. By the time of the statue's design, no authentic portraits of Deacon Samuel Chapin were known to exist so the artist put together a composite of the family type. Though some say that it is of abolitionist John Brown (a descendant of Chapin) who is alleged "did not end the war that ended slavery, he at least began the war that ended slavery." So there you go. Now you know what I know about this imposing character. [Review 15198 overall, round number 700 of 2021, number 1061 in Massachusetts.]