‘Cover Stories’ Archives
Washington Monument obelisk
July 4th 1848 and July 4th 2013 The Washington Monument cornerstone was set July 4th 1848. Construction of the marble obelisk was halted for lack of money for 25 years during the Civil War era and resumed 25 years later in 1876. It has 700,000 visitors a year but has been closed since 2011 earthquake damage.The Park Service will complete repairs and reopen it by spring of 2014. For the July 4th 2013 holiday the monument was adorned with special decorative lighting. “It”'s an icon in this country, so you don”'t want it just sort of sitting here with a big scaffolding around it for a year,” Jonathan Jarvis, National Park Service Director said. On July 4th when the Sun reached the altitude of the tip of the obelisk at exactly 8º 36”', the Sun, the Capitol Building and Jefferson Memorial aligned within a precision of less than 1 degree.
Allées of Energy
By Harvey Winje Sue Hunter Weir writes here about an “Allée Dream Coming True” ”“ the hope and reality of trees lining both sides of the road into Pioneers and Soldiers Cemetery with each tree”'s canopy touching in the center and framing an arch over the path. This desire by cemetery planners decades ago may have been inspired by allées like Austrian artist Gustav Klimt”'s (1862-1918*) vision when he painted the tree-lined allée pictured here. (more…)
Allée Dream Coming True
East view Allée Memorial Day 2013 By Sue Hunter Weir It”'s been ten years since we planted 150 trees in the cemetery. The trees are well grown now as are the children who helped plant them. On May 17, 2003, Minneapolis Pioneers and Soldiers Cemetery was the regional Arbor Day planting site. It was a landmark year for the cemetery; it was its 150th anniversary. The theme for the day was “Renewing Our Legacy: 150 Trees for 150 Years.” Hundreds of volunteers came to plant. There were elected officials, Boy Scouts, city staff, friends, neighbors and people who have an occasional urge to hug a tree. Minnesota Territorial Pioneer newspaperman James Goodhue (played by re-enactor Shawn Hoffman) was on hand to greet guests. The Minneapolis Police Band provided the music. Children paraded down the cemetery”'s only road led by the Tree of Life from In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre. In the spirit of Johnny Appleseed the children wore pots [...]
