1509, 2011

Las Vegas Strip

Known today as one of the world’s major resort and gambling cities, Las Vegas has long specialized in offering adult entertainment. For much of Vegas’s early history as a railroad boomtown, gambling (and alcohol, under Prohibition) was illegal in the State of Nevada. That was only a minor setback, however: gaming was still active on a small scale in the city’s many speakeasies. Recognizing opportunity in the influx of workers arriving to construct the Hoover Dam, Nevada legalized gambling and Las Vegas’ most famous industry took off. In only a few decades, Vegas had eclipsed the West’s other resort towns (like Galveston, Texas) and become known for its casinos, restaurants, and live entertainment. Today, Las Vegas

1409, 2011

Peche Island Rear Range Light

Lighthouses
608

Visitors to Peche Island Rear Range Light wouldn’t be blamed for assuming it was called the “Marine City Lighthouse.” After all, it is in Marine City, Michigan and decidedly not on an island. The words “Marine City” are even painted on the white steel tower. In fact, Marine City is only the second home of this historic lighthouse. In 1908, the light was first lit on Canada’s Peche Island at the head of the Detroit River at Lake St. Clair. It marked the river entrance until 1982, when it was decommissioned and replaced. Set to be destroyed, the citizens of Marine City, 34 miles to the northeast, decided to save the lighthouse and arrange its transportation

1209, 2011

St. Anthony Falls, Minneapolis

American Cities
544

One of the only waterfalls on the Mississippi River, St. Anthony Falls offers more than a scenic outlook and relaxing ambience. The entire city of Minneapolis was built around the power of the falls, both literally and figuratively. Early entrepreneurs used the falls to power saw and flour mills, which attracted more settlers and led to the creation of the city. At the turn of the century, Minneapolis led the United States in flour production. By the mid-20th century, however, the flour boom was over and Minneapolis’ position had been lost as new power sources and transportation methods developed and Western crops suffered. Today, a hydroelectric plant still draws power from the falls, but the mills

1009, 2011

Zion National Park

Scenic Earth
604

Zion National Park, the largest of Utah’s five national parks, was once largely covered with a shallow sea. Sediments from this sea cemented into limestone, mudstones, and sandstones that can now be seen everywhere in what is now a desert environment. Millions of years of uplifting have raised huge blocks of land far above sea level, resulting in the stunning cliffs that have become a signature of the park. The scenic landscape is also home to other unique landforms such as natural freestanding arches. In some spots, opaque rivers full of sediment cut through the rock, providing stunning venues for wading along the park’s many hiking paths. Tim Bowman is a jazz guitarist who pulls from

0909, 2011

Louisville, Kentucky

American Cities
509

Downtown Louisville is filled with beautiful architecture and even when it’s not beautiful, it’s distinctive: like the giant baseball bat attached to the Louisville Slugger Museum. This eScapes scene takes you on a relaxing tour of downtown Louisville’s civic buildings, including City Hall (which houses the Metro Council) and Louisville Metro Hall (which houses the Metro Mayor). Outside the Metro Hall, the former Jefferson County Courthouse, stands a 1901 statue of Thomas Jefferson. A more recent, white statue of King Louis XVI stands on the nearby corner– a reminder of Louisville’s namesake. The Rippingtons is a Grammy-nominated American contemporary jazz band. Since its formation in 1985, the band has hosted many well-known musicians that have launched

<i>Arthur M. Anderson</i> (Duluth-Superior Harbor)

0709, 2011

Arthur M. Anderson (Duluth-Superior Harbor)

Shipwatching
589

The steamship Arthur M. Anderson was built in Lorain, Ohio in 1952, alongside the Philip R. Clarke and Cason J. Callaway freighters. The Arthur M. Anderson has a unique place in Great Lakes shipping history: it is the last ship to have been in contact with the Edmund Fitzgerald before it sank in Lake Superior in 1975, and later braved the deadly weather to search for survivors from the doomed freighter. In this eScapes scene, the Anderson leaves Duluth-Superior Harbor at the southwestern tip of Lake Superior. Bahman Anvari is an instrumentalist. His first commercially available single, “Monir,” is featured in this episode and features Radean Anvari on guitar and arrangements by Elton Farokh Ahi. Links

0609, 2011

Denver, Colorado

American Cities
563

Denver, Colorado originated as a mining settlement in the mid-1800s. Since its location was determined by gold prospects, it is one of the few cities in history to be founded away from existing transportation routes or bodies of water. Today, Denver is a thriving commercial center with numerous industries and a wealth of tourism attractions. The 16th Street Mall, shown at the beginning of this eScapes video, is a mile-long pedestrian center filled with over 500 shops, restaurants, and bars. It opened in 1982 and was designed by famous modern architect I.M. Pei, who also designed the Louvre’s glass pyramid, the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The

0409, 2011

Point Aux Barques Lighthouse

Lighthouses
525

Built in 1847 to warn ships of a dangerous reef, Point Aux Barques Lighthouse in Port Hope, Michigan originally stood for only nine years before being razed and rebuilt. The original construction had used inferior materials that could not withstand the stress of severe weather. The new tower and keeper’s dwelling that stands today was finished in 1857. Its third-order fresnel lens, with an electric light since 1932, still serves Lake Huron ships. Fully automated since the 1950s, the lighthouse is now part of a park and museum. Chuck Loeb is a guitarist, composer, and producer. Known for his smooth jazz recordings, he is a versatile artist who has explored various other musical styles including classical

0309, 2011

Beaver Bay Falls, Minnesota

Scenic Earth
522

Most of the impressive waterfalls in the United States are well-documented and well-traveled. Many are located in parks and some even have a infrastructure or nearby tourism economy to accommodate sightseeing. The falls of the Beaver River in Minnesota is not one of these falls. Right next to the city of Beaver Bay– population 181– these falls flow under Minnesota Highway 61 and empty into Lake Superior. If not for the relative isolation of Lake Superior’s North Shore, it’s hard to imagine these beautiful and dramatic falls wouldn’t be more famous. Gregg Karukas is a contemporary jazz keyboardist. After launching his solo career in the 1980s, Karukas formed a band that featured Dave Koz and Boney

0209, 2011

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee has been a Great Lakes port since 1835, and its port has been important through the city’s long history as an industrial powerhouse. Over the past decade, Milwaukee has created a more postindustrial economy, but the Port of Milwaukee is still an important transport center for the city and the entire western Great Lakes region, including Chicago and Minneapolis/St. Paul. The waters around the port are important to recreation and the city’s developing tourism industry. The Milwaukee Boat Line’s Iroquois, seen in this video, is the oldest passenger vessel still operating on the Great Lakes, and offers a variety of entertainment excursions. Walter Beasley is a contemporary jazz saxophonist and a full professor at Boston’s