Philatelic Photograph: Cenotaph - Bridgetown, Barbados

Interesting Places I've Photographed

Cenotaph

Bridgetown, Barbados

Topic: Philatelic Photographs

GPS: N13° 05.804; W059° 36.841

Quick Description: 

The Cenotaph is located in Hero's Square, formerly Trafalgar Square, in Bridgetown, Barbados

Long Description:

The Cenotaph monument was erected in 1925 to commemorate those who died during the Great War (World War I). It consists of an approximately 30' tall obelisk with the dates 1914 -1918 in bronze letters on the front side. The plaque on the front has the dedication:


TO THE
GLORY OF GOD AND IN
LASTING MEMORY OF THE BARBADIANS
WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR
1914 - 1918
------
THIS MONUMENT IS ERECTED BY THE
LEGISLATURE OF BARBADOS
------
BRITISH WEST INDIAN REGIMENT
Followed by a list of 49 names. A second plaque has an additional list of 46 names.
Added later, on the back, were the dates 1939 - 1945 and two plaques. One has the dedication:


1939 - 1945
TO THE ENDURING MEMORY OF
THOSE BARBADIANS WHO GAVE THEIR
LIVES IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR
Followed by a list of 39 names. A second plaque has an additional list of 56 names.

The stamp is part of a 16 stamp set issued by Barbados on May 4, 1970 depicting various sights in Barbados.

Philatelic Photograph: Lords Nelson Statue - Bridgetown, Barbados

Interesting Places I've Visited

Lord Nelson Statue

Bridgetown, Barbados

Topic: Philatelic Photographs

GPS: N13° 05.808; W059° 36.864

Quick Description: 

The first statue ever erected to honor Admiral Horatio (Lord) Nelson is located in Heroes' (formerly Trafalgar) Square in Bridgetown, Barbados.

Long Description:

The statue of Admiral Nelson was sculpted by Sir Richard Westmacott and erected on March 22, 1813 in the former Trafalgar Square, now called Heroes' Square. It was the earliest monument to Admiral Nelson, predating the Nelson Column in Trafalgar Square, London by almost 30 years.

Admiral Nelson was considered a hero by Bajans for his battles with the French, in 1805. The French controlled several nearby Caribbean islands and many islands in the Caribbean changed hands frequently. Barbados, however, remained under British rule until they achieved independence in 1966.

The 6.5' tall bronze statue depicts Admiral Nelson in full military uniform standing with his right hand over his heart. His left hand is resting on a partially draped object. Beneath the statue and on the front of the pedestal is the inscription:


NELSON
Three plaques provided information about the artist, statue and the Admiral. The artist plaque is inscribed:


SIR RICHARD WESTMACOTT R. A.
SCULPTOR
1744 - 1830 The dedication plaque is inscribed:


THIS STATUE
IN HONOUR OF THE HERO
THE INHABITANTS OF THIS ISLAND
ERECTED A.D. MDCCCXII
The biography plaque is inscribed:


HORATIO VISCOUNT AND BARON
NELSON
VICE ADMIRAL OF THE WHITE, K. B.
COMMANDED AND CONQUERED
ON THE FIRST OF AUGUST MDCCXCIX AT
THE NILE:
ON THE SECOND OF APRIL MDCCCI AT
COPENHAGEN
AND AT
TRAFALGAR
WHERE HE FELL IN THE MOMENT
OF VICTORY
ON THE TWENTY FIRST OF OCTOBER
MDCCV

The stamp was issued by Barbados on  May 1, 1950 as part of a set of nine stamps depicting sites in Barbados.  Web link: http://www.barbados.org/lord-nelson-statue-barbados.htm

WWII Memorial: Iwo Jima Memorial in New Britain, CT

Interesting Places I've Visited

Iwo Jima Memorial

New Britain, CT

Topic: WWII Memorial

GPS: N41° 41.893; W072° 45.510

Quick Description: 

The National Iwo Memorial in New Britain, CT has an exact replica of the famous Marine Memorial in Arlington, VA

Long Description:

The National Iwo Jima Memorial contains a sculpture based on the iconic photograph, taken by Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal, of the four Marines and one Navy corpsman raising the American flag on Mt. Suribachi on February 23, 1945.

The original sculpture of this event, based on the photograph, honors the Marine Corps and is located near the Pentagon in Rossyln, VA. It was unveiled on November 10, 1954.

The exact copy of the original was created by Joseph Petrovics for the National Iwo Jima Memorial in New Britain, CT. It was cast at the Modern Art Foundry. It was dedicated on February 23, 1995. On the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima.

Neon Sign: NBC Studios - NY, NY

Interesting Places I've Photographed

NBC Studios Sign

New York, NY

Topic: Neon Signs

GPS: N40° 45.528; W073° 58.790

Quick Description: 

The NBC Studios Sign is located at 30 Rockefeller Plaza on 49th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues in Manhattan.

Long Description:

The Art Deco NBC Studios Sign is of the the most recognized neon signs. It is often used when a location set image is needed for the NBC Studios. The sign promotes three different venues. On the side facing 49th Street in OBSERVATION DECK appears in blue neon lights. It marks the entrance to the Top of the Rock observation deck on the 70th floor of 30 Rockefeller Plaza.

On the east and west facing sides of the marquee are three neon signs. Above is RAINBOW ROOM in red neon lights. The Rainbow Room was an upscale northern Italian restaurant that recently closed. It has been designated a New  York City landmark and hopefully will reopen soon under new management. The middle contains a sign for the aforementioned OBSERVATION DECK. Below is NBC in double line red neon lights and STUDIOS in smaller, single line format.

Roadside Attraction: Blue Hen Statue - Newark, DE

Interesting Places I've Photographed

Blue Hen Statue

University of Delaware

Newark, DE

Topic: Roadside Attraction

It has not yet flown away.

GPS: N39° 41.278; W075° 45.329

Quick Description: 

The Blue Hen Statue is located near the sorority dormitories on the campus of the University of Delaware in Newark, DE.

Long Description:

The Blue Hen statue is located on Pendcader Way which is reached from New London Road. The street looked like the driveway to me but soon it becomes a campus road. Look for the Blue Hen on the right underneath an overpass.

The Fightin' Blue Hen has been the mascot of the University of Delaware since 1911. This version of the mascot was created in 1979 by Robert Peoples, Jr. with the assistance of Tom Peoples. The 13' high by by 3' wide by 9.5' long sculpture stands on a green painted 10" high by 38" diameter convex circular base which is signed and dated by the artists. The Blue Hen composed of welded steel plates which are painted blue,  except for the beak and feet which are painted yellow.

According to the Roadside America and other websites, local legend has it that if a virgin graduates from the University of Delaware, the statue will fly away.

Figurative Public Sculpture: Looking Towards The Avenue - NY, NY

Interesting Places I've Photographed

Looking Towards The Avenue

New York, NY

Topic: Figurative Public Sculpture

53rd Street and 6th Avenue

52nd Street and 6th Avenue

GPS: N40° 45.702; W073° 58.757

Quick Description: 

"Looking Towards The Avenue" is the name given to three bronze sculptures located on 6th Avenue (Avenue of the Americas) at 53nd and 52rd Streets in midtown Manhattan.

Long Description:

Figurative sculptures and prints that are suggestive of, but not copies of, the figure of Venus de Milo are one of American pop artist Jim Dine's favorite subjects. His works on this theme are widely displayed around the world. Three of these sculptures were commissioned by Tishman Speyer Trammell Crow Limited Partnership and installed in front of 1301 Sixth Avenue. The group is entitled "Looking Towards The Avenue".

These three bronze sculptures are installed on the corners of 53rd Street and 52nd Street and Sixth Avenue in Manhattan. The three are very similar in execution but vary in size. The largest is 23' high and stands on the corner of 53rd Street in the center of a square polished black granite base. Two smaller versions are displayed together on the corner of 52nd Street. They are smaller, 14' and 18' tall, and are also stand on black polished granite squares.

Each abstract figurative statue is disrobed above the waist and headless. The figures are composed of angular surfaces. The upper part is recognizable as a female torso while the parts below the waist are more impressionistic since they embedded in the bronze matrix of the work. The headless figures makes the title of the work - "Looking Towards The Avenue" - quite ironic.

NRHP: Flatiron Building, New York, NY

Interesting Places I've Photographed

Flatiron Building

New York, NY

Topic: National Register of Historic Places

GPS: N40° 41.481; W073° 59.372

Short Description:

The Flatiron Building is located Fifth Avenue, Broadway, 22nd, and 23rd Streets in  Manhattan.

Long Description:

The Flatiron Building was designed by Daniel Burnham, an exponent of the Chicago school of architecture movement. The facade of Beaux-Arts style steel-framed building is made of limestone at the base and glazed terra-cotta higher up.  The building is 21 stories high and 285' tall. It is only 6.5' wide at vertex of the triangle on the 23rd Street side. The angle at this point is about 25 degrees. Construction of the building was began in 1902 and was completed in 1903. It is considered to be the oldest remaining skyscraper in New York City. It was built as the headquarters of the Fuller Construction Company. it was and originally meant to be called the Fuller Building.  It's resemblance to an old-fashioned flatiron gave it its popular name which is now the official name and the name commonly given to all buildings having a similar triangular shape.

The building was designated a New York City landmark in 1966, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1989.