A Century of Change Compressed into a few days
Our recent trip to West Virginia and Pittsburgh, PA was a voyage in time as well as a cursory view of the scenic attractions. We started at the Canyon Rim Visitor Center at the overlook of the US Hwy 19 bridge across the New River Gorge National River Park in West Virginia. The bridge over the New River Gorge was built 30+ years ago and spans almost 900 feet above the river. It is closed each year for an annual festival that draws thousands to the area.
The center shows a short film and has displays tracing the history of 19th Century coal mining operations and towns along the New River. Coal at that time was the primary source of heating fuel and industrial energy. Coke was shipped by rail to Pittsburgh to help make steel, and coal was shipped down river to eventually wind up in New Orleans for shipment abroad.
New River Gorge Bridge in West Virginia is 900 ft. above the river. © John Suddath
Chicago skyline reveals the many high-rise buildings on the waterfront © John Suddath
Chicago is like Disney World on steroids. Instead of mid-size replicas of different styles of architecture, you find the real thing --- only super size. While most American cities would consider a 50-story building probably one of the tallest in the city, that’s just mid-range in Chicago. They’ve already got a couple around 100 stories and new ones under construction heading for 150 stories.
The city that some call the home of the skyscraper lives up to its name with buildings of dizzying heights on nearly every corner inside the Loop. Some of the early buildings of 8 – 12 stories from a hundred years ago are still around and are interesting for their architectural features as well as their historical value.
The Chicago Architecture Foundation offers tours by boat, bus, or by walking. They offer four walking tours with an audio guide, and four with a guide in person. The four bus tours focus on different neighborhoods. I chose the 90-minute river cruise that circles the Chicago River and the Loop. I lucked out with a beautiful, windless, sunny afternoon to catch the glint of the windows of the towering buildings that reflected a multitude of colors that bounced against each other. The guide was incredible in his knowledge and the clarity of his diction so that I could actually understand what he was saying.