SS UNITED STATES

SS United States is a retired ocean liner built in 1950-51 for the United States Line at a cost of $79.4 million. SS United States is the largest ocean liner constructed entirely in the United States and the fastest ocean liner to cross the Atlantic in either direction. On her maiden voyage, July 3-7, 1952, United States broke the eastbound transatlantic speed record (held by the RMS Queen Mary for the previous 14 years) by more than 10 hours, making the maiden crossing from the Ambrose lightship at New York Harbor to Bishop rock off Cornwall, UK in 3 days, 10 hours, 40 minutes at an average speed of 35.69 knots (40.96 mph). On her return voyage United States also broke the westbound transatlantic speed record, also held by RMS Queen Mary, by returning the America in 3 days 12 hours and 12 minutes at an average speed of 34.51 knots (39.71 mph). SS United States is currently moored at Pier 82 on the Delaware River in Philadelphia. Preservation groups have been raising funds to save the ship, but its fate remains uncertain.

SS UNITED STATES, PIER 82, COLUMBUS BOULEVARD, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
By Brian W. Schaller - Own work, FAL, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=61238420

ZOLLVEREIN COAL MINE – MOST BEAUTIFUL COAL MINE IN THE WORLD

The Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex is a large former industrial site in the city of Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It has been inscribed into the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites since December 14, 2001, and is one of the anchor points of the European Route of Industrial Heritage. The first coal mine on the premises was founded in 1847, and mining activities took place from 1851 until December 23, 1986. Shaft XII, built in the New Objectivity style, was opened in 1932 and is considered an architectural and technical masterpiece, earning a reputation as the “most beautiful coal mine in the world”. The Zollverein Coking Plant, built between 1957 and 1961 in the same architectural style as Shaft XII, went into operation on September 12, 1961, and enabled the complex to achieve superlative production capacities. Following expansion in the 1970s, 10,000 tons of coal were “baked” into 8,600 tons of coke on the “black side” in 304 ovens at 1,250 degrees Celsius every day. In peak periods, the coking plant employed 1,000 people. Today, the industrial monument is a dynamic cultural location with museums dedicated to industrial heritage and design as well as numerous leisure activities and events. About 1.5 million worldwide guests visit the site every year to experience the exceptional industrial architecture.

SHAFT XII ZOLVEREIN COAL MINE

THE HASKELL FREE LIBRARY AND OPERA HOUSE

The Haskell Free Library and Opera House is a neoclassical building that straddles the international border in Stanstead, Quebec and Derby Line, Vermont. The Haskell Free Library and Opera House was a gift from Mrs. Martha Stewart Haskell and her son Col. Horace "Stewart" Haskell. It was built in memory of her parents Catherine and Horace Stewart and her husband Carlos Freeman Haskell. The Haskell’s wanted Canadians and Americans to have equal access to the Library and Opera House so they chose to build on the border. Construction began in 1901 and the Opera House opened in 1904 and the Library in 1905. The library has two different addresses; 93 Caswell Avenue, Derby Line, Vermont, and 1 rue Church (Church Street), Stanstead, Quebec. ·         A thick black line runs beneath the seats of the opera house and diagonally across the center of the library’s reading room to mark the Canada-U.S. border. ·         The library collection, and the opera stage are both located in Stanstead, but the main entrance and most opera seats are located in Derby Line. Because of this, The Haskell is sometimes called “the only library in the U.S. with no books” and “the only opera house in the U.S. with no stage”. ·         There is no entrance from Canada, however, three is an emergency exit on the Canadian side of the building. ·         All patrons and visitors must use the U.S. entrance to access the building. ·         Patrons from Canada are permitted to enter the U.S. door without needing to report to customs, providing they return to Canada immediately upon leaving the building.

The Haskell Free Library and Opera House

8 OLDEST PRISONS IN THE U.S.

RANK	PRISON	YEAR OPENED	CURRENT STATUS
8	West Virginia State Penitentiary	1876	Closed – currently used as tourist attraction and law enforcement training facility.
7	Joliet Correctional Center	1858	Closed – now open for tours
6	San Quentin State Prison	1852	Operational – home to largest death row in the country
5	Missouri State Penitentiary	1836	Closed – now a museum
4	Eastern State Penitentiary	1829	Closed – now a museum and is on the National Register of Historic Places
3	Sing Sing Correctional Facility	1828	Operational – dubbed the “Death House” because of the 614 electric chair executions that took place between 1891 and 1963.
2	Auburn Correctional Facility	1817	Operational – first prison to put inmates in individual cells
1	New Jersey State Prison	1798	Operational – oldest prison still standing

Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia, PA

FIRST GAS STATION

On Saturday, December 1, 1913, what is today the Gulf Oil Company opened the nation’s first drive-in gas station. Located at the intersection of Baum Boulevard and St. Clair Street in Pittsburgh, the filling station was a simple but pleasing structure, with a cantilevered pagoda-style roof to shelter the pumps, cars and station attendants. Supporting the roof was a storage room and a restroom for staff only. Before this innovation, gasoline was dispensed from sometimes awkwardly located pumps at such places as grocery and hardware stores, and even some pharmacies.

In the ensuing 105 years, some of this earlier practice has come full circle. Nationwide, there are around 111,000 gas stations today. The vast majority — nearly 97,000 — are combined with convenience or food mart stores.

https://www.census.gov/library/audio/profile-america/profileeven/profile-even-01.html