Neodymium Reeds

Missouri Botanical Garden

I do not know what Neodymium Reeds are but they make an interesting subject for a Chihuly display. This display was created by Dale Chihuly for the Missouri Botanical Garden. Chihuly says that his art is blown glass, “moving it into the realm of large-scale sculpture.” These displays are spread around the Garden making it interesting to explore the area and find his diplays tucked away in the woods or floating on boat in lakes and reflecting pools.

Click pon the photo for more infomration or see all of this series here: https://greatrivers.smugmug.com/Galleries/Botanical-Garden

Niijima Foats with Float Boat

Missouri Botanical Garden

Chihuly in the Garden is the latest of our Missouri Botanical Garden’s events. I took advantage of an unpublicized “photographer’s night” and was able to wander around the grounds to see the displays both in daylight and after dark. This is one of the displays in the Climatron. I have processed most of my photos and they can be seen here: https://greatrivers.smugmug.com/Galleries/Botanical-Garden

Old and new

Scott 2023 Air Show

North American P-51 Mustang flying with Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor. The Mustang was introduced in 1941 and has a top speed of 441 mph. The Raptor was introduced in 2005 and has a top speed of 1,500 mph (well, maybe). The extreme maneuverability of the Raptor is demonstrated here, where it is easily flying in tandem with the much slower Mustang.
This photo was taken at the Scott AFB air show last weekend. This is a great event held from time to time on the base.

Click on the photo fro more information. Click here to see complete set of photos.

Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor

Scott 2023 Air Show

From time to time nearby Scott Airforce Base hosts a fantastic air show showcasing aircraft from early bi-planes to the latest technology fughters. Here, the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor is an American single-seat, twin-engine, all-weather tactical stealth fighter aircraft developed for the United States Air Force. 

Missouri River

Three Creek Bassets

View of the Missouri River from above bluffs. The Missouri River is the longest river in the United States. Rising in the Rocky Mountains of the Eastern Centennial Mountains of Southwestern Montana, the Missouri flows east and south for 2,341 miles before entering the Mississippi River north of St. Louis, Missouri.

Canyons

Chicago

The Chicago River has endless opportunities for interesting photographs. You can scroll down and see a few taken from a higher level. Walking the streets around the river, I found that the bridges are places for getting a great perspective of the area.
This photo was taken from the Michigan Avenue bridge looking through a canyon of buildings. The sun setting behind Trump International Hotel & Tower while lighting the row of buildings on the left side of the river. The river disappears under a draw bridge but you can see its path by the buildings that line it.
Click on the photo for a larger version. It is best to see on a large screen.

Dorris St. Louis

This is the 1904 “St. Louis” model of the Dorris automobile manufactured by the Saint Louis Motor Carriage Company. The automobile has a wooden body with brass fittings and black leather upholstery and is painted blue. St. Louis was a center of the early American automobile-making industry between 1900 and 1930. The “St. Louis” model symbolizes the economic changes of this period and dramatizes the little known fact that indeed St. Louis played a major role in car manufacturing in the United States.

The “St. Louis” model was the first successful single-cylinder car ever made. It had a gasoline engine, clutch and transmission built as a single unit, the first American car to feature this innovation. The “St. Louis” model was sold to the St. Louis Police Department in time for the 1904 World’s Fair and was one of the world’s first police cars. It became the nucleus of the “Scorching Squad”-St. Louis’s first motorized police traffic unit. In 1900, the “St. Louis” was the first automobile driven from St. Louis to Chicago. John French drove the car 450 miles in 36 hours.

Windy City

Chicago

Walking out onto the Navy Pier is a good place to see Chicago’s skyline. In addition it offers visitors a diverse and eclectic variety of things to do throughout it’s facilities. From recreation to relaxation, entertainment to education, everything at Navy Pier celebrates a storied first century and invites guests to join in on the excitement of our second. In addition, you get to enjoy Lake Michigan and the tour boats takeing visitors sightseeing.

Chicago earned the name “Windy City” for a reason and on the cold day I took this photo it earned it’s name. Being out on the pier in the cold wind was a challenge. I could not wait to get back closer to the buildings . Once back closer to shore we worked our way back to the Chicago River where things were a little more pleasent and then back to the hotel.

Sunrise on the Chicago River

Chicago

View of the Chicago River at sunrise. To the left is the Chicago Tribune Building with the colorful lights on top and to the right of the river is the new St. Regis hotel. At 101 stories, the Super Skyscraper is the third tallest in Chicago. In the early morning you can watch the dark buildings lightup floor by floor.

In the background is Lake Michigan and unseen is the Navy Pier. Even on cold days, the sightseeing boats cruise the river and the Riverwalk is always busy.

The Chicago River is a system of rivers and canals with a combined length of 156 miles that runs through the city of Chicago, including its center (the Chicago Loop). Though not especially long, the river is notable because it is one of the reasons for Chicago’s geographic importance: the related Chicago Portage is a link between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River Basin, and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico.

Click on the photo to enlarge.

Centennial Wheel

Chicago

Winter days still draw people to Chicago’s Navy Pier.

Completed in 1916, Navy Pier is one of Chicago’s top attractions. Stretching into Lake Michigan, this year-round destination truly comes to life in the summer, with fireworks displays, live music, theatre, and cruises setting sail daily. Come fall and winter, Navy Pier is still hopping, with special events, sights, and activities that span all ages and interests. Here’s just a glimpse of the fun to be had at Navy Pier.

Navy Pier’s Centennial Wheel is an iconic part of the Chicago skyline and a treasured piece of Chicago cultural history. Soaring to heights of nearly 200 feet, the Wheel offers visitors unparalleled, 360-degree views of Chicago and Lake Michigan. No matter the season, the enClosed gondolas provide a comfortable experience and miraculous city views.

Click on the photo for more information.

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