Exploring America State by State

CLICK HERE To Follow Lost In The States on Facebook

Where My Journey Started

My Latest Book

The Locks in Ohio

Near Piqua, Ohio is the small town of Lockington. Here you will find a series of stone structures that look like medieval walls. The name of the town gives a hint as to what they were used for. The Miami and Erie Canal went from Lake Erie in Toledo to the Ohio River near Cincinnati.

Read More…

The Cornell Stacker

Driving into Cornell, Wisconsin I noticed a large metal framework protruding above the treetops. At first I thought it was a crane for bridge repair, but as I drove into town, I saw that it was something completely different. Standing in Mill Yard Park, the massive metal frame was a stacker used for stacking pulpwood

Read More…

The Graue Mill

Located in Oak Brook, Illinois, east of Chicago, stands a historic water mill, one of only two still operating in the Land of Lincoln. This remarkable structure is a testament to the ingenuity and perseverance of the Graue family. Friedrich Graue, an immigrant from Germany, arrived in the United States in the late 1840s. He

Read More…

The Strange Story of Wellington Burt’s Fortune

In the back of Saginaw, Michigan’s Forest Lawn Cemetary, is a massive stone mausoleum where lumber baron and railroad tycoon Wellington R. Burt is entombed.  At the time of his death in 1919, he was the 8th wealthiest person in America and the second richest person in Michigan with Henry Ford holding that title.  He

Read More…

The One Day President

Standing outside the Clinton County Courthouse in Plattsburg, Missouri is a statue of David Rice Atchison. He served as a senetor for Missouri and under the statue is a plaque declaring him as “President for one day” In 1849, Inauguration Day, which was March 4, coincided with a Sunday, leading to president-elect Zachary Taylor postponing

Read More…

The First Concrete Street

In Bellefontaine, Ohio, an archway beside the courthouse proclaims Court Avenue as the oldest concrete street in America. Below this declaration stands a statue honoring George Bartholomew, the visionary who first proposed paving the street with concrete in 1891. Bartholomew, undeterred by skepticism, convinced the Bellefontaine City Council to allow a small test patch of

Read More…

The Thurmond Depot

The Thurmond Train Depot stands as a testament to the vital role railroads played in shaping West Virginia’s history. Located in the heart of the New River Gorge, this historic structure served as a bustling hub for both passengers and freight during the coal mining boom of the early 20th century. The depot itself, a

Read More…

The Wisconsin Contraption

The northern Wisconsin town of Wabeno sits near the center of Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. The logging museum is in downtown, and next to it is a large contraption in a pavilion surrounded by fencing to protect it. The massive machine looks like a cross between a locomotive, snowmobile and a bulldozer. It looks lie something

Read More…

The Allyn Mansion

Built in 1885 for the wealthy Allyn family, the Delavan mansion served as their primary residence, surpassing even their lavish lakefront homes and winter retreat in Los Angeles. Mr. Allyn tragically passed away within its walls in 1913, leaving the estate to his wife. Upon her death in 1939, the mansion was bequeathed to her

Read More…

The Bates-Geers House

Located near Plato, Missouri, the Bates-Geers House is a dedaying symbol of the area’s vibrant history. Built in 1840, this two-story Greek Revival-style residence offers an intriguing look into the lives of early settlers and the development of the region. Around 1850, James Addison Bates constructed this impressive two-story home using planks from his water-powered

Read More…