Oct. 3, 2016: Former school building, now a chapel in Shaniko, Oregon.

In 1900, the railroad arrived and Shaniko quickly becoming the “Wool Capital of the World," as Oregon ranchers could quickly ship their products to Portland. Population soared to 500 in 1910. But in 1911, another railroad line through Bend, Oregon, by-passed Shaniko allowing wool and other farm products a better transportation route. Shaniko starting a slow decline.

In 1942 the railroad has pulled out. Today it’s nearly a ghost town with about 30 residents.  

A healthy preservation program has kept many Shaniko buildings is good condition. Summer brings plenty of tourists. A festival - Shaniko Days - is held the first weekend in August.

The center of town is dominated by the two story Skaniko Hotel and Cafe. But the building is closed - a developer pulled out over ten years ago. But there are plenty of gift shops, small museums and old cars to check out.

My planned two hour stop became and entire afternoon. I've posted about 60 images are in this flick album: 2016 Shaniko, Oregon.

Oct. 3, 2016: Stonehenge replica at Maryhill, Washington taken with iPhone hipstamatic app.

On a bluff overlooking the Columbia River sits a full size replica of Stonehenge. Built by Maryhill, Washington, founder Sam Hill, the replica is a monument to local residents killed in World War One.

Hill's Stonehenge is his version of the original built by the Druids, but instead of large stones, he used modern concrete blocks.

A good history is provided by a plaque at the site:

The structure before you is the first monument in our nation to military personnel who gave their lives in World War 1. Mentioning 13 young Klickitat County men, it also serves as lasting reminder of the works of Samuel Hill, patron of this region. He established a townsite here, with postoffice, hotel, general store and nearly 10 miles of experimental paved roads, and the Maryhill Museum three miles to the west – all on his own land. His tomb is 50 yards distant, on the opposite side of this monument.

The design duplicates in size and original from England’s famous Stonehenge (dated 1900-1350 B.C.) on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire. When Hill, a Quaker pacifist, visited England during the 1914-18 conflict, saw Stonehenge and was told it had been used for human sacrifices to pagan gods he remarked: “After all our civilization, the flower of humanity still is being sacrificed to the god of war on fields of battle.” From that inspiration came this monument, built by Hill. On July 4, 1918 the altar stone was dedicated. The full structure was completed and dedicated May 30, 1929.

Today the sacrifice legend is generally discredited. Current belief is that Stonehenge was a device used by stone-age astronomers to measure time and mark seasons of the year by observing positions of the sun and moon. …

I've posted over 30 images in this flickr album: 2016 Stonehenge replica.

Then there's Carhenge in Alliance, Nebraska: 2013 Carhenge

Sep. 29, 2016: Carved head of calf for the Historic Carousel and Museum project in downtown Albany, Oregon.

During my recent drive to Oregon, I visited to the workshops of the Historic Carousel and Museum project in downtown Albany, Oregon. This is a community project to build a new-old fashion musical carousel. Each carousel horse is being hand carved by volunteers.

Work has been proceeding slowly since 2005, but the finish is now in sight. The final Historic Carousel and Museum is under construction When I visited the steel framing was being assembled.

The Historic Carousel and Museum website reports that over 152,000 hours of work have already gone into making the custom carousel horses.

During my visit, Harry Lagerstedt, 91, (below) was working on a carousel horse named "Buck.: He's dedicated The 4th of July Holiday horse  to his wife Carol who passed away six years ago.

I posted 15 additional photos in this flickr album: 2016 Historic Carousel

Full size model of a Pteranodon - one of the largest flying animals of all time with a wing span of over 20 feet.

Prehistoric Gardens, near Port Orford, Oregon, is located in a coastal rain forest - the perfect location for a dinosaur display.

Ernie 'E.V.' Nelson, loved dinosaurs and in 1953 started building full size replicas. In January, 1955, he opened Prehistoric Gardens. Eventually 23 full size dinosaurs roamed his property.

Nelson passed away in 1991 and the park is now run by his grandchildren. Unlike other roadside attractions along the 101, this park is well maintained and shows few signs of its age.

Flickr gallery: 2016 Prehistoric Gardens