Statue of Liberty (New York City) – June 2010

 My Mum took these pictures.  As I commented previously in the Ellis Island post, you should make sure to hop one island over to visit the Statue of Liberty while you’re in the area.  This copper statue was given to the United States in 1886 from France.  It was a feat to get the construction completed, but there were a few things which were done incorrectly.  That lead to the closure of the statue in the 1980’s in order to recondition and repair it.  Afterwards it was re-opened to the public.  The original torch was replaced, and that now rests in the museum at the base.  Due to national safety concerns the statue was closed between September 2001 and May 2009, which at that point the public was now allowed to return and enjoy this monument.

Ellis Island Museum (New York City) – June 2010

 My Mum took these pictures.  For so many years, the Statue of Liberty was the first icon that most immigrants to the county saw.  While there were other points of legal entry, like Galveston for example, Ellis Island was the one which springs to mind first.  The main area which handles the largest portion of immigration has been converted into a museum which provides a lot of information about not only where these people came from, but also about who they were.  The Statue of Liberty itself is on its own island next door, and you shouldn’t visit one without seeing the other.

Fort Island Gulf Beach (Crystal River, Citrus County, FL) – June 2010

 My Mum took these pictures.  Sometimes it’s nice just to take a walk on a pretty beach.  Not much needs to be said when the pictures are so beautiful.

Fort Ticonderoga (Ticonderoga, NY) – October 2008

 My Mum took these pictures.  This isn’t that far from Lake Placid, so it’s worth the side trek over.  This was a British fort used during the American War for Independence, ironically the fort had been previously built by the French who lost it to the British in a previous campaign.  During the Revolution the Americans took it from the British, lost it to the British, and then the British abandoned it towards the end of the war.  A fore-sighted person in the early 19^th Century bought the remains (which were some ruins), and began the long restoration process so we have the fort to enjoy now.