Sarah and Polar visit the Hundley House

The Hundley House has long been rumored to be haunted. In the 1920's the Hundley family was slain in their home by an unknown assailant. Since then people have claimed that strange occurrences such as showers turning on by themselvevs and hearing faint footsteps and gunshots in the house. A TV show about Ghost Hunting and the paranormal even came to Carbondale recently to check for signs of paranormal activity in the Hundley House.

The Hundley House is 1.8  miles from Wham.

Emilie & Polar travel to The Little Grand Canyon!

On Sunday, May 6th Polar and I traveled to the Little Grand Canyon!  If you have not been here I strongly suggest you take a day to explore the wonderful scenery that we have here in the small town of Murphysboro, IL.  The length of the canyon is about 3.6 miles.  The latitude is: 37.6714057969 degrees and the longitude is: -89.408261776 degrees.  The canyon is filled with beautiful scenery and a panoramic view of the Big Muddy River and the  Mississippi River!

Ryan and Molly head to Murphysboro!

Hello! Molly and I went to Jackson County Courthouse which is located in Murphysboro, IL.  The coordinates of the court house are 37.45854, 89.20094.  It was about a 16 mile round trip drive.  I chose this location because this courthouse is a big landmark in Jackson County.  You see a concrete courthouse today because the wood-framed courthouse was damaged during the Tri-State Tornado which struck Murphysboro on March 18, 1925.  I swear I've never been to the Jackson Country Courthouse for any legal problems.

Sam and Molly visit Stonefort

Molly and I drove out to Giant City State Park to do a little hiking. This picture is of me and Molly standing next to a stone wall made by prehistoric Native Americans which is named Stonefort. Seeing traces of another culture that lived hundreds of years ago was very exciting for us and the trail was beautiful. The state park is roughly 12 miles away from Carbondale and well worth the drive. If you haven't been yet, it's a must see for Salukis. Remember, take only a memory and leave only a footprint. Happy hiking!
Coordinates: 39 36 25N, 89 11 22W

Robin and Polar head to the debate

Polar and I traveled to the 3rd Lincoln Douglas Debate in Jonesboro, Illinois. On September 15, 1858 Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas fought over a seat in the senate.  Lincoln lost the debate to Douglas.  We traveled 73.4 miles by car on March 23, 2012.  The Latitude and Longitude for this site is 37.448593/-8.281029.  The close has now traveled a total of about 6563.28 miles!

Keila and Polar go hiking!

Hello everyone! Polar and I went to the Giant City State Park Lodge. The coordinates for this area are Latitude, 37.59785, Longitude:-89.19635 It was roughly 26 miles to get there and back! That makes Polar's total miles traveled roughly 6489.88 miles!
I chose this location because I have lived in Carbondale for four years and gone hiking at Giant City several times.  However, I had never gone into the lodge.  I found it extremely interesting that the CCC had actually built the lodge and the cabins during the Great Depression. Thus, I felt it was great place to explore.

Polar and Tayler visit Washington County Lake.

Polar and I took a trip to Washington County Lake near Nashville, Illinois.  The roundtrip was 100 miles traveled.  I chose this location because it is very important to my hometown of Nashville.  The lake provides fishing for those visiting the lake, and hosts many fishing derby's.  There are also camping sites and trails for people to enjoy.  Many local schools take field trips to Washington County Lake and get informational tours.  The scenery is beautiful and I encourage you all to visit the Washington County Lake if you are in the area!

   Hey Everyone!  Molly and I traveled to Benton, IL on Interstate 57.  The coordinates for the location of the picture are 37.996907,-88.93434.  From Wham, this is 35 miles exactly.  Molly's total miles for this mission add up to 70.  Her total miles for this semester are 4,660.42! 
   Benton, IL is the county seat of Franklin County.  It it home to the Franklin County Court House on the Public Square which was built in 1874 for $27,500.  It is also home to a jail museum where the last public hanging occurred in Illinois.  The IL gangster, Charles Birger was executed there on December 12, 1926 for murdering the mayor of West City, a nearby town.  The town of Benton was named after a Missouri Senator named Thomas Hart Benton and formed in 1841.  The village consisted of 20 acres that was donated by John Ewing and Walter S. Akin.  Two small farming towns nearby, called Ewing and Akin, were named after these two men.  Benton grew because of its high-sulfur coal, rich soil, and multiple local railroads. 
   Interstate 57 was built from Chicago to Cairo and dedicated in September, 1961.  It has been known to have beautiful scenery surrounding, and brings business to many small towns along the road from travelers going to and from Chicago.
-Samantha Hagerman

Polar with a past Klan member. lol

Hey everyone, this is Blake. Polar and I decided to take a 33.5 mile trip from Carbondale, IL to Herrin City Cemetery and visit with some strange, but yet historical, characters of Williamson County history. S. Glenn Young was the former leader of the Williamson County Ku Klux Klan chapter stationed in Herrin, IL. During the time of prohibition, law enforcement officers were taken from their positions and replaced with non-curropted klan members to hold the law on bootlegging. S. Glenn Young was one of the leaders of the law enforcement teams. He was shot and killed by a bootlegger in a cigar shop in downtown Herrin. His tomb is located in Herrin City Cemetery. The interesting thing about the tomb is, its completely white and is showered in bullet holes all over. Apparently people didn't like Young so much so the drove by the cemetery, since his tomb is right near the main road and shot at how grave. Every year, present Klan members are allowed to come back to Young's grave a re-paint the white finish on his tomb....crazy people!

Suzanne and Molly go to Jonesboro, Illinois

On March 5, 2012, Molly and I traveled to Jonesboro, Illinois. We stopped at the site of the 3rd Lincoln Douglas Debate. On September 15, 1858 Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas came to the Jonesboro fair-grounds to fight over the a seat in the senate. There was a total of seven debates and Jonesboro was their third stop on their debate tour. Lincoln lost the debate to Douglas but gained popularity which helped him win the presidential election in 1860.

Molly and I traveled a total of 43.09 miles. This brings Molly's total miles of travel to 4,590.42!

Molly and Katie Go to Fort De Chartres

I took Molly to Fort de Charters in Prairie du Rocher, IL.

Fort de Chartres is the last of three eighteenth-century forts by that name erected near the Mississippi River by France's colonial government. From 1720 to 1763 French administration of the Illinois Country was centered at the forts, built successively over a 40-year period on or near the same site. The stone fort, built in the 1750s and abandoned in 1771, has been partially reconstructed to provide a glimpse of life in Illinois under the French regime.  Fort de Chartres State Historic Site, which also preserves the archaeological remains of the earlier wooden forts, is managed by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

http://www.ftdechartres.com/page/page/1396753.htm

The total distance that Molly and I traveled was 122 miles. This brings our class total to 4,547.33miles.

Molly and Polar Go to WF!

I took Polar to "Heights Hill" in West Frankfort, IL,  to visit the Frankfort Area Historical Museum.  This museum is formerly the Logan Grade School.  It is a non-profit organization that has a tea room, gift shop, and custom quilting whose profits go directly toward the operation of the museum.  The museum is located on the Shawnee Trail and has a period room that replicates a home at the turn of the century, as well as a one room school room that would be a great visit for students. The second floor has a mural that covers 3 walls that tells the story of the early history of Frankfort. Polar and I traveled 60 miles on our journey bringing the total to 6,390.38.
Historical Museum Website-http://www.usgennet.org/usa/il/county/franklin/frankfortarea.html.

Polar & Alexandra Go to Marion Tower Square

Polar and I traveled to the Marion Tower Square to visit the deceased Veterans memorial in Marion, Illinois. The stone is dedicated to all the deceased veterans of all the wars of the United States of America. It stands on east side of the square and was dedicated in 1960. The total distance traveled was 50.0 miles. That means that Polar has traveled 6,330.38 miles!

Polar & Kaitlyn Travel to Tippecanoe Battlefield

Titanic and I first traveled to my home Crete, IL (a suburb of Chicago) then we made a trip to West Layfette Indiana for the day. West Layfette just happens to be near the Tippecanoe Battlefield Memorial located in Battle Ground, Indiana. The memorial park is a National Historic Landmark. On November 11, 1811 Gen. William Henry Harrison led his troops into battle against representatives of Tecumseh's Native American confederation. Tecumseh and his brother Tenskwatawa were leaders of a confederacy of Native Americans from various tribes that opposed U.S. expansion into Native territory. As tensions and violence increased, Governor Harrison marched with an army of about 1,000 men to disperse the confederacy's headquarters at Prophetstown, near the confluence of the Tippecanoe and Wabash Rivers. Harrison camped near Prophetstown on November 6 and arranged to meet with Tenskwatawa the following day. Early the next morning, warriors from Prophetstown attacked Harrison's army. Although the outnumbered attackers took Harrison's army by surprise, Harrison and his men stood their ground for more than two hours. The Natives were ultimately repulsed when their ammunition ran low. After the battle, the Natives abandoned Prophetstown. Harrison's men burned the town and returned home. Unfortunately, Titanic and I were alone so I was not able to get a picture of us together at this historic site. The total miles traveled was 806.66, which means Polar has traveled a total of 6,280.38 miles!! WOW!

Andrea and Molly Brown Go See Boomer!!!

Molly and I went to visit the plaque that remembers Boomer the dog in Makanda, Illinois. The total distance traveled was 20.18 miles.

The plaque on the monument reads: "In memory of Boomer the hound dog. Tradition says he dashed his life out against the iron abutment of the railroad bridge 300 feet south of this point on September 2, 1859, while running along on three legs trying to put out the flame in a hotbox on the speeding train of his beloved fireman-master." Legend was that Boomer could outrun trains, and the railroad didn't like it.
Story taken from: http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2988

Molly Brown goes to Burden Falls

Molly Brown came to visit my family and me on April 10, 2012. She wanted to know what there was to do in rural Southern Illinois, so we went hiking at Burden Falls. We drove to the small parking area and then hiked approximately 6 miles (3 in and 3 out). It had not rained recently, so there was only a small amount of water in the falls. Molly wanted her picture taken to remember this trip, so she and I took one in front of the Burden Falls sign. After the long hike, Molly was tired and sat on my shoulder closest to the sign.

Burden Falls is located in the Shawnee National Forest near Eddyville, IL. There was very little glacial erosion which caused the steep slopes and ledges. The waterfall is more than 100 feet high, one of the highest waterfalls in Illinois. The wilderness area was designated in 1990 under the Illinois Wilderness Act and covers over 3,600 acres. The best time to view the falls is the spring and fall, especially after a rain. Burden Falls is one of the many hiking and nature attractions in the Shawnee National Forest. Even though there was only a small waterfall, we had a great time looking at other beautiful things in the forest!!

Molly and I traveled 110.2 miles in the car and 6 miles on foot, so our round-trip was 116.2 miles. Since her trip with Tessa, Taylor, Katie, and Andrea; Molly has traveled a total of 4404.48 miles!!

Polar and Christy go to the Saline Creek Pioneer Village

Polar, my husband, youngest daughter, and I enjoyed our visit to the Saline Creek Pioneer Village. It is less than a mile from our house so we rode our bikes to the site. It was a beautiful day and Polar enjoyed the outdoors. The village represents a pioneer settlement of the era 1800 to around 1840. It contains a Blockhouse, a saddle bag cabin, a barn with a threashing floor (one of the few remaining in the United States), a post office, a school, a Quaker Church, a jail, and a regular cabin. The Poor House (brick house in the picture), is the effort of the culture of that era to take care of the poor. As early as 1819, the Illinois General Assembly enacted a Pauper Bill requiring County Commissioners to appoint overseers of the poor for each township. This house was built in 1877 with an addition in 1904. It is only 78.46 miles round trip from SIUC. The address is 1600 South Feazel Street Harrisburg, Illinois. Polar has traveled a total of 5473.72 miles so far! Wow Polar, you have had an amazing trip so far! Can't wait to see where else you end up!

Polar and Katie Travel to Marion, IL

On March 26, 2010, Polar and I traveled to Marion, IL to visit the Williamson County Train Station. It is currently closed and open for tourism. The railroad company will open during Christmas to offer rides up to the "North Pole" to visit Santa! I had the priveledge of going up to see him this Christmas! While the train station has been closed for years now, the crossing tracks at the railroad station are still very much active. Although in 1986, travel changed quite a bit. On the afternoon of September 8, 1986, the #17 train in Marion, IL was out switching coal hoppers when the dry-pipe inside the boiler suddenly collapsed and indefinitely put the engine out of service. The CO&E Railroad's fame of pulling common carrier freight trains, including intermodal piggyback cars, with a steam locomotive finally came to an abrupt end due to this incident. The incident also marked the end for American-wide railroading in general. As it was, the railroad had been preparing for the post-steam era. The arrival of the diesels was evidence to this. Although the railroad station is inactive, it holds quite a lot of history of travel in the area. Polar and I traveled 36 miles total...that means that Polar has traveled a total of 5431.26 miles!

Polar Bear and Sam travel to Anna, IL

Polar and I traveled to Anna, IL on March 23rd, 2012. It was a beautiful sunny day, so Polar and I decided to check out 511 South Main Street where Abraham Lincoln stayed during the debate of 1855. It is a beautiful 3000 sqft home that is currently up for sale. How cool would it be to live in a home where our 16th president stayed at? Our total, round-trip miles were a total of 40.6 and it took approximately 27 minutes to reach our destination. All together Polar has traveled 5395.26 miles! Wow, polar must be exhausted by now. Blog created by Samantha Lamb

Molly Brown Travels to New Orleans- Tessa Richardson

Molly Brown loved New Orleans so much when she went with Erin in February, that she traveled there again with me from March 14 through the 18th! Molly and I spent Spring Break, St. Patrick's day, and my birthday in New Orleans. We traveled all around the city!! Her favorite historical spot was in front of the Andrew Jackson statue. The statue is located in Jackson Square, which marks the place of the original settlement of New Orleans, known at the time as Place d'Armes.

From 1762-1803, New Orleans was ceded to Spain in the Treaty of Paris and served as the Capital of the French Province in Louisiana. After being returned to French control in 1801, the city was part of land that was sold to the United States in the Louisiana purchase in 1803. After the battle of New Orleans, the final battle of the War of 1812, the plaza was renamed in honor of General Andrew Jackson, who would go on to be the 7th president of the United States.

Today Jackson Square is a park and the center of the French Quarter. Many artist, musicians, and entertainers surround this area entertaining the mass amounts of tourists there. We had a blast!!

Me and Molly traveled a total of 1216 miles to New Orleans and back!! That means Molly has traveled a total of 4260.6 miles!!!

Polar travels to the Astronaut Hall of Fame

On March 12, 2012, Polar and I visited the Astronaut Hall of Fame. The Astronaut Hall of Fame is located next to the Kennedy Space Center near Orsino, Florida. Polar was able to travel from Daytona, Florida to Orsino by motorcycle. He told me later that he loved the feeling of the wind in his hair. The Astronaut Hall of Fame is home to a rare collection of astronaut artifacts, as well as many displays dedicated to the heros of space exploration. Polar and I traveled a total of 1,902.03 miles. This means that Polar has now traveled a total of 5,354.66 miles!! (Polar is located in the helmet of the astronaut statue)

Polar enjoyed a day with some great new potato friends.

Polar travels to Garden of the Gods-Denver

On February 29, 2012, Polar and I took a trip to Garden of the Gods. Garden of the Gods is located in Herod, Illinois and is part of the Shawnee National Forest. We traveled a total of 124.2 miles round trip. This means that Polar has traveled a total of 3,452.58 miles. More than 320 million years ago, the wind and rain patiently started to chisel away at large deposits of sedimentary rock located in what is now, Shawnee National Forest. Over the years, the elements have sculpted some of the most stunning and extraordinary rock formations known to man. This garden of sandstone sculptures and vast untouched wilderness was fittingly named Garden of the Gods. I have always lived very close to Garden of the Gods and try to visit every fall. If one has never visited Garden of the Gods, it is a site that one must see. There are information posts at different sites that teach about the history of Garden of the Gods. When visiting Garden of the Gods, one can view the beautiful sites and learn about the history and formation of Southern Illinois. I am so fortunate to live so close to this natural beauty.

Molly Brown Travels to Jackson County Court House- Maura Gill

On February 28th, 2012, Molly Brown and I traveled 14.6 miles round trip to and from Murphysboro, IL . Where we walked the historical steps of Jackson County Courthouse, which has been around since, February 27th, 1843. The Jackson County Courthouse is named after the seventh president of the United States. The county was officially created on January 10th, 1816. This county is full of historical and interesting facts relating to Illinois. As of February 28th, 2012, Molly Brown has traveled a total of 3044.6 miles.

Hi, I'm Allie! I traveled with Polar to Greenville, IL today. We made a visit to a very important rock, where Abraham Lincoln visited during his campaigning for Presidency in 1858. This is an important place, but not many people know about it because the rock sets in a residential rock garden. Polar and I visited the rock because we know how important Abraham Lincoln is to our very own Illinois history! Our round trip mileage was 210 miles. This means that Polar has traveled 3,328.38 miles!!!! Happy travels Polar ;)

Molly Brown Travels to Creal Springs - Vernon

On February 26, 2012, Molly Brown and I traveled a remote village far, far, away- scratch that. Molly Brown and I traveled to Creal Springs, Il. Historically, Creal Springs was known for its natural springs which were said to have healing properties. The water from these springs was dubbed "Wonder Water." At one time, Creal Springs boasted a bathhouse (which was the location of one of the larger springs) three hotels, a train station, and even a college. Today, Creal Springs is only a mere shadow of its former self. The town has a public park, a few businesses, and this memorial "Dedicated to all who served and in the memory of those who made the supreme sacrifice." From Wham to Creal Springs and back totaled 58 miles, bringing the grand total of Molly's travels to.... (drum roll)..... a whopping 3,030 miles as of February 26, 2012. May the journey continue...

Polar travels to Giant City State Park-Laura McBride

On February 21, 2012, Polar and I took a trip to Giant City State Park. It was a beautiful day to spend outside. We enjoyed a nice, peaceful, and scenic hike. The trail we hiked was where the Native Americans built the historic Stonefort in 600-900 AD. Although the use for the fort is debated upon, it still remains today. We traveled from northern Carbondale, Illinois to Makanda, Illinois with a total of 28.38 miles round trip. This means Polar has traveled a total of 3118.38 miles!

Molly Brown travels to New Orleans - Erin Goetzelmann

From February 17th through the 19th, Molly Brown traveled with me to New Orleans! Molly Brown and I spent the weekend exploring the festive city and posed in front of Bourbon Street which is New Orleans' most well-known street by visitors and locals. This historic street spans the length of the French Quarter, and during this particular weekend it is at it's peek for tourists because of Mardi Gras. The total miles we covered round trip totaled to 1216 miles (over 20 hours!). This brings Molly's total travel distance to 2,072 miles.

Polar goes to the Hoover Dam

On February 13, 2012 I took Polar to the Hoover Dam which borders Nevada and Arizona. We had a great time and took the scenic tour through the power plant and dam its self. In order for us to reach our destination we had to make many stops including Equality, IL, St Louis, MO, Denver, CO, and Las Vegas, NV. It was a beautiful trip, and seemed as if the Hoover Dam was a painting instead of reality. There were two amazing parts to this trip, one was that we traveled a total of 2,948 miles and the other is Polar was the only animal allowed to go on the tour in the history of the dam :)!

Polar travels to Carlyle Lake- Justine S.

On February 5, 2012, Polar and I took a trip to Carlyle Lake in Carlyle, Illinois. We traveled a total of 142 miles round trip. Carlyle Lake is the largest man-made lake within Illinois. The construction of the dam began October 18, 1958; in addition, the lake was dedicated on June 3, 1967. The lake was host for the 1994 U.S. Olympic Festival Sailing Competition. My family and I always go boating, skiing, knee-boarding, and fishing on Carlyle Lake in the summer.

Molly Dog Travels to Duquoin-Kelli Greenlee

On January 24, 2012, Molly Dog and I traveled to the Duquoin State Fairgrounds in Duquoin, IL. William R. Hayes founded the "state" fair in 1923. He believed that the fair would prosper and bring business to Duquoin, IL. He was correct and the fair has increased in attendance every year. The state fair grounds host the fair in the fall, as well as other events throughout the year such as a Christmas Lights display and concerts. We traveled 42 miles making a grand total so far of 856 miles traveled.

Fort Sheridan-Sarah B.

On Saturday January 28, 2012, Molly Brown and I traveled to Fort Sheridan in Lake Forest Illinois, right on Lake Michigan. Fort Sheridan used to be a major Army base for training in anti-aircraft fighting. Training would often include firing at drones or pilotless planes over the lake. The first soldiers to come out of Fort Sheridan were sent to Cuba to fight in the Spanish-American War in 1898. Today, Fort Sheridan is a forest preserve where people can walk and view information about Fort Sheridan's past. Molly Brown and I traveled a total of 814 miles. In the photos above, we are sitting on a huge gun they would use to shoot at drones over the lake. You can see the lake in the background. In the other picture we are standing in front of the tower and what was used as indoor training and I believe barracks. The tower is used to store water to use on the army base.

Titanic Travels

Welcome to CI 424 Spring 424. Come travel with our class as we remember the voyage of the Titanic.