"Where in North America is this?" Section X

This is the Tenth section of a popular mind puzzle first brought to the membership by member Quebec Gen.

General Rules of the "Where in North America is this?" Game
1) Anyone can play -- just follow along and test your mettle about places found in North America.
2) You'll need to be a registered member of this Forum if you want to contribute your own photographs and/or participate in the discussion for each place.
3) You will need to have the ownership or usage rights to any photo that you post on this forum, as per the terms & conditions of Federal copyright law. If you post a photo that you do not own the rights to, Forum Management reserves the right to remove it. As a matter of practical use, we would expect that you would be posting only those photos that you or a close family member have taken.
4) Every photo of a mystery place needs to be unique in some way -- And there should be "visual clues" in the photo to enable us to solve where the mystery location is...

(Inactive -- you can look, but not enter new posts!)
Section I = 33 pages of places you might know
Section II = 28 more pages of places and some REALLY gorgeous photographs!
Section III = 28 more pages of places that might really stump you!
Section IV -- 15 more pages, with some very tricky clues
Section V -- 15 more pages of some very pretty and engaging places....
Section VI -- 15 more pages with more of those "very creative" clues that are nearly as vexing as the images....
Section VII -- Marked by some very clever clues and some VERY challenging puzzles spread over another 15 pages of places you might have seen in your travels in North America.
Section VIII, started on September 22nd with mystery puzzles from a dozen or more states and some new players have joined the merry band of geo-wizards...working on another fifteen pages of puzzles.
Section IX-- Some really beautiful and challenging puzzle mystery locations from all over North America found on another 15 pages.
Section X -- Spanning nearly four months of puzzles of North American locations on 16 more pages.
Section XI -- Started on March 14, 2010.
Section XII-- Started June 11, 2010 with 20 pages of new geo-puzzles from around North America

Section XIII-- Started July 29, 2014 is currently the Active Part of this Game/Contest

The RoadTrip Enthusiasts Group

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Originally Posted by vambo25

GLC's right - we do still need a final answer for Twilight's boat/canyon challenge: Click here to see the original query and the attempts at solving it! -- A summary of those clues and attempts can be seen in the next post below!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2717/...8b508db5b0.jpg



And in the meantime here's one from me (which should be instantly recognisable to films buffs):

http://www.roadtripamerica.com/forum...1&d=1258535396

Peter

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Here's what we know from Section IX...

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Foy: Anyway, the pontoon boat isn't what you'd find on the Colorado River. The picture is likely from either Lake Meade or Lake Powell. The juxtaposition of the dry waterfall right above lake level says it's on a tributary of the main lake channel. I'll take a semi-SWAG and say it's Lake Powell, and the tributary is the San Juan River. The dry stream/waterfall? Not a clue.

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Mark: It could be the shallow parts of the Colorado up by Moab -- but I've seen this view someplace.... Looking through the dusty,spider web-encrusted parts of my memory banks now....

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Twilight: Yes, you are in the right area

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Mark: Is this the trail head for....the Lower Butler Wash petroglyph panel on the San Juan River?

Or I guess it could be the pull-in spot for the River House, which is one of the largest, most famous, and most well-visited Anasazi ruins along the river -- but the beach looks all wrong for that place....

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Twilight: This is not a trail head, nor, to my knowledge, is this an Anasazi site.

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Twilight: It's not the San Juan. I'll echo what I said before and tell you that you had the right area, AKA, it's the Colorado.

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Twilight: OK, I'll throw a clue out

The unique properties of this spot is why it's notable, and is what brings it's main annual visitors.

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OK, so I guessed a spring, or a place where a specific plant or critter appears every year... but we need some more clues, methinks!

Mark

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Peter: And in the meantime here's one from me (which should be instantly recognisable to films buffs):

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That scene doesn't even rise a glimmer of recognition in me, although I'm sure that it does for someone. But I would need another hint or two....

Mark

I'm not a film buff at all, although I know it was used in at least one movie - but I couldn't tell you which one.

Its Chicago's Union Station.

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Originally Posted by Midwest Michael

I'm not a film buff at all, although I know it was used in at least one movie - but I couldn't tell you which one.

Its Chicago's Union Station.

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It certainly looks like staircase used for this scene in The Untouchables.

That's right. I knew it was some gangster movie. I think my wife mentions it every time we go through there. I just know that the benches in the hall are designed with all of the comfort of a church pew.

I've wandered around Chicago's Union Station -- waiting for a train, but I guess I've forgotten what it looks like.

Kudos to both of you

Now... any ideas as to Twilight's latest puzzle?

Mark

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Originally Posted by Midwest Michael

I just know that the benches in the hall are designed with all of the comfort of a church pew.

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The lack of comfort doesn't appear to deter those less fortunate members of society who don't have a home to go to.

I'm not sure we can solve Twilight's Colorado River mystery without another clue or two. In the meantime....

http://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog/...tery-GT-60.jpg
(Photo by Gerald Thurman)

Where is this? How long has it been here?

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Originally Posted by Mark Sedenquist

I'm not sure we can solve Twilight's Colorado River mystery without another clue or two. In the meantime....

http://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog/...tery-GT-60.jpg
(Photo by Gerald Thurman)

Where is this? How long has it been here?

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It's the Abo mission in New Mexico. Part of Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument.

Most Americans forget how long ago the Spanish settled in New Mexico. The cathedral in Santa Fe was built in 1610. This was 10 years before that first Thanksgiving in Plymouth Colony. The Abo mission was built a bit later, in 1629.

Now, if we could just find a solution to Twilight's Colorado River mystery!

Mark

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2717/...8b508db5b0.jpg
See the previous page for the most recent clues and guesses.

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Originally Posted by Kestrel

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Originally Posted by Mark Sedenquist

I'm not sure we can solve Twilight's Colorado River mystery without another clue or two. In the meantime....

http://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog/...tery-GT-60.jpg
(Photo by Gerald Thurman)

Where is this? How long has it been here?

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It's the Abo mission in New Mexico. Part of Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument.

Most Americans forget how long ago the Spanish settled in New Mexico. The cathedral in Santa Fe was built in 1610. This was 10 years before that first Thanksgiving in Plymouth Colony. The Abo mission was built a bit later, in 1629.

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Not trying to be overly picky or anything, but that isn’t the Abo mission. Abo isn’t far from this place, though, and here’s what it looks like ….

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...abonumber1.jpg

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...abonumber2.jpg

So the place in Gerald’s photograph is …??
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...erenumber2.jpg

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...erenumber3.jpg

Howard,

Yes, it is part of the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument in New Mexico, but the actual location is the site of the Quarai Mission ruins.... I mis-identified the location.... Here are some more photos and description of the location.

From the NPS web site: "....The ruins of four mission churches, at Quarai, Abó, and Gran Quivira and the partially excavated pueblo of Las Humanas or, as it is known today, Gran Quivira. Established in 1980 through the combination of two New Mexico State Monuments and the former Gran Quivira National Monument, the present Monument comprises a total of 1,100 acres..."

...and very nice photos posted herein -- Thanks!

Mark

Here's another one -- I bet this one is a toughie too...?

http://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog/...tery-GT-61.jpg
(Photo by Gerald Thurman)

What's the name of this statue? Where is it?

Hint #1: It's located on the campus of an educational facility in the USA....

Mark

This is a teaser for another mystery location puzzle spun off from the one on this this site.
http://living-las-vegas.com/wp-conte...-1-570x380.jpg
(The location is known for this one -- it sits in the Boneyard for Neon Signs at the Neon Museum in Las Vegas... but the twist on this puzzle, is that you have identify the property the neon signs used to be located at. If you you dare, click here....

Mark

It would seem that the obvious answer is that it is an old El Cortez sign?

Yep, #1 is the El Cortez, but there are nine more neon sign puzzles to go -- and you can put your guesses on the other site....

Mark

Hey guys. Apologies about not posting any clues the past week. Real life, etc.

1st Mark, you missed a clue in your summary above:

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Everyone else: Clue time:

To take full advantage of the properties of this spot, a large object is boated in for the annual gathering.

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Next:
Since it SOUNDS like nobody can get this as is, so I will give you the location. It's a few of miles downriver from Moab, just at the border of Canyonlands park and almost in sight of Dead Horse Park (Google Map Link)

So what is the importance of this site?

But, even knowing the location, I, for one, am still baffled. Is the object a mobile stage and they use the rock as a form of natural amphitheater?

hmmmm

Wait... is this the location for the Moab Music Festival at the Grotto Concerts?

If so, kudos to you for a real stumper!

Mark

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Originally Posted by Mark Sedenquist

But, even knowing the location, I, for one, am still baffled. Is the object a mobile stage and they use the rock as a form of natural amphitheater?

hmmmm

Wait... is this the location for the Moab Music Festival at the Grotto Concerts?

If so, kudos to you for a real stumper!

Mark

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We have a winner. That is the Grotto that apparently has some perfect acoustics for music. Every year they boat a Grand Piano into the Grotto for the concert.

That picture was taken in June ('07) from a jetboat tour on the Colorado. When we passed by, we heard someone (whoever's boat that was) taking advantage of the acoustics by playing a violin, perfectly audible on the river.

Whoa! A full piano! On the water. I wonder how long they had to spend to re-tune it?

Some of my river-running buddies from the olden days, are credited on a couple a CDs from music that was created in one of the really large amphitheaters that exist on the Colorado deep in the Grand Canyon -- They were the boatmen that hauled all of the musicians, instruments and electronic recording gear to that isolated spot.

I would have loved to have heard the violin playing! Thanks for this really, really good stumper of a puzzle.

Mark

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Originally Posted by Mark Sedenquist

Here's another one -- I bet this one is a toughie too...?

http://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog/...tery-GT-61.jpg
(Photo by Gerald Thurman)

What's the name of this statue? Where is it?

Hint #1: It's located on the campus of an educational facility in the USA....

Mark

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Clue #2: Found in a two-word state on a college campus.

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Originally Posted by Mark Sedenquist

Whoa! A full piano! On the water. I wonder how long they had to spend to re-tune it?

Mark

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From elsewhere on the Moab Music site:

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The Voyage of the Grand Piano

Often, the greatest challenge of the River Concert is the ferrying of a grand piano (or even two!). Legs removed and wrapped in moving blankets and straps, the piano is slid carefully up a gangway and strapped on its side into a motorized boat. It makes quite a sight as it slowly floats past red rock canyon walls, meandering around sand bars – and occasionally beaching on one of them. Once the piano arrives, the most delicate – and back-breaking – work begins. Each year the height of the river and the shape of the bank are different. Setting the gangway and securely unloading the piano is a unique challenge. Even the placement of the piano in the grotto is new every summer. Each year’s spring floods leave a different floor in the grotto. A wooden stage is put down and leveled. Only then can the piano tuner – Miriam Graham, who is also a Ranger at Arches National Park – do her job.

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Notice to all roadtrippers: The dates of the Moab Music Festival are tentatively set for Thursday, September 2; Thursday, September 9; Monday, September 13. I don't think I'll be able to go -- but I'd love to have some field reports....

Mark

Twilight,

Great stuff. My initial and most serious error was thinking the boat in the pic is a normal lake-style pontoon boat. Few of them have the power to handle current in the Colorado proper, so I guessed one of the two big reservoirs.

But, that's no pontoon boat, I'd say. Must be an aluminum jetboat. The top is similar to those on a pontoon boat, but the jetboat in the pic looks bigger overall (as one would expect).

Is this grotto upstream or downstream from Potash, where the multi-day trips from below Moab all the way to the confluence with the Green, thence through Cataract Canyon to Lake Powell, typically put-in? I took a 5 day oarboat trip from Potash to Hite in 1994. It was terrific. I wonder if I passed this location along the way.

Again, good stuff.

Foy

It's downriver from the Potash put-in, just past the bend for Dead Horse park with this view:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2600/...4cc164598f.jpg

and a few hundred feet past this sign

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2752/...89be436bdc.jpg

Re-post from Mark: Twilight's Google Map link -- it was the satellite view of this rock structure that finally pinged the recesses of my mind about what this might be "good for" + His clue, of course.

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Originally Posted by Mark Sedenquist

Clue #2: Found in a two-word state on a college campus.

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This can be found in New Mexico....

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...tery-GT-61.jpg
Photo by Gerald Thurman

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Originally Posted by Mark Sedenquist

Hint #1: It's located on the campus of an educational facility in the USA....

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mark Sedenquist

This can be found in New Mexico....

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I know that Gerald has visited UNM, but I think he’s been to NMSU as well.

At first glance it looks like this could be at UNM – the light-colored stucco buildings and the pine trees look right. But I’m also noticing the red-painted louvered vent on the building to the left. I don’t recognize that. Hmmm….


How about one more hint, Mark? Did this school’s football team go 1-11 this year? ;-)

I don't think this college even has a football team....

The sculpture is made of sandstone and was originally installed at the Sandia School for Girls, but it's been in it's current location since the early 1960's....

I might have guessed that Howard would be able to narrow the focus down on this one a bit! Good work.

Mark

I've had New Mexico since the 2 word state clue, and even checked Google Earth & Street View for UNM and NMSU campus views. The Sandia clue is how I found something.

New Mexico Technical Institute in Socorro is where it was moved to in the 60's. However, on this page I found it was moved back to the Sandia School for Girls, now Sandia Preparatory School in the late 90's for restoration, and seems to imply that it was left there. Since Sandia Prep is a High School, I'm going to guess it got moved back to NMTech, especially as Google Earth does show a hexagonal shape in the main open area of the school.

And it is located in Socorro, NM and good job using Google Earth to pin-point it's location! Since I can't find my notes as to the name of the sculpture, or the artist.... (my bad)..... I think we'll conclude that this one is finit.

Mark

There are some visual clues....
http://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog/...tery-GT-62.jpg
(Photo by Gerald Thurman)

What's the name of this pier and where is it?

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Originally Posted by Mark Sedenquist

There are some visual clues....
http://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog/...tery-GT-62.jpg
(Photo by Gerald Thurman)

What's the name of this pier and where is it?

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Crystal Pier, on Mission Beach in San Diego, California.

ETA: That looks really nice. It's 7 F (-14 C) and dropping fast where I am at the moment.

And for extra credit -- what is that structure that you can just barely see? Or what makes this pier rather unique?

Excellent work by the way, have you visited this place?

Mark

P.S. Seven degrees? Eh! I've been moaning because it was 29 degrees -- 7 degrees is beyond acceptablility!

http://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog/...tery-GT-63.jpg
(Photo by Gerald Thurman)

No fair getting out your zoom lens and reading the exhibits for a clue... But where is this place and why are we here?

Mark

Extra credit: There's a hotel on the pier.

Yep, there's a motel right on the pier -- I've always thought it would be a cool place to sleep for the night in a raging winter Pacific storm!

Here's a photo!

Mark

OK, while that desert view puzzle of Gerald Thurman's simmers along, I thought it might be time for a view from east of the Mississippi River.... Where is this?
http://www.roadtripamerica.com/blog/...ry-Diana-5.jpg
(Photo by Diana Sedenquist)

What city?
What's the name of this walkway?

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Originally Posted by Mark Sedenquist

And for extra credit -- what is that structure that you can just barely see? Or what makes this pier rather unique?

Excellent work by the way, have you visited this place?

Mark

P.S. Seven degrees? Eh! I've been moaning because it was 29 degrees -- 7 degrees is beyond acceptablility!

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Their are motel rooms on the pier, but looks like someone got that before me.

It's been a long time since I last visited Mission Beach and I have seen a lot of other California piers. It took a while to remember where this one was.

There's plenty of sand in the Mojave desert, but that still a bit different from sitting on a beach with the ocean!

Speaking of brisk weather -- Mavericks was firing up pretty good this week and those hard-core surfers were running down monster waves with air temps at 26 degrees.... (When the page loads, click on December 9th and then left and right on the navigation arrows!)

Mark