landmarks

Carly of the blog Ellipsis has suggested landmarks. " Again, let's take an opportunity to show off our hometowns. I live in the Bay Area, so I have no real shortage of recognizable landmarks, so what I would do is try to show those landmarks in an interesting lighting circumstance, such as a sunset, or under special lighting conditions. But I want to see other places, and the landmarks that make those places so special. A beautifully designed building, an incredible bridge, or a monument of some sort, or maybe even an unusual road sign. It's all good!"

this is the renaissance tower.  at 300 feet high, it's alabama's tallest tourist attraction. it underwent many unsuccessful changes since it's construction in 1991, and it was only after the marriott acquired it that it appears to have found lasting success. there is a restaurant at the top which rotates 360 degrees every 75 minutes and overlooks the tennessee river and wilson dam.

    

wilson dam was named for president woodrow wilson and it's construction began during ww I to supply electricity for the making of explosives at two federally operated nitrate plants in muscle shoals. it  was later acquired by tva (tennessee valley authority) and continues generating our electricity today.  it was declared a national historic landmark in 1966.  up until 9/11, visitors could access the locks to observe wildlife on the islands in the lake, and watch barges and other water vessels come and go...i really miss those days.  doesn't appear that they will ever open the dam up to the public again.  :(  this photo was taken from the tower restaurant.

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