The Crook in Colorado - Crook, Colorado

Born in Ohio in 1828, George Crook rose quickly to success in his military career. Crook started his military career in 1852 and just ten years later became a brigadier general during the Civil War. He led many successful campaigns for General Ulysses S. Grant in the defeat of the Confederacy. After the Civil War, General Crook led campaigns against the Apaches and Paiutes bringing peace to the Southwest and Western territories. He was well respected by his Indian competitors who nicknamed him the “Grey Fox”. Crook became a great proponent for the rights and liberties of the American Indian. Crook often pointed out the atrocities and was outraged with the injustice being done to the Apaches in the Southwest.

Photo Courtesy of Library of Congress

Great Trips to see the World's Largest!

It is always a pleasure for me when I'm driving down the highway to see how creative towns can get in trying to attract tourists. I have been to a lot of these "Largest Wonders" and wanted to share some great sites to see! If you are near one of these towns you really need to check them out. It will make your day with a smile.


Here are ones to check out!

Alligator - Christmas, Florida
Artichoke – Castroville, California
Ball of Paint – Alexandria, Indiana
Ball of Twine – Cawker City, Kansas
Baseball Bat – Louisville, Kentucky
Basket – Dresden, Ohio
Binoculars – Venice, California
Buffalo – Jamestown, North Dakota
Bull – Audubon, Iowa
Goose – Sumner, Missouri
Chair – Fanning, Missouri
Coffee Pot – Stanton, Iowa
Cow (Holstein) – New Salem, North Dakota
Cow (Talking) – Neillsville, Ohio
Cross - Wickliffe, Kentucky
Cuckoo Clock – Wilmot, Ohio
Frying Pan – Long Beach, Washington
Gas Pump – King City, Missouri
Horse Shoe – Muleshoe, Texas
Jack Rabbit – Odessa, Texas
Lutefisk – Madison, Wisconsin
Muskie – Hayward, Wisconsin
Praying Hands – Oral Roberts University – Tulsa Oklahoma
Pumpkin – Circleville, Ohio
Raisin Box – Kingsburg, California
Rubber Stamp – Cleveland, Ohio
Shuttlecock – Kansas City, Missouri
Six Pack of Beer – LaCrosse, Wisconsin
Spinach Can – Alma, Arkansas
Strawberry – Strawberry Point, Iowa
Teapot – Chester, West Virginia
Turkey – Frazee, Minnesota
Walleye – Garrison, Minnesota

Marked Tree, Arkansas

In 1883, the railroad built a track through this area. The community was known as “Edwards” in honor of Jonathan Edwards, head of the railroad crew. When Edwards and the railroad crew moved on, he told the citizens to rename the town. The people decided on “Marked Tree” because of a famous legend. The legend starts with the Indians who lived here before the white man. The Osage and Cherokee Indians marked a giant oak tree in this area for transportation purposes to navigate up and down the nearby rivers. In the early 1800’s, the infamous Murrell Outlaw Gang marked the same tree with an “M” for rendezvous purposes after their bank robberies. So in 1883, the town was named after this giant oak tree. Later in 1890, the giant tree was swept away by a huge flood which devastated the area. However, in 1979 during a construction project, the trunk of a well preserved giant oak tree was excavated which was believed to be the famous tree. The town also claims to be the only community in the world with the name “Marked Tree” and the only town where two rivers run in different directions! Just in case you are curious, the two rivers are the Saint Francis and the Little. I have been there and the rivers actually run in opposite directions.

Toad Suck DAZE Festival - April 30 - May 2

Located on the Arkansas River, Toad Suck claims one of the most unique legends. Way back when, this is where the river captains and their crews chose to relax. Along with the river traffic came many questionable characters. Drinking was often the recreation for both the employees of the river industry and the shady people who hung out in this area. Early settlers to this area observed the excessive drinking going on and named the drinking patrons as “Toad Sucks”. They exclaimed “these people sucked on their whiskey and swelled up like toads”! The area became known as “Toad Suck”. Every May, a three day festival known as Toad Daze is held in nearby Conway, AR. Thousands of people attend and a good time is experienced by all. Events during the festival include various toad races, a Mardi Daze parade and a toad pageant. There is plenty of food and usually a major country western star performs on Saturday night. Also, you will find a lot of unique “Toad Suck” merchandise available for sale!

Unique Celebrity Museums in the United States

Baltimore, MD – Babe Ruth Birthplace & Museum

(Just a few yards from Camden Yards)



Branson, MO – Roy Rogers Museum



Cleveland, OH – Rock & Roll Museum



Dewey, OK – Tom Mix Museum

(Tribute to the first famous cowboy of the silver screen)



Fort Wayne, IN – Lincoln Museum

(World’s largest museum dedicated to Abraham Lincoln)



Gene Autry, OK – Gene Autry Museum

(Where else would this tribute be of the Singing Cowboy?)



Golden, CO – Buffalo Bill Cody Museum

(One of my heroes – plus located in a beautiful area)



Greenville, OH – Garst Museum

(Home of Annie Oakley & other greats)



Hannibal, MO – Mark Twain Museum & Boyhood home



Harlem, GA – Laurel & Hardy Museum



Indiana, PA – Jimmy Stewart Museum

(Famous actor’s hometown museum)



Jamestown, NY – Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz Museum

(Birthplace of Lucille Ball & they love Lucy)

Kansas City, MO – Negro Baseball Leagues & Jazz Museums

(Discover Buck O’Neil & Count Basie)



Louisville, KY – Muhammad Ali Museum



Marceline, MO – Walt Disney Boyhood Museum



Memphis, TN – Elvis Presley’s Graceland



Metropolis, IL – The Superman Museum



Queens, NY – Louis Armstrong Home

(Home of the great jazz musician)



Scranton, PA – The Harry Houdini Museum

(The greatest escape artist of all time)



Sedan, KS - Emmett Kelly Clown Museum

(World’s most popular clown)


Winterset, Iowa – John Wayne Birthplace & Museum

A great Indian Story!

Bowlegs, OK - Chief Billy Bowlegs

Bolek, also known as Billy Bowlegs, was a fierce Seminole Chief from Florida. After signing a treaty in 1832, Bowlegs and his 200 warriors were peaceful until his fellow Seminole Chief Osceola was wrongfully imprisoned. Chief Bowlegs and his warriors led many successful raids against the U.S. military. Finally in 1858, the government convinced Chief Bowlegs to relocate to the new Indian Territory in Oklahoma. He was given $10,000 dollars and each of his followers received $1,000. Here he became a prominent chief to his people and was once again peaceful. During the Civil War, he became a captain in the Union Army and was instrumental to the success in this region against the Confederacy. In 1864, the famous chief died of smallpox.

Photo Courtesy of Library of Congress

Favorite Hometown Mottos

Abilene, TX – A whole lot of Texas going on!



Andover, KS – Where the people are warm even when the weather isn’t!



Atlantic City, NJ – Always turned on!



Broadview Heights, OH – Highest of the Heights!



Bushnell, SD – It’s not the end of the world but you can see it from here!



Cando, SD – You can do better in Cando!



Conneaut, OH – Ohio’s sharpest corner?



Del Mar, CA – Where the surf meets the turf!



Devine, TX – Where the name says it all!



Happy, TX – The town without a frown!



Havre, MT – Get Er Done!



Hereford, TX – The town without a toothache!



Hershey, PA – The sweetest place on earth!



Hico, TX – Where everybody is somebody!



Hooker, OK – All of our friends are hookers!

Independence, MO – Where the trails start and the buck stops here!



Jacksonville, FL – Where Florida begins!



Las Vegas, NV – What happens here stays here!



Leavenworth, KS – How about doing some time in Leavenworth?



Lewes, DE – The first town in the first state!



Mackinaw City, MI – The town that loves company!



Melbourne, IA – Right on top, not down under!



Midland, TX – The sky’s the limit!



New York, NY – The city that never sleeps!



Omaha, NE – Rare and well done!



Oregon City, OR – The end is just the beginning!



Peculiar, MO – Where the odds are with you!



Portland, OR – The city that works!



Raleigh, NC – The southern part of heaven!



Roswell, NM – The aliens are not the only reason to visit!



San Antonio, TX – Something to remember!



San Diego, CA – City with Sol!

San Gabriel, CA – The city with a mission!



San Juan Capistrano, CA – Where the swallows return!



Saratoga, WY – Where the trout leap in Main Street!



Show Low, AZ – Named for the turn of a card!



Sitka, AK – The natural place to visit!



Spring Lake, MI – Where nature smiles for seven miles!



St. Louis, MO – There’s more than meets the Arch!



Taos, NM – Soul of the Southwest!



Texarkana, AR – Twice as nice!



Tombstone, AZ – The town too tough to die!



Topeka, KS – To the stars through difficulty!



Uvalde, TX – Clearly Texas!



Virginia City – The richest place on earth!



Walker, MI – From solid roots and strong branches!



Washington, D.C. – City living, D.C. style!



Wichita, KS – We got the goods!



Yuma, AZ – Experience our sense of Yuma!