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Stephen Tyng Mather Historical Marker, Tucson, Arizona

Posted on by Misty
Stephen Tyng Mather Historical Marker, Tucson, Arizona

Stephen Tyng Mather was instrumental in helping persuade Congress to create the National Park Service (NPS). The park service was established in 1916 by President Woodrow Wilson, and Mather was appointed as the first NPS director in May 1917.

The goal of the NPS was to manage the national parks, which had been largely neglected before this time. Mather believed that the primary criterion for a national park was its scenery.

During his time as the director, he helped expand the NPS into the east, adding the Great Smoky Mountains, Shenandoah and Mammoth Cave as national parks. He also made the case for making a Sand Dunes National Park.

His tenure ran from 1917 to January 1929. He retired from the office after suffering a stroke. Mather would die a year after the stroke.

Historical Marker Inscription

Stephen Tyng Mather

July 4, 1867 – Jan. 22, 1930

He laid the foundation of the National Park Service. Defining and establishing the policies under which its areas shall be developed and conserved unimpaired for future generations. There will never come an end to the good that he has done.

Location

32° 10’ 48.720” N, 110° 44’ 10.698” W

3515 S Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, AZ  85730, United States

Horseless Carriages Historical Marker, Fort Worth, Texas

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32° 45’ 29.178” N, 97° 19’ 57.948” W 186–198 E Belknap St, Fort Worth, TX 76102, United States

Horseless carriages (automobiles) came to Fort Worth sometime between 1900 and 1902. There is debate as to whether the first was driven by Lew Dockstader, a minstrel, or H.R. Cromer, who owned a bike store.

Automobile owners were required to drive at a maximum speed of 12 miles per hour. All cars were required to have a license number painted on the vehicle. They had to have two lights and a horn or gong. And they had to be registered with the government.

Historical Marker Inscription

Automobiles appeared in Fort Worth around 1902. By 1904, vehicles had to be registered, display a painted license number, and be fitted with two lights and a horn or gong.

Twelve miles per hour was the top speed allowed, with horns or gongs sounded 100 feet before each crossing. On August 24, 1903, a speed record of 1 hour and 35 minutes was set for the 30-mile trip between Fort Worth and Dallas, and the Star-Telegram reported “The automobile is no longer a toy or luxury.” By 1909, a motorcycle police officer was needed to catch speeders.

Manufacturing plants and many dealerships opened during the “Boom Years” of the 1920s. Slow sales during the years of the Great Depression and World War II were followed by a post war boom that required new roads and highways. The state’s first toll road opened in 1953 between Fort Worth and Dallas.

Heritage Trails 2006

Sponsored by: Frank Kent Cadillac

Location

32° 45’ 29.178” N, 97° 19’ 57.948” W
186–198 E Belknap St, Fort Worth, TX  76102, United States

Gas Works, Yreka, California Historical Marker

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Gas Works, Yreka, California Historical Marker

This historical marker commemorates the Yreka Gas Works. It was the company that first lighted the city streets on December 17, 1859. The marker sits in front of the Best Western Miner’s Inn.

No other information is available about this location.

Historical Marker Inscription

Site of the Yreka Gas Works which on Dec. 17, 1859 first lighted Yreka Streets. The gas was made by burning pine pitch.

Location

41° 43’ 59.148” N, 122° 38’ 6.228” W

300 N Main St, Yreka, CA  96097, United States

The Cherub Gate Historical Marker, New York City

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Cherub Gate at Trinity Church, New York City

A cherub decorates the back entrance of Trinity Church. The cherub originally adorned the St. Mary-le-Bow church which was located in London’s East End. This church was designed and built by Christopher Wren. It was completed in 1680 but was destroyed during the German Blitz in May 1941 during World War II.

Trinity Church was the sister church to St. Mary-le-Bow and pledged $50,000 to the London congregation to rebuild the parish. The cherub had been found in the rubble of the destroyed church. After the London church was rebuilt around 1963-1964, the cherub was presented to Trinity Church.

Historical Marker Inscription

The cherub above is a gift to Trinity Church from the Church of St. Mary le Bow in London which was designed by Sir Christopher Wren in 1680 and was destroyed in an air raid on May 10, 1941. The cherub survived the bombing and was presented to Trinity Church on June 11, 1964

Location

40° 42’ 30.492” N, 74° 0’ 45.180” W

78 Trinity Pl, New York, NY  10038, United States

New Mexico Historic Women Marker Initiative, Santa Fe, New Mexico

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New Mexico Historic Women Marker Initiative Historical Marker

The Historic Women Marker Initiative of 2007 had a goal of providing information on important New Mexican women on a portion of the state’s Official Scenic Historic Markers. Before the Initiative, few markers mentioned women.

The initial phase of the project started with 75 markers and was concluded in 2010. An additional 10 were added in 2015, and another 25 are planned to be installed to bring the number to 100.

The program received additional funding in 2022.

Historical Marker Inscription

The New Mexico Historic Women Marker Initiative was founded in 2005 by members of the New Mexico Women’s Forum in a statewide effort to recognize women’s contributions to New Mexico history on the state’s Official Scenic Historic Markers. The Initiative ensures that women’s diverse histories will be remembered and told, and will inspire and provide a guide for future generations. The 2006 Legislature funded the project.

Location

35° 49’ 31.020” N, 105° 58’ 41.592” W
W Frontage Rd, Santa Fe, NM  87506, United States

Birthplace of Columbia University Historical Marker, New York City

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Columbia University Historical Marker, New York City, NY

Columbia University began as an all-boys school in 1754 in New York City’s lower Manhattan area. It was originally called King’s College and was created via a royal charter granted by Great Britain’s King George II. The first class was held in a schoolhouse that was part of Trinity Church.

Many of the students of King’s College went on to illustrious careers. These include Alexander Hamilton, John Jay and Robert R. Livingston.

During the American Revolution, classes were suspended from 1776 to 1783.  In 1784, King’s College changed its name to Columbia College. In 1857, the college moved from Park Place to Madison Avenue. It was moved once again in 1896 to its current location in Morningside Heights. It was also renamed again to Columbia University. The university started admitting women in 1983.

Trinity Church, New York City, NY

Historical Marker Inscription

In 1752 Trinity Church gave a grant of land for a new college.

On July 17, 1754, the first class of King’s College, which was to become Columbia University, met in the schoolhouse of Trinity Church located across this street.

The charter for the college was granted on October 31, 1754, during the reign of King George II.

Location

40° 42’ 28.458” N, 74° 0’ 44.930” W

75 Broadway, New York, NY  10006, United States

Roger Wolcott Toll Historical Marker, Estes Park, Colorado

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Roger Wolcott Toll Historical Marker, Estes Park, Colorado

Born on October 17, 1883, in Denver, Colorado, Roger Toll was an early employee of the National Park Service. He initially served as the superintendent of Mount Ranier National Park. Toll was appointed to the position by the first National Park Service director, Stephen Mather. He would also go on to serve in the same position at Rocky Mountain and Yellowstone National Parks.

Toll was instrumental in doing investigations and creating reports on potential new national parks, monuments and boundary extensions. Some of these recommendations included Joshua Tree, Death Valley, the Everglades and Big Bend. He also worked on a commission that included George Wright to investigate creating some protected areas along the Mexican-American border.

Wright and Toll were sadly killed in a car accident near Deming, New Mexico, on February 25, 1936. They were on their way to investigate the Ajo Mountains in Arizona.

Historical Marker Inscription

The mountain index on this rock is a memorial to
Roger Wolcott Toll
Superintendent of Mount Rainer National Park 1919-1921 *** of Rocky Mountain National Park 1921-1928 of Yellowstone National Park 1929-1935

Civil Engineer ** Naturalist Mountaineer *** Whose love of the high country was manifested by helping to make it more accessible for you and your friends

Location

40° 24.861′ N, 105° 43.44′

Near Estes Park, Colorado

Lake Bonneville Historical Marker, Malta Idaho

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Lake Bonneville Historical Marker, Malta, Idaho

Lake Bonneville was a lake that existed between 30,000 and 13,000 years ago. At its largest, the lake stretched for nearly 20,000 square miles, covering parts of western Utah and eastern parts of Idaho and Nevada. The lake filled up a depression that was located in the Great Basin.

Lake Bonneville had a depth of over 1,000 feet and was approximately 325 miles long by 135 miles wide. During the Ice Age, the fresh water lake was fed by rain, streams, glacier meltwater and rivers.

About 16,000 years ago, the climate became warmer and dryer, and the lake levels began decreasing. Within 2,000 years, the lake decreased to about the size of the Great Salt Lake.

Only a few remnants remain of this great lake, including Salt Lake.

Historical Marker Inscription

20,000 years ago, this land was under water. Not far to the north, you can see the old shore of Lake Bonneville.

Formed in a basin from which no river reached the ocean, this became the largest lake in North America. Finally the lake rose high enough to overflow into the Snake River. Then after the climate got drier, and the great basin of Utah and Nevada became mostly a desert, the lake receded. Salt Lake and two other remnants are all that are left of this old 20,000 square mile lake.

Text prepared by The Idaho Historical Society

Marker Made & Installed by Idaho Transportation Department

Location

42° 4’ 22.820” N, 112° 54’ 18.792” W

Malta, ID  83342, United States

St. Paul’s Chapel Historical Marker, New York City, NY

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St. Paul's Chapel Historical Marker New York City

St. Paul’s Chapel was built between 1764 and 1766 and officially opened in 1766. It was established as an outreach center for Trinity Church’s growing congregation. The Great Fire of 1776 destroyed the original Trinity Church, but the chapel survived. The congregation made this their main prayer spot, with congregants including George Washington, who stopped here after his inauguration as president. This is the only surviving Colonial-era church in the city.

Located near the World Trade Center, the chapel survived the attacks on September 11, 2001, and was a place of respite for first responders.

St. Paul's Chapel New York City, NY

Historical Marker Inscription

Landmarks of New York

St. Paul’s Chapel

This famous example of Georgian architecture built 1764-1766, with spire and portico added 1794-1796, is the only church structure surviving the Colonial era of New York City. The design by Thomas McBean closely followed that of St. Martin. In the fields by James Gibbs, President Washington was a regular attendant following his inauguration in 1789 when New York was the national capital.

Place erected 1997 by
The New York Community Trust

Location

40° 42’ 40.302” N, 74° 0’ 31.390” W

214 Broadway, New York, NY  10038, United States

Casa de Armijo Historical Markers, Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Old Town Cafe Casa de Armijo Historical Marker

Casa Armijo was built by El Colorado Don Juan Nepomuceno Armijo in 1706.  It was later sold to Ambrosio Armijo. One of the first homes in Old Town, the large adobe hacienda sits in the plaza in Old Town Albuquerque.

Throughout its years, the home has been used for a variety of purposes. During the earliest parts of the settlement of the area, it was used as a fort. Over the years, the location was under different flags: Spanish, Mexican, Confederate, Union and, finally, the United States.

Later, the family turned it into a trading post. In 1931, the location was turned into La Placita Dining Rooms, a restaurant with a tree growing in its dining room. The building was recently sold and turned into Old Town Cafe. The current owner, Michelle La Meres, is a descendant of the Armijo family.

Historical Marker Inscription

(Located on front of the building)

Old Town Cafe

Casa de Armijo

Built in 1706 and occupied for many generations by the Armijo family who were prominent in local history. This hacienda was gay with social life.

During the turmoil of the early settlement the Mexican, Spanish and American Civil War occupation it was used as a fort and a refuge.

Later, still occupied by the Armijo family, portions were used as an early trading post.

In 1930 it was restored from a ruin to its present condition and remodeled in conformity with its old character.

(Located on side of the building)

Casa de Armijo Historical Marker Old Town AlbuquerqueCasa de Armijo on site of Don Ambrosio Armijo hacienda dating back to 1706. One of the first homes in Albuquerque.

Courtesy of La Placita

Sponsored by The Albuquerque Historical Society.

Location

35° 5’ 44.920” N, 106° 40’ 9.822” W
204 San Felipe St NW, Albuquerque, NM  87104, United States