Graffitti HIghway, Centralia PA

-
  As unual as this attraction is in Central Pennsylvania, it is a pretty cool place to go. Sadly, like a lot of history this one is going to be buried not in politics but in dirt. I am just glad that we made it before the dirt was brought in to cover the abandoned stretch of road known as "Graffiti Highway aka RT 61." This is located just outside of Centralia, Pa also known as a modern ghost town. Most of the people have left, I believe there are only 3 families left in the town. On another trip I wouldn't mind going there and see what is left of the town. 
 Here is your history lesson for today: back in 1962, officals set a fire to clean up a trash dump, little did they know that that fire would still be burning, underground for 58 years. Wow the fires and I are just about the same age. (the fires are just older than me). 





One the highway there are large, long cracks and steam/smoke can be seen coming out of it. Though when we went and really we only got to walk about 1/2 mile in because we were on a time limit.  These fires have caused the breaking up of the highway and you do need to keep an eye on where you are stepping so that you don't twist your ankle or even worse.

From what I understand after the dirt has been placed on the road the owners plan on planting trees and bushes so as to bring it back to nature.

I've always wanted to see this, the pictures of the graffiti would be so cool. But like with a lot of things I put it off. But when I gained two kids for a few weeks (months) during this "stay at home" quarantine of 2020. We took a trip to see what all the hopla was about. Yup as you can see I don't following directions to well. But we did keep watch on social distancing.  Following are pictures from the trip.  I undertand why they have decided to cover the area in dirt, since it is privately owned and we technically were treaspassing but what a cool place to explore. Not only is the road spraypainted but so is it the trees.  I'm glad I went (and of course didn't get arrested). Enjoy the pictures.

The craziness and haphazardness of the graffiti was crazy but strangely beautfiul. There were a few that  as my grandmother would have said was "off color." I'd say inappropriate to say the least. Why is it neccessary to make graffiti body parts, seriously how childish can one be. Since there were so many, I'd say very childish indeed.  It is a real shame that like most things in life the few people ruin it for the majority.

 I think these two picked the right sayings to show their individual personalities. Kidding not kidding!




Until the next adventure, Happy travelling, 
Kelli

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Miles Brewton House

-
Image
Miles Brewton was born in 1731 in Charleston. His father was a goldsmith and was associated with the city's banking and financial circles in town.  Miles Brewton gained the property at 27 King Street through as they say "by a good marriage" to Mary Izard.  Since I will not sugar coat history, he was south Carolina's biggest slave trader, owning 8 trading ships, and wealthiest man in the area. In 1765 he started construction on the Georgian Palladian brick home. By the time of the beginnings of the Revolutionary War he owner several indigo and rice plantations. Miles was a highly successful merchant and plantation owner of the era and was elected to the second congress in 1775. Sadly, he and his family were lost at sea when the ship they were traveling on when down during their trip to the north to Philadelphia.  His sister, Rebecca Brewton Motte inherited the home. She herself would also make a name for herself during the revolutionary War.  Rebecca was a strong supp...
Read more

Philly the city of brotherly love

-
Image
RJ and I had an adventure today. For his birthday we went to Philly.  He slept the entire way down to the city.   First stop the Eastern state Penitentiary. Some facts about this prison: it was the first true penitentiary, was the most famous (thanks to Al Capone & Slick Willie Sutton), most expensive prison, designed to look like a wagon wheel, and was in operation from 1829 to 1971.  Today it is both a haunting experience of cold chilly corridors and crumbling cell walls.  You can take a self guided tour, if you can keep yourself concentrated on the narration from Steve Buscemi (the actor). My ADHD couldn't keep the brain concentrating on what Steve had to say. So with that said, I would like to go back and have the Guided Tour instead of the self guided tour. *typical boy needing to take a picture of the most important thing in a cell, the toilet. Have a budding photographer.  Completed the tour and off we went in search...
Read more

Beautiful Jim Thorpe, PA.

-
Image
    It was a beautiful day to go exploring Jim Thorpe. What a picturesque town, from the history of the town (formerly known as Mauch Chunk) to its architecture. There really is only one parking lot for anyone visiting for the day. Also alot of these museums take cash only. So I started out at the Asa Packer Mansion. There is at least 150 steps from the street to the house. Well they definitely overlooked the town. (and not in a bad way) Asa was the founder of Lehigh University (Bet Uncle Leonard knew that) and he also was the founder of the Lehigh Valley Railroad. Also a little trivia the house next door that became his son's home was the inspiration for Walt Disney's haunted Mansion. Now the house is a hotel and even more fun it has Murder Mystery weekends.                                        Then I walked the 1 mile (uphill even though you didn't notice it) to the...
Read more