Field Notes – Physical

The 30th Street Station in Philadelphia became a place for some excitin innovation in November 2011. This is when a drive for vehicle pick-up and drop-off was converted to a people-friendly plaza. This was achieved through the addition of food trucks, a beer garden, plantings, and plenty of space for...

The Catholic faith was brought from Maryland about 1730 to Conewago, which became an important Jesuit Mission foundation. From here the faith spread over a great area of Pennsylvania and Western Maryland. A log chapel built in 1741 was replaced in 1787 by the present building - the oldest stone...

Moved to Downtown – Hanover, Pennsylvania – Isaac Kremer

Globe Inn The Globe Inn was one of Gettysburg's oldest hotel-taverns, originally owned and operated in 1798 by town founder James Getty, and traditionally the unofficial headquarters for the local Democratic party. This political association made the Globe Inn a favorite of Confederate officers during their occupation of Gettysburg. They...

North Blockhouse (1798) Entrance Gate Bathhouse (1885), Storehouse (1860), Office (1858) East Blockhouse (1798) Gun Platform Guardhouse (1828), Officers' Wood Quarters (1816) Soldiers' Barracks (1859) Officers' Stone Quarters (1780) North Blockhouse (1798) Skull Cave Fort Holmes (1814) Governor's Mansion

There are times when an iterative design process fails. There are a variety of reasons for this. Lack of money, waning stakeholder interest, or no champion for the project who pushes for continuous improvement. Such was the case for this block of Taylor Ave between Denny Way and 5th Ave...

McGraw Square and the smaller Westlake Square one block to the north are small triangle parcels that sit at the intersection of 6th and Westlake Avenues. McGraw Square has served as a space for a transit stop and a public restroom, but now it's a blank spot in the middle...

When St. James was completed in the first decade of the twentieth century, a dome constructed of steel, terra cotta, and brick, and covered in copper covered the transept. Less than nine years after dedication of the cathedral. On January 31, 1916 there were already 23 inches of snow on...

Grand Central Terminal sits on a well deserved perch among the architectural and civic treasures of New York City. Across the street, however, is a piece of infrastructure - really, a single block, that has been confoundingly difficult to redevelop. As recently as a year ago this notice greeted people...

If you could see through this wall, you'd be laughing right now. (come around to the front and buy some really funny bags.) George M. Cohan Visit in 2025