Mobile, AL

Hank Aaron came in and showed us around his home town!!

Mobile is the third most populous city in the U.S. state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. The population within the city limits was 198,915 as of the 2000 census.

The earliest origins of Mobile began with a Muskhogean Native American people in the fortified Mississippian town of Mauvila, also spelled Maubila, which Hernando de Soto's Spanish expedition destroyed in 1540. This earlier town is believed to have been further north than is the current city, but the later Mobilian tribe that the French colonists found in the area of Mobile Bay is theorized by scholars to have been descended from this earlier group of people. It is from this latter tribe that Mobile gained its name. The city began as the first capital of colonial French Louisiana in 1702, and during its first 100 years, Mobile was a colony for France, then Britain, and lastly Spain. Mobile first became a part of the United States of America in 1813, left the United States with Alabama in 1861 to become a part of the Confederate States of America, and then back to the United States in 1865.

Located at the junction of the Mobile River and Mobile Bay on the northern Gulf of Mexico, the city is the only seaport in Alabama. The Port of Mobile has always played a key role in the economic health of the city beginning with the city as a key trading center between the French and Native Americans down to its current role as the 11th largest port in the United States.

As one of the Gulf Coast's cultural centers, Mobile houses several art museums, a symphony orchestra, a professional opera, a professional ballet company, and a large concentration of historic architecture. Mobile is known for having the oldest organized Carnival/Mardi Gras celebrations in the United States.

Homework Review

New Orleans, LA

Or as Jack says, "Nowlens." I have given this city the name of "Many Interesting Words."

Here is the list; Hurricane, Zydeco, Jazz, Louis Armstrong, Mississippi, Cajun, Gumbo, Bayou, Delta, Alligators, Air boat, Mardi Gras, Bourbon Street and the French Quarter. The gumbo is great and the music is even better.

Houston, TX - More to come!

YEE HAW! Houston is enormous with tons to do! Leslie showed us around town and then we went out on the town. We went to see the USS Texas! Thanks for showing us the way Leslie!

Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States of America and the largest city within the state of Texas. As of the 2006 U.S. Census estimate, the city has a population of 2.14 million within an area of 600 square miles. Houston is the seat of Harris County and an economic center of the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area—the sixth-largest metropolitan area in the U.S. with a population of more than 5.5 million.

Houston was founded on August 30, 1836 by brothers Augustus Chapman Allen and John Kirby Allen on land near the banks of Buffalo Bayou. The city was incorporated on June 5, 1837 and named after then-President of the Republic of Texas—former General Sam Houston—who had commanded at the Battle of San Jacinto, which took place 25 miles east of where the city was established. The burgeoning port and railroad industry, combined with oil discovery in 1901, has induced continual surges in the city's population. In the mid-twentieth century, Houston became the home of the Texas Medical Center—the world's largest concentration of healthcare and research institutions—and NASA's Johnson Space Center, where Mission Control Center is located.

Houston's economy has a broad industrial base in the energy, manufacturing, aeronautics, and technology; only New York City is home to more Fortune 500 headquarters. Commercially, Houston is ranked as a world city, and the area is a leading center for building oilfield equipment. The Port of Houston ranks first in the United States in international waterborne tonnage handled and second in total cargo tonnage handled. The city has a multicultural population with a large and growing international community. It is home to many cultural institutions and exhibits—attracting more than 7 million visitors a year to the Houston Museum District. Houston has an active visual and performing arts scene in the Theater District and is one of five U.S. cities that offer year-round resident companies in all major performing arts.

Dallas, TX

Alice, a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader, showed us around "The Big D" today and it was great! We learned about the sad story of John F. Kennedy and we went to the new Dallas Stadium among many other things. We even went on the roller coasters down at Six Flags; and we learned about the 6 flags. Snapple and Chucky Cheese both started in Dallas and we got to try some Snapple drinks too!

"Everything is big in Texas," "Live Large, Think Big" those are just a couple of things that we heard today in Dallas. What a neat town and amazing and sometimes sad history. We rode on the Texas Star and went out to Southfork Ranch. Who shot Jr?

Dallas is the third-largest city in the state of Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. Residents of Dallas are called Dallasites. The city covers 385 square miles and is the county seat of Dallas County. As of July 1, 2006, U.S. Census estimates put central Dallas at a population of over 1.2 million. The city is the main economic center of the 12-county Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metropolitan area—at 6 million people, it is the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States. Dallas is listed as a gamma world city by the Loughborough University Globalization and World Cities Study Group & Network.

Dallas was founded in 1841 and formally incorporated as a city on 2 February 1856. The city's economy is primarily based on the petroleum industry, telecommunications, computer technology, banking, and transportation. It is the core of the largest inland metropolitan area in the United States and lacks any navigable link to the sea—Dallas's prominence despite this comes from its historical importance as a center for the oil and cotton industries, its position along numerous railroad lines, and a strong industrial and financial sector.

Little Rock, AR

We looked at the demographics and agribusiness. It was neat to walk around the University of Arkansas! We learned that the Arkansas River is a tributary to the Mississippi River!

We learned about the heroes of Central High today. 9 students that dared to go to a desegregated high school in 1957. An amazing story. We saw the capital building which is a small version of our capital building in Washington D.C. We learned a lot about the area and the history!

Little Rock is the capital and the most populous city of the State of Arkansas. It is also the county seat of Pulaski County and had a city population of 184,422 in the 2006 census estimates. It and North Little Rock, Arkansas are co-principal cities of the six-county Little Rock-North Little Rock Metropolitan Statistical Area, an area with a population of 652,834 people, according to 2006 census estimates. The MSA is in turn included in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Pine Bluff Combined Statistical Area, which had a population of 829,032 in the 2006 census estimates.

Located near the geographic center of Arkansas, Little Rock derives its name from a small rock formation on the south bank of the Arkansas River called La Petite Roche (the "little rock"). The "little rock" was used by early river traffic as a landmark and became a well-known river crossing.






We celebrated some of our favorite book characters today!

100th Day of School

Memphis, TN

We met the KING!!! And we celebrated the 100th Day of School with world class BBQ!!

We couln't help but dance in Memphis today. What a rich history. There are all sorts of museums here along with all sorts of places to see. We will have to make it to Graceland, the Gibson guitar factory, the Civil rights museum and so much more!! We learned all about the King of Rock and Roll. Elvis lived quite a life and even served his country for 6 years.

There is a rich history here with music and the Civil Rights Movement. The more you explore this city the more amazing it becomes!

Memphis is a city in the southwest corner of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. Memphis rises above the Mississippi River on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff just south of the mouth of the Wolf River.

As of 2006, Memphis had an estimated population of 670,902, making it the largest city in the state of Tennessee, the second largest in the southeastern region (only to Jacksonville, Florida), and the 17th largest in the United States.

The greater Memphis metropolitan area, including the adjacent counties of Mississippi and Arkansas, has a population of 1,260,581. This makes Memphis the second largest metropolitan area in Tennessee, surpassed only by metropolitan Nashville.

St. Louis, MO

We met Harry S. Truman today!! He taught us about Missouri and St. Louis. They had some of the strangest laws ever in this state!

The St. Louis Arch was amazing! What a view! It is weird to look out the windows and not see anything underneath you!

St. Louis is an independent city in the U.S. state of Missouri. It is bordered by the Mississippi River on the east and by St. Louis County on the north, south, and west. St. Louis is the largest metropolitan area in Missouri. Sometimes written as Saint Louis, the city is named for King Louis IX of France. St. Louis is known for its French and German heritage and Victorian past. Two events at the beginning of the 20th century, the 1904 World's Fair and 1904 Olympic Games (the first ever held in the United States) are of particular pride to St. Louisans. In the 21st century, St. Louis has transformed from a manufacturing and industrial economy into a globally known focus for research in medicine, biotechnology, and other sciences.

Chicago, IL

Zoe showed us around Chicago today and she showed us just what a great town this is! Man, talk about a lot to do and a fascinating history!! What a place!

Chicago, is the largest city in the state of Illinois and the largest in the Midwest. With its population of over 2.8 million people located almost entirely in Cook County Chicago is the third largest city in the United States. The population of Chicago's metropolitan area, which extends over several counties, contains over 9.7 million people in Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana, making it the third largest metropolitan area in the U.S. Rich in history and renowned for its innovative and influential architecture, Chicago is classified as an alpha world city.

Located at the site of a portage between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River watershed, Chicago was incorporated as a city in 1837. It rapidly became a major transportation hub, as well as the business, financial, and cultural capital of the Midwest.

Valentine's Party

Milwaukee, WI

Did you know?

* Milwaukee is the largest city in Wisconsin.

* Is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan.

* Was created by 3 towns coming together.

* Has professional sports teams.

Milwaukee is the largest city in the state of Wisconsin and 22nd largest (by population) in the United States. The city is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. As of the 2006 U.S. Census estimate, Milwaukee had a population of 602,782. The city is the main cultural and economic center of the Milwaukee–Racine–Waukesha Metropolitan Area with a population of 1,773,519.

Once known almost exclusively as a brewing and manufacturing powerhouse, Milwaukee has taken steps in recent years to reshape its image. In the past decade, major new additions to the city have included the Milwaukee Riverwalk, the Midwest Airlines Center, Miller Park, an internationally renowned addition to the Milwaukee Art Museum, and Pier Wisconsin, as well as major renovations to the Milwaukee Auditorium and U.S. Cellular Arena. In addition, many new skyscrapers, condos, lofts, and apartments have been constructed in neighborhoods on and near the lakefront and riverbanks

Madison, WI

Madison showed us around the Isthmus today and it was so much fun! What a great place!! So much to see and do!!

What an awesome city!! Man would this be a great place to go to college. Part of its beauty is that it is built on an isthmus! State street is a fun place to visit. We learned all about the U of W and their rivalry with the U of M. We also learned that the Gophers have not had the Paul Bunyan's Axe for quite some time.

Madison also has a rich cycling history with the Heidens' and the Phinney's.

Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

The 2006 population estimate of Madison was 223,389, making it the second largest city in Wisconsin, after Milwaukee, and the 82nd largest in the United States. The city forms the core of the United States Census Bureau's Madison Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Dane County and neighboring Iowa and Columbia counties. The Madison MSA had a 2006 estimated population of 543,022, and is one of the fastest-growing in Wisconsin.

Click here for great video about Madison! (I couldn't embed this one into the blog.)

S'mores!!

Duluth, MN

Brandon showed us around Duluth and the North Shore. There is so much to do and it is soooo beautiful! What a great place!! Canal Park is beautiful and the lift bridge is loud!!

Brandon works at Betty's Pies and we even got to have a slice!! Mmmmmm!