Stanton Hall in Natchez, Mississippi | September 1974 & April 2014

Excerpt from my grandmother’s travel journal on September 27th, 1974: "We treated ourselves only to the inside of Stanton Hall — magnificent, ornate mansion under oaks and magnolias. Very much silver around, marble, and wood-cut mantles and doors, silver Sheffield hinges that after 150 years still support the tremendous mahogany doors, furniture, carpets, mirrors from France and Italy — splendors of a plantation fortune."

Rosedown Plantation in St. Francisville, Louisiana | February 1978 & April 2014

Badlands National Park Visitor Center, South Dakota | 1973 & 2013

It was interesting to note that the Badlands was designated as a National Monument until it was reclassified as a National Park in 1978. The Visitor Center has been named after Ben Reifel since it’s construction in 1957-58, but the sign was changed somewhere between 1973 and 2013. It was also interesting to see how much (or how little) that tree had grown in 40 years.

I almost didn’t get entry into the Badlands to capture this image. The government shutdown went into affect the night before, but I decided to try my luck anyway. Fortunately for me there was a delay in paperwork, which allowed enough time to capture this image and explore a portion of the park.

Winchester Bay, Oregon Coast | June 1981 & October 2012

Excerpt from my grandmother’s travel journal: "Winchester Bay - since we promised ourselves at least one good seafood dinner, we went in and had one at the "Grotto" — clam chowder, salmon, baked potato, home baked bread, butter, and sour cream chives - delicious!! And so much so, we had to go for a walk around the docks with boats of all sizes."

Mississippi River Banks in Natchez, Mississippi | September 1974 & April 2014

Excerpt from my grandmother’s travel journal on September 27th, 1974: "Delta Queen was on the river and supposed to leave at noon — we were just lucky to be there at the right time. She took the last passengers aboard, took her lines in, the gangplank, played the steaming calleiope, whirled her back wheel — and was thoroughly stuck in the sandbank! It took her a half hour before she had swayed herself a flatter bed and was able to pull back and then into the middle of the river."

A lot has changed along the Mississippi banks since 1974. While steamboats still dock in Natchez, the spot where the Delta Queen came to rest is now permanently occupied by the Isle of Capri Casino Boat.

Needles Highway in Custer State Park, South Dakota | 1973 & 2013

Not having my grandmother’s travel journal from 1973, all I could figure out was that the photo was taken somewhere along the Needles Highway in South Dakota. Imagine my excitement when I drove around the corner and the very same rock formation towered before me.
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