Pikeville AME Zion Church

The Pikeville African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church is the oldest African-American church still operating in Bledsoe County. The main part of the building dates back to 1870 when it served as the Freedman's Bureau school. The AME Zion dates back to 1888 when it was identified as a meeting house in a deed. It served as a school until the 1920's. Today it is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Southern #630 comes around the bend - 2013 Railfest

Railfest is the annual celebration at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in Chattanooga, TN. This year as part of the celebration, they offered Southern Railway 2-8-0 #630 as an excursion round trip to Cleveland, TN. Once the locomotive made it back to the Chattanooga station, it had to be re-positioned from one end of the train to the other, which it is seen here doing along their wye.

This locomotive was built in 1904 by the American Locomotive Company Richmond Works. It was restored to operation at TVRM in 2011 and is now part of Norfolk Southern's 21st Century Steam program.

You can see quite a thorough collection of photos of #630, the Missionary Ridge Local with Southern FP7 #6133, and other rolling stock on the grounds. This gallery is on my website here:
seemidtn.com/gallery/index.php?album=chattanooga%2Frailfe...

Also, I took video and put it on youtube:
Just the steam train departure seen here: youtu.be/QVBCATNnTQI
That, and more footage of the steam train: youtu.be/85iljPK1TfY
All the steam footage, plus the Missionary Ridge local: youtu.be/AhCCpvO41iM

Green-Winged Macaw - Birmingham Zoo

The Green-winged macaw is a large mostly-red macaw of the Ara genus. It is the largest of the Ara genus, widespread in the forests and woodlands of northern and central South America. However, in common with other macaws, in recent years there has been a marked decline in its numbers due to habitat loss and illegal capture for the parrot trade.

The Green-winged macaw can be readily identified from the Scarlet Macaw as whilst the breast of both birds is bright red, the upper-wing covert feathers of the Green-winged macaw are mostly green but can occasionally sport a few yellow feathers above the band of green (as opposed to mostly yellow, or a strong mix of yellow and green in the Scarlet Macaw). In addition, the Green-winged macaw has characteristic red lines around the eyes formed by rows of tiny feathers on the otherwise bare white skin patch; this is one of the biggest differences from a Scarlet Macaw to the casual viewer. Iridescent teal feathers are surrounded by red on the tail. If seen together, the Green-winged macaw is clearly larger than the Scarlet Macaw as well.

Daytona Restaurant neon sign - Dayton, TN

Air conditioned! So the sign is old enough that it dates back to the days when that was enough of a rarity to be pointed out on the signage. Located one block east of the town square.

Capitol Theater - Union City, TN

The Capitol Theater opened in 1927 in the central business district in Union City. As on 1999, the Theater is on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1994, the theater was used for live action productions under the name Masquerade Theater. The Marquee can still light up at night.

Gen John Morgan Statue - Lexington, KY

This equestrian statue of General John H. Morgan is located in downtown Lexington on the grounds of the old Fayette County Courthouse. The statue is itself listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

As a young boy, Morgan's family moved to Lexington. As an adult, he owned a hemp factory and a woolen mill. In the Civil War, he was killed in Greeneville, TN and was buried in the Lexington Cemetery.

Hungry snail

Snail munching on some greenery.
seen at Rock Island state park, TN

Historic Ye Ole Jail - Jamestown, TN

The new jail is now an addition onto the county courthouse. This old jail is on the Jamestown town square. The building is now used as the local Chamber of Commerce and the headquarters for the 127 Sale aka "World's Longest Garage Sale."

The jail is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building is over 100 years old and made of native sandstone.

Rock City's Diamond Corridor Gnomes

Located soon past the entrance to Rock City's Fairyland Caverns are these two gnomes on a swing holding the sign to the Diamond Corridor.

On my website, I have created a gallery entitled "A Tour of Rock City" where I not only have tried to photograph each individual display in Fairyland Caverns and much of Mother Goose's Village, but all the other wondrous scenes at the beloved tourist attraction.
seemidtn.com/gallery/index.php?album=chattanooga%2Frock-city

Trousdale County Courthouse at Night

This courthouse is the third to be built in Hartsville, after the first one burned down in 1901 and it's replacement also burned down just two years later. Completed in 1906, this courthouse is made out of brick on a stone foundation. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Hartsville Historic District.

The top of the courthouse features stepped gables in front of a small cupola on the hip roof. Along the front, brick bands provide decoration, as well as an entry porch. One story additions have been added to either side. Since my previous visit five years earlier, several trees have been removed making it easier to view the courthouse architectural details.