BUILDERS — EXPLORE THE ATTIC

Posts in BUILDERS

THE MAN WHO GREENED AMERICA

THE MAN WHO GREENED AMERICA

Central Park. Prospect Park. The Capitol grounds. Emerald necklaces. . . Frederick Law Olmsted spread greenery coast-to-coast.

HEROES, BUILDERSThe AtticAugust 8, 2024Frederick Law Olmsted, Central Park, New York City, Landscape architecture, environmental movement Comments

ROCK OF AGES, CLEFT BY ME

ROCK OF AGES, CLEFT BY ME

Near Vermont’s mountain of granite, quarrymen carved their dreams into stone.

BUILDERS, WONDERSThe AtticAugust 1, 2024Hope Cemetery, Barre, Barre vermont, Cemeteries, Italian immigrants Comment

RIDING THE MIRACLE RAILS -- "NOTHING LIKE IT IN THE WORLD"

RIDING THE MIRACLE RAILS -- "NOTHING LIKE IT IN THE WORLD"

The Attic journeys over the Sierras on the trackbeds of America’s epic Transcontinental Railroad.

American Places, BUILDERSThe AtticAugust 11, 2022Transcontinental Railroad, Amtrak, Trains, Train rides, Sierra Nevadas Comments

THE CHRYSLER BUILDING AND THE RACE TO THE SKY

THE CHRYSLER BUILDING AND THE RACE TO THE SKY

Topping Manhattan’s soaring skyline took money, ego, and an architect’s secret plan.

BUILDERSThe AtticOctober 22, 2021Chrysler Building, William Van Alen, Walter P. Chrysler, Skyscrapers, Manhattan skyscrapers, Craig Severance Comments

"IMMIGRANTS -- WE GET THE JOB DONE!"

"IMMIGRANTS -- WE GET THE JOB DONE!"

Central and Union Pacific agreed. Without immigrants — Chinese and Irish — the mighty Transcontinental RR would not have been.

BUILDERSThe AtticJanuary 22, 2021Transcontinental Railroad, Chinese-Americans, Irish-Americans, Railroads Comments

THE MOHAWKS AND 'HIGH STEEL'

THE MOHAWKS AND 'HIGH STEEL'

Builders offered jobs on the ground, but the Mohawks soared. Soon these “Fearless Wonders” were building the American skyline.

BUILDERSThe AtticAugust 6, 2020Mohawk Nation, Mohawks, Mohawk Riveters, American Labor, Skyscrapers Comments

JANE JACOBS -- THE WOMAN WHO SAVED OUR CITIES

JANE JACOBS -- THE WOMAN WHO SAVED OUR CITIES

The Power Broker knew how to build but Jane Jacobs knew how to make cities livable. Her book revived urban America. You’re welcome.

BUILDERS, REBELSThe AtticDecember 6, 2019Jane Jacobs, Urban planning, Robert Moses, American cities, The Life and Death of Great Cities Comments

"ICARUS" -- THE PHOTO THAT FLEW

"ICARUS" -- THE PHOTO THAT FLEW

It took courage to build skyscrapers, and courage to photograph the ones who “built America.”

BUILDERS, ART-ISHThe AtticApril 12, 2019Lewis Hine, Photography, Empire State Building, American Labor Comments

THE AMAZING TOWERS OF WATTS

THE AMAZING TOWERS OF WATTS

One man. A vision. Thirty years working in his backyard. The Watts Towers are "as pure a work of art as this country can rightly call its own."

BUILDERS, WONDERS, ART-ISHThe AtticNovember 14, 2018Simon Rodia, Watts Towers, Folk art, Art, American Originals Comments

AN AUCTION IN BRICK CITY

AN AUCTION IN BRICK CITY

Hebron bricks were “what America is made of.” But the bricklayer’s house went for a song.

BUILDERSThe AtticJuly 19, 2017North Dakota, American heartland, American Labor Comment

THE GRAND COULEE DAM -- "BIGGEST THING THAT MAN HAS EVER DONE"

THE GRAND COULEE DAM -- "BIGGEST THING THAT MAN HAS EVER DONE"

Fifty stories high and a mile wide. The Attic visits the great Grand Coulee Dam.

American Places, Who Built America?, BUILDERSThe AtticJune 29, 2017Grand Coulee Dam, Washington State, Woody Guthrie, Dams, Pacific Northwest Comment