Alcatraz Island and Federal Penitentiary

I recently visited Alcatraz Island, home to the infamous federal penitentiary that once housed the likes of Al Capone. The catalyst was @Large, a series of site-specific installations by artist/activist Ai Weiwei, but of course I toured the entire island as well.

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Van Antwerp Bldg. Ghost Sign in Mobile

The grand old Van Antwerp Bldg. is located on the corner of Dauphin and Royal Sts. in downtown Mobile. When it opened in 1908, the 11-story structure was hailed as the first skyscraper in Alabama. Of course, it also sports a majestic ghost sign!

Woolworth’s Ghost Sign in Mobile

This worn terrazzo entryway for Woolworth’s is on Dauphin St. in downtown Mobile, between Joachim and Conception Sts. Do I sound like an old-timer when I admit that I remember the old five-and-dime retailer Woolworth’s?

Looking Back: Best VL Posts of 2013

What a year it’s been, filled with so many adventures! These are my favorite experiences of 2013, including some Cincinnati gems as well as public art and architecture elsewhere, plus some crazy nature to boot. There was a lot of Art Deco exploration this year, from Miami Beach to Rockefeller Center.

Schwobilt Ghost Sign in Mobile

Spotted in downtown Mobile, AL. Founded in 1912, Schwobilt was a Georgia-based clothing company with stores throughout the South [factoid found here].

Joyce Ghost Sign in Mobile

I love this drop-shadow type! I spotted this old terrazzo entryway in downtown Mobile. My guess is that this was a jewelry or clothing store, but it’s more fun to think that a larger-than-life woman named Joyce audaciously commissioned this typographic testament to her ego.

USS Alabama (BB-60) in Mobile

The USS Alabama (BB-60), a South Dakota-class battleship that served in WWII, measures 680 feet from stem to stern, half as long as the Empire State Building is tall, and 108 feet at the widest point. She was decommissioned in 1947, fully retired in 1962 and, in 1965, became a museum ship.

USS Drum (SS-228) in Mobile

Launched on 12 May 1941, the USS Drum (SS-228) was the first of the Gato-class submarines to be commissioned and enter WWII. It’s now located in Battleship Memorial Park alongside the USS Alabama and a collection of notable aircraft.