#549 Virginia, USA

Central Park is an urban park in Manhattan in New York City. The park initially opened in 1857, on 778 acres (315 ha) of city-owned land (it is 840 acres today). In 1858, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a design competition to improve and expand the park with a plan they entitled the Greensward Plan. Construction began the same year, continued during the American Civil War, and was completed in 1873. Central Park is the most visited urban park in the United States.

Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1962, the park is currently managed by the Central Park Conservancy under contract with the city government. The Conservancy is a non-profit organization that contributes 83.5% of Central Park's $37.5 million annual budget, and employs 80.7% of the park's maintenance staff.

Wikipedia.org

Thank you, Ashley !

Sent on: March 17, 2014

Received on: March 24, 2014

#401 Virginia, USA

Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. The signing of the Residence Act on July 16, 1790, approved the creation of a capital district located along the Potomac River on the country's East Coast. As permitted by the U.S. Constitution, the District is under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Congress and is therefore not a part of any U.S. state.

The states of Maryland and Virginia each donated land to form the federal district, which included the preexisting settlements of Georgetown and Alexandria. Named in honor of George Washington, the City of Washington was founded in 1791 to serve as the new national capital. Congress returned the land originally ceded by Virginia in 1846 and created a single municipal government for the remaining portion of the District in 1871.

Wikipedia.org

Thank you, Kate !

Sent on: October 31, 2013

Received on: November 11, 2013

#93 Luray, Virginia, USA

Luray Caverns, originally called Luray Cave, is a large, celebrated commercial cave just west of Luray, Virginia, USA, which has drawn many visitors since its discovery in 1878. The underground cavern system is generously adorned with speleothems (columns, mud flows, stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone, mirrored pools, etc.). The caverns are perhaps best known for the Great Stalacpipe Organ, a lithophone made from solenoid fired strikers that tap stalactites of various sizes to produce tones similar to those of xylophones, tuning forks or bells.

U.S. National Natural Landmark: 1974

Wikipedia.org

Aitäh, Katrina !

Sent on: June 25, 2012

Received on: June 28, 2012

#50 Virginia, USA | US-1043275

Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state located in the South Atlantic region of the United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth are shaped by the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Chesapeake Bay, which provide habitat for much of its flora and fauna. The capital of the Commonwealth is Richmond; and Virginia Beach is the most populous city. Fairfax County is the most populous political subdivision. The wealthiest is Loudoun County.

State Capital: Richmond
Largest City: Virginia Beach
Admission to Union: June 25, 1788 (10th)
Highest Point: Mount Rogers 5,729 ft (1746 m)
Lowest Point: Atlantic Ocean - sea level

Wikipedia.org

Date of Issue: January 24, 2003 - American Design: American Clock

Thank you, Jennifer (Winpax) !

Received on: March 21, 2011

Travel time: 6 days

Distance: 7056 km (4384 miles)