Travelogues: The Blog
Save the RMS Queen Mary
The RMS Queen Mary, named after Mary of Teck, is a retired ocean liner docked in the Port of Long Beach. It sailed the Atlantic Ocean from 1936 to 1967. Luxury & Opulence is the key to this Art Deco Dream. Queen Mary was the last great ocean liner built during the golden age of world travel. Elizabeth Taylor, Lucille Ball, Gloria Swanson & Fred Astaire among many other silver screen stars called this sailing palace home while on the voyage to Europe.
During WWII, it was nicknamed the 'Grey Ghost' and transported 765,429 Military Personnel. It became the world's largest and fastest troopship. Winston Churchill even considered it his headquarters at sea. The Queen Mary holds the world record for the most people ever carried on a ship on a single crossing with 16,682 troops.
In 1947, passenger service resumed. Modern amenities such as air conditioning were added but this would not prove to be enough as jet planes began to change the industry and the Queen was soon retired. Queen Mary opened as a tourist attraction in 1971 and continues to delight today with a hotel, museum, and restaurants. The ship in full can be explored at your leisure.
Before the world shut down, I had the privilege to have a private photography tour. Prior management was always supportive of my work and sometimes shared it on their social media. My knowledgeable guides informed me of the dire condition and immediate necessary repairs to stay afloat. Immediate repair estimates are at $5-20 million with future estimates totaling $200 million. The ship is disintegrating from below and is struggling to stay afloat. The City of Long Beach recently approved emergency funding but the future remains unclear. One thing is certain, we cannot sit by and watch another landmark crumble; I cannot imagine a California without it.
Death Valley Scotty's Castle
"I got four things to live by: Don't say nothing that will hurt anybody. Don't give advice--nobody will take it anyway. Don't complain. Don't explain. "
-Death Valley Scotty
Scotty's Castle is a Mission & Spanish Colonial architectural wonder in Death Valley National Park. It was created under the vision of Walter E. Scott, later known as Death Valley Scotty, a famous gold mine con man. Walter convinced millionaire Chicago investor Albert Mussey Johnson to invest in his fake mine.
The investment turned out to be a fraud but Albert enjoyed Scotty's enthusiasm and passion so much that they teamed up to build a castle. Albert & his wife Bessie used the villa as their winter home and rented out the property for the rest of the year. Scotty entertained the guests with his fictitious tales of the west and became a Mojave desert legend.
The National Park Service purchased the property in 1970 and has led tours of the interior and grounds ever since. All original furnishings remain making this an authentic western experience. The castle became buried due to a 2015 flood and is currently closed and estimated to reopen to the public in 2022.
I am proud to showcase never-before-seen colorized photos from the historical Frasher Foto Postcard Collection.
