In an effort to attract families, this park features both a carousel, visible in the north-west corner of the stadium grounds, and a ferris wheel with ball-shaped cars.

Home to the Tigers, there are feline statues and motifs all over the building, including this 4.5m tall figurehead at the entrance to the stadium, flanked by two giant baseball bats. Note that the struts holding up the name sign are also bat-shaped!

The blue tank in centre field is a large fountain which gives elaborate displays between innings and after every Tiger score. Note the vehicles in each corner – the fountain is usually sponsored by one of the car manufacturers for which Detroit is renowned.

Unlike football stadiums and multi-purpose arenas, which tend to be quite generic, baseball stadiums provide architects and teams with much more freedom to add unique features to try to make their buildings attractive to the ticket-buying public.

A construction boom in the last couple of decades saw a trend towards smaller ‘retro’-styled parks topped off with design elements which range from the whimsical to the spectacular. The first of these was Oriole Park in Baltimore.

The stadium was built on former train yards owned by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and is officially called ‘Oriole Park at Camden Yards’. A former B&O building dominates the view from much of the park, and stretches the length of Eutaw Street which is closed on game days, with cheap tickets allowing access to standing areas with a view of the field.

When a home run lands in the street, the spot is marked with a plaque. See if you can also find the two orange seats inside the stadium that mark the locations of famous home runs!

There are two American League stadiums with retractable roofs. In Seattle, the satellite image of Safeco Field¹ shows the 3-section roof open and the infield apparently set up for some kind of corporate function, with tables and chairs and a small stage. When open, the roof is partly cantilevered over the train tracks which run past the stadium. Note that the sponsor’s huge logo is clearly visible whether the roof is open or closed.

Unlike virtually all other domed stadiums, the roof here does not fully enclose the facility to allow heating or cooling, it merely serves to protect it from the frequent rain that occurs in the Pacific Northwest.

Toronto’s variable seasons also make a domed stadium a necessity. With interesting timing, the satellite images caught the Rogers Centre²roof partway through the 20-minute rotational process of opening (or closing), showing the smallest of the segments on the west side of the building.

We also get an unusual perspective on the CN Tower, formerly the world’s tallest building, and one of the earliest sites visited by Google Sightseeing.

In New York, the new Yankee Stadium sits across just to the north of the recently-demolished original 1923 version.

The Street View images in the area allow us to see both stadiums standing side-by-side, and of course you can use Google Earth’s time slider to see how the sites have changed over many years – see prime parkland transformed into sports facility at great expense!

The focus here is on celebrating the game’s traditions, through artwork, monuments and historical items on display. Perhaps these distract game attendees from the exorbitant $2.3billion construction cost and seats which are some of the most expensive in professional sports.

Of particular controversy are those in the ‘Legends Suite’ – several rows behind home plate where seats have ranged in price from $500 to over $2,000! Opening in the midst of an economic crisis, takeup was slow, and the public perception of this zone fenced off from the surrounding fans was quite poor. As a result Yankees games on television often show many of these seats vacant.

Empty seats are also a problem on the other side of the continent where the Oakland Athletics play in a mixed-use stadium that, in 1996, had 10,000 additional seats constructed. This development – nicknamed Mount Davis after the notorious owner of the NFL’s Raiders – is covered during baseball season so that it doesn’t look so bad on television. The huge tarps, with the Athletics’ logo, are visible on Google’s recent 45 degree imagery.

Just to the south-east, in Anaheim, Angel Stadium is also visible in the 45 degree images. It is an older stadium, having opened in 1966. However, since Disney took over the team in 1996 it has been extensively modernised. Many new features have been added, including two large red caps by the main entrance, and an attempt to bring nature to the ballpark, with a rocky waterfall and trees beyond the centre field fence.

The iconic ‘Big A’ is a 70m tall metal structure that used to support the scoreboard inside the stadium. It was moved to the parking lot in the late 1970s. The ‘halo’ lights up whenever the Angels win a game.

To finish, here are a few notes about the other American League Stadiums.

Fenway Park in Boston is the oldest MLB stadium, and is best known for ‘the green monster’ – an 11m high wall in left field, though the satellite image doesn’t do it justice. (We can however see the grounds crew hard at work, and the field being setup for batting practice.) It also has a red seat marking the landing location of the longest home run, though I can’t find it on Google’s images.

In Kansas City, the Royals play in Kauffman Stadium which features a waterfall and acrobatic fountains which play between innings.

Google’s satellite images show players training on the field in Cleveland.

In Texas, Rangers Stadium is the only ballpark that I’ve noticed has its own heliport – just across the road to the west of the building. The exterior wall of the stadium is ringed with beautiful stone carvings, though they’re hard to make out on the first-generation low-res Street View images.

The Tampa Bay Rays play in a domed stadium which is actually in St Petersburg, Florida.

In Minneapolis, the Minnesota Twins play at Target Field, a new stadium not yet shown on the satellite images, though we can see it – and its dedicated transit station – mostly completed on Street View.

Finally, the Chicago White Sox play at US Cellular Field, which has a huge list of attractions – from luxury restaurants to misting rooms to cool off on hot summer days – though none of them are really visible from above.

Every stadium can be explored in more detail in the appropriate team’s section on the MLB site, and Wikipedia has good information as well.

Part two of this series will cover the National League, including a stadium with – would you believe – a swimming pool!

Locations: California, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Ontario, Texas, Washington / Categories: Buildings, Monuments, Stadiums and Sport, Street Views, Structures

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Firstly, there are bays (and sometimes lakes) named after days of the week; Wednesday Bay, Thursday Bay, Friday Bay, Saturday Bay, and Sunday Bay.

There are also lakes named after body parts; Finger Lake, Elbow Lake, Bone Lake, and Organ Lake to name a few.

One of my personal favorites is the series of lakes named after That Man and This Man. But then don’t forget about the Other Man (Lake) or even No Man (Lake) at all!

Some lakes just sound similar like Rum Lake and Ram Lake.

There’s even a Disappointment Lake for a good excuse when you have a bad fishing trip.

I think a Def Leppard fan got to name this one Rock of Ages Lake.

When the creative juices stop flowing sometimes it’s best to resort to numbers, like Eagles Nest Number One Lake… and Two Lake, Three Lake, and Four Lake.

I think the best grouping however has to be the region named after vegetables – Kraut Lake, Parsnip Lake, Bean Lake, Carrot Lake, Potato Lake, Celery Lake, Squash Lake, Turnip Lake, Onion Lake, Cucumber Lake, Tomato Lake, Peanut Lake, Strawberry Lake to name a few.

Take a look around and see what you can find!

There is of course more information on Boundary Waters at Wikipedia.

Locations: Minnesota, Ontario / Categories: Natural Landmarks

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Turrell purchased the extinct volcanic crater in Arizona in 1979, and has spent the subsequent years designing and secretively constructing an observatory. A spectacular central observation chamber is accompanied by at least one other platform, with various aspects giving views of the sun, moon and stars. The vernal equinoxes are also highlighted.

It is believed that this project has been a real struggle for Turrell, with opening dates regularly being set and later postponed¹. Despite the secrecy surrounding the location, a number of people have been granted permission to access the site² via the winding road which climbs the volcanic cone. Others have entered without permission. The New York Times also has a good article about Roden Crater.

Twenty five other Skyspaces are spread across the planet. Some are in natural locations like Roden Crater, but many are in galleries, museums and private buildings. The general concept is similar to the above – a tranquil room which allows people to sit peacefully and observe a limited section of the sky through an opening in a wall or the ceiling – an experience many find to be inspirational or meditative.

We’ve listing a few of them below, and challenge our readers to find the others (listed on Wikipedia) and provide links to them in the comments!

There are two Skyspaces in northern England: Deer Shelter at Yorkshire Sculpture Park and Kielder Skyspace near Kielder Water in Northumberland.

Sky Pesher³ at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis may not be much to look at from Street View, but their website gives a good sense of the beauty found inside.

Tending, (Blue), found in Dallas, has an attractive stone exterior, but again the real beauty to be found in these locations can only be seen from the inside – where the Street View car hasn’t ventured… yet!

Locations: Arizona, England, Minnesota, Texas / Categories: Buildings, Monuments, Natural Landmarks, Street Views, Structures

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So, today Google Sightseeing presents a collection of the most ‘creative’ neighbours¹.

First up: the small Colorado town of Antonito, where we find Cano’s Castle.

After repeated complaints from neighbours about the growing pile of beer cans on the property, the owner decided to put them to good use … nailing them to the walls and roof of the increasingly ramshackle buildings, along with hubcaps and other assorted scrap metal and assorted signs about the evils of alcohol and tobacco! It’s now a fairly well-known tourist attraction.

Following the same general idea is the imaginatively-named Beer Can House in Houston, Texas.

Owner John Milkovisch has used an estimated 50,000 beer cans (and has the beer belly to show it) in the decoration of his home, which is open to visitors on the weekend.

In the same city, but a different neighbourhood, we find the Orange Show.

A bizarre testament to one man’s love for citrus fruit, which has manifested itself in the form of garish folk art, much of it made from recycled junk. Jeff McKissack worked on it for 24 years until his death in 1980, at which point the neighbours may have hoped to see it disappear. Instead, a community association purchased the property which is now a thriving tourist attraction named the “Orange Show Center for Visionary Art”. Mr Milkovisch’s Beer Can House is apparently included in their definition of ‘visionary’.

While many people love Elvis, most don’t go quite so far as Paul McLeod – the owner of Graceland Too, a house in Holly Springs, Mississippi, which is about 70km from the real Graceland.

Once bright pink, the Street View cameras captured this modestly-sized replica painted white (and with a large election sign outside). We can, however see the lion statues and fake Christmas wreaths which echo the original. The interior is full of Elvis memorabilia, with the owner happy to give visitors a tour of his collection.

For something a little different, we have a perfectly normal house … which happens to be surrounded by nightmarish concrete and stone sculptures – the Garden of Eden in Lucas, Kansas.

Samuel Dinsmoor created this ‘sculptural environment‘ in the early 20th century, and thoughtfully included a 12m high limestone mausoleum, where his embalmed body is still on display decades after his death.

Some people take their creativity to rural areas, where they have more space to express themselves, as in the case of the Golden Pyramid House in Wadsworth, Illinois.

This is a private residence, so any curious passersby have to content themselves with the view from the road, where the pyramid can be seen in the distance beyond a giant statue and a wall covered in hieroglyphics.

Even more remote, and likely not even vaguely concerned about the neighbours, is Jim Bishop, who has been building a castle in the wilds of Colorado for more than 40 years!

While visitors are allowed, they are greeted by a long list of rules and a host with what are described as ‘extreme views’, who has been battling with authorities who control the state parks where he gathers stones for his creation, and the local tourist office which refuses to officially list it as an attraction.

We end with a couple of examples of property owners responding directly to complaints from their neighbours…

First to Youngwood Court in Los Angeles.

Neighbours weren’t happy when the owner Norwood Young erected a single replica of Michaelangelo’s statue of David. He responded to the complaints by installing a further 18 statues … and from time-to-time he decorates them in seasonal attire such as Santa outfits! The property is also known as the House of Davids!

Finally to St. Paul, Minnesota and a rather unusual triangular house.

The property at the corner of 3rd St and Gotzian is rather unconventional due to the angle at which the streets meet. The owner tried to build a normal house on the lot, but the neighbours, perhaps having enjoyed an empty space nearby for some years, objected to the plans.

Eventually the owner gave up trying to apply for variances and just built his home to the exact dimensions allowed, resulting in a house that must have some very interestingly-shaped rooms!

Locations: California, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Mississippi, Texas / Categories: Buildings, Street Views, Weirdness

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Common desserts include cookies, pastries and ice cream, although the ice cream isn’t normally this big.

Desserts are often eaten with a dessert spoon, intermediate in size between a teaspoon and a tablespoon (we’re pretty sure this is a dessert spoon).

One of my favourite desserts is cake (although I usually like my cakes without freaky papier-mâché models popping out of them).

Fruit may also be eaten for dessert…

…but the healthier options can be easy to ignore when presented with giant bars of chocolate.

Some strange people prefer to have a cup of coffee instead of dessert. Weirdos.

…

Erm… what? Desert week?

Don’t be so ridiculous, I’d have noticed.

Locations: Georgia, Germany, Iowa, Minnesota, Netherlands, Ontario, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah /

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10. Smackover, Arkansas: Claims to have the only “center of the road” traffic light in Arkansas!

9. French Lick, Indiana: Former home of Pluto Water, a laxative with the slogan “When Nature Won’t, PLUTO Will”!

8. Tightwad, Missouri: Supposedly named by a postman following an incident involving a watermelon and an extra fifty cents!

7. Climax, Minnesota: The actual town motto is “Climax – More than just a feeling”!

6. Gayville, South Dakota: Conveniently located in Yankton County!

5. Cumming, Georgia: Nicknamed the “Gateway to Leisure Living”!

4. Horneytown, North Carolina: Be sure to get the t-shirt!

3. Big Bone Lick State Park, Kentucky: Accessable by taking a ride on Beaver Road!

2. Hooker, Oklahoma: Home to the Horny Toads baseball team!

1. Cooter, Missouri: No, not because of the Dukes of Hazzard character!

Honorable mentions by popular request – Hell, Michigan and Truth or Consequences, New Mexico!

For similar GSS stories, be sure to check out Top 10 Rudest Place Names in Britain, Top 10 des noms de villes grossiers en France, Top 10 Unanständigste Ortsamen in Deutschland, Top Ten Confusing Place Names, and Longest Place Names.

Locations: Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Dakota, U.S. States / Categories: Weirdness

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An exclave is defined as “a territory whose geographical boundaries lie entirely within the boundaries of another territory.” Practically speaking, it is a portion of one territory that cannot be reached by land without first passing through another.

There are several examples of exclaves in the United States. One of the best known (and previously documented on GSS) is Point Roberts, Washington, an area of the state that can only be reached by first travelling through British Columbia, Canada.

The exclave of Point Roberts was created by the 1846 Oregon Treaty, which set the boundary between the United States and British North America at the 49th parallel north — with one exception. Due to various mapping mistakes and confusion over the location of the headwaters of the Mississippi River, the U.S.-Canada border juts northward to include a chunk of land lying north of the 49th parallel. This area, now part of the state of Minnesota, is known as the Northwest Angle.

The Angle (as it’s known by locals) can only be reached via a single gravel road through Manitoba, and visitors clear Customs in both directions via videophone in a small unmanned hut. The total population of the remote, 300 square km (116 square mile) township is 152, and it boasts the only remaining one-room school house in the state.

Just below the 49th parallel, and also cut off from the mainland of the U.S., is Elm Point, Minnesota. Elm Point is remote, uninhabited and roadless, yet satellite imagery appears to show a line cut through the forest at the U.S.-Canada border, presumably for clear sight lines along the border. Who would see any illegal activity along those sight lines is an unanswered question.

Alburgh, Vermont is a pene-exclave of the United States. Now before our dear readers crash the GSS servers thinking a pene-exclave is some sort of French rudeness, a bit of definition: a pene-exclave is an exclave for practical purposes, without meeting the strict definition of an exclave. In the case of Alburgh, the town lies on a peninsula connected to Canada (like Point Roberts and the Northwest Angle) but is linked to the rest of Vermont and neighbouring New York via bridges. These bridges serve as the only road route across Lake Champlain.

Among state borders within the U.S., many exclaves have been created over time by the meandering of flooded rivers. In these cases, legal boundaries remain in force, even though river courses render some areas cut off from the rest of their respective states. Among the most prominent examples are the Kentucky Bend and Carter Lake, Iowa.

The Kentucky Bend is an area of Kentucky that is completely surrounded by the states of Missouri and Tennessee. The Mississippi River passes over a geological fault in this area, and The Bend was formed by a shift in the course of the Mississippi River after an earthquake in 1812. A later surveying mistake (again with surveying mistakes?) while setting the Kentucky-Tennessee border created the division. The 44 square km (17 square mile) area is home to just 17 people. No bridges connect The Bend with the rest of Kentucky, and if you wish to send mail to someone in The Bend, his official postal address is (confusingly) in Tiptonville, Tennessee.

Finally, Carter Lake, Iowa is the only city in Iowa that lies west of the Missouri River. It is completely surrounded by Omaha, Nebraska, and was formed by a flood that straightened the course of the river in 1877. After a set of legal disputes Carter Lake was determined to be part of Iowa, and later became a recreational hot spot, offering casino gambling even though the rest of surrounding Nebraska outlaws it. The town’s utility services come from Nebraska, while children attend school across the Missouri River in Iowa. Travellers in Omaha driving to the city’s airport pass through Carter Lake¹, where signs reading “Welcome to Iowa” confuse many panicked out-of-state visitors.

You can read more about the Northwest Angle, Elm Point, Alburgh, the Kentucky Bend, and Carter Lake (along with a huge worldwide list of exclaves and enclaves) at Wikipedia.

Locations: Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Vermont, Washington / Categories: Natural Landmarks

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Perhaps best known as the location of Elvis Presley’s early recordings, the studio was also used by many rock-n-roll greats including Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison and Jerry Lee Lewis. The building reopened in 1987 as a functioning studio and museum, appearing soon after that in the U2 film Rattle and Hum.

Speaking of U2, their first three albums were recorded at Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin. While the studio has moved, the location remains a site of pilgrimage for devoted fans who cover the walls with graffiti, visible on Live Maps:

One of the more unique studios in the world is the Astoria studio, found in a houseboat on the River Thames west of London.

Built in 1911, and originally designed to house an entire orchestra, the boat is currently owned by Dave Gilmour and parts of Pink Floyd’s two most recent albums were recorded there.

Most of Prince’s albums from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s were recorded at the now-defunct studio that shared a name with a song and record label: Paisley Park.

While we’ve already visited the Abbey Road zebra crossing on Google Sightseeing, we didn’t look at the actual studio:

Home to the vast majority of The Beatles’ recording sessions, these studios have since hosted a Who’s Who of modern rock, pop and classical music, from Radiohead to the Spice Girls. The wall outside Abbey Road Studios is also covered in graffiti from music fans, though it’s not visible on either Google or Live Maps.

From 1959 to 1971, Motown Records put more than 110 songs into the Top 10 – the majority of them were recorded at Hitsville USA, a pair of Detroit buildings that housed the label’s studios and administrative offices.

The label moved to Los Angeles in 1972, but the buildings have served as a popular museum since 1985.

And finally we fly to Berlin to see the Hansa Tonstudios.

Perhaps most famous for David Bowie’s Low and Heroes albums, many artists have taken residence there seeking inspiration from the culture and history of East and West Berlin.

Where was your favourite album recorded?

Thanks to Lianachan, Stephen Jackson, Martin S., 433 and Stephen LaMora.

Locations: England, Germany, Ireland, Michigan, Minnesota, Tennessee / Categories: Buildings, Movie Locations, Street Views, Watercraft

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Judging by the bumper damage, I’m reckoning it wasn’t just a handbrake left off or a mistake whilst parking. Thankfully, the driver appears to be unhurt, and looks like she is being assisted by a friendly neighbour!

Thanks: Jalopnik.com

Locations: Minnesota / Categories: Other Vehicles, Street Views

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The BBC have a photo gallery containing some terrifying images of the devastation, and there’s also an aerial shot which clearly shows the extent of the damage.

More information can be found as it happens at Google News, and for the history of the bridge, see Wikipedia.

Our thoughts are with those affected.

Locations: Minnesota / Categories: Bridges

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