Gardiner Station - Yellowstone Park

The following description is on the back of this postcard:

Northern Pacific is the Direct and Only Line to Gardiner's Gateway, Original and Northern Entrance to Yellowstone Park. Season June 15 to September 15.

Stagecoaches pulled by six horses transported visitors from the train station to the hotel at Mammoth Hot Springs. Four-horse Observation Wagons were used to take visitors on the "Grand Loop" tour through the park. (source: National Park Service)

Greetings From Park Rapids, Minn.

Big fish were a popular subject on comic postcards of the linen era. Postcards were sometimes imprinted with a location name. This one is imprinted with "Greetings From Park Rapids, Minn." It was sent from Park Rapids on July 30, 1947--65 years ago today.

The sender apparently was vacationing in the Park Rapids area, a popular vacation destination and the Gateway to the Mississippi River Headwaters at Itasca State Park. She wrote:

Dear Jeannie,
Well, I finally wrote that card you were nagging me about & will mail it with yours.
Have I ever been having fun. A ten yr. old gal is teaching me how to dive & swim--my aching muscles! Have I ever got a beautiful sunburn. I miss you.
Naomi

Royal Wedding (1981) Stamps

Above are Guernsey Post Office Stamp-Cards reproducing Guernsey stamps of Charles and Diana. These stamps were issued on July 29, 1981 for the Royal Wedding of Charles and Diana that took place on that date. They are part of a set of seven stamps. Today (July 29) is the anniversary of that wedding.

Below is a picture of a mini sheet that included these stamps (source: Stamp Photos).

This is a post for Sunday Stamps at Viridian's Postcard Blog

Pan American World Airways - Mexican Crafts

Pan American World Airways issued this advertising postcard circa 1948. The description is written in three languages: "Skilled silversmiths and expert weavers exhibit their wares in Mexico, on the routes of the Flying Clippers."

A handwritten message on the back says: "Having a wonderful time. Everyone is expecting you down here in July."

Largest Viking in the World - Alexandria, Minnesota

The "Largest Viking in the World" is in Alexandria, Minnesota, "The Birthplace of America." The statue stands 28 feet tall and weighs more than 12,000 pounds. It accompanied the famed Kensington Runestone to the New York World's Fair in 1965 and was then brought to Alexandria. Alexandria calls itself "The Birthplace of America" because it is claimed that the Runestone was brought there by the Vikings in 1362.

On this postcard (published in 1967), the statue is standing at the north end of Main St. and calls attention to the Runestone Museum. The statue was moved to a park nearby in 2002. Over the years, the statue became known as "Big Ole," changed its hair color, and lost its horns. It is now believed that the Vikings did not have helmets with horns.

Cornell University Panorama

This is a four panel folding postcard showing a panoramic view of Cornell University as it looked about 100 years ago. This card measures 22-3/8" X 3-1/2" when open. The individual panels of the view are shown below.

Three of the back panels are blank, and one has spaces for the address and postage stamp. That side was for the address only.

The printing in the stamp box gives the postage rates and the name of the publisher, The Albertype Co.

Cornell University is a Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York. It was founded in 1865 by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White. The university was intended to teach and make contributions in all fields of knowledge—from the classics to the sciences, and from the theoretical to the applied. These ideals, unconventional for the time, are captured in Cornell's motto, a popular 1865 Ezra Cornell quotation: "I would found an institution where any person can find instruction in any study." This motto is included on the cornell University seal. (source: Wikipedia)

source: Wikipedia

There is a website with many vintage images of Cornell University here.

The location of Ithaca, New York is shown on this Google map.

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Chessie Lake Michigan Ferries Badger & Spartan

This postcard shows two Chessie Lake Michigan ferries. The Badger is in the background, and the deck of the Spartan is in the foreground. These ferries were originally built in 1951-53. They were named after the mascots of the University of Wisconsin and Michigan State University.

The following information is from the back of the postcard:

Chessie's water-borne links between Ludington, Michigan and the Wisconsin ports of Milwaukee, Manitowoc and Kewaunee move 175,000 passengers, 50,000 autos and 100,000 cars of freight annually across Lake Michigan. Vacationists from many states choose C & O's cross lake short cut as pleasant and restful interludes in a busy schedule. C & O's fleet of seven ships operate round the clock every day throughout the year.

After changing ownership several times, the Badger has survived as a summer only tourist service between Ludington and Maniwotoc carrying only passengers and vehicles. The ship is the only coal-fired steamship operating in North America. Its fate is uncertain because the Environmental Protection Agency wants the steamship to stop dumping tons of coal ash into Lake Michigan.

Learn more on the SS Badger website.