OldWestNewWest.com: History & Travel Magazine

Yosemite National Park’s Half Dome Cables Ready for Public on May 24

Weather permitting, the cables on Half Dome in Yosemite National Park in California will be in place and open for the season on Friday, May 24, 2013, according to park service officials.

The cables provide access to the summit of Half Dome, one of Yosemite's most popular hikes. The hike is not to be taken lightly, however.

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• yosemite

Foundation Announces Plans For $80 Million Dallas Maritime Museum

A maritime museum in the middle of Texas? That's what orgamizers announced May 17, 2013 as they unveiled plans featuring U.S. Navy and other vessels that may have borne the name Dallas in active maritime service or have a connection to the North Texas region.

Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings and other local leaders unveiled plans to build the Dallas Maritime Museum, at a news conference held at the 3.5-acre site of the museum, located in the Cedars neig...

Lassen Volcanic National Park’s Scenic Drive to Open for Memorial Day Weekend

The main park road through Lassen Volcanic National Park in northern California is scheduled to open at noon Friday, May 24, 2013 in time for the Memorial Day weekend.

"The unusually warm spring weather has really helped in snow plowing operations and will give greater access for visitors this coming holiday weekend," said Superintendent Darlene M Koontz.

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• california

Free Telescope Viewing at Grand Canyon National Park’s Star Party

Planets, stars, galaxies, the man in the moon, all will be on center stage for the 23rd annual Grand Canyon Star Party from June 8 through June 15, 2013 on the South and North rims of Grand Canyon National Park.

This event is sponsored by the National Park Service, Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association (South Rim), and Saguaro Astronomy Club of Phoenix (North Rim), with funding from the Grand Canyon Association.

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• grand canyon

The American Soldier Exhibit Opens May 25 at the History Colorado Center

History Colorado kicks off a summer of exploration of local and national military history at the History Colorado Center in Denver with the opening of "The American Soldier: A Photographic Tribute" on May 25, 2013.

On view through Sept. 2, 2013, this national traveling exhibition features 116 enlarged photographs that capture unforgettable images of American soldiers, beginning on the Civil War battlefields in 1861, when the new medium of photogra...

Buffalo Bill Center of the West Readies New Exhibits for Summer

Several stellar exhibitions highlight the upcoming season for the Buffalo Bill Center of the West (formerly the Buffalo Bill Historical Center) in Cody, Wyoming, now in its summer operating hours of 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. daily.

Already on display and remaining so through Aug. 11, 2013, the National Geographic Greatest Photographs of the American West exhibition features 75 iconic Western images that have appeared in the magazine over the past 125 years.

The Important Role Poet Laureates Play in the West

Many folks know that there is a national poet laureate position that rotates each year. The position is appointed by the Library of Congress, a tradition first begun in 1937 with the appointment of Joseph Auslander. The current poet laureate is Natasha Trethewey. Poet laureates serve from October through May of each year.

The post of poet laureate is not to be taken lightly. The poets appointed represent to the world the passionate, diverse field ...

New Catamaran To Add Service to Channel Islands National Park

Island Packers, the official concessioner for Channel Islands National Park along the Southern California coastline, will celebrate 45 years in business with the christening of their new 64-foot catamaran next on, April 30, 2013, in Ventura Harbor.

The new catamaran, appropriately named Island Explorer , was built by All American Marine in Bellingham, Wash. It joins the Island Packers' fleet of two catamarans, the Islander and Island Adventure , and a s...