The World's Most Beautiful Places
Nada Tunnel in Red River Gorge, Kentucky. The tunnel was originally built by the Dana Lumber Company between 1910 and 1911 to transport timber via rail. The Big Woods, Red River & Lombard Railroad hauled logs from the abundant forests of the Red River valley to a sawmill in the town of Clay. The tunnel is 900 feet long, and is located on route 77, in Powell County. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.
A straw version of a Despicable Me character the Minion. Part of a homegrown Halloween display in the small, Midwestern town of Seymour, Indiana
The Minions are small, yellow, capsule-shaped creatures that originated in Despicable Me (2010), a film produced by Illumination and distributed by Universal Pictures. Created by Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud, the Minions serve as the mischievous yet loyal henchmen of the supervillain-turned-hero Gru. Their distinctive look, gibberish-like language (Minionese), and slapstick humor quickly made them a cultural phenomenon. The Minions were initially designed as simple, clumsy sidekicks, but their popularity led to a larger role in the sequels, spin-offs, and extensive merchandise. Their backstory was further explored in Minions (2015), revealing that they have existed for millions of years, evolving to serve the most despicable masters throughout history.
Throughout the Despicable Me franchise, the Minions add comedic relief, often getting into chaotic and hilarious situations due to their naivety and eagerness to help. Some Minions, like Kevin, Stuart, and Bob, have been given more distinct personalities, with Kevin often taking a leadership role, Stuart being playful and rebellious, and Bob being childlike and innocent. Their film Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022) explores their early relationship with a young Gru, showing how they helped shape his journey into villainy. Beyond the films, the Minions have become a global sensation, appearing in video games, theme park attractions, and countless viral memes, solidifying their status as one of the most recognizable animated characters of all time.
A very typical scene from rural towns in parts of Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio that I have visited, where local residents hang up street banners recognizing, and honoring the sacrifices of war veterans from many eras, from World War II, up through the present day. I imagine scenes like this are common place in other states in the Midwest as well. This particular photo comes from Midway, Kentucky, which is name Midway because it is half way between Frankfort, Kentucky’s capital, and Lexington, one of Kentucky’s largest cities, the heart of the bluegrass region, and self-proclaimed as the Horse Capital of the United States. Midway was founded in 1835.