Germany - Hesse - Asfeld

500 Years of Alsfeld Town Hall (1512 - 2012)

Sent by Edda from Hesse, Germany.

Alsfeld (German pronunciation: [ˈalsfɛlt]) is a town in the center of Hesse, in Germany.

Located about 100 km (62 mi) north of Frankfurt, Alsfeld is part of the densely populated Frankfurt Rhine-Main Metropolitan Region, with nearby Lauterbach (about 15 km (9.3 mi) east), one of the two centre cities of the Vogelsbergkreis district.

Alsfeld is best described as a blend of a historic bourgeois European town and its rural-agricultural environs and shaped by typical Lutheran-Pietist characteristics, such as austerity and a Protestant work ethic. It is well known for its well-preserved old town with hundreds of picturesque timber-frame houses, and part of the German Timber-Frame Road (read more).

USA - New York - Finger Lakes

The rolling lands between the Finger Lakes are fertile grounds for diverse agricultural entrprises. Vast fields of sunflowers are a surprising sight alongside rural roads.

Sent by Mikki from New York, USA.

The Finger Lakes are a group of eleven long, narrow, roughly north–south lakes located directly south of Lake Ontario in an area called the Finger Lakes region in New York, in the United States. This region straddles the northern and transitional edge of the Northern Allegheny Plateau, known as the Finger Lakes Uplands and Gorges ecoregion, and the Ontario Lowlands ecoregion of the Great Lakes Lowlands.

The geological term finger lake refers to a long, narrow lake in an overdeepened glacial valley, while the proper name Finger Lakes goes back to the late 19th century. Cayuga and Seneca Lakes are among the deepest in the United States, measuring 435 and 618 feet (133 and 188 m), respectively, with bottoms well below sea level. Though none of the lakes' widths exceed 3.5 miles (5.6 km), Seneca Lake is 38.1 miles (61.3 km) long, and at 66.9 square miles (173 km²) is the largest in total area (read more).

USA - Maryland - State Bird

MAY WE FLY STATE BIRD COLLECTION (www.maywefly.com)

Baltimore Oriole, a State Bird of Maryland.

Sent by Carol from Rockville in Maryland, USA.

The Baltimore oriole (Icterus galbula) is a small icterid blackbird common in eastern North America as a migratory breeding bird. It received its name from the resemblance of the male's colors to those on the coat-of-arms of 17th-century Lord Baltimore. Observations of interbreeding between the Baltimore oriole and the western Bullock's oriole Icterus bullockii, led to both being classified as a single species, called the northern oriole, from 1973 to 1995. Research by James Rising, a professor of zoology at the University of Toronto, and others showed that the two birds actually did not interbreed significantly.

The Baltimore oriole is the state bird of Maryland, and the namesake and mascot for the Baltimore Orioles baseball team (read more).

USA - Arizona - Phoenix Airport Museum

The Phoenix Airport Museum manages an art-collection, exhibition program and Aviation History Collection to showcase Arizona's unique artistic and cultural heritage. The museum serves Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Phoenix Deer Valley Airport and Phoenix Goodyear Airport.

Shonto Begay, Into My Dusty World @2004, acrylic on canvas 48 x 36".

Sent by KMT from Illinois, USA.

The mission of the Phoenix Airport Museum is to enhance the Airport visitor's experience by creating a memorable environment that promotes Arizona’s unique artistic and cultural heritage through an Art Collection, Exhibition Program, and Aviation History Collection (read more).

USA - Massachussetts - Old State House

Old State House Adorned for the Centennial Celebrations of 1876, Boston.

The Old State House, the oldest surviving public building in Boston, was built in 1713 to house the government offices of the Massachussetts Bay Colony. The area beneath the balcony was the site of the Boston Massacre (1770), and on July 18, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was proclaimed from the same balcony. Later that day, the Lion and Unicorn were taken down from the roof of the building and ceremonially burned. The Lion and Unicorn were not replaced until 1882. After the Revolution, the building served several functions -- as Massachussetts State House and as Boston City Hall -- before becoming a commercial center (seen here), when as many as fifty businesses were shoeshorned into it at once.

Sent by Mark from Boston in Massachussetts, USA.

The Old State House, also known as the Old Provincial State House, is a historic building in Boston, Massachusetts, built in 1713. It was the seat of the Massachusetts General Court until 1798. It is located at the intersection of Washington and State Streets and is one of the oldest public buildings in the United States.

It is one of the landmarks on Boston's Freedom Trail and is the oldest surviving public building in Boston. It now serves as a history museum that was operated by the Bostonian Society through 2019. On January 1, 2020, the Bostonian Society merged with the Old South Association in Boston to form Revolutionary Spaces. The Old State House was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1960 and a Boston Landmark by the Boston Landmarks Commission in 1994 (read more).

USA - Tennessee

After the Revolutionary War, Tennessee became part of the United States. Eastern Tennessee became the State of Franklin in 1784, but this only lasted until 1788. In 1789, Tennessee became a U.S. Territory and on June  1, 1796, Congress made Tennessee the 16th State of the United States.

Sent by Stephanie from Nashville in Tennessee, USA.

Tennessee (/ˌtɛnɪˈsiː/, locally /ˈtɛnɪsi/), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Kentucky to the north, Virginia to the northeast, North Carolina to the east, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi to the south, Arkansas to the southwest, and Missouri to the northwest. Tennessee is the 36th-largest by area and the 15th-most populous of the 50 states. According to the United States Census Bureau, the state's estimated population as of 2024 is 7.22 million.

Tennessee is geographically, culturally, and legally divided into three Grand Divisions of East, Middle, and West Tennessee. Nashville is the state's capital and largest city, and anchors its largest metropolitan area. Tennessee has diverse terrain and landforms, and from east to west, contains a mix of cultural features characteristic of Appalachia, the Upland South, and the Deep South. The Blue Ridge Mountains along the eastern border reach some of the highest elevations in eastern North America, and the Cumberland Plateau contains many scenic valleys and waterfalls. The central part of the state is marked by cavernous bedrock and irregular rolling hills, and level, fertile plains define West Tennessee. The state is twice bisected by the Tennessee River, and the Mississippi River forms its western border. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the nation's most visited national park, is in eastern Tennessee (read more).

USA - Missouri - Gateway Arch National Park

Gateway Arch National Park

Gateway Arch National Park was authorized in 1935 to commemorate Saint Louis role in the westward expansion of the United States during the 19th century. The park honors Thomas Jefferson's vision of a continental nation, which was the inspiration for architect Eero Saarinen's soaring 630 foot stainless steel Gateway Arch. In addition to the Arch and the museum beneath it, the Old Courthouse, scene of the historic Dred Scott case, is a major landmark in the story of the Civil Rights movement in the United States.

Sent by Allison from Saint Louis in Missouri, USA.

Gateway Arch National Park is a national park of the United States located in St. Louis, Missouri, near the starting point of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

In its initial form as a national memorial, it was established in 1935 to commemorate:

• the Louisiana Purchase and subsequent westward movement of American explorers and pioneers;
• the first civil government west of the Mississippi River; and
• the debate over slavery raised by the Dred Scott case.

The national park consists of the Gateway Arch, a steel catenary arch that has become the definitive icon of St. Louis; a park along the Mississippi River on the site of the earliest buildings of the city; the Old Courthouse, a former state and federal courthouse where the Dred Scott case originated; and the 140,000 sq ft (13,000 m²) museum at the Gateway Arch. It is the smallest national park in the United States at 192.83 acres (78.04 ha), less than 2% the size of the next-smallest, Hot Springs National Park.

The immediate surroundings of the Gateway Arch were initially designated the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial by secretarial order on December 21, 1935. The Gateway Arch was completed on October 28, 1965. The park is maintained by the National Park Service (NPS) (read more).

Canada - 1945's Liberation of the Netherlands

80th Year of Liberation of the Netherlands 1945.

Whether on land, at sea or in the air. Past or present. In Canada or far from home. We recognize and remember your service and sacrifice.

A joyful moment during the liberation of the Netherlands at the end of World War II, specifically showing Dutch citizens celebrating with Canadian troops on a Sherman tank in front of a windmill.

Sent by Maeghan from Manitoba, Canada. 

The Netherlands was liberated from German occupation in May 1945, primarily by Canadian forces, with the formal surrender of German forces occurring on May 5th, 1945. This liberation marked a joyous occasion for the Dutch people after years of hardship and occupation. 

China - Xinjiang - Kizil Buddhist Caves

Kizil Buddhist Caves

The Kizil Caves were inscribed in 2014 on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor.

Sent by Jingtairan from Shenyang, China.

The Kizil Caves (also romanized as Qizil or Qyzyl; Uyghur: قىزىل مىڭ ئۆي, lit. 'The Thousand Red Houses'; Chinese: 克孜尔千佛洞; lit. 'Kizil Caves of the Thousand Buddhas') are a set of Buddhist rock-cut caves located near Kizil Township (克孜尔乡; Kèzī'ěr Xiāng) in Baicheng County, Aksu Prefecture, Xinjiang, China. The site is located on the northern bank of the Muzat River 65 kilometres (75 km by road) west of Kucha. This area was a commercial hub of the Silk Road. The caves have an important role in Central Asian art and in the Silk Road transmission of Buddhism, and are said to be the earliest major Buddhist cave complex in China, with development occurring between the 3rd and 8th centuries CE. The caves of Kizil are the earlier of their type in China, and their model was later adopted in the construction of Buddhist caves further east. Another name for the site has been Ming-oi (明屋), although this term is now mainly used for the site of Shorchuk to the east (read more).

the matching stamp

Singapore

Featuring iconic Singapore landmarks and a vibrant night scene with fireworks.

Sent by Daphne from Singapore. Thanks for the nice beautiful stamp and beautiful postmark.

Peterbilt 379

PETERBILT 379 positioned in front of the iconis Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California.

Sent by Anna from Nebraska, USA.

The Peterbilt 379 is a model line of Class 8 trucks that was produced by the Peterbilt division of PACCAR from 1987 to 2007. Serving as the successor to the 359, the 379 was a conventional-cab truck configured primarily for highway use, serving as the flagship of the Peterbilt model line. During much of its production, the 379 was popular among owner-operator drivers. In line with the Kenworth W900, the 379 serves as a popular basis for truck customization.

Following its 2007 discontinuation, the 379 was replaced by the Peterbilt 389, distinguished by oval headlamp clusters and a longer hood. To commemorate the end of production, the final 1000 examples of the 379 were designated as Legacy Class 379.

The largest highway truck sold by Peterbilt at its launch, the 379 was produced in two configurations, a 119-inch BBC (bumper to back of cab length) and an extended-length hood, for a 127-inch BBC. The 379 is externally distinguished from the 359 from the use of an enlarged windshield (allowing for horizontally mounted windshield wipers); the 379 also introduced headlamp-mounted turn signals (relocated from the fender), making rectangular headlamps standard (read more).

20th Year of Postcrossing #7 - Duck Harbor, Wellfleet, Massachussetts, USA

Sunset at Duck Harbor, Wellfleet, MA, USA.

Sent by Bonnie Jeanne from Wellfleet in Massachussets, USA.

Scenic and secluded, Duck Harbor Beach is one of Wellfleet’s best kept secrets. The bay side beach features long stretches of rocky shoreline that stretch as far as the eye can see in either direction. Great spot to avoid the crowds and catch a sunset or take in the views of Provincetown and Cape Cod Bay. Kids will enjoy combing the beach for rocks and shells and the calm, warm waters are good for swimming (read more).

The Pinta, The Nina, and The Santa Maria

SPANISH SCHOOL (19 Jh.) : The Pinta, the Nina, and the Santa Maria sailing towards the West Indies in 1492, from The Discovery of America (1878).

Sent by Eric from Saarland, Germany.

A ship built in medieval Spain in c. 1441, known as La Pinta (Spanish for The Painted One, The Look, or The Spotted One) was the fastest of the three Spanish ships used by Christopher Columbus in his first transatlantic voyage in 1492. The New World was first sighted by Rodrigo de Triana aboard La Pinta on 12 October 1492. The owner of La Pinta was Cristóbal Quintero. The Quintero brothers were ship owners from Palos. The owner of the ship allowed Martín Alonso Pinzón to take over the ship so he could keep an eye on her.

La Pinta was a caravel-type vessel. By tradition, Spanish ships were named after saints and usually given nicknames. Thus, La Pinta, like La Niña, was not the ship's actual name; La Niña's actual name was the Santa Clara. The Santa María's original nickname was La Gallega. The actual original name of La Pinta is unknown. The origin of the ship is disputed but is believed to have been built in Spain in 1441. She was later rebuilt for use by Christopher Columbus (read more).

Bicycle (60)

Bicycle #60.

Sent by Alexandra from Föhr, an island in Germany.

Bicycle (59)

Ai Weiwei. Forever Bicycles (2003)

42 bicycles Ф 450 x 275 cm

Private collection.

Sent by David from Dordrecht, Netherlands.

USA - Tennessee - Memphis

Memphis, TN.

Sent by Jamie from Memphis in Tennessee, USA.

Memphis is a city in Shelby County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. Situated along the Mississippi River, it had a population of 633,104 at the 2020 census, making it the second-most populous city in Tennessee, the fifth-most populous in the Southeast, and the 28th-most populous in the nation. Memphis is the largest city proper on the Mississippi River and anchors the Memphis metropolitan area that includes parts of Arkansas and Mississippi, the 45th-most populous metropolitan area in the U.S. with 1.34 million residents.

European exploration of the area began with Spanish conquistador Hernando de Soto in 1541. Located on the high Chickasaw Bluffs, the site offered natural protection from Mississippi River flooding and became a contested location in the colonial era. Modern Memphis was founded in 1819 by John Overton, James Winchester, and Andrew Jackson. The city thrived due to its river traffic and cotton-based economy, becoming one of the largest cities in the Antebellum South. After the American Civil War, it remained a key hub for the cotton and hardwood industries. Memphis is also notable for its role in the American Civil Rights Movement; Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated there in 1968, and the city is now home to the National Civil Rights Museum, a Smithsonian affiliate.

Memphis is one of the nation's leading commercial centers in transportation and logistics. The largest employer is FedEx, which maintains its global air hub at Memphis International Airport, one of the world's busiest cargo airports. The Port of Memphis also hosts the fifth-busiest inland water port in the U.S. Memphis is also known for its music scene, with Beale Street central to the development of Memphis blues and a broader legacy that includes soul, rock and roll, and hip-hop. Cultural landmarks include Graceland, Sun Studio, the Memphis Pyramid, and Stax Museum of American Soul Music. The city is also famed for its Memphis-style barbecue and hosts the annual World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest. It is home to the Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA and several colleges and universities, including the University of Memphis, Christian Brothers University, and Rhodes College (read more).

USA - California - The Golden Gate Bridge (3)

SAN FRANCISCO

The Golden Gate Bridge

Sent by Darrell from San Francisco in California, USA.

My other postcards of Golden Gate Bridge are here and here.

USA - Arizona - Saguaro National Park (2)

SAGUARO National Park

ARIZONA

A land of mysteries. A dry desert teeming with wildlife and dense plant life. And always the saguaros with arms reaching toward the blue sky. A rugged terrain beckons visitors to explore and discover Saguaro National Park, a place to wander and wonder.

Sent by Adrienne from Nashville in Tennessee, USA.

My first postcard of Saguaro National Park is here.

USA - Kentucky - Mammoth Cave National Park (4)

Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky - Park Entrance Sign.

Sent by Keith from Kentucky, USA.

My other postcards of Mammoth Cave National Park are here, here, and here.

USA - South Dakota - Wind Cave National Park (2)

Wind Cave National Park was established in 1903, the 6th park among America's 59 National Parks. Located in South Dakota, the vast Wind Cave has over 142 mies of passages with chambers like Post Office, Jungle Gym, Elbow Room and Ginsu Alley. The cave's wall are rich in honeycomb-shaped calcite formations known as boxwork. Prairie grasslands and pine forests are home to bison, elk and pronghorn antelope.

Sent by Sharon from Chicago in Illinois, USA.

My first Wind Cave National Park postcard is here.