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David K
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The Eagle Monument, 28° Parallel on Hwy. 1
This monument was a big deal when it was built on the final months of highway construction and completed by the ceremony on Dec. 1, 1973.
Before it was finished, here was an artist's impression of what it would appear like:
Photo from on or around December 1973, the cover of guide magazine.
For a few years, it made the cover of the Auto Club guidebook.
When we drove south in July 1973, there was nothing here. Just the paved road, straight, no traffic circle.
In July 1973: The pavement going north was solid to around Villa Jesus Maria and then was mixed dirt and paved sections all the way to around Punta
Prieta. From Punta Prieta north to Chapala, only unpaved roadbed, and detours. Chapala to near San Agustin we were on the old main road, no highway
crews in this area, yet. Construction southbound was not nearly as rapid. The pavement was only extended 38 miles from El Rosario and new road bed for
24 more miles. what was accomplished between July and December 1, 1973, was truly amazing!
On our next trip, to the tip, it was July 1974. Here is the photo I took from near the Pemex station:
Back again in 1976, with my girlfriend:
In 2007, from the west (hotel parking), with Baja Angel:
Today:
The military took over the Eagle Monument, planted trees that hide much of it, and may get upset if you park too long to take photos of it!
Approaching from the north:
In 1974, these signs were frequent, too...
Approaching from the south...
TREES, WIRES, SIGNS, GIANT FLAG... almost as if they are trying to hide it? Some were questioning why it is pointing NORTH? Maybe it was the direction
more cash would come from and not point to Mexico City? Interesting thoughts!
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honda tom
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crossing thru on Sat. headed to Loreto. Mexican friends waiting for a few days of fishing and drinking..... ill let you know how it looks.
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Alm
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Unintentional consequences. With it being that ugly, hardly a loss  ... Resources
wasted on a monument to stupidity of the system, wouldn't be the first time.
Well, at least now I'll know what this structure is, - thanks David.
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David K
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Monuments are huge with the Mexican culture... as are traffic circles around them!
There was a museum under it (a large subterranean room) holding artifacts donated from all around Baja. An ammonite from Mama Espinoza was donated, I
remember reading. Who knows what happened to the museum pieces when the military seized the monument for their base?
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BajaBlanca
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Interesting!
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fishbuck
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I like it. Nice background story.
"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." J. A. Shedd.
A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it. – Albert Einstein
"Life's a Beach... and then you Fly!" Fishbuck
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BajaNomad
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Timestamp issue resolved.
When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people.
– Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
We know we must go back if we live, and we don`t know why.
– John Steinbeck, Log from the Sea of Cortez
https://www.regionalinternet.com
Affordable Domain Name Registration/Management & cPanel Web Hosting - since 1999 |
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chuckie
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I always liked to see it pop up on the horizon....
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yumawill
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That's a Eagle? I always thought it was a tuning fork.
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David K
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LOL!
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BajaMama
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I will take a closer look when passing by next week. I usually notice more prominently the Mexican flag which was gone a few years back...
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David K
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Quote: Originally posted by BajaMama  | | I will take a closer look when passing by next week. I usually notice more prominently the Mexican flag which was gone a few years back...
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Easy and safe to pull over at the hotel (southbound) or Pemex (northbound) to examine the hidden bird. The president of Mexico was there and that
sunken plaza was for all the dignitaries to sit for the official opening of Highway 1 on December 1, 1973.
I almost forgot... I have this book, from Mexico's public works department (thanks to Neal Johns):
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David K
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One more 1974 Eagle photo from my albums...
Pemex on the left, hotel and trailer park on the right... July 1974.
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David K
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Found one from 2007... trees only half size!
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bajabuddha
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THE GIANT TUNING FORK
.... also see: The Giant Coat Rack With Balls
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metaphor:_The_Tree_of_Utah
[Edited on 5-17-2018 by bajabuddha]
I don't have a BUCKET LIST, but I do have a F***- IT LIST a mile long!
86 - 45*
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David K
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On December 1, 1973
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Alan
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Now this is how I remember seeing it
the first time
In Memory of E-57
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thebajarunner
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Drove by it twice a couple weeks ago
It is rather cool to see it appearing on the horizon.
Certainly a more dramatic entry into BCS than into Alta Calif
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BajaBill74
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I'm still trying to get up enough nerve to get a good picture with my drone. With a few tests I'll know how to keep it far enough away so they can't
hear it, and high enough that the trees don't obstruct the view.
Hopefully, they don't have radar that could detect it.
Flying over their property is a definite no no.
What I'm doing at work is so secret, even I don't know what I'm doing!
One should believe in God, because even Google doesn't know everything.
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David K
Honored Nomad
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| Quote: Originally posted by BajaBill74 | I'm still trying to get up enough nerve to get a good picture with my drone. With a few tests I'll know how to keep it far enough away so they can't
hear it, and high enough that the trees don't obstruct the view.
Hopefully, they don't have radar that could detect it.
Flying over their property is a definite no no. |
Or, just go to Google Earth, and don't get arrested, lol!
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