Ahh yes, The Pig War... :D

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pig_War

The area of dispute was the San Juan Islands. They are in the Puget Sound and some of the best SCUBA sites found anywhere are in that area. If you can stand the 45-55 degree water temp, that is. :D

Anyways, it DID start because of the shooting of a pig.

Fortuanatly, the pig was the only "casualty" of the war, making the conflict essentially bloodless.

Michale...

Never heard that case about LI, the one I remember is about Liberty and Ellis Islands, which took something like 200 years for the courts to work out. They kind of split the baby down the middle, Solomon-style, as I remember, when the Supremes finally ruled.

But I still hear Isle Royale standing up in the back of the room saying "Woot! 206 square miles! In your FACE!"

Padre Island was more gracious, merely saying "EV'rything's bigger in Texas, Y'all..." and then exiting the room.

Heh.

Not sure if it was Whidbey or not, but I do remember the story of the "war that almost happened" or the "dead pig war" (boar war?) on one of those islands up in Puget Sound. US and England almost went at it because someone killed a pig that wasn't theirs...

As for the Eisenhower story, there's a lonely "historical marker" (those historical markers are interesting sometimes, as I had never heard this story before) somewhere out in Utah, or maybe Colorado or Montana (it's somewhere out there, trust me...). Probably at a rest area on an Interstate (that would make sense), which details Eisenhower's trip, and how he conceived of the Interstate system. So no research necessary, just the treasure trove of useless but interesting info I call my memory...

-CW

It turns out that it was in 1991 that Congress declared Long Island was not an island.

It was 1985 and it was the US Supreme Court.

This decision came in the RHODE ISLAND AND NEW YORK BOUNDARY CASE, UNITED STATES v. MAINE ET AL (469 U.S. 504 (1985)). The federal government and states couldn’t agree who controlled the Long Island and Block Island sounds. The states wanted control to regulate shipping and commerce on the sounds. The Key to the case was if Long Island was really an Island. If it were simply an extension of the mainland as the states argued, then under law the sounds are inland bays controlled by the states. If it were truly an island then they would be considered open waters under federal control.

http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/United+States+v.+Maine+et+al+%28Long+Island+is+not+an+island%29

Fascinating reading..

Michale.....

Whidbey Island is way down at #40.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_islands_of_the_United_States_by_area

However that link lists Long Island as #11. Which is in error. In 1991 Congress declared that Long Island was a peninsula and not a true island. Which paved the way for Whidbey to take the top spot in the Lower 48.

Dwight D. Eisenhower, long before he became president, was on a military convoy travelling across the continent. He got the idea that America should have the best roads in the world — standardized wide highways, with no intersections at all — just in case they were needed by the military some day if we were ever invaded. That's right — the Interstate system was part of the Cold War, and (just like the internet) had its roots in military purposes. Of course, much like the Emergency Broadcast System (which was created to warn us of incoming nukes from the Rooskies), it has now been almost completely converted to civilian use. But your comment got me to remembering…

That is some truly fascinating info. Kudos on your research.

Michale.....

Um, the big island named Hawai'i may have a bone to pick with Whidley Island's claim, there. Or Puerto Rico, depending on how you define things. Perhaps you meant "in the contiguous United States," in which case Michigan's Isle Royale would stand up and yell "Neener, neener, neener, I'm a National Park!"

Ahem. What was I going to say? Sorry...

I've been near Little Big Horn, but have not visited it, sorry to say. I have been to Wounded Knee, but the US doesn't exactly bend over backwards memorializing some things (it's pretty desolate). You're right, Gettsyburg is impressive, and they finally got rid of the tower which the residents found ugly. The Badlands are another place I'd include on the list of "feels like you're on another planet" now that I think about it. Devil's Tower is awesome, I have to say -- one of the first places "out west" I visited, which was right after the movie (Close Encounters) had put it on everyone's radar. Have yet to visit the Caribbean, though, I hear it's beautiful.

From that itinerary, I can assume you know why I cracked up the first time I visited Amsterdam, in the Netherlands. You emerge from the train station, cross a little bridge, and then begin walking on the road where the city streets begin. There is an advertising sign on a lamppost there, one of many advertising various differnt things, which says (you just can't make this stuff up): "Wall Drug, only 6,547 miles!" OK, I don't remember the actual mileage, but anyone who has crossed this stretch of America will know why it's so funny...

Frank Herbert, in a book called "The Godmakers" wrote of a planetary survey type of guy. I remember an interesting comment from this assessment, which I'll go and look up for you.

"...a wide road that follows the ridges is a military road. Always. Farm roads are narrow and follow the water level routes. Military roads are wider, avoid swamps, and cross rivers at right angles."

Dwight D. Eisenhower, long before he became president, was on a military convoy travelling across the continent. He got the idea that America should have the best roads in the world -- standardized wide highways, with no intersections at all -- just in case they were needed by the military some day if we were ever invaded. That's right -- the Interstate system was part of the Cold War, and (just like the internet) had its roots in military purposes. Of course, much like the Emergency Broadcast System (which was created to warn us of incoming nukes from the Rooskies), it has now been almost completely converted to civilian use. But your comment got me to remembering...

-CW

Along the way, we got to see some really great sites. We went thru Little Big Horn, a thoroughly impressive place, though not as impressive as Gettysburg. We drove thru The Badlands (kept looking for Chakotay, but never found him :D) and even made a stop at Devils Tower. Sadly, no mothership. :D One of the most enjoyable family outings we have ever had, even better than 10 days at the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas.

it's a close tie between the Interstate Highway System and the National Park System,

Every time I read or hear about our Interstate Roadway System, I think of a line from the old Star Trek episode, BREADS AND CIRCUSES. It's the episode that had contemporary (at the time) 1960s technology but it was a planet where Rome never fell. Anyways, when Spock is scanning the planet, he says, "....an industrial society with an excellent roadway system."

I always wonder when I hear the term, what Spock would say about our roadway system. :D

But I digest.

Michale....