People named after places. Place names in the USA And Worldwide Named after Famous Or Given People

 How many places you have visited have their names given to famous people?

I remember as a schoolchild learning that Florence Nightingale was named after the Italian city of Florence. I recently wondered why Americans use Madison as a first name. Then I realised that Madison Avenue is a well known and prestigious street in New York.

I did a mental search and came up with these results.

Americans named after cities or with the same name as cities

Paris Hilton and Paris Jackson are both named after Paris, France. 

Two actors with the first name Austin have the same name as Austin, Texas.

Actor Phoenix Joaquin is named after Phoenix, Arizona.

Symbols of Phoenix and Arizona include Camelback Mountainn, the art walk, and the giant Saguaro cactus whose upwards pointing fingers are sold as green souvenir salt and pepper shakers.

Temu has a cactus pattern tee-shirt if you want to buy one online.

Other city names used by American actors, stars, singers and writers include Orlando as in Orlando, Florida and Brooklyn after the area of New York in the USA. London, after London England Kingston, after Kingston in Jamaica, Sydney, after Sydney, Australia, Savannah, from Savannah, USA,  

American cities named after famous people.

Columbus. 

For example, Columbus Ohio. Christopher Columbus.

If you want to do a search, the technical word for naming a person after a place is a toponym. Nym means name from the Greek for name or word.

Then I did a Gemini search and received these satisfying detailed results.

Many cities, states, counties, and landmarks across the United States are named after historic figures, military leaders, and world leaders.

U.S. States

• Washington: Named after George Washington, the first U.S. President.

• Louisiana: Named after King Louis XIV of France.

• Maryland: Named after Queen Henrietta Maria of England.

• Virginia & West Virginia: Named in honor of Queen Elizabeth I of England (known as the "Virgin Queen").

• North & South Carolina: Named after King Charles I of England (Carolus in Latin).

• Georgia: Named after King George II of Great Britain.

• Pennsylvania: Named in honor of Admiral William Penn (father of founder William Penn).

• New York: Named after James, Duke of York (later King James II of England).

• Major Cities

  • Washington, D.C.: Named after George Washington (and Christopher Columbus for the District of Columbia).

  • Houston, Texas: Named after Sam Houston, president of the Republic of Texas and military general.

  • Austin, Texas: Named after Stephen F. Austin, known as the "Father of Texas."

  • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Named after British statesman William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham.

  • Louisville, Kentucky: Named after King Louis XVI of France for French support during the American Revolution.

  • St. Louis, Missouri: Named after King Louis IX of France (Saint Louis).

  • Cleveland, Ohio: Named after Revolutionary War General Moses Cleaveland.

  • Lincoln, Nebraska: Named after Abraham Lincoln, 16th U.S. President.

  • Columbus, Ohio: Named after explorer Christopher Columbus.

  • Jacksonville, Florida: Named after Andrew Jackson, seventh U.S. President and first military governor of Florida.

  • Counties & Regional Places

    • Jefferson County / City: Named after Thomas Jefferson (Jefferson County is the single most common county name in the U.S., spanning 26 states).

    • Franklin County / Cities: Named after Founding Father Benjamin Franklin (appearing in 25 states, alongside dozens of towns named Franklin).

    • Pulaski County: Named after Polish military commander Kazimierz Pulaski, who fought in the American Revolutionary War (appearing across 7 states).

    • Lafayette / Fayetteville: Cities across numerous states named after the Marquis de Lafayette, French hero of the American Revolutionary War.

    ---

    Famous Landmarks & Structures

    • Pikes Peak (Colorado): Named after explorer Zebulon Pike.

    • Mt. McKinley (Alaska, historically): Named after President William McKinley (officially renamed Denali in 2015).

    • Hoover Dam (Nevada/Arizona): Named after 31st U.S. President Herbert Hoover.

    • John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK - NYC): Renamed in 1963 to honor President John F. Kennedy.

    • Lincoln Memorial / Washington Monument (D.C.): Iconic monuments dedicated to Presidents Abraham Lincoln and George Washington.

How many more do you know? Please contact me through comments. 

-ends-

This post will be updated later today and in the future.

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See The World's Oldest & Newest Pyramids: Great Pyramid In Germany, 1993-3183! Started But Will Finish Later! Plus Pyramids in the USA, UK, Ireland and Worldwide

 

Where is it and what is it?

It is in Germany. A series of concrete blocks. The first was placed in 1993. The second in 2003. The third in 2013. The next will be in 2023. One is added every ten years. To be finished in years to come, not in our lifetime. 

It will be completed in 3183. My grand-daughter was born this year, 2021. My grand-daughter's, grand-daughter might see it finished.

The cathedrals of old were started with a projected finishing date much later, often projected to finish a hundred years from the starting date.

Gothic Cathedrals

The Gothic cathedrals in the UK, France, Spain and Germany were arched and domed and elegant. They were under cover meeting places for ceremonies such as weddings and funerals. Their domes had contrasting colours of green or gold. 

The Taj Mahal, India

The Taj Mahal is beautiful, inlaid with precious stones. It was a monument in memory of a woman who was buried there, and later her husband.

The Egyptian Pyramids

On the other hand, the great pyramids of Egypt were solid. Squat. Nothing to see from outside. 

Pyramids of Giza

Photo by Ricardo Liberato, Wiki.

Stonehenge in the UK

Stonehenge had simple stones. But arranged in a circle.

Meaning

Stonehenge had a meaning. It caught the sun's rays.

The Egyptian pyramids had a purpose. They were mausoleums. 

You can visit the German pyramid any time for free. Follow the directions on the website.

Records

I would prefer if each column in the German pyramid in each year listed major events. Good and bad events. For example, landing on the moon. Covid-19.

See next post on Wemding

Germany also has other ideas for pyramids.

Pyramid in Karlsruhe, Germany.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Pyramid_Monument

England has a pyramid mausoleum in Blickling Park, Norfolk, UK.

Ireland

Howard Mausoleum, centre of Kilbride Cemetery, near Arklow, County Wicklow, Ireland

Photo by Timothy J  Morgan

Over in the USA there's a pyramid, Hunt's tomb, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.

I like this pyramid in the USA with a camel on top:

It's the Jolly Tomb. Very jolly. US Camel Corps.

Hi Jolly's life in the USA is described in the website below.

Useful Websites

GERMANY

https://www.wemding.de/poi/zeitpyramide-10278/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_Pyramid

UK

https://www.wemding.de/tourismus/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hi_Jolly

Others are in Poland and elsewhere.

WORLDWIDE

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Pyramidal_mausoleums

About the Author

About Angela The Author

The Author - Quick Quotations

Angela Lansbury B A Hons  is the author of ten books by regular publishers plus another ten self-published books. 

About Angela The Speaker & Trainer

Angela Lansbury is a teacher of English and other languages to Toastmasters clubs and businesses.

Braddell Heights Advanced Toastmasters Speakers Vice President  Public Relations, Immediate Past President.

Former Area Director S3. Club Coach for Nee Soon South Toastmasters Club.

Also Member of: TCA Toastmasters Club; Singapore Online Dynamic; Harrovians UK

The recent meeting of BHA included Garen Tee on using story telling in business, on bha.learncool.sg . Also an educational on using Powerpoint for posters.

Next BHA meetings, (subject to revision)

1 (Saturday, May 15th, was 2 pm Singapore time, postponed because of national speaking contest.) 

After Vesak day and Hari Raya: 

Postponed to Saturday May 29th, 2021, at 2pm. Login to bha.learncool.sg earlier.

Workshop by Sam Chou.

2 Next June meetings 1st Wednesday evening June 2nd at 7 pm Singapore time. 

3 Third Saturday afternoon, June 19th, Singapore time.  Thanks to the old team and Inauguration of New Team. 

Special speech with slides about teamwork in sport and Toastmasters International and life, by the President of West Coast Toastmasters Club who often help BHA with workshops and invite us to give speeches at their club.

Inauguration of new committee by incoming Area Director of S

About Angela The Blogger 

Angela has several blogs on speeches, comedy and song writing and organizing, writing intermittently, but writes almost daily on these three:

travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com

dressofthedayangela.blogspot.com

translateforfun.blogspot.com

See next post on sculptor Tom Harvey.

Please share links to your favourite posts. 

The information on Toastmasters is updated regularly.

White Christmas song: where was it written in the USA? Maybe the Arizona Biltmore Hotel?

US Flag

The song written by Irving Berlin first performed on Christmas day 1941 became the world's best selling single. Nowadays the first verse is dropped. He wrote it in either the La Quinta hotel in La Quinta, California, USA, or another hotel where he often stayed, the Arizona Biltmore Hotel, Phoenix, Arizona.

The Arizona Biltmore Hotel
One story goes that Irving Berlin wrote the lyrics by the Catalina pool which is also known as the Marilyn Monroe pool. We don't know what he was drinking, but the hotel's barman invented the Tequila Sunrise.


Catalina Pool, Arizona Biltmore Hotel, Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Irving Berlin started his song with this verse:

The sun is shining, the grass is green,
The orange and palm trees sway.
There's never been such a day
in Beverly Hills, L.A.
But it's December the twenty-fourth,—
And I am longing to be up North

However, the second verse was the one which caught on worldwide. Not everybody is in Beverly Hills, LA. But many people can remember previous Christmases.  




The second verse is the one everybody knows
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas

Then what?

Nostalgia

Just like the ones I used to know

Where the tree tops glisten and children listen
for sleigh bells in the snow

Irving Berlin was from a Jewish family who emigrated from Russia to the USA. You don't have to be a committed Christian, or indeed a Christian, to feel affected by this song. It's a classic.

Irving Berlin. Photo from Wikipedia.

He wrote many other equally famous hits, Alexander's Ragtime Band, God Bless America. he lived to the age of 101.

The Arizona Biltmore, 2400 East Missouri Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona, United States, 85016Tel: 602.955.6600.

See Useful Websites
Wikipedia White xmas song
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Christmas_(song)
visittheusa.co.uk
https://genius.com/Bing-crosby-white-christmas-lyrics
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona_Biltmore_Hotel

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. 
I have many more posts on the USA, destinations worldwide and seasonal subjects. See my next post on La Quinta hotel and resort.
Please bookmark and share links with your friends and family and colleagues.

See The London Bridge at Lake Havasu in Arizona in the USA - and the statue of the man who bought and moved it

London Bridge at Lake Havasu, USA. Photo from Wikipedia. Public domain.

Problem
I keep reading self-improvement speeches and articles and books about imagining things and then making them happen. But is it possible?

Answer
Yes. I remember the story of the man who imagined the city of Tel Aviv and drew a mark on the sandy beach. When asked by journalists where the city would be, he said, 'Here!'

Now I've read another similar story about a visionary. The man who bought London Bridge. Millionaire McCulloch with his business partner Wood.

The weirdest thing is not that McCulloch brought a bridge all the way over from London, England, to America, nor even that he looked out at the view and imagined a city which he started building. The weirdest thing was that he bought a bridge when he did not have a river to put the bridge across.

He had to get to see the President Lyndon Johnson of the USA and persuade the man to grant permission to divert a river. People were opposed to to idea of allowing a river to be diverted. I mean, you don't want to set a precedent, do you! Allow one person to divert a river, then everybody will want to do it.

You often hear the question, which came first, the thicken or the egg. you don't normally hear the question, which came first, the river or the bridge.

Let's get down to the nitty-gritty of what the tourist can see. The city of Lake Havusu, which was created in the middle of nowhere. (Doesn't that apply to everywhere in the USA? For example: New York, Washington DC, Las Vegas.)

Apparently it is a myth that the bridge was bought by mistake. They buyer knew which bridge he was buying.
UK
If you want to see Tower Bridge in London, England, it is still there and you can take tours.
USA
London Bridge in Lake Havasu city in the USA. The city has a museum. Several hotels including one, Heat Hotel, with views of the bridge.

What to see:
London Bridge in Lake Havasu, USA.
The statues of McCulloch and Wood together at the end of the bridge.
Tower bridge, London, England

Useful Websites
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/the_bridge_that_crossed_an_ocean
https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Lake_Havasu_City
https://golakehavasu.com/activities/attractions/london-bridge/
https://golakehavasu.com/activities/attractions/london-bridge/london-bridge-fun-facts/
visittheusa.co.uk
virginatlantic.com

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

How to Ask the way in Chinese or Malay in Singapore, or the USA - find hotels, stations and clubs with the help of photos

Singapore has a Community Club in every area. Get the programme of your nearest one or find it on line. You can go there to learn Chinese.  Pick up leaflets in several languages. Read a local newspaper.

The club often has a coffee shop, a Starbucks, or Chinese and Western fast food at reasonable prices. You often see a small pond with goldfish.

Jurong Green Community Club sign. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

This sign can be shown to people speaking any of the four official languages of Singapore. If you were eating at the hawker centre (cheap outdoor eating area with kiosks) opposite this building, you could still find your way, or direct a friend, by taking a photo of the sign. Arrange to meet your friend outside the main entrance of the community centre, or at the nearby bus stop which has seats, then walk to the coffee shop or hawker centre nearby.

Problem
I often go to a Community Club in Singapore. I get off the bus and don't know which way to go.

In Singapore it is important to tell the bus or taxi driver or passenger or passer-by whether your Community Club is North or East or South or West, because often two Clubs are within walking distance of your destination bus stop.

If you are going to a community club more than once, photgrph the sign board outside with the name in English and Malay in Chinese. Print it out. Alternatively keep it handy on your phone. Then you can remember it. Also show it passers-by when you want to ask the way. 

If you photograph the building, and show them the photo, and they have just passed it, they may be able to point along the road, even if they don't know the name of the building.

Many people in Singapore are very helpful. They may bring out their phone and try to find directions for you. 

If you have printed off the map, or saved it in your phone, you don't have to wait while they key in their password, go to the website and so on.

Photograph of Buona Vista station name. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

MRT Station
You could also photograph the station, your hotel, or your favourite nearby restaurant. Make sure everybody in your family or group has a picture of the hotel in case they get lost.

Hotel Photos
An internet picture of your hotel is handy when checking in. In Wales we tried to check into the Castle Hotel when our booking was with the Castle View hotel. In Phoenix, Arizona, we stopped at the Holiday Inn, which had no record of the booking, and eventually, when we insisted we had a booking, the receptionist realised there was not only another Holiday Inn but several. Arriving from England, we had no idea that Phoenix was a huge city with several hotels from each chain.

If you can photograph the street name with your hotel, you can find the street on a city map and enlist the aid of the concierge in any nearby hotel.

New Bridge Road, Singapore. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

Korea
I remember being terrified to leave my hotel in Korea. I could not speak or read Korean. I thought I would never find my way back, even though the station was only 'just around the corner'. If I had taken a photo of my hotel, a shop or building every few paces, and the station, I could have made my way there and back, either with a taxi or walking.

Now you know how to find your way around a foreign city, you can have the courage to consider booking some far away places.

USEFUL TRAVEL WEBSITES (in alphabetical order)
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
https://www.state.gov/travel/ (USA advice for US citizens travelling)
Both sites also have useful general advice about specific countries.

China
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/china (Advice on China.)
Greece
http://www.visitgreece.gr/
Israel
https://new.goisrael.com
Korea
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/index.kto
Russia
visitrussia.org.uk
Singapore
http://www.visitsingapore.com/en/
UK
visitbritain.org
USA
visit-usa.com

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
Please share links to your favourite posts. 

Learning Spanish The Easy Way

Problem
How do you find something short and easy to read and already translated?

Answer
I've tried translating ingredients on products I buy, reading the small print. I have looked at bilingual in-flight magazines on aeroplanes.

But the easiest and shortest messages are those from bilingual Toastmasters clubs.
For example, Spanish and English club in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, promoting meetings on Meetup.

I am now on their mailing list.

https://www.meetup.com/phoenix-bilingual-club/events/

https://www.visittheusa.co.uk/USA

http://www.spain.info/en_GB/

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker, teacher of English and other languages.

Multilingual clubs on Meetup

Problem
I am learning several languages on Duo lingo because I start a new language every time I plan a trip, even if it is a year ahead (in fact you want to start learning a year ahead). I can't join a new group every time I switch to a new language. I'd like to be in an online or at home multi-lingual club. What are the options?

Answer
On Meetup when I saw French and Russian clubs I logged in and found links to multilingual clubs. Here are some:
https://www.meetup.

AUSTRALIA
https://www.toastmasters.org/Find-a-Club/00712902-manly-multilingual-club
Meets first Wednesday of the month at 7pm, Manly Bay, Australia.

SINGAPORE
https://www.meetup.com/FrenchSingapore/ (French and Spanish. They have French wine classes and show films, I presume with subtitles.)

MALAYSIA
Metropolitan Bilingual Club, Koala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Meets first and third Tuesday at 7.0.
A club in Toastmasters international. for others see Toastmasters international find a club
http://mbtc.toastmastersclubs.org

UK
Russian toastmasters club, London, England


USA
Phoenix Bilingual Club, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
Spanish English. Has a French conversation sub-group.
https://www.meetup.com/phoenix-bilingual-club/

INTERNET
https://www.facebook.com/MultilingualClub/
This site has some Chinese words you can learn.

https://polyglotclub.com
Lots of people learning lots of languages asking for help translating phrases.
https://www.facebook.com/polyglotclub.world/

https://www.fluentin3months.com/how-to-become-a-polyglot/

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, teacher and learner of English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, Russian, Greek, Hebrew, Romanian, Welsh, Yiddish, Portuguese, Japanese, Greek.

Creating A No Smoking Table In A Restaurant in The USA

Several years ago when no smoking in restaurants worldwide had just become a controversy I was on a large press trip for travel writers. We were visiting  four states in America where the four states meet. The four states are Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. On my trip were two other non-smokers, one from Europe, one from the USA.

At our first restaurant stop at breakfast the hotel had a table with a no smoking sign. I chose that table and my two non-smoking friends joined me. The non-smokers came over, saw the non-smoking sign and went away.

During the trip I sat tat the front of the coach to see better and hop off the coach and back on again in a hurry to take photos.

At our lunch stop I was first of the coach into the restaurant looking for a non-smoking table. I could not see one.

I asked. They did not have a policy or a sign. The girl serving was new.

I sat down, sighing. Why don't they have sign, I thought. They are not that expensive. They could even write one out by hand. If I wrote one and gave it to them and asked permission, maybe they would put it out.

I reached in my bag and got out a piece of paper and wrote non smoking.

Before I had time to go and as, one of my friends arrived and said, 'Oh - you found a mob-smoking table. Great.'

He sat down. 

In came the non-smokers. They looked at the sign and moved away.

All through the meal I was waiting for one of my friends to comment on the fact that I had written my own sign. But nobody guessed. They assumed the restaurant had done it.

***

How much is a sign?

I just went online and found a series of ads immediately. From pubshop.uk £1.47 (depending on whether you buy with or without VAT) plus postage. You could buy your own sign and carry it with you.
  Or just write your own!