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A sunset casts warm light across the Blue Ridge Mountains from Raven Rocks Overlook at milepost 289.5. Two people sit on a large rock formation in the foreground, looking out over a mist‑filled valley and layers of forested ridges. The sky glows with orange and yellow tones above the distant mountains.

Sunset from Raven Rocks Overlook (MP 289.5) in the North Carolina High Country, with sweeping views toward Boone and Blowing Rock. The overlook’s rocky ledges and northwest‑facing vista make it one of the Parkway’s most dramatic spots for evening light.


At 468 miles long, the Blue Ridge Parkway is one of America’s most celebrated scenic drives—designated both a National Parkway and an All‑American Road, the highest honor in the National Scenic Byway system. Beginning at Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, the Parkway follows the spine of the Blue Ridge Mountains, winding south through North Carolina before ending at the Cherokee entrance of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.


Along its route, the elevation shifts dramatically—from 6,053 feet near Mount Pisgah in North Carolina to just 649 feet along the James River in Virginia. These changes in altitude and landscape create an ever‑shifting tapestry of views: sweeping mountain and valley vistas, quiet pastoral scenes, sparkling waterfalls, and vibrant displays of wildflowers and seasonal foliage.


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Historic brick buildings at Cushwa’s Warehouse reflect in the still canal water at Williamsport, Maryland. One building displays the “Cushwa’s Coal Brick” sign, and autumn trees line the background under a partly cloudy sky.

Cushwa’s Warehouse stands along the canal in Williamsport, Maryland, its brick façade and calm reflections echoing the rich history of the C&O Canal National Historical Park.


The year 2021 marked the 50th anniversary of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park joining the National Park System. The park preserves the historic 19th‑century transportation canal that once stretched from Washington, D.C., to Cumberland, Maryland. Since 2019, it has consistently ranked as the 11th most‑visited national park in the United States, with Great Falls drawing the highest number of visitors along the canal’s 184.5‑mile towpath. Many people stop at the Great Falls Tavern but rarely explore beyond the canal’s first 14.5 miles.


Because no road runs directly beside the C&O Canal, the towpath is especially popular with hikers and cyclists. Wanting to avoid the city crowds and experience more of the canal’s quieter beauty, I set out to explore some of its lesser‑visited highlights. Knowing I couldn’t see everything in one trip, I chose to drive between select points along the canal, taking a series of short hikes at each stop.


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A historic machine shop interior with large metal planers and industrial equipment arranged along a brick‑walled workspace. A green Cincinnati Progress Co. planer sits in the foreground, with its long metal bed, cutting head, and overhead pulley system visible. Sunlight filters through tall multi‑pane windows, illuminating the worn floors, exposed beams, and surrounding early‑20th‑century machinery. A red fire extinguisher is mounted on a nearby column.

In the quiet of Soule Steam Feed Works, the old planers rest beneath tall windows—iron giants from Meridian’s steam‑powered past.


What does the Mississippi Industrial Heritage Museum, a Dentzel antique carousel, and graves of Gypsy royalty have in common?


All three are located in Meridian, Mississippi. This eclectic mix of sites are some of Meridian's more interesting locations dating back to the Golden Age.


Meridian, Mississippi, only 20 miles from the Alabama border, was established at the junction of the Mobile & Ohio and the Vicksburg & Montgomery Railway lines in 1860. With rail transportation at the height of its popularity, the town boomed from 1890 to 1930. During its Golden Age, people flocked to Meridian, and it became Mississippi's largest city and a leading center for manufacturing in the South.


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Large, weathered concrete busts of former U.S. presidents stand in an open field, with George Washington’s cracked and discolored head in the foreground. Additional presidential heads fill the background under a partly cloudy blue sky, surrounded by dry grass and sparse vegetation.

Time has carved its own story into these giant presidential faces—cracks, stains, and moss settling into every contour as they watch over the field in stoic silence.


On President’s Day Weekend, I was more than a little excited to finally photograph the Giant Presidents’ Heads. These towering concrete busts sit on private property, with only a handful of opportunities each year for the public to walk among them. Exposed to the elements and slowly surrendering to time, they stand cracked and crumbling in various stages of deterioration. Heavy equipment surrounds them, creating an apocalyptic industrial landscape where moss, mold, and weathering add unexpected character—and a whole lot of awe—to the experience.

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A historic brick fort with arched openings and grass-covered earthworks stands near a sandy area with coastal grasses. The ocean is visible behind the structure under a clear blue sky.

Weathered brick, sweeping dunes, and the blue Gulf beyond—this view of Fort Massachusetts captures the quiet resilience of one of Mississippi’s most storied coastal defenses.

Fort Massachusetts is located on West Ship Island, 12 miles off the Mississippi Gulf Coast; it is part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. Once known only as Ship Island, Hurricane Camille in 1969 cut the island in half, creating East and West Ship Islands. The US Army Corps of Engineers began reconnecting the islands in 2018, so they​ will be one island again one day.

The barrier islands of the Gulf Islands National Seashore create a buffer between the mainland and the Gulf of Mexico.  It is a critical habitat for shorebirds and sea turtles, making West Ship Island an excellent location for birding and nature photography. The water around the island is typically crystal clear, with visibility as much as 12 to 14 feet deep, so the island is also an excellent destination for swimming and fishing.  With something for everyone, it makes for a fun family day trip while sneaking in a little history at the old fort.
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A small white wooden church stands surrounded by dense green trees, its arched windows and cupola partially covered by ivy as a dirt path leads to the entrance.

This vine‑covered 1850 church, known as Rodney Baptist Church or Mt. Zion Baptist Church No. 1, blends Greek Revival and Gothic Revival elements from its transitional era. Repeated Mississippi River flooding has left visible high‑water marks and severely weakened the structure.


Located just outside of Lorman, Mississippi and a short distance off the Natchez Trace Parkway is the ghost town of Rodney, Mississippi. Not much is left of this early nineteenth-century river settlement that is richly steeped in early American history. It is now all but forgotten and only visited by the most adventuresome travelers.


I first fell in love with an old black and white photograph of the Rodney Baptist Church many years ago placing Rodney Ghost Town high on my bucket list of places to photograph in Mississippi. Let me just say, it didn't disappoint!



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Author


Susan Tregoning is a fourth‑generation photographer and Midwest-based visual storyteller dedicated to preserving America’s architectural and roadside heritage. Drawing on her design background and a lifelong connection to photography, she documents historic buildings, small towns, and scenic byways across the region. Her work creates thoughtful visual records that honor the character, craftsmanship, and cultural memory embedded in places that are often overlooked yet define the American experience.