We Asked About Your Wonders, Here Are Some Replies

Nov. 14, 2006 — -- We asked for your wonders and you answered. You made us smile, and wonder at all of our unique human experiences. Here are some of your replies:

Space Station from Chris Moats in Neshkoro, Wisc.

Salisbury House in Des Moines, Iowa from Linda May in Bassett, Neb. --
I think you need to do a series on the wonders next door. Last weekend two friends and I toured the Salisbury House in Des Moines, Iowa. It is really a work of wonder from our past and a monument to what people will do. I don't have a photo to send, but these kinds of wonders impress me more than some of the ones you have featured so far. I guess, because this is something I CAN see, not something or someplace I will never visit.

Windrock Mountain from Mary Charles Stewart in Oak Ridge, Tenn. --
Now called Buffalo Mountain by the Tennessee Valley Authority, with 19 windmills on top for green power, this mountain was home to the Cherokee, wonderful mountain pioneers from the early 1700s, and in 1904, became a unique coal mining community for more than 60 years.

This community of Windrock, like many coal mining towns, had a commissary, where the miners traded script for goods. Anything could be ordered there. Once a grand piano was delivered by mancar up the mountain. A mancar is very similar to the street cars of San Francisco and was the residents main way off the mountain to the "foot" of the mountain.

My great-grandparents were sent from Virginia by the Bessemer Coal Co. to build houses and settle the camp for the miners to come. They lived in tents until they built the first houses. I say this camp was unique, because the people were unique. Although on a mountain top in Tennessee, 2500+ feet above sea level, at the top of the world, these miners had bridge clubs, played croquet, badminton, tennis, had baseball teams, and was always integrated.

Now, sadly, nothing is left of the town but lots of memories and pictures, but the mountain has a new purpose. The world jubilee of 4-wheeling is held there every year and every weekend one can find many people camping at the "foot." and enjoying the view from their 4-wheeling ATV's "on top."

The little white church that is so picturesque and has been there forever decided if the 4- wheelers wouldn't come to church, church would come to them. So on Sundays you can hear the wonderful old Southern gospel melodies and the happy preaching from the loudspeakers outside the church. With the windmills providing green power and everyone having cell phones and laptops, the 21st century has come to Windrock.

Yellowstone National Park from Alex Baggett in Columbus, Ga.

Tahitian Sanctuary from Abbie Clark in Atkins, Iowa --
My husband and I were recently at the Tahitian islands where Dr. Mike Poole has set up a sanctuary/reserve around the islands larger than the United States proper. There are coral reefs around each island and the fauna is many times that of any island. Dr. Poole (CRIOBE) and the French government, along with Mr. Costeau, formed this reserve specifically for the preservation of the humpback whales.

My family home for the holidays from Michelle Kaiser in Reno, Nev. -- My family all together for the holidays. For Thanksgiving we will have 12 - 14 people at my house for Thanksgiving ranging in age from 7-73. It is a "wonder" we all get along and that we all want to betogether. But this is a wonder in my life -- wouldn't trade it foranything!!!

P.S. I am an avid fan of GMA! I was there a year ago on Labor Day -- onlyCharlie Gibson was there out of the "fab four" of the time. We have asaying in our house "everything you need to know is on Good MorningAmerica." And it's true! :)

Galapagos Islands from Stephen Palmer in Washington, Pa. -- The Galapagos Islands, a study in the theories of evolution.

My mother from Sherry in Valley Stream, N.Y. -- My mother is a wonder in my world. She is there always ready to help others, always trying to make people laugh ... always, always, always ready to lend a helping hand. At work she has people who saythings that aren't nice when they are having a bad day, but my mom justwalks away and later on tries to make them laugh. My mother Shali is awonder in my world!

Empire State Building from Nicholas John Buffone in Boston, Mass. -- The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World were man-madestructures. The modern choices you've made blend natural and man-madewonders, thereby diluting and confusing the original concept. Using theoriginal criteria for a "wonder," my choice of a wonder today, is THEEMPIRE STATE BUILDING in New York City, where I was born!

Machu Picchu from Carlos Lagos in San Antonio, Texas --The Inca's spiritual mountain of Machu Picchu discovered byHiram Bingham in 1911. This place is the most spectacular sanctuary ofthe Inca Empire undefiled by conquerors in the America continent. Thebirth place of the Inca Empire, refuge for Virgins of the sun, spiritualconnection site with the Great Spirit (God) and ceremonial center of anetwork of settlements. I sure hope that everyone has a chance toexperience this wonderful place, elevate our spiritual knowledge, feelthe magnetism and peace of this wonder of the world. Please, show filmor pictures of Machu Picchu. Thank you!