Elting Memorial Library Fingerpost Sign

The Library of Alexandria has a rich history dating back to the third century BC when it was first established by Ptolemy 1. He brought the noted scholar Demetrios of Phaleron to lead the library project. Over the centuries, the library became one of the world's most renowned centers of knowledge, housing an extensive collection of books and manuscripts. The modern Library of Alexandria was established in 2002, and its theme is centered on scholarship and innovation.

At 61 degrees north latitude, Anchorage lies slightly farther north than Oslo, Stockholm, Helsinki and Saint Petersburg.
With a population of around 300,000, it is Alaska’s largest city. Major industries include government and military, petroleum, and tourism. Best known for trails, wildlife, and glaciers, it’s the state’s cultural soul as well.

The reservoir was created to provide the City of New York with water. It was constructed between 1907 and 1915. Thousands of acres of farmland were submerged by the reservoir. Approximately two thousand residents along with roads, homes, shops, farms, churches, and mills were either moved or abandoned. Today Ashokan Reservoir supplies about 40% of New York City’s daily drinking water needs. “Ashokan Farewell”, composed by Jay Unger, was used as the title theme of the 1990 PBS television miniseries The Civil War.

Maoris first settled in Auckland in 1350. The city is known as Tamaki Makaurau in the Indigenous te reo Maori language. 28% of the population of Auckland is Polynesian, the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world. Auckland, known at the City of Sails, is frequently listed in the top ten of popular preferred places to live in terms of quality of life. Over half a million watercraft are moored in marinas around the region.

Bar Harbor, a resort town on Mount Desert Island in Maine, is known as the gateway to Acadia National Park, one of the most visited national parks in the country. It has a rich history of attracting America’s elite: Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, Morgans and Astors, who built lavish cottages and hotels in the town. Bar Harbor offers a variety of attractions and activities for visitors: scenic views of the ocean and mountains, exploring the charming downtown, tasting the famous Maine lobster, hiking, biking, kayaking, whale watching and more.

Bard College is a private liberal arts college located in the hamlet of Annandale-on-Hudson in Red Hook, New York. Founded in 1860, the residential campus is shared by Bard College Conservatory of Music. The rock band Steely Dan formed while at Bard in the 1970s, and members Donald Fagan and Walter Becker include lyrics about their time at the college in at least two of the band’s songs including “My Old School” and 1974 hit “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number.” Bard College has hosted distinguished faculty including Hannah Arendt, Ralph Ellison, Toni Morrison, and Neil Gaiman.

This grandiose city, with European influences, has wide avenues and a cosmopolitan flair. The capital of Argentina, it is located on the western shore of the Río de la Plata, on South America's southeastern coast. The vibrant energy of modern Buenos Aires is evident in the city center, a hub for entertainment, shopping, and café culture. The quality of life in Buenos Aires was ranked 91st in the world in 2018, being one of the best in Latin America. In 2012, it was the most visited city in South America.

Burkina Faso is a landlocked country in West Africa bordered by Mali, Niger, Benin, Toga, Ghana, and the Ivory Coast. Its capital is Ouagadougouˌ (wä-gä-ˈdü-(ˌ)gü), often translated into English as the "Land of Honest Men". The country has a strong culture and is geographically biodiverse, with plentiful reserves of gold, manganese, copper, and limestone.

Friends of Guirgho (a rural village nestled in the center of Burkina Faso), is a non-profit organization based in New Paltz. Its mission is to partner with rural schools to maximize the potential of every student by providing access to state-of-the-art educational tools and technology. Find out more at www.friendsofguirgho.org/.

Cape Town is one of South Africa’s three capital cities. While there are 11 official languages, Afrikaans, English, and Xhosa are each spoken natively in near-equal measure. Cape Town is the parliamentary seat and is world-renowned for its architecture and beauty. The city was founded in 1652 as a halfway point for ships sailing between Europe and India. It holds more recent historical significance as the site where Nelson Mandela, the “father of democracy for South Africa” delivered his first speech as a free person after spending 28 years in prison.

Tourist: “Can you tell me how to get to Carnegie Hall?”
New Yorker: “Yes, practice, practice, practice!”

The first official concert to aurally grace this world-renowned performance hall was conducted by maestro Walter Damrosch and the great Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in 1891. It was home to the New York Philharmonic from 1892 to 1962 when the orchestra moved to Lincoln Center. Carnegie Hall was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1962 after escaping plans for demolition thanks to conservation efforts led by violinist Isaac Stern. It is now owned by the City of New York.

Chicago is located at the mouth of the Chicago River near the southern tip of Lake Michigan. The Chicago River forms a critical link in the great waterway between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mississippi River. The city is also the country’s primary railway hub. The Library of Chicago rose out of the ashes of the Great Fire of 1871 aided by good-will contributions from Queen Victoria, Tennyson, Disraeli and others. The "Great Migration" of black workers from the South brought traditional jazz and blues music to the city, resulting in Chicago blues and "Chicago-style" Dixieland jazz.

At 20,310 feet from base to summit, Denali, located in Alaska, is the tallest mountain in North America. Originally named Mount McKinley after President McKinley, the name was changed by the Alaskan Legislature and officially recognized by the Federal Government in 2015. Denali means "The High One'' in the language of the indigenous people in the region. Denali National Park & Preserve Denali is six million acres of wild land, bisected by one ribbon of road. Solitude, tranquility and
wilderness await.

Earth’s core is composed of the inner and the outer cores. The inner core is solid and made of iron. The liquid outer core surrounds the inner core and is composed of a nickel-iron alloy. We know through seismography that temperatures in the inner parts of the Earth actually exceed the surface temperature of the Sun! This is due to: (1) heat left over from the formation of the Earth, (2) gravitational pressure put on the core by tidal forces and the rotation of the Earth, and (3) the
radioactive decay of elements in the inner part of the Earth.

Founded in 1909 as the New Paltz Free Library, the name was changed in 1920 when Philip Elting bought the old stone house at 93 Main Street to house a public library for the residents of New Paltz. Elting Memorial Library’s mission is to promote literacy, build community, and inspire lifelong learning. The Library’s extensive collections, unique historical holdings, cultural programs, services, and events, provide an accessible resource for all.

Eureka is a small research base on Fosheim Peninsula, in the Canadian territory of Nunavut, 692 miles from the North Pole. It was founded on April 7, 1947, as part of an initiative to set up a network of Arctic weather stations. Fauna include muskox, Arctic wolves, Arctic foxes, Arctic hares, and lemmings. It is the coldest settlement in Canada. You may find it interesting to check the Nunavut Weather.

Fire Island is a 32-mile barrier island located off the southern coast of Long Island, NY. It offers pristine beaches and abundant wildlife in a car-free environment. Fire Island is a popular LGBTQ+ destination, hosting large events like the annual Pines Party, and attracting visitors from nearby New York City and around the world. Its population of 400 jumps to nearly 20,000 during the summer months. It is also home to the Fire Island Lighthouse, a National Historical Landmark built in 1858 to help guide ships into New York Harbor.

Flagstaff is nestled in the high mountains of northern Arizona and is known for its blend of natural wonders and a vibrant cultural scene. Flagstaff’s economy is built around tourism. Just eighty miles south of the Grand Canyon, the city attracts visitors seeking outdoor adventure. It is best known for hiking, skiing, and craft breweries. Flagstaff was recognized as the first International Dark Sky city in 2001, making it an ideal destination for stargazers. It is also considered the birthplace of Route 66, with the historic road running through its downtown area.

Guadalajara is a metropolis in western Mexico and the capital of the state of Jalisco. A center for commerce, arts, and culture, the city is the birthplace of mariachi music and birria, a meat stew or soup. Guadalajara is the site of an annual nine-day International Book Fair, the largest in the Americas. The Hospicio Cabañas, one of the oldest and largest orphanages and hospitals in the hemisphere, was converted to the Cabañas Cultural Institute in the 1980s and houses the monumental frescoes of muralist painter José Clemente Orozco. The museum was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.

Havana is the capital and largest city of Cuba. It is the main port and commercial center of the country. Some of the most popular attractions in Havana include Old Havana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with colonial-era buildings and plazas; El Malecón, a 5-mile-long boulevard along the waterfront where locals and tourists mingle; Museo de la
Revolución, a museum that showcases Cuba’s revolutionary history; Ernest Hemingway’s former home, Finca Vigía; and Fábrica de Arte Cubano, a cultural center that hosts art exhibitions, concerts, films, and more. Havana is also known for its vibrant nightlife, music, cuisine and rum.

If you are a teen who believes that you have magical powers, just follow this signpost to Hogwarts, an exclusive boarding school nestled in a secret location in the Scottish Highlands, where your talents will be nurtured and honed. Although some believe this to be a fictional creation, the many fans and friends of Harry Potter know that it exists. Hogwarts was founded in the 9th and 10th centuries to educate young wizards and witches as well as to keep them safe from Muggles. If you don’t know what a Muggle is, you probably are one.

Honolulu is situated along the southeastern shore of Oahu Island and is the capital and principal port of Hawaii. It is the crossroad of trans-Pacific shipping and air routes, the focus of inter-island services, and the commercial and industrial center of the state. Honolulu'sfavorable tropical climate, rich natural scenery, and extensive beaches make it a popular global destination for tourists. It is the seventh-most visited city in the United States. The city is characterized by a mix of various Asian, Western, and Pacific cultures, reflected in its diverse geography, cuisine, and traditions.

French-Huguenots, driven by religious persecution from their native France established this street in 1678. They purchased the land from the indigenous people and were granted a patent by Governor Edmond Ambros. One of the oldest continuously inhabited streets in America, Huguenot Street features well-preserved colonial-style buildings, including houses of the original patentee families: DuBois, Deyo, Hasbrouck, LeFevre, and Bevier. The street also is home to a historic
church, cemetery, and library. Huguenot St. is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in early American history and architecture.

Lake Ontario, the smallest and easternmost of the Great Lakes, lies between Ontario, Canada, and New York. Explored by Étienne Brûlé and Samuel de Champlain in 1615, it was initially held by the Iroquois Indians. The lake serves as an outlet to the Atlantic Ocean via the Saint Lawrence River. It regulates water levels through dams like Long Sault and Moses-Saunders Power Dam. Lake Ontario supports diverse wildlife, including birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and plants along its shorelines. It hosts the major commercial ports of Toronto and Hamilton, known for steel production.

An iconic symbol of American independence, it is housed in Philadelphia at the Liberty Bell Center. No one recorded when or why the Liberty Bell first cracked, but it is likely that a narrow split developed in the early 1840s. Beginning in 1885, the city of Philadelphia, which owns the bell, allowed it to be transported to various expositions and patriotic gatherings. The bell attracted huge crowds wherever it went. Additional cracking occurred, and pieces were chipped away by souvenir hunters. The last such journey occurred in 1915, after which the city refused further requests.

Mohonk Lake is a half-mile-long glacial lake surrounded by pristine forests and dramatic overlooks. It is located at the Mohonk Mountain House, a historic resort near the village of New Paltz, NY. The lake is one of five “sky lakes” on the Shawangunk Ridge. Visitors enjoy boating, fishing, and swimming in the lake, which is half a mile long, 300
feet wide and 60 feet deep. It serves as the final swimming leg for the Survival of the Shawangunks triathlon.

Montreal is the largest city in the Canadian Province of Quebec, and the 2nd most populated in Canada. French is the city's official language, although both English and French are spoken by most of the population. Montreal is known for its many festivals, including the Montreal International Jazz Festival, the largest in the world. Mount Royal Park is one of Montreal's largest greenspaces. The park, most of which is wooded, was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who also designed
New York's Central Park, and was inaugurated in 1876.

Scientists aren’t entirely sure how the Moon formed. A popular theory is that a Mars-sized rock named Theia crashed into Earth around 4.5 billion years ago. The debris from the collision clumped together to make what is now... Our Moon! Wallace and Gromit explored the moon hoping to find green cheese but were sadly disappointed.

Russia's capital city is a vibrant metropolis that blends rich history with modernity. It is Europe's largest city. Founded in the 12th century, Moscow is home to the Kremlin and Red Square, a UNESCO World Heritage site comprising a fortified complex of palaces and cathedrals. Now, Moscow's bustling streets are lined with fashionable boutiques, vibrant markets, and diverse culinary establishments. Moscow’s metro is internationally known as an underground network of art galleries, mosaics, and unique architectural features.

Located in the Berkshires of northwest Massachusetts, it is the highest point in the state at 3,489 feet. Several hiking trails cross the summit area, including the Appalachian Trail. Mount Greylock is designated as an “important bird area” with purported records of 132 bird species. These include certain birds that breed exclusively in boreal forests. One radio and one television station transmit from a broadcast tower below the summit on the west side: WAMC (90.3Albany); and W38DL (38 Adams, Massachusetts). James Taylor sings of snowfall on the Berkshires in “Sweet Baby James”.

Mount Washington in New Hampshire, is the highest peak in the northeastern United States at 6,288 feet. It is part of
the Presidential Range of the White Mountains and is famous for its extreme weather conditions, especially its high winds. The mountain holds the record for the highest wind speed ever recorded on Earth, at 231 miles per hour in 1934. Mount Washington is a popular destination for hikers, skiers, and tourists, who can access the summit by hiking trails, a cog railway, or an auto road. The mountain also hosts a weather observatory and a state park.

Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's iconic crown jewel, is a dormant volcano located in the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania. Rising majestically to an awe-inspiring altitude of 19,341 feet, this legendary mountain offers an extraordinary challenge and a rewarding adventure. Trek through diverse ecosystems, from lush rainforests to vast alpine deserts, as you ascend toward the snow-capped summit. Though the climb is not technically as challenging as the Himalayas or Andes, the high elevation, low temperature, and occasional high winds can make Kilimanjaro a difficult ascent. Acclimatization is required, and even experienced and physically fit trekkers may suffer some degree of altitude sickness.

Second only to Hollywood by revenue, Mumbai is the capital of India’s flourishing and historically significant Hindi language film industry. Mumbai is also India’s largest and most populous city. A city of drama and contrast, Mumbai is home to one of the most expensive homes on the planet while also hosting the world’s poorest and most populous neighborhood. It’s the birthplace of Rudyard Kipling and Salman Rushdie and has inspired the literary work of the likes of Leonard Cohen, Allen Ginsberg, and Mark Twain to name just a few.

Nashville, known as “Music City”, is the capital ofTennessee. It is an essential destination for country music legends andthose looking to get their first break in the music business. The RymanAuditorium is an iconic landmark known for its rich history of legendaryperformances. The Grand Ole Opry features a weekly country musicshowcase and is the longest-running radio show in the United States.Nashville is also home to a full-scale replica of the Parthenon. Built forTennessee's centennial fair in 1897, it features a 42-foot statue of Athena,the Greek goddess of wisdom and war.

Located in the state of Louisiana at the mouth of the Mississippi River, New Orleans, nicknamed “The Big Easy," is
considered the birthplace of Jazz, a uniquely American music style. Known for its mixture of French, African, & American culture, it is also noted for its distinctive cuisine and its Mardi Gras Festival. Serving as a major port, New Orleans is an economic and commercial hub for the broader Gulf Coast region of the United States. Hurricanes pose a severe threat to the area, and the city is particularly at risk because of its low elevation.

The North Pole, also known as the Geographic North Pole, is the point in the Northern Hemisphere where the Earth's axis of rotation meets its surface. It is called the True North Pole to distinguish it from the Magnetic North Pole. The direction in which a compass needle points is known as Magnetic North. The local angular difference between the magnetic north and true north is called the magnetic declination. The north magnetic pole moves over time. In July 2023, at this location, the declination was 12.77°W. The North Pole sits in the middle of the Arctic Ocean, on water that is almost always covered with ice.

Portland, Oregon is situated near the end of the Oregon Trail at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers, about 100 miles from the Pacific Ocean. Named after Portland, Maine, the settlement began to be populated in the 1840s. Pioneer Courthouse Square in downtown Portland is home to a “fingerpost “sign that served as inspiration for this one. Portland’s annual Rose Festival is widely acclaimed, and a blues festival and a brewer’s festival are held each July. About half of Oregon's population resides within the Portland metropolitan area.

The Prime Meridian, the line of 0° degrees longitude, is a specially designated imaginary north-south line used for measuring east-west distances around the earth. It is located at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England. The combination of meridians of longitude and parallels of latitude establishes a framework or grid by means of which exact positions can be determined in reference to the Prime Meridian and the Equator. A point described as 42°N, 74°W, for example, is located 42° of arc north of the Equator and 74° of arc west of the Greenwich meridian.

A captivating city, nestled along the mighty St. Lawrence River in Canada, it embraces a fusion of old-world charm and vibrant modernity. From the cobbled streets of Old Quebec, a UNESCO World Heritage site, to the bustling energy of Quartier Petit Centuries Champlain, Quebec offers an array of architectural wonders, delectable cuisine, and a rich cultural tapestry. Its iconic Château Frontenac majestically overlooks the city, leaving tales of explorers and settlers.
With a vibrant arts scene, charming boutiques, and captivating festivals, Quebec entices visitors to indulge in its engaging allure.

Reykjavik is the capital and largest city of Iceland. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay. Its latitude is 64°08' N, making it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. According to tradition, Reykjavík (“Bay of Smokes”) was founded in 874 by the Norseman Ingólfur Arnarson. In 1972, Reykjavíkhosted the famous world chess championship between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky. The 1986 Reykjavík Summit between Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev underlined Reykjavík's international status. Happily, you can now fly from the Hudson Valley to Reykjavik non-stop any time of the year.

Rivendell Middle-earth - Depending on how far-ranging your experience and your imagination, you might not find Rivendell on your map. But if you are a reader of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, you will find that it is a valley in the fictional world of Middle-earth, representing both a homely place of sanctuary and a magical Elvish otherworld. Rivendell is located at the edge of a narrow gorge of the Bruinen River, but well hidden in the moorlands and foothills of the Misty Mountains. You may have to dream your way there.

This South Pacific nation of 200,000 people gained independence from New Zealand in 1962. After a constitutional crisis in 2021, Samoa changed its governing party for the first time in 33 years and swore in its first female prime minister. Samoa has survived more than a century of foreign influence and domination, an outbreak of Spanish flu(1918), and an epidemic of measles (2019). It has no military and a largely unarmed police force. The tooth-billed pigeon (Manumea), the endangered national bird, lives only on the island. In 2011 Samoa tweaked the International Date Line to join Australia and Japan on Monday, leaving the U.S. still on Sunday.

Sea level is the base level for measuring elevation and depth on Earth. Elevation influences climate, as well as where and how
people live. Most of the world’s people live on coastal plains at elevations of 500 feet or less. The Earth's highest elevation point is at the summit of Mt. Everest in Nepal. It measures 8,848 meters (29,035 feet). The Earth's lowest land elevation point is at the Dead Sea, located at the border of Israel and Jordan. Its shores have an elevation of 420 meters (1,385 feet) below sea level.

Slide Mountain is the tallest of the Catskill Mountains at 4,190 ft. The majestic peak offers breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding landscapes. Hikers can embark on thrilling trails that wind through lush forests, meandering streams, and rocky terrain. Renowned naturalist John Burroughs wrote memorably of his climbs up Slide, and it helped get the Catskills added to New York's Forest Preserve. The mountain received its name locally from a landslide in 1819 on its north face near the summit. The scar can still be seen today and was partially gouged out again by another slide in 1982.

The South Pole experiences only one sunrise and one sunset during the entire year. The sun rises in September and sets in March. During the summer months, there are 24 hours of sunlight, and in the winter months 24 hours of (near) darkness. The average summertemperature is -18°F; in winter -76°F. The coldest recorded temperature was -117°F (-83C°). The South Pole is the site of a U.S. scientific research station and landing strip.

The astronomical unit (AU or au) is a unit of length roughly the distance between the Earth and the Sun; approximately 93 million miles. The AU provides a convenient way to express the distances of objects in the solar system. For example, stating that Jupiter is 5.2 AU from the Sun and that Pluto is nearly 40 AU gives ready comparisons of the distances of all three bodies.

SUNY New Paltz is one of 64 campuses (as of 2023) in the State University of New York System, the largest comprehensive university system in the U.S. The Dorsky Art Museum, Sojourner Truth Library, and McKenna Theatre enrich the lives of students and visitors alike. Take a stroll around the campus for scenic views of the Shawangunk Ridge and “The Gunk” Pond.

Syracuse was named for Syracuse, Sicily, and incorporated as a village in 1825. The preferred pronunciation is “Seera-cause”. The first State Fair in the U.S. was held there in 1841. Syracuse receives more snowfall than any other major city in the U.S. The average annual is 126.3’.13. National Geographic named Syracuse “One of America’s Top 20 Green Cities.”

Tegucigalpa is the capital of the Republic of Honduras. It is located on hilly terrain hemmed in by mountains, at an elevation of 3,200 ft. (975 m). Honduras has one of the most complex and intricate ecosystems in the world. The Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve is a UNESCO World Heritage site featuring some of the rarest plants, animals, and birds. Regrettably, high murder rates have long plagued Honduras. Though the homicide rate fell from prior highs to a rate of 36 per 100,000 in 2022, this still puts Honduras among the world’s most violent countries.

Tokyo, Japan's dynamic capital is a captivating blend of tradition and innovation. With a population of over 13 million, it's a bustling metropolis that never sleeps. Explore the neon-lit streets of Shinjuku, discover the serene beauty of the Meiji Shrine, or indulge in world-class sushi at the Tsukiji Fish Market. Tokyo is home to the world’s busiest pedestrian crossing at Shibuya, where thousands cross paths each day. Don't miss the iconic Tokyo Skytree, one of the tallest towers globally, offering breathtaking views of this enthralling city.

Latitude is the measurement of distance north or south of the Equator. It is measured with 180 imaginary lines that form circles around Earth east-west, parallel to the Equator. One degree of latitude, called an arc degree, covers about 69 miles. Thus, New Paltz is around 2,880 miles north of the Equator.

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, a beloved British children’s book by Lewis Carroll, was published in 1865. With its fantastical tales and riddles, it became one of the most popular works of English-language fiction. The suggestion on the Wonderland sign to, “Ask Alice” comes from the third verse of the song “White Rabbit” written by Grace Slick in 1966.

When men on the chessboard
Get up and tell you where to go
And you’ve just had some kind of mushroom
And your mind is moving low
Go ask Alice
I think she’ll know