Front Doors

Front Doors Christmas Break

2005-12-16T06:29:00.000-08:00

This year in the summer I started this project Front Doors and in a short period of time we were able to attract a good number of regular readers of this blog. Also we have a number of great contributors that keep sending in the photos that is keeping this blog always in the shape it is in. But of course it is taking quite a bit of time from my side and with quite a number of developments here I am forced to take some time off from this project. This means that the Front Doors will be closed for a Christmas break and won't be updated till the end of the year.

I have received quite a number of photos and they will be published in 2006, but for now it is going to be a little quiet here. Please keep sending in photos because we will continue. In fact everyone that will be sending in photos during this closure I will reply with an email informing when the website has started publishing again. Possibly there will be some renovations to the design as well.

Thanks for all your contributions! Front Doors wishes you a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year filled with photos of the most beautiful doors on the planet.

Front Door of the month: November

2005-12-11T05:33:00.000-08:00

It's today that I am announcing you the fourth Front Door of the Month. And this month we got the most convincing winner. It has never been such a decisive eletion. Almost all the votes that came in were for the winner. So herby I anounce the deserved winner of the title Front Door of the month November 2005: the door sent in by Michelle Mitchell of the door of the Royal Exchange in London.Michelle Mitchell has sent in several photos before and her entry this month was of a quality that made her the unmistakable winner. The photo was first placed on this Blog on November 24th. Congratulations Michelle and thank you for the great contribution to this blog! I hope you keep sending in those great photos.

Please join me in congratulating Michelle Mitchell with her winning photo!!

Naples, NY

2005-12-09T09:12:00.000-08:00

This is the front entrance to the Widmer Wine Cellars in Naples, NY. A century-old winery, Widmer is now part of the largest wine conglomerate in the United States (Constellation Wines), but more interesting is its history. John Jacob Widmer, founder of Widmer's Wine Cellars, came to Naples from Switzerland in 1882 and planted his first vines in Naples Valley in Spring 1883. During the years of Prohibition, Widmer's Wine Cellars produced unfermented grape juice, fruit and wine jellies, syrups and kindred non-alcoholic products. A limited amount of wine was produced too, for sacramental and medicinal use. Their grape juice barrels were sold with instructions of how "not" to make wine with it. Widmer wines maintain an acknowledged position in the American wine industry. Photo by Cheryl Harris.

Bisbee, AZ

2005-12-05T21:14:00.000-08:00

This entrance was sent in by Iris Nelson. It's an entrance in the picturesque city of Bisbee, AZ. Bisbee was founded in 1880 and named after Judge DeWitt Bisbee, a financial backer of the Copper Queen Mine. This mining camp proved to be one of the richest mineral sites in the world, producing nearly three million ounces of gold and more than eight billion pounds of copper, not to mention the silver, lead and zinc that came from these rich Mule Mountains. By the early 1900s, the Bisbee community was the largest city between St. Louis and San Francisco. When mining became unprofitable in the 70s the city slowly evolved into an attractive artist colony and retirement community emphasizing monthly special events and tourism.

Final Three of November

2005-12-04T12:20:00.000-08:00

As with this blog's tradition, we eliminate three photos of the first 6 nominees to come up with the final three of the month. And this month the final three are: 1. Alenquer, Portugal ; 2. Chicago, IL; 3. London, England.
Keep voting via comments or email until the 10th of this month when we will anounce the Front Door of the Month. And ofcourse keep sending those photos. Your photo might be the next front door of the month!

Front Door of the Month Nominees

2005-12-01T01:23:00.000-08:00

On this first of the month we will according to tradition with this blog announce the nominees for the Front Door of the Month. Last month we had to skip the tradition, so this month all entries for October were taken into consideration aswell for the Front Door of the Month November. Well here the are!
The 6 nominees in alphabetic order are: 1. Alenquer, Portugal ; 2. Buenos Aires, Argentina ; 3. Chicago, IL; 4. London, England ; 5. Monseraz, Portugal ; 6. Selånger, Sweden.
Your votes will determine who will enter the winner circle with the Front Door of the Month, so please give me your comments here or by email.

Berlin, Germany

2005-11-30T01:28:00.000-08:00

In the German capital Berlin you can find this entrance to the Berliner Dom, a building that was built in 1905. The German Emperor Wilhelm II ordered the built of this Cathedral, designed by Julius Raschdorff. 114 m long, 73 m wide and 116 m tall, it was much larger than any of the previous buildings on this site and was considered a Protestant counterweight to the St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. During the Second World War, the building was bombed by the Allies and severely damaged. A temporary roof was installed to protect what remained of the interior and in 1975 reconstruction started. The restoration of the interior was begun in 1984 and in 1993 the church reopened. During reconstruction, the original design was modified into a more simple form and less tall. Photo by Iris Nelson.

Truro, MA

2005-11-28T23:23:00.000-08:00

This photo that was taken in Truro, Massachusetts, was sent in by Cynthia Stead. Truro is situated at Cape Cod and it has missed its chance at immortality when the little band of Pilgrims from the Mayflower decided not to stay in the rolling hills and moors that might have reminded some of them of home and to follow Captain Myles Standish to the area across the bay that became Plimouth. Although the Pilgrims didn't stay in Truro after a brief exploration that convinced many that they should, it was a find of seed corn, ten bushels, stored by the Pamet Indians on what is now known as Corn Hill, that helped to sustain them the following year. Settlers did not come back until two decades later, when the land now known as Pamet was part of a large tract granted to Thomas Prence and other proprietors of Nauset. In 1689 the Pamet Proprietors negotiated purchases of land from the Pamet Indians. In 1705 Pamet was established changed its name to Dangerfield. In 1709 Dangerfield separated from Eastham, incorporated as a town and changed its name to Truro.

Alenquer, Portugal

2005-11-25T01:05:00.000-08:00

This front door to the St Francisco Convent in Alenquer was photographed by Francisco Ourique. The convent was founded in 1222 by D.Sancha daughter of D.Sancho I of Portugal. The city of Alenquer was conquered by the moors in the XII century and had its first charter in the following century. The region around the town is famous for its wines, esp. the whites. It has two different delimitations but both confined to the municipality that gives name to it. The vineyards form great continuous spots, following the relief and developing along hillsides and valleys.

London, England

2005-11-24T00:05:00.000-08:00

This door leads you to the Royal Exchange in London. The Royal Exchange was founded in 1565 by Sir Thomas Gresham to act as a centre of commerce for the city. The design was inspired by a bourse Gresham had seen in Antwerp. The Royal Exchange was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth I who awarded the building its Royal title, on January 23, 1571. The Great Fire of London destroyed the original building in 1566 and the rebuilt echange got destroyed in a fire in 1838. The current structure was designed by Sir William Tite, and was opened by Queen Victoria on October 28, 1844, though trading did not commence until January 1, 1845. The Royal Exchange ceased to act as a centre of commerce in 1939, and is now a luxurious shopping centre. Photo by Micelle Mitchell.

Bloomfield, CT

2005-11-21T00:17:00.000-08:00

This door photographed by Bill Owens is the entrance to the Capt. Oliver Filley House in Bloomfield Connecticut a.k.a. Wintonbury. The Captain Oliver Filley House, one of the more significant historic sites remaining in Bloomfield, was built in 1834, one year before the incorporation of the town. Captain Filley had the house, an unusual example of an all-stone Greek Revival with brownstone corbeling and lintels, built for his son Jay Filley. It is being restored through a partnership between the Wintonbury Historical Society and the Town of Bloomfield, and will be a museum, cultural center, research library, and office for the Wintonbury Historical Society.

London, England

2005-11-19T09:36:00.000-08:00

From Micelle Mitchell comes this photo. It's taken around the underground station "Bank" in central London. This area of London is the home of the Royal Exchange that was founded by Sir Thomas Gresham in 1565. The Elizabethan merchant and courtier established the Exchange as a centre for commerce. At the centre of the original building was a vast courtyard where merchants and tradesmen did business. Queen Elizabeth I bestowed its Royal title and to this day the Royal Exchange is one of the sites from which new monarchs are announced.

New Haven, CT

2005-11-18T00:23:00.000-08:00

This is one of the many entrances to the Yale University. Yale University was founded in 1701 as the Collegiate School in the home of Abraham Pierson, its first rector, in Killingworth, Connecticut. In 1716 the school moved to New Haven and, with the generous gift by Elihu Yale of nine bales of goods, 417 books, and a portrait and arms of King George I, was renamed Yale College in 1718. The photo was taken and sent in by Bill Owens.

UlaanBaatar, Mongolia

2005-11-16T23:27:00.000-08:00

This is the entrance of the Golomt Bank in UlaanBaatar in Mongolia. Often called UB, Mongolia's sleepy capital has the look and feel of a neglected 1950s European city. The old Soviet cars are slowly being replaced by newer Japanese versions, but cows still wander the roads, and the traditionally dressed mingle on the streets with Mongolia's nouveaux riche. Built along the Tuul river and surrounded by lovely mountains, Ulaan Baatar is dominated by communist style highrise apartment buildings, but many locals also live in the extended outer suburbs. The centre of the city is Sükhbaatar Square. Foto by Nick Tay.

Monsaraz, Portugal

2005-11-15T04:04:00.000-08:00

The town that has been represented pretty much every month on this blog is Monsaraz in Portugal. As winner of the first Front Door of the month António Caeiro has been providing all of the pictures from that beautiful place. This one is again a beautiful entry. So once again Thanks António, without your contributions this blog would not have been the same.

North Bennington, VT

2005-11-13T22:18:00.000-08:00

This is the front door but, as you can see in the photo by Bill Owens, not the entrance to the Park-McCullough House in North Bennington, VT. The Park-McCullough House is one of the finest, most significant, and best Preserved Victorian Mansions in New England. Built in 1864-65 by attorney and entrepreneur Trenor Park (1823-1882), the house was designed by Henry Dudley, a prolific New York architect of the popular firm of Diaper and Dudley. It is an important example of a country house in the Second Empire Style and incorporates architectural features of the Romantic Revival style that were popular at the time. The house retains to a great extent the integrity and impact of its original design.

Chicago, IL

2005-11-11T23:39:00.000-08:00

This door sent in by Sherry aka YellowRose is the Front Door of the Tribune Tower on Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Ill. The design was the result of an international competition for "the most beautiful office building in the world," held in 1922 by the Chicago Tribune newspaper. The various competition entries proved extremely influential for the development of skyscraper architecture in the 1920s. The winning entry, with a crowning tower with flying buttresses, is derived from the design of the French cathedral of Rouen and gives the building its striking silhouette. The base of the building is studded with over 120 stones from famed sites and structures in all 50 states and dozens of foreign countries. They range from the Parthenon (Greece) and Taj Mahal (India) to Bunker Hill (Massachusetts) and Mark Twain's "Injun Joe Cave" (Missouri).

Front Door of the month: October

2005-11-11T23:08:00.000-08:00

Due to relocation and the unavailability of computers, internet and other matters, we have had only a low number of posts and also received a low number of sent in photos in October. Therefor we have decided to not award the Front Door of the month in October, but to combine October and November. Since access to the internet has been restored, I will try to start posting on a regular basis again. Thank you all for your continuing support, comments and photos you have sent to this Blog. We could not do it without you.

Los Altos, CA

2005-10-28T04:05:00.000-07:00

On Main Street in Los Altos, you can find this florist that is ready for Halloween. If you think you have seen better decorated front doors, then please send photos of them to frontdoors@gmail.com and tell me where you took that picture. We are running low on stock, so please keep sending those shots of doors!!

And... Happy Halloween!! Boooooo!!

Selånger, Sweden

2005-10-27T02:14:00.000-07:00

This is the main entrance to the church of Selånger. Selånger has been a central part of Medelpad for a long time. It's earliest history is over a 1000 years old. One of the reasons it has played a big role was because of the St. Olofs harbour located here that was the only harbour in the central province Medelpad until the 16th century. The parish was dominated by the agricultural sector. There were no industries in the parish, except for a number of brickworks.

Buenos Aires, Argentina

2005-10-20T03:44:00.000-07:00

This door can be found in Buenos Aires, the most European of all Latin American cities. With its wide boulevards, leafy parks, grand buildings and varied culture and nightlife, the city is reminiscent of Paris or Barcelona. The Porteños (‘people of the port’), as the residents of Buenos Aires are called, seem more European too – but this is hardly surprising considering that most are descended from European, predominately Italian, immigrants who settled here in the 19th century. With them came a culture and a cuisine that still flavours the city and can be enjoyed in countless art galleries, theatres and museums, as well as fine restaurants. Photo by Raphael Cruz.

Schiphol, the Netherlands

2005-10-18T03:26:00.000-07:00

Schiphol is the official name of the Amsterdam Airport and the town where it is located. And at the departure hall of the airport you can find this entrance to the Grand Cafe "Het Paleis" (The Palace). Schiphol started in 1916 as a small military airport of only 40 acres. On May 17th 1920 it had it's first regular passenger flight to London. In the early days the below sea level airport was often not dry enough so in often airplanes had to be dragged out of the mud. Only after the airport was bought by the city of Amsterdam in 1926 the airport was improved significantly. Today Schiphol is the 4th largest European airport with more than 40 million passengers per year.

Front Door of the month: September

2005-10-11T19:29:00.000-07:00

Today I am announcing you the third front door of the Month in the Front Doors' history. We got this month more votes than ever. I wonder if that is related to a marketing campaign one of the contestants launched on his own blog. Anyway marketing or not, the convincing and deserved winner of the title Front Door of the month September 2005 is the door of the gatehouse of the Saville Dam in Barkhamsted, CT sent in by Bill Owens.Bill Owens has been nominated before, but this month he was unbeatable. His photo was first placed on this Blog on September 13th. Congratulations Bill, you are a deserved winner! I hope you keep sending in those great photos.

Please join me in congratulating Bill Ownes with his winning photo!!

This photo will be on display a few days while the editor is relocating internationally. Please keep sending in photos, we are low on stock so we can use your contribution. And who knows, your photo might be the next front door of the month.

Skopje, Macedonia

2005-10-09T19:38:00.000-07:00

This is the impressive entrance to the Main Orthodox Chuch St. Clement of Ohrid in Skopje, Macedonia. The church was only built 15 years ago. Skopje has a very long history where it has had many highlights but has had some major tragic events too. After the Romans had conquered it in 148 BC it became a christian city, it flourished and had it's own bishop. But in the year 518 AD a big eartquake completely destroyed the city. It took a long time before the city became notable again at the end of the first millenium as part of the Macedonian Empire. But Skopje just as Macedonia constantly was ruled by new masters: Normans, Serbs, Bulgarians, Byzantines, and in 1392 it fell in Turkish hands and stayed that way until the Balkan wars made an end to that in 1912. Then after the Versailles Peace treaty it became part of Yugoslavia, and is only recently the capital of the country Macedonia. Photo by Raphael Cruz.

San Jose, CA

2005-10-08T20:41:00.000-07:00

Only the littlest ones can find this door, because this door is the stable door that you can find at the Opera House in the Happy Hollow Park and Zoo in San Jose. This park features a variety of children's rides and amusements as part of admission including carousels, various kiddie rides, and the puppet castle theatre. To add to the fun, there are themed play areas and picnic groves to entertain the whole family. The zoo exhibits over 50 species of domestic, exotic, and endangered animals from all over the world. And there couldn't be a better model to show this door than my own little girl.

Alnö, Sweden

2005-10-07T19:10:00.000-07:00

This door can be found on the Swedish island Alnö just off the coast from Sundsvall in Sweden. It's a door to one of the many farm homes on the island. It was in a shape that I couldn't resist taking a photo off.
The people of Alnö proudly calls their island "Norrlands Hawaii" -where Norrland means the northern part of Sweden- because of the many beaches and bathing places on the island. Personally, being several times on Hawaii and on Alnö, I am not sure if that is an appropriate name. Ok the summers are beautiful and there is plenty of beach weather, but the summers last only a few months and the winters.. well with temperatures well below zero and snow and ice everywhere, I am not so sure if they still qualify for that title.

Tomar, Portugal

2005-10-06T07:32:00.000-07:00

This door is a door to the São João Baptista Church a late gotic church build by order from King D.Manuel I located on main square of the town of Tomar. Tomar is an interesting town situated in a large and beautiful valley on the banks of the River Nabão in the centre of Portugal. Its linked closely to the Knights Templar and one of the most important chapters of Portuguese history. The Order of the Templars was founded in 1119 after the recapture of Santarém. In 1160, their Grande Master, Gualdim Pais, built the Castle of Tomar on a hill above the river. After the suppression of the order in 1314, King Dinis then founded a new order - the Order of Christ - which was transferred to Tomar in 1356. This helped finance Prince Henry the Navigator's voyages of discovery in the 14th and 15th centuries, during which his ships bore the Order's red cross on their sails. (Photo by Francisco Ourique)

Final Three of September

2005-10-04T07:15:00.000-07:00

Time to reveal the final 3 for the month of September. Voting can be done through October 10th. We encourage you to motivate your votes while voting for 1 of these final 3 (in alphabetical order):

- Barkhamsted, CT
- Dublin, Ireland
- Fira, Santorini (Θηρα, Σαντορινη), Greece

You might have noticed that Front Doors is a little less frequent updated lately. This is likely to continue throughout October due to my relocation this month. But please keep sending in those photos of doors, they will be placed.

Front Door of the Month Nominees September 2005

2005-10-01T19:00:00.000-07:00

Another new months has started which means we will review last months entries by nominating 6 photos as the nominees for the front door of the month September 2005. These 6 doors were all posted the last month, and now I ask from you to tell me which door deserves the title Front Door of the Month.
The 6 nominees in alphabetic order are: 1. Barkhamsted, CT ; 2. Dublin, Ireland.3. Ephesus, Turkey ; 4. Fira, Santorini (Θηρα, Σαντορινη), Greece ; 5. Monsaraz, Portugal ; 6. Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada;

Tell me what you think!

Faro, Portugal

2005-09-30T09:07:00.000-07:00

This door you can find on a house in Faro in the south in Portugal. Faro is the Algarve's capital and these days a gateway to the heavily-touristed southern coast of Portugal and also a thriving commercial centre, but surprisingly pleasant for all that. This is due to the fact that Faro has a rich history. It once was a trading post used by both Phoenicians and Carthaginians and became a major port under the Romans, who named it Ossonoba. Under the Moors, it became the cultured capital of a short-lived 11th-century principality founded by Mohammed ben Said ben HÃÂ¡run, from whose name 'Faro' is said to have evolved. The town had it's share of destruction too. It was plundered and burnt down by the troops under the Earl of Essex, and the rebuilt Faro was shattered by an earthquake in 1722 and, except for its sturdy old centre, flattened by another the big quake in 1755. So the present city is mainly dated from the post-quake rebuilding. (Photo by Francisco Ourique)

Dublin, Ireland

2005-09-28T18:54:00.000-07:00

While staying in Dublin for a year, every day Carol LeMouel passed this door on her busride. It's located at 46 Fitzwilliam Square in the center of Dublin. Fitzwilliam Square was named after the Fitzwilliam family, Earls of Merrion, who developed this land as part of their great estate on the southside of the Liffey. This, the most cohesive estate in Dublin was laid out between 1760 and 1850. The land acquired by the Fitzwilliam family was leased as a block from the City Corporation and as it was a single block, this lent it a cohesiveness that was lacking in the Gardiner Estate, which was developed and bought in small parcels. Their first project was Merrion Street in 1758. The door you see here is a fine example of Georgian Architecture and the timing of the photo in the beautiful fall colours was just perfect. Photo was sent in with Carol LeMouel's approval by Jennifer Hofmann.

Sofia, Bulgaria

2005-09-27T23:37:00.000-07:00

This door photographed by Raphael Cruz is actually a side door of the Aleksandar Nevski orthodox cathedral in Sofia, Bulgaria. This memorial church is considered to be one of the finest pieces of architecture in the Balkans and is definitely Sofia's number one attraction. The church was built in honour of the 200,000 Russian casualties of the War of Liberation in 1877–78 and was financed by public donations. Built between 1882 and 1924, It is a fabulous structure, with domes and half-domes and glitters with masses of gold leaf donated by the Soviet Union. The church has the capacity for 5000 worshipers and its services are magnificent, rich with incense, candlelight and resonate chanting.

Monsaraz, Portugal

2005-09-26T09:11:00.000-07:00

After sending in a photo of Monsaraz, Monsaraz, Monsaraz and Monsaraz, António Caeiro has shared with us a photo of... Monsaraz. This time no story about the town. But the links can help you refresh your memory. Enjoy!

New Haven, CT

2005-09-25T08:06:00.000-07:00

The Playwright Pub & Restaurant is located in New Haven across the street from the Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale. It was built in a renovated building by various members of the Guilfoyle family who are from Kilkenny, Ireland. Its decor is dominated by massive chunks of architecture rescued from ancient buildings in the British Isles. The main bar looks like a Gothic altar; the deejay booth is hidden behind a pulpit built in 1885; the arched windows on the building's facade once graced a chapel in Wales. When the Guilfoyles went on their trip to Brittain to find decorative architectural treasures in abandoned churches, cathedrals and schools for this bar, they rescued at least one sentimental artifact as well: the double doors to the Guilfoyles' great-grandparents' house, which they installed near the back bar and now affectionately refer to as "Granny's doors". (Photo by Bill Owens)

London, England

2005-09-24T06:52:00.000-07:00

Brick lane in East London, also sometimes called Curry lane for it's many Indian restaurants or curry houses, played host to a festival that is hailed as one of the biggest and most important cross cultural street parties in all of England. The lane itself and the surrounding street is also a great place for photo opportunities. This door is just one of the many areas that have been colourfully decorate by the street artists. The photo was sent in by Michelle Mitchell, England.

Monsaraz, Portugal

2005-09-20T17:07:00.000-07:00

For those who have been following this blog for a while know that when there is a door from Monsaraz, Portugal it must be sent in by António Caeiro. And they are right. António sent in this beautiful door from Monsaraz.
This small hilltop town of Monsaraz used to help guard against a Spanish section of the River Guadiana. The town came to prominence when it was captured from the Moors in 1167 by the famous soldier Geraldo Sem-Pavor (the Fearless). He improved the fortifications and gave the place to the militant Templar Order. It continued to suffer later many unsuccessful attacks from the invading Spanish throughout the following centuries. However, it was sacked in 1381 by the Earl of Cambridge when his proposed marriage to the daughter of Dom Fernando I was annulled and as a result he unleashed his anger on the town. His manner of gaining easy entry into the unassailable castle can be suspected as having pretended to still having enjoyed the favours of the Portuguese King.

Portola Valley, CA

2005-09-19T17:19:00.000-07:00

Hidden in the small town of Portola Valley you can find the Our Lady of the Wayside Church where this is the entrance of. Built in 1912, Our Lady of the Wayside was designed by native San Francisco architect Timothy L. Pflueger (1892-1946) and built when he was only twenty years old! An awareness of the Spanish California missions inspired the style, which contrasts with the large commercial buildings and art deco theaters for which Pflueger later became notable.
In 1989, the Loma Prieta earthquake literally shook the church building to its foundations. Due to obvious structural damage, the Archdiocese was forced to close the church immediately. The structural engineers who assessed the severity of the damage and strongly recommended tearing down the existing building and replacing it with a new structure. A lot of the damage resulted from the very poor concrete used in the original construction. The parish community felt otherwise; for instead it raised $600,000 required to retrofit and repair this beloved church.
(Photo was taken less than an hour before I posted this)

Saratoga, CA

2005-09-18T08:47:00.000-07:00

This door doesn't get the first price in a beauty contest, but it is a door that fits this town Saratoga. This city has a history of going with the latest trend instead of having it's own identity. The area was first inhabited by Indians who had built their homes near the mouth of the canyon at what an early map noted as Campbell's Gap. Then in 1850-51, when Martin McCarty, who had leased a sawmill, built a toll road connecting it to the village, this site was called Toll Gate. A post office was built in 1855 and got the name McCartysville. In the industrial heyday a few factories were built here and the post office was named Bank Mills in 1863. Later -with the discovery of mineral springs with a content similar to that of Congress Spring at Saratoga Springs, New York- it was renamed to Saratoga. I wonder what the next name change will be since it is nicely located at the edge of Silicon Valley.. how about Googleville?

Fira, Santorini (Θηρα, Σαντορινη), Greece

2005-09-17T00:58:00.000-07:00

Santorini is a crescent shaped volcanic island, that has gotten its shape by the eruption in 1,650 B.C. that was one of the largest eruptions in the last 10,000 years. About 7 cubic miles (30 cubic km) of rhyodacite magma was erupted, and causing the volcano to collapse leaving behind the island of Santorini with a few smaller ones on the other side of the caldera. It is believed that this eruption even caused the end of the Minoan civilization on the island of Crete south of Santorini. The town of Fira perches on the inside of the crater on top of the clif. And this door opens to stairs, in the open air, leading down into a taverna or small restaurant named "Archipelagos" on the side of the cliff overlooking the caldera. The restaurant is one of the oldest captain's houses, built in 1860 and restored according to the traditional architecture. Photo by Molly St.Cyr-Reid.

San Carlos, CA

2005-09-16T08:16:00.000-07:00

This is the front door of one of the four buildings named Hacienda Gardens, on San Carlos Ave in San Carlos. The Hacienda Gardens were built in 1931 as residences in a beautiful mission style completely restored to now serve as office space. San Carlos has a history that goes back to the first known inhabitants, the Ohlone Indians. Life abruptly and dramatically changed for the native people, when Spanish military and civilian settlers arrived. But it took some few centuries before the City of San Carlos was founded. With the coming of the railroad, three attempts were made to develop a town. First, in 1888, the San Carlos Land Company tried to subdivide and sell lots on the lands once owned by T.G. Phelps. In 1907, the San Carlos Park Syndicate used an elaborate sales campaign to try to make San Carlos a second Hillsborough, calling the area Oak Park. Mr. Frederick Drake, of the Mercantile Trust arrived in 1917, taking over the San Carlos Park Syndicate. He was more successful in developing San Carlos. He improved the water supply and piped water to the lots; he installed gas and electricity, and paved the streets. And at that time the Spanish style cottages were built.

Ephesus, Turkey

2005-09-15T08:05:00.000-07:00

On the the street of the Curettes in Ephesus Turkey is the temple of Hadrian located where this is the front entrance of. This temple was constructed by P.Quintilius between 118-138 A.D., and dedicated to the emperor Hadrian. Prosperous, sophisticated, highly cultured, Ephesus was the leading city of the wealthy and populous Roman province of Asia and one of the most precious jewels in the Roman empire's crown. Today, the city of Ephesus stands as it did in ancient times. No modern city was ever built over it; once the emperor stopped the funds used to dredge the harbor, it gradually filled with silt and became unusable and so it lost its commercial value and its standing as a vital urban center. Photo was sent in by Jennifer Hofmann.

Barkhamsted, CT

2005-09-14T07:02:00.000-07:00

In yesterday's post I made a reference to this photo by Aaron Bieber of the Saville Dam in Barkhamsted, CT. thinking that it was the same door, and was questioning where the differences came from. This door however is a different door than the one posted yesterday. This door is located down below the door that was posted yesterday, on the back face of the Saville Dam where there is a little park. It is amazing that a dam has such a beautiful doors when you think of how few people will enter any of these doors on a regular basis. According to the photographer of this door, who has visited many of the state parks with dams in Connecticut, the Saville Dam is by far the best maintained and most picturesque of all.
As with all photos on this blog, the photo was placed with permission of the photographer.

Barkhamsted, CT

2005-09-13T15:25:00.000-07:00

This is the grand entrance to the gatehouse of the Saville Dam in Barkhamsted, CT (photo by Bill Owens) that controls the water going down to the lake below the dam. And there is something surreal about this photo. In a B/W photo of 4/12/2004 by the photographer Aaron Bieber there are quite a number of differences to be observed, from the stones on the bridge, to the detail of the wood and even the lamp above the door.
This dam was completed in 1940 on the East Branch of the Farmington River. It is named for the chief engineer of the project, Caleb Mills Saville. The Barkhamsted Reservoir is about 8 miles long and extends from central Barkhamsted north into the town of Hartland almost to Massachusetts. The Reservoir is the primary water supply for the metropolitan Hartford area, which is about 25 miles away. Many Barkhamsted farms, houses and the village of Barkhamsted Hollow were located in the area now flooded by the Reservoir.

Front Door of the month: August

2005-09-10T10:03:00.000-07:00

Today I announce you the second front door of the Month in the Front Doors' history. Last month was a tough choice, but this month it was even tougher. And because it was so close I will first announce that the runner up is Michelle Mitchell with her door of Antalya, Turkey. But the Jury announces that the Front Door of the month August 2005 is the Red door of the crypt of the St. Peters church in Streatham, London sent in by David Miller.
This photo was first placed on this Blog on August 28th. Congratulations David I hope you will be sharing more of your beautiful photos with this blog in the future.

Please join me in congratulating David Miller with his winning photo!!

This photo will be on display a few days while the editor of this blog take a short monthly pause. Keep sending in photos, your photo might become the next front door of the month.

P.S. We expect on Sunday, September 11, the 10.000st visitor since July 13, 2005 measured by Site Meter. Let me know if you are that special one!

London, England

2005-09-09T12:24:00.000-07:00

Michelle Mitchell took this photo in London at the Regent Street Summer Festival 5 days ago. As the restaurant marquee opens onto Regents Steet the door is being used to lure hungry mouths to their menu which has been strategically placed on the front door. The Regent Street Festival is held yearly and it is the only day that this busy street is traffic-free but changed into a musical and theatrical extravaganza.
Regent Street and the similarly named Regent's Park is one of London's prettiest areas. The neoclassical architecture of the park terraces was designed from plans laid in 1811 by John Nash, Crown Architect and friend of the Prince Regent. The park itself boasts over 400 acres of public space which includes playgrounds, landscaped gardens, an incredible Rose Garden with more than 150 species of roses and of course, the indomitable London Zoo.

Póros, Greece

2005-09-08T11:34:00.000-07:00

This front door you can find on the Greek island of Póros. Póros is a vulcanic island, that was named after the main town when it was formed by the bridge connection of the two islands, Kalouria (Kalavria), a larger and lusher island with green hills and beautiful coastlines, and Sphaeria (Sferia), a small rocky island. The town Póros on the island is built against the hills and is with it's blue white homes a true example of Greek architecture. At the center of the town is worth visiting the Archaeological museum and the island’s trademark the "clock-tower". This photo was taken by Olivia Kallergi and sent in by her husband.

Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada

2005-09-07T11:56:00.000-07:00

This "scary" door is the first Canadian door on this blog. Sault Ste. Marie's history was been moulded to a large extent by it's location on the banks of the St. Mary's River and its rapids. The shores of the rapids became a natural stopping point on any journey east or west. The construction of a canal and lock in 1895 to bypass the rapids provided an all-Canadian route from the Atlantic Ocean to the head of Lake Superior. The industrial empire created by Francis Hector Clergue spurred local development in the late 1890's and early 1900's. Directly, or indirectly, he created pulp and paper mills, hydro-electric plants, rail and marine transportation, mines and a steel plant. And it is close to this steel plant where they’ve emptied out and boarded up houses for demolition and wher you can find this house and it's creepy door. I hope not all Canadian doors are like this. This photo was sent in by Mark Hohmann

Santa Cruz, CA

2005-09-06T09:55:00.000-07:00

This is the front door of "The Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church" on 223 Church St. in Santa Cruz. It is often said that if you find one Greek in a town, you will find a restaurant; if you find two Greeks, you will also find a church. Well this church began very modestly in 1980 by borrowing space at Poor Clares, a Catholic church in Soquel. The Greek families' determination to found a church became a reality in 1982, when a building, that used to be a funeral home, was purchased and converted into Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church. Besides church services it hosts every year a Greek Festival with baklava sales and homemade treats created by the local Greek community. The Greek Festival '05 will be held this coming weekend (September 9-11)!!

Roswell, NM

2005-09-05T08:30:00.000-07:00

This door has been in my archive for a little while and I was wondering if I would post it or not. It was taken and sent in by Stacie Nason. The interesting part here is not so much the door itself, but where the door is placed. This is the UFO that landed in Roswell New Mexico in 1947 (or that is what is believed). McDonald's cut out a part of the side, placed a regular boring McDonald's front door in it, and turned it into world's only extraterrestrial fast food restaurant.

Caldas da Rainha, Portugal

2005-09-04T13:15:00.000-07:00

This gorgeous door is located in the city Caldas da Rainha (80km north of Lissabon) in Portugal. The city of Caldas da Rainha (Queen's Hot Waters), like the name suggests was founded by a queen. Leonor, wife of King Joao II. The construction of a Thermal Hospital and the setlement near it was her decision. One day, when going from Bidos to Batalha, to attend mass in honour of former king Afonso V, she saw several people bathing in water banks, fumegating and with an intense smell. Told that the water had healing properties she reportadly tried the waters herself, because she suffered from angina, a tumour or another unknown disease, and it aparently cured it her later on. So in sign of thanks for this, she decided to order the building of a hospital where the poor could seek a cure.
Foto by Francisco Ourique

Monsaraz, Portugal

2005-09-03T21:17:00.000-07:00

This door was sent in by António Caeiro. Since the end of July he has been contributing some beautiful Portugese doors for this blog. His own blog is comletely dedicated to the beautiful little town Monsaraz which is one of the most beautifully preserved old towns in Portugal. Walking through Monsaraz is like taking a step back in time.

By the way, don't forget to vote for the Front Door of the month August! Voting can be done throughout this coming week!

Final three of August

2005-09-02T14:21:00.000-07:00

Time to reveal the final 3 for the month of August. And because we need a few more votes to determine the Front Door of the Month August, we encourage you to vote for 1 of these final 3 (in alphabetical order):

- Antalya, Turkey
- London, England
- Sundsvall, Sweden

Motivation of votes is highly encouraged. So bring it on!

Front Door of the Month Nominees August 2005

2005-09-01T08:34:00.000-07:00

Yes it's the first of the month, and for those who have been following this blog you would have figured out that today I have the honor to present the nominees for the front door of the month August 2005. These 6 doors were all posted the last month, and now I ask from you to tell me which door deserves the title Front Door of the Month.
The 6 nominees in alphabetic order are: 1. Antalya, Turkey ; 2. Cameron Highlands, Malaysia ; 3. London, England ; 4. New Haven, CT; 5. Stockholm, Sweden ; 6. Sundsvall, Sweden.

Tell me what you think!

New Haven, CT

2005-08-31T16:11:00.000-07:00

This door in the entrance of what was first called the United States Post Office and Courthouse. The building designed by New York architect James Gamble Rogers is located on the west side of the New Haven green. In the 1960's as part of a major 1960's urban renewal scheme, the building was a candidate for demolition. But it was saved by a coalition of Federal judges and local preservationists. And after much negotiation, it was restored in the early 1980's at a cost of $7,302,000 and renamed to "United States Courthouse". I guess it means that the postal service didn't care about saving it. (Photo by Bill Owens.)

Santa Cruz, CA

2005-08-30T09:37:00.000-07:00

This is the entrance to the Willey House on 105 Sylvar St. in Santa Cruz. This house was erected in 1887 for Henry Willey, the first president of the People's Bank in Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz is a beautiful coastal town in Northern California. Of course the pier and the boardwalk are famous, but it also has a very charming old downtown area and an old mission church and beautiful tower.

New Haven, CT

2005-08-29T09:48:00.000-07:00

These doors are the entrance to the New Haven City Hall. About 400 years ago the area where New Haven is located was the home of a small tribe of Native Americans, the Quinnipiack, who built their villages around the harbor. On April 24, 1638, a company of five-hundred English Puritans, sailed into the harbor. The Quinnipiacks who were much distressed by raiding bands from surrounding areas agreed to sell the tribe's land to the Puritans. In return, the settlers pledged to protect the natives and to allow them the use of the lands on the east side of the harbor. This is when New Haven was founded. Today New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and has about 124000 inhabitants. (Photo was taken by Bill Owens.)

London, England

2005-08-28T05:07:00.000-07:00

Another beautiful photo by David Miller is this one of this bright red door. This door is the entrance to the crypt of the St. Peters church in Streatham, London. The St Peter’s church is a parish church serving the local community in Streatham and West Norwood. A modern anglo-catholic parish in the Diocese of Southwark and within the Church of England. The architect for this church was Richard William Drew. The crypt is a flexible space with lots of character. It is laid out in a T-shape, with the kitchen occupying one end of the cross-piece and can be hired for social events for up to 100 people.

Sundsvall, Sweden

2005-08-27T16:22:00.000-07:00

When I was in Sundsvall visiting an ancient Viking rune stone from approx. the year 1000 that Vikings used to place on gravehills that they erected for those who died, I ran into this door that deserved a spot on this blog. It is a front door that leads to no other place than heaven itself, because it is the entrance to the tomb erected as a family grave. May those who went through that door rest in peace.

Antalya, Turkey

2005-08-26T05:22:00.000-07:00

This old door was photographed by Michelle Mitchell in Antalya, Turkey. Antalya is a beautiful city on the south coast of Turkey between the mediteranean see (here called the Antalya bay) and the Taurus Moutains on the North. The city is very old, it is believed that the region in which Antalya lays is inhibited for 50.000 years! During the centuries many dfferent tribes and kingdoms have ruled this area which has given it a wide diversity of historic sites. This is already one of my favorite doors posted here on my blog. This door has so much character! Thanks for sending it in Michelle!

Bennington, VT

2005-08-25T13:02:00.000-07:00

Just like yesterday's photo this door is located in Bennington, Vermont and is sent in by Bill Owens. This door is the first door on "Front Doors" that has a clock inside it's beautiful framing. The building, which used to house the Vermont Federal Bank, is now called Fiddlehead at Four Corners, and houses a number of art galleries.

Bennington, VT

2005-08-24T22:09:00.000-07:00

This door is the entrance to a municipal building in Bennington, Vermont. Bennington has a rich cultural heritage, beginning with the Native Americans drawn by an abundance of fish and game in and along the area's numerous waterways. In 1749, New Hampshire Governor Benning Wentworth chartered the first town in the territory now known as Vermont, and named it Bennington, in honor of himself. Photo by Bill Owens

Alnö, Sweden

2005-08-23T04:49:00.000-07:00

This door is the door of the sågverksmuseum on the island Alnö in Sweden. This building was originally a sågverk (saw mill) and is part of a collection of small buildings called the Alnö Hembygdsgård. In the late 1800s there were around 20 saw mills in operation spread over the island Alnö. Around the saws small communities arose. Workers from different part of the Nordic contries moved into the island. But the working-class homes that were rapidly built left a lot to wish about comfort and sanitary conditions.

London, England

2005-08-22T01:53:00.000-07:00

This door is the entrance to the Archbishop's house of the St George's catherdral. The original building was designed by the famous victorian architect Pugin and opened in 1848. In 1941, during world war II, the cathedral was badly bombed. But in the rebuilding of the cathedral that was completed in 1958, a great deal of the original design remained.
The photo was sent in by David Miller.

Sundsvall, Sweden

2005-08-20T01:22:00.000-07:00

This is the front entrance to the Sundsvall Flickskola. This is the all girl school in Sundsvall that is built right next to the big church in the center of the town. The statue of the girl in front of it emphasizes that it for girls only.

Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

2005-08-19T05:29:00.000-07:00

Cameron Highlands, at 1,829 meters above sea level, is Malaysia's most popular hill resort. First discovered by British surveyor, William Cameron in 1885, Cameron Highlands is regarded as the "Green Bowl" of the country, supplying its produce of cabbages, tomatoes, lettuces, and green peppers to major cities in Malaysia, as well as to Singapore. The cool and fresh air in the highlands offers an attractive retreat for city dwellers who want temporary respite from the noise and pollution of the city. The photo of this door was taken by Tan HongSing.

Sundsvall, Sweden

2005-08-17T21:59:00.000-07:00

On this land was before the fire in 1888 a large wooden structure that among others housed the Hollnerska bookstore from which both the newspapers Sundsvall Tidning and Sundsvalls Posten originated. After the fire the Swedish Riksbank (National Bank) hired the architects Ulrich and Hallquist from Stockholm to design a new bankpalace on the land. The building was finished in 1907. In 1954 it changed ownership and since 1994 it is owned by a real estate company who rents out the office space.

Wye, England

2005-08-16T04:38:00.000-07:00

This door was photographed by Michelle Mitchell in Wye, Kent on her hiking trip on the south coast of England. She took a route that is part of the famous North Downs Way. The North Downs Way is a long-distance path in southern England. It runs 153 miles from Farnham in Surrey east to Dover in Kent, via Guildford, Dorking, Merstham, Otford and Rochester. East of Boughton Lees, the path splits in two, the northern section running via Canterbury and the southern via Wye. Both sections reuniting at Dover. With this in mind it's not suprising to see hiking boots outside of the front door.

Sundsvall, Sweden

2005-08-15T04:12:00.000-07:00

This door is the entrance to a building, built in 1892, on Esplanaden in Sundsvall, Sweden. Sundsvall became a town in 1616. During Industrialisation Sundsvall became a centre for the sawmill industry. On a windy day in 1888, August Staff was burning tar in his back yard. A man came and asked him to sign a check. While signing the check the backyard took fire and soon the whole city was burning. The city was completely destroyed. This resulted in a completely new town plan with stone houses in the centre and Esplanaden was formed as the main street of Sundsvall.

Stockholm, Sweden

2005-08-14T00:28:00.000-07:00

This is one of the guarded entrances to the Kungliga Slottet (Royal Palace) in Stockholm, Sweden. Kungliga Slottet is the largest royal castle in the world still used for its original purpose. It was constructed on the site of the 'old' royal castle, Tre Kronor, which burned down in 1697. The palace, designed by the court architect Nicodemus Tessin the Younger, has 608 rooms and took 57 years to complete after the fire.

Nizwa, Oman

2005-08-13T13:28:00.000-07:00

This photo was taken by Amira Al Hussaini on the Nizma market in Oman. The oasis city of Nizwa was once the old capital of Oman. Today, it remains a major tourist attraction with its historical buildings and imposing fort built by Imam Sultan bin Saif in 1668 AD. The town boasts of the falaj Daris (traditional irrigation system) and its bustling souq situated near a gnarled old tree, where tourists can buy exquisite copper and silver jewellery, dates and even goats on certain days.

Stockholm, Sweden

2005-08-12T23:26:00.000-07:00

This doorway is another one I ran in to in Gamla Stan in Stockholm. The nice detail is that there is actually a door within the door. This was done more often purely for convenience. What is a shame that there is quite some graphiti around a lot of those beautiful historical doors. This door was spared but not the walls next to it.

Stockholm, Sweden

2005-08-11T20:05:00.000-07:00

This is the first door in a serie about Stockholm. This particular door you can find in Gamla Stan or Old Town in Stockholm. Gamla Stan is situated on a small island in the heart of Stockholm. This part of the city is a maze of medieval streets and is crammed with historic attractions, including Stockholm's cathedral and the royal palace. The door you see here is just a door of one of the many beautiful earth tone colored houses.

Belmont, CA

2005-08-10T23:55:00.000-07:00

This is the beautifully restored entrance of the Taube Center which is part of the Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, CA. The Taube Center, which was formerly called the Conference Center, stands at the entrance of the University campus on Ralston Avenue. Built in 1930, it was originally part of the San Carlos Parish. It was used as the local parish church until 1958. From 1958 to 1986, the building housed the College Art Department. In 1995 it was renovated by a grant from the Taube Family Foundation of Belmont and the Koret Foundation of San Francisco, and is now used by the University and community for special events and conferences.

Front Door of the month: July

2005-08-08T08:57:00.000-07:00

It is with great pleasure and honor that I can announce today the very first Front Door of the month. It has been a difficult choice, but with help of many comments and emails the Jury announces the Front Door of the month July 2005 to be the Front Door sent in by António Caeiro from Portugal.
This photo was first placed on this Blog on July 30th, and that was just in time to be eligible for July. Well António is not a stranger from this blog, he already sent in a photo for August. Well if you live in Portugal with so much arcitectural beauty around you it's not surprising that we probably will see a lot more from him.

Please join me in congratulating António with his winning photo!!

This photo will be on display a few days while the editor of this blog will be collecting new material abroad. Keep sending in photos, your photo might become the next front door of the month.

Århus, Denmark

2005-08-07T18:09:00.000-07:00

This door shared by 'Here the Artist' is a door in the so called "Den Gamle By" (the old town) in Århus, Denmark. The Old Town is a state certified national museum of cultural history and was opened, as the first open-air museum of urban culture in the world, to the public in 1914. The museum shows all sides of life in the old market towns and therefore large collections of workshops, trade stalls and domestic interiors were built up and incorporated into the historic buildings in such a way that the museum guest experiences a closeness to the people of the past.

Santa Cruz, CA

2005-08-06T21:02:00.000-07:00

Built in 1932 the Veterans Memorial Building is an historical landmark located in the heart of beautiful downtown Santa Cruz. The building was added in 1992 to the county's registry of historic places. The architecture can be described as Mission/Spanish Revival. It was designed by Architect Davis-Pearce Co. And from the day it was built it has functioned as a social meeting hall.

Monsaraz, Portugal

2005-08-05T18:28:00.000-07:00

Today I bring you another door from Monsaraz, Portugal. I wrote earlier about this jewel in the crown. But the more I read about it the more I would like to go there myself. For instance every year, throughout the month of July, Monsaraz becomes an open-air museum, affording visitors the opportunity to get to know more about the customs and habits used in the production of Alentejo handicraft, appreciate the delights of the regional cuisine and enjoy the various cultural events that are held there, including music, theatre, dance and art exhibitions. This photo comes from António Caeiro

Half Moon Bay, CA

2005-08-04T18:46:00.000-07:00

As the oldest town in San Mateo County Half Moon bay was founded in 1840 and was known then as Spanishtown. In 1874 the town officially became known as Half Moon Bay. By then the church that is now the Methodist Episcopal Church was already built of which you can see it's door. Can you believe that a part of this church was once the Ocean Shore Railroad depot? Well between 1908 and 1920, the train ran along the ocean bluffs a mile west of town. In 1930, the derelict depot was dragged to the church to become a social hall.

Orvieto, Italy

2005-08-03T09:22:00.000-07:00

This is a front door in the town of Orvieto in Italy. Orvieto is a charming hill town in the South West of Umbria. The town sits majestically on a big chunk of tufa rock. It has a beautiful cathedral that was built after a miracle that took place in the 1260s, when a Bohemian priest — who doubted that the bread used in communion was really the body of Christ — went to Rome on a pilgrimage. On his return journey, he worshiped in Bolsena, near Orvieto. During Mass, the bread bled, staining a linen cloth. The cloth was brought to the pope, who was visiting Orvieto at the time. And of course such a miraculous relic required a magnificent church. This photo was taken in the summer of 2003 by Al Teich.

Final Three

2005-08-02T20:56:00.000-07:00

Well we made it to the final 3 for the month of July. Bear with me, we need a few more votes to determine the Front Door of July. Motivation of votes is highly encouraged. The final 3 are in alphabetical order:
- Hatcher Pass, AK
- Indal, Sweden;
- Monsaraz, Portugal

So bring in the votes and comments!

Front Door of the Month Nominees July 2005

2005-08-01T19:31:00.000-07:00

Today I will announce the first nominees for the winner circle. The 6 doors were all posted the last month, and now I ask you to tell me which door deserves the title Front Door of the Month. The 6 nominees in alphabetic order are: 1. Agra, India ; 2. Hatcher Pass, AK; 3. Indal, Sweden; 4. Monsaraz, Portugal; 5. Palo Alto, CA; 6. San Diego, CA

Tell me what you think!

Roswell, NM

2005-07-31T19:34:00.000-07:00

This door is the front door of the Alien Resistance HQ in Roswell NM. The Alien Resistance HQ offers Christian ufology to the Roswell, New Mexico community. Roswell NM is the site where in 1947 something crashed or was shot down and this event caused more controversy as to what really happened than most other UFO events in current history. We do know that something happened, that the government came in and removed a craft and perhaps some bodies. But if this was extraterrestrial... we might never find out. The photo was taken by Stacie Nason.

Monsaraz, Portugal

2005-07-30T13:51:00.000-07:00

This door is a door photographed by António Caeiro in the little known small town Monsaraz. This town is a "jewel in the crown" of the Alentejo, if not Portugal itself. It is a small walled group of dwellings that carefully preserve most of their original charm by retaining the old exteriors and the original quaint slated streets. The inhabitants of the town take particular pride in maintaining its somewhat medieval atmosphere with its few narrow streets that are in parts quite steep as they fall away to the defending walls.

Montepulciano, Italy

2005-07-29T11:50:00.000-07:00

This photo was taken in the Tuscan town of Montepulciano. This town is built along a narrow limestone ridge and sits 1,950 ft (605 m) above sea level. It is encircled by walls and fortifications designed by Antonio da Sangallo the Elder in 1511 for Cosimo I. Inside the walls the streets are crammed with Renaissance-style palazzi and churches, but the town is by far known for its good local "Vino Nobile" wines. This beautiful Italian door was shared by Al Teich who has a collection of Italian Doors on his website.

Brookline, MA

2005-07-28T00:04:00.000-07:00

This beautiful door is the front door of a building that was constructed in 1905 in Brookline, Massachusetts. The building itself faces the the Muddy River, which is now a park that was designed by Fredrick Law Olmsted who is also the designer of New York's Central Park. Brookline, a suburb adjacent to Boston, was settled in the 1630s. It is famous for being the birthplace of President John F. Kennedy. This photo was shared by Kimberly Burchett.

San Diego, CA

2005-07-27T08:06:00.000-07:00

High above Old Town San Diego, sits the Presidio. It was built in 1769 by the Spanish Army as a fort and is the oldest European settlement on the Pacific Coast of the United States and Canada. The Presidio lookout still provides a panoramic view of the city. The adjacent museum was built in 1929 revealing a fine example of Mission Revival-style architecture. Photo was sent in by John Sparks

Hatcher Pass, AK

2005-07-26T01:02:00.000-07:00

In February of 1942, a small 12’ x 12’ lodge was built six miles below Independence Mine, AK. Since the building was too close to the river it was moved to its present site where it was known for many years as the Little Susitna Roadhouse. In 1943 it was enlarged to 12’ x 24’, and two years later, the upstairs was added. In 1984 the two large wings were added to the original structure, and it was named the Mother Lode Saloon and Cookhouse. The Mother Lode closed in 1987 and sat vacant until April of 1991, when local resident, Jill Reese under the name of Motherlode Lodge, reopened it. Photo was sent in by Bill Owens. Visit the Motherlode Lodge at motherlodelodge.com

Florence, Italy

2005-07-25T07:39:00.000-07:00

This photo was sent in by Hanan Levin. It is a door by the scultpor Lorenzo Ghiberti (1378–1455) called the Gates of Paradise. It is a door on the east side of the baptistery of Florence Cathedral. It took 23 years to complete. Five of the ten panels were torn off the doors by the flood of 1966 and restored with the aid of exact replicas from San Francisco, CA.
A good follower of this blog can figure out where those replicas can be found in San Francisco.

Verona, Italy

2005-07-24T00:03:00.000-07:00

This very interesting door is a door in Verona Italy. Hanan Levin was so friendly to send in this great shot. Click on it to enlarge it, there is so much detail on it. It is worth it! On Hanan's blog Grow-a-brain you can find a collection of photos and links to all kind of interesting object, including a section about doors.

Pigeon Point, CA

2005-07-22T20:28:00.000-07:00

On June 6, 1853 the clipper ship Carrier Pigeon, bound for San Francisco, ran aground near this point. The ship was lost, but the crew was saved and so they renamed the are at these cliffs Pigeon Point. After some more shipwrecks they decided to build the Pigeon Point Lighthouse. Above the door you can see the year the construction began and when the fog signal was activated. The lighthouse itself was only completed and lit on November 5, 1872. In 1960 the coastguard wanted to build additional housing at Pigeon Point and ordered that the beautiful Victorian style keepers home that was still in good shape to be torn down to make room for the new housing. What a shame.
You can find some more photos of Pigeon Point on /T/BLOG/.

San Carlos, CA

2005-07-22T07:44:00.000-07:00

Casa de Flores is the home of the Civic Garden Club of San Carlos. This Garden Club was established in 1937. Besides being a garden club it is also active in preservation and conservation of natural resources. The building also serves as a banquet facility and a wedding chapel.

San Carlos, CA

2005-07-21T16:56:00.000-07:00

This is the entrance to the Depot Cafe in San Carlos. This cafe is housed in the sandstone train station that was built in 1888 by Leland Stanford's stonemasons who came up here after finishing the Stanford University quad in the same Richardsonian Romanesque style. Funny detail is that you can order here 41 different omelets and hear the short-order cook blow a toy train whistle each time a real train rumbles by.

Belmont, CA

2005-07-20T18:58:00.000-07:00

This is the entrance of the Notre Dame high school building in Belmont, CA. This building was completed in the fall of 1928. The first graduation from the high school was held in 1930 with 31 graduates. It held a boarding school that was discontinued in 1972. The school is located on the campus of the Notre Dame de Namur University.

San Francisco, CA

2005-07-19T19:28:00.000-07:00

Can you believe it that this is a the the front entrance of a 241ft (74m) tall high-rise building? Well it is. It is the entrance to the "Cathedral Apartments" in the Nob Hill neighborhood of San Francisco. The building was designed by the architects "Weeks & Days" who also designed Sir Francis Drake Hotel among others. The contruction of this building by "Cahill Contractors" was completed in 1930.

Agra, India

2005-07-18T15:53:00.000-07:00

This door (another photo courtesy of Rodney Olsen) is a door at the Taj Mahal in Agra, India. It defintely cannot be called a front door, but I though it's interesting to see a door on a less famous side of the Taj Mahal.
The Taj Mahal was built by a Muslim, Emperor Shah Jahan in the
memory of his dear wife and queen Mumtaz Mahal. It was constructed over a period of twenty-two years, employing twenty thousand workers. It was completed in the year 1648 at a cost of 32 MillionRupees. Its master architect was Ustad‘Isa, the renowned Islamic architect of his time. Expert craftsmen from Delhi, Qannauj, Lahore, and Multan were employed. In addition, many renowned Muslim craftsmen from Baghdad, Shiraz and Bukhara worked on many specialized tasks.

Agra, India

2005-07-18T14:01:00.000-07:00

This door is a door at the Agra Fort. The Agra Fort, also known as Lal Qila, Fort Rouge and Red Fort of Agra, is a magnificent structure in the city of Agra, India. The fort is more of a walled palatial city. The site is very important in terms of architectural history. Some of the most historically interesting mixing of Hindi and Islamic architecture reside there. In fact, some of the decorations are Islamic and yet feature dragons, elephants and birds, instead of the patterns and calligraphy, very much unheard of. Photo by Rodney Olsen.

Mountain View, CA

2005-07-17T19:39:00.000-07:00

This door is the front door of the historic landmark that was originally the home of the Farmers and Merchants Bank. The bank was founded by early Mountain View residents, many of whose homes still stand in the surrounding downtown area. The building is located on Castro Street and was built in 1905. Now it is home to one of Mountain View's most popular independent coffee houses, Red Rock Coffee Co. Red Rock is often home to live bands.

Groningen, the Netherlands

2005-07-17T08:33:00.000-07:00

This door is a typical Dutch door as there are many like it in bigger cities across the Netherlands. In the beginning of the previous century many 4 or 5 storey row houses were built where the house was divided in a top and a bottom apartment with each their own narrow front entrance. When you enter the door of the top apartment, the first thing you would see is a very steep staircase that leads you to the 3rd floor. This particular is the entrance of a genuine Dutch frat house. As you see there are no Greek symbols used on frat houses here.
Picture by Lisa Saarloos.

Mountain View, CA

2005-07-16T20:20:00.000-07:00

This is the modern entrance to the Mountain View City Hall.
The landmark Civic Center stands out as a Downtown and citywide landmark. Its unique architecture and pinkish color took a while to get used to, but now most Mountain View residents are proud of it. The City Hall is home to the council chambers, most of the city's departments, a public art gallery, and a 5 story rotunda that offers great views from the 4th floor.

Indal, Sweden

2005-07-14T16:45:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite pictures that was taken at the Gudmundstjärn in Indal, Sweden.
Gudmundstjärn was one of the last real self-supporting farms in Sweden where almost everything a humanbeing needs to survive, was produced by the family itself. For 165 years people lived here with 6 kilometers of wayless country to the nearest village. Five generations in a direct line lived here, and for every generation a number of houses for different purposes were built. In the beginning of our century there were about 30 buildings at the farm. Gudmundstjärn got its name from the tarn nearby where a farmer called Gudmund Pärsson drowned together with his maid one day in 1694.