Stephen Travels


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Great Churches in the Great Lakes State

Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church, Detroit, MichiganBy some estimates, there are approximately 12,000 churches in Michigan. Declining attendance in these churches, no matter what the faith, means that many have closed permanently, and many more are headed in that direction, with the very real possibility of being razed. That would be a shame, because these are some very fine buildings that enhance the beauty of cities and towns all around the Great Lakes State. Read about the top five churches in Michigan >


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The Best Buildings in Portland, Oregon

The Old Church, Portland, OregonKnown for its focus on urban planning, Portland, Oregon, takes its architecture seriously. It’s second only to Chicago in the number of LEED-accredited “green buildings” in the United States and is steadfast in preserving and repurposing older buildings. Height restrictions on new construction preserve views of Mt. Hood. But as I roamed around this likable city, I found that the most impressive buildings were those that predated the concept of urban planning. Read about the top five buildings in Portland >


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One Columbus Day

Broad Street United Methodist Church, Columbus, OhioColumbus’ earliest structures are the burial mounds of the indigenous peoples. Things have certainly changed since they occupied this area smack in the middle of Ohio from 1000 B.C. to 1700. Since 1812, the population of the state capital has grown every decade, unlike other large Ohio cities like Akron, Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Toledo. With a population of over 900,000, it’s the largest city in Ohio. That means it needs a lot of buildings to conduct its business and house its citizens, and I had the opportunity to check out many of them during my one day here. Read about the top five buildings in Columbus, Ohio >


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Standout Buildings of Sioux Falls, South Dakota

First Congregational Church, Sioux Falls, South DakotaChartered in 1856, Sioux Falls didn’t take very long to swell into the largest city in South Dakota. With a population growth over 10% every decade since 1910, the city started erecting fantastic buildings almost from its earliest days. Many of them, from municipal masterpieces to residential gems, still survive as some of the city’s defining structures. Read about the top five buildings in Sioux Falls, South Dakota >