Hope, Arkansas

Airport hangers? Construction storage? Rail yard? Nope. Discarded FEMA trailers.

The Google image is missing several more in a field SE of the airport deposited after the above image was taken but can be seen in the oblique image below.

While driving to visit Historic Washington State Park just outside of Hope, Arkansas our group passed the Hope Airport and were witness to a field of FEMA trailers. These trailers are surplus from Hurricane Katrina and number in the ten thousands. Much debate exists regarding re-deployment, economic stimulus to Hope (rent), and their potential dangers with possible formaldehyde contamination.

I lived in one for two weeks while working in Bismarck, ND... they weren't so bad... well... for two weeks.

FEMA Trailers Sit Empty in Hope
FEMA Trailers 'Toxic Tin Cans'?

Currently, they are available for auction but I have a feeling the majority are not going anywhere anytime soon.

FEMA Auctions Trailers at Hope Airport
FEMA auctioning off trailers at fire-sale prices

A smaller storage in Selma, Alabama:
Madison, IN:

Shiloh Indian Mounds

So after a week of geophysical work at Etowah Indian Mounds in Cartersville, Georgia, I decided on my drive back to Fayetteville to make a detour along southern Tennessee and visit the Shiloh Military Park which also contains the Shiloh Indian Mounds. Of course, I was excited to visit the military park but I was just as excited to visit the mounds.

When I checked into the visitor center, I was told that the road leading to the Shiloh Indian Mounds was closed for construction. Bummer, I thought. Once I got around to the closed off road, I realized that I could easily walk back to the mounds. So after a call to the wife stating that if she doesn't hear from me in an hour (being arrested for trespassing on federal property), I started walking across the open field toward the Tennessee River and the Indian mounds.

National Cemetery entrance at Shiloh

Cannons and monuments are throughout the 4,000 acre park

"Area Closed". That didn't stop me. I was going to see the mounds.

I cut across this field...

.. to get to the closed road.

The machinery blocking the road didn't faze me.

Continuing down the closed road toward the river it became very hot and sticky (no breeze) but I was finally able to see the mounds in the distance. Mound F can be seen through the trees.

Mound A as seen through the unmanaged part of the park. This area really needs some work clearing out dead trees and brush.


A sweaty explorer with Mound A in the background. Mound E is to the left.