Wednesday, December 3, 2025

Re-Visiting Wichita Falls World's Littlest Skyscraper

Saw this this morning on Facebook. The World's Littlest Skyscraper.

It's downtown Wichita Falls most famous tourist attraction. There is even a Wikipedia article about it, which you can read by clicking that link in the previous paragraph.

The informational text which accompanied the photo on Facebook...

The Newby–McMahon Building built in 1919 is commonly referred to as the world's littlest skyscraper standing at 40ft / 12m located in Wichita Falls, Texas.

The building has survived tornadoes, a fire, and decades of neglect. The building has never met the criteria for the definition of a skyscraper nor even that of a high-rise. Regardless, but it is certified a national registered historic landmark by the United States Department of the Interior.

I drive by the World's Littlest Skyscraper whenever I visit the downtown Wichita Fall Public Library. And have seen it up close a couple times, reading the historic landmark plaque.

I do not know if any of the downtown Wichita Falls building are tall enough to be considered skyscrapers. Maybe just tall enough to be considered high rises. 

One of the downtown Wichita Falls tall buildings is known as Big Blue, due to the blue cladding that covers its outer walls. I thought Big Blue was real tacky looking the first time I saw it, and every time since then. Removing the blue cladding would be a big improvement...

Tuesday, December 2, 2025

Microsoft OneDrive Remembering Mount Baker & The Skagit Flats


A Microsoft OneDrive Memory from this Day, that I do remember, and which could have happened on this day in early December.

But, I think it was more likely in October, with the year being 2005.

That big pile of white hovering in the background is one of Washington's five volcanoes.

Mount Baker.

The foreground is what is known as the Skagit Flats. We are heading north on Interstate 5, a few miles south of Mount Vernon. The birds you see are swans. Flocks of swans migrate yearly through the Skagit Flats.

In my house in Mount Vernon, the one I lived in before moving to Texas, I could look out my living room and kitchen windows and see Mount Baker.

Looking out my current abode's various windows, I see nothing scenic in the distance, or close, no matter what direction I look...