Western Souvenirs: July 2011

California dogface butterfly earrings, a pewter paperweight, and postcards of Portland bridges are must-have travel trinkets.

California dogface butterfly earrings at UC Davis, image

These $18, 3/4-inch, handmade earrings pay homage to the California dogface butterfly.

Insect Jewelry
The California state insect? Since Governor Ronald Reagan signed legislation on July 28, 1972, it’s been the California dogface butterfly, portrayed in these earrings (¾-inch wide, $18) hand-made by graduate student Emily Bzdyk. Find displays and jewelry at the Bohart Museum of Entomology at UC-Davis. (530) 752-0493, bohart.ucdavis.edu.

Oregon Bridges Postcards
Portland’s 10 spans are the site of tours, exhibits, and even a brunch for the PDX Bridge Festival, July 29 to August 7. Get a handle on their profiles with artist Carye Bye’s postcard set ($12) at Bikeasaurus (503-963-5382, bikeasauruspdx.com) or redbatpress.com. For event info, see pdxbridgefestival.org.

Pewter Paperweight
Benchmark hunters—hobbyists with a jones for geography—will find the original of this replica survey monument near the main parking lot at Devils Tower National Monument in northeastern Wyoming. The tower, a quarter mile east, rises 862 feet higher. Find the pewter paperweight ($36) and other keepsakes in the visitor center bookstore. (307) 467-5283 ext. 635, nps.gov/deto.

Photography by Kevin Candland

This article was published in July 2011. Some facts may have aged gracelessly. Please call ahead to verify information.

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