New Hope, Pennsylvania, USA, is a small town on the Delaware River in the USA state of Pennsylvania. It's had an interesting and colorful history as a transportation, milling and manufacturing hub. Although in modern times its function is mostly catering to tourists and artists. Over the years since the 1700s, it has undergone 4 name changes. It was a ferry town in the beginning. Ferries plied across the Delaware River from what is now the Pennsylvania shore to what is now the New Jersey shore and back. The name changes reflected the names of the owners of the ferry business: first Well's Ferry, 1722; next Canby's Ferry, 1748; Coryell's Ferry, 1765. And finally, in 1837 the name was again changed, to New Hope. To read more about New Hope, past and present, click on the link above.

Below are some casual scenes that I shot in July, 2007, along New Hope's Main Street. As the name implies, these casual shots are not "perfect world" images. Please click on the images to see larger sizes.

1. I shot all these scenes within about two blocks of New Hope's Main Street south of the Bridge Street intersection. A couple approaches a busy intersection along Main Street.

2. These brightly painted bikes caught my eye. Their owners are relaxing at a cafe behind them.

3. Purple steps lead up to a popular ice cream parlor. Each year the steps get repainted, but by mid-summer, they've acquired some scars in the line of duty.

4. The Gallery of Stars is an art gallery that I have not been in.

1. This store has always fascinated me, due to its Christmas in July front yard decor.

2. Looking toward Main Street as a red SUV passes. Main Street is only a small block away from the Delaware River, which is to my back.

3. Along Main Street, this cafe features organically grown coffee.

4. A close up of one of the fountains disguised as a steaming cuppa.

1. To take the shot of the prehistoric-looking Big Boomer critter, I stood below it on the sidewalk. The sculpture is part of a summer art show that's scattered all over the town. If you want to buy this sculpture, it's yours for "only" one million dollars! I presume you'd have to provide your own crane for hoisting and carrying it away, too.

2. The fiberglass mule with the painted sides is from a 2003 project sponsored by The Friends of the Delaware Canal. They had over 175 life sized fiberglass mules cast, and then gave them to various local artists up and down the length of the Delaware Canal to decorate. When finished being decorated, the mules then went on display from Easton to Bristol. At the end of the outdoor exhibition, the mules were gathered and transported to an auction barn. This particular mule went for the highest amount, some $36,000! Bought by a private family in the valley, it disappeared from view for a couple of years. Then last year it was reinstalled in the front colonial-style herb garden of the Canal Museum building where it had originally been displayed.

3. The mule faces downstream. Its right side is painted with motifs representing some of the places and events from the Pennsylvania canal's history.

4. Its left side represents the history of the canal along the river on the New Jersey side.

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