Original Stash Puzzle by Loch Cache (NYD2021) Mystery Cache
Original Stash Puzzle by Loch Cache (NYD2021)
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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A mystery cache by Loch Cache to celebrate New Year's Day 2021.
Background:
Recently Chasandmeg and I went to Maryland to see Dangermouse3314 and family. While we were there we talked about the upcoming event I'm hosting and the fact that I usually release a Traditional and a Mystery cache just in time for my events. Not to let anyone down, I created this original puzzle based in part on our day in D.C.
One day on our trip we went into DC to see the sights and do some geocaching. We did about 20 caches around the Mall area. Mostly Virtual caches but a few Earth and even a Traditional. Of course Capitol Steps was on the list even though the two geocachers from Massachusetts already logged it and the one geocacher from Maryland had not. It was an unbelievable trip. Loved every minute of it.
I also love history. Whether it is the history of WWII or the Founding of our country it is all good to me. I even enjoy learning about the history of different activities, sports or even hobbies. (Yes, I have hobbies beside geocaching.) DC, of course, has lots of sites with lots of historic information. There was no way we could make it to all of the sites, but we tried. We saw the Washington Memorial, the Lockkeepers House, the Constitution Gardens, the Vietnam Women’s Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, a Statue of Albert Einstein, (the Korean War Veterans Memorial was under reconstruction), the D.C War Memorial, the Japanese Lateran, the Martin Luther king Jr. Memorial, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, George Mason Memorial (the forgotten founding father), the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, and the World War II Memorial among others.
The WWII memorial is very impressive with its center plaza and Rainbow pool and the series of 24 bronze bas relief panels along the ceremonial entrance balustrades that depict America's war years, at home and overseas. There are two 43-foot pavilions serve as markers and entries on the north and south ends of the plaza. One represents the Atlantic theater and on represents the Pacific theater.
There are fifty-six granite pillars representing each state and territory from that period and the District of Columbia. Each pillar is adorned with oak and wheat bronze wreaths and inscribed with its name. When we were searching for the Massachusetts pillar it looked like the pillars were not arranged in any particular order. After speaking with a Park Service Ranger we found out they were indeed in a very specific order that alternated from one side to the other. Another neat feature was carved in a back panel near the service stairs. It was a representation of “Kilroy was Here”. If you know WWII history, you know about Kilroy.
The Puzzle:
I have seen puzzles using specific information about different states that leads to you developing a set of coordinates. These include using the statehood date/order, the state bird or flower, the state capital, the date it seceded from the union, the coordinates of the state capital, the first settlement, etc. As I mentioned above, the state pillars at the WWII memorial are arranged in a specific order. You need to know that order in order to work through the first part of the puzzle giving you a short list of 9 states. The second part of the puzzle will require you make or find a list of the fifty states and the District of Columbia arranged in a specific date order. From that list you will take the short list of the nine states and determine numbers for the coordinates of the final.
Solve the Puzzle:
MNNV KSCO UTMT WVCA MOTX
MOTX MIAL CTNH NHRI MAPA
The Cache
The cache is a small lock-n-lock in a local park with easy parking. Please make sure place it back securely and it is closed properly so it will stay dry.
Enjoy.
Good luck and good caching,
Loch Cache
Congrats to Catkin&Golden, DelaneyLady and BD1982 for the Co-FTF.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
[Hints after a few finds]