Saqqara, site of the most ancient of the Egyptian pyramids, where it all begin -- beer and, by extension, skuntry. Photographed here with Theresa Everline's fingertips and the Three Fried Men record Dance for an Orphan's Wedding, which includes song settings (i.e., pilferings) of three ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic songs and spells.

Cahokia Mounds, the largest native earthwork in North America, in the American Bottom, where skuntry was born. Site of more than one late-night beery jam session on rough mixes, among other sacroprofane gatherings.

The old, now vanished Cicero's Basement, where skuntry (not to mention alternative country) was woodshedded. Photographed before an Enormous Richard gig with Dog giving himself bunny ears in a Derby Eve jersey.

Uncle Pleasants, site of skuntry slumming and joy, in Louisville, Kentucky, site of the Derby. Photographed here with the Birthplace (the grey Cavalier) and Dog (wistful in the Phillies hat).

Walden Pond, where skuntry discovered Hoobellatoo in the form of a singing Nymah Kumah. Photographed here with Jaybird and a little more than half of Lij, a native of its shores.

Ephraim, Wisconsin, summer digs of the mighty Foote family -- Lij's mother's people -- and site of a rhapsodic skuntry songwriting retreat. Photographed here with Eleanor Roosevelt, by Julia Foote, Lij's mom.

Roy Kasten's apartment in South St. Louis, home of the guitar circle. Photographed here with a decidedly hairy Lij playing Dog's old guitar (now the house axe at Hollywood Recording Studios), with Mark Stephens in the dim background.

The Skuntry Shack (formerly known as a Shed Called Skuntry) home of the Skuntry Museum, archive of all that we know and beachhead in the Squirrel War.

The Great River Road on the verge of the American Bottom, just miles above the mighty confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, and not more than a mile from the river crossing where the aesthetic term "Skuntry" was invented, inside the Birthplace, the very vehicle from which this photograph was taken.

Last Modified: Jun 13, 2003 at 10:48AM (EST)