Name: San Francisco's Bayview Hunters Point
Brand: Tricia O'Brien
SKU: 9780738530079
Price: 24.99 USD
Availability: InStock

San Francisco's Bayview Hunters Point

9780738530079

$24.99

It's hard to imagine cows walking up Third Street or sheep on Innes Avenue, yet a large portion of the area known today as Bayview Hunters Point was once extremely rural. Called Butchertown by locals, the neighborhood was a source of much of San Francisco's food. Over the years, it evolved into an interesting combination of residences, businesses, and industries. The area was home to slaughterhouses, tanneries, tallow works, a saddle shop, the Bethlehem Steel Corporation, numerous boat yards including the legendary Allemand Brothers Boat Repair, and the U.S. Naval operations at Hunters Point Shipyard. Alongside these entities lived thousands of residents with unique stories and lifestyles.

Cover image for San Francisco's Bayview Hunters Point, isbn: 9780738530079

Memphis

9780738515533

$24.99

Memphis has been described as both "the Metropolis of the American Nile'? and "a small town with a whole lot of people in it. '?

This volume of vintage photographs captures the unique mix of urban culture and rural roots in a community where great bridges and modern buildings tower within sight of old cotton plantations. In some 200 historic photographs accompanied by insightful captions, Memphis traces the development of this truly American city. From the age of steamboats that carried cotton, lumber, and industrial products throughout the Mississippi River Valley to modern networks of railroads and highways, Memphis' location on the Fourth Chickasaw Bluff has made the city a natural transportation and distribution center. In spite of the devastating yellow fever epidemics of the 1870s and the disastrous floods of the 20th century, the commercial and cultural life has nevertheless flourished. Action scenes of urban life depict the busy streets, fine buildings, beautiful parks, and thriving commerce of pre-World War II Memphis. Within these pages, the city's heritage and diversity are reflected in a variety of photographic essays, including the annual Mid-South Fair and Historic Beale Street.

Royal Oak

9780738577753

$24.99

Stories describe Michigan's first governor, Lewis Cass, signing a treaty with the Chippewa in 1819 and resting nearby with companions under a swamp oak a few miles north of Detroit. Cass told the story of Prince Charles II, who took refuge in 1651 under a mighty oak tree after the Battle of Worcester and lived to be crowned king. Cass later designated the locality, including the southernmost townships in Oakland County, as Royal Oak. This sector became a village in 1891 and a city in 1921. Strong roots have helped the "City of Trees" maintain its viability through the years. Home to William Beaumont Hospital, assorted high-tech graphic and sound studios, and a world-class zoo, today Royal Oak draws people into its pedestrian-friendly downtown for an eclectic mix of bars, sidewalk cafés, boutiques, theaters, and upscale lofts.

Kirksville

9781467112758

$24.99

Kirksville has made a name for itself with its two major institutions of higher education--Truman State University and A.T. Still University--that attract bright students from all over the world. Incorporated in 1857, it has grown to become the most populous city in northeast Missouri. As the seat of government for Adair County, the courthouse stands proudly in the center of the business square downtown. Entrepreneurs have benefited from railroad lines that entered the town in the 1870s, and many businesses have flourished in Kirksville as a result. Residents braved the tumultuous Civil War and rebuilt the town after major tornadoes and ice storms. Kirksville is a beautiful place to live, as exemplified by nearby Thousand Hills State Park. It is indeed the town "where people make the difference."

San Francisco

9780738529875

$24.99

The "real" San Francisco lies below the streets, sidewalks, and buildings, hidden from view. This famous city is known for its beautiful setting of water, trees, hills, and beaches, but relatively few people know of its true natural state. Before it
was built up and paved over, the earth here was a diverse ecosystem of creeks, marshes, sand dunes, estuaries, and densely forested hills. Over this landscape roamed elk, rabbit, bears, bobcat, and mountain lion, and the now-crowded bayfront teemed with mollusks, otters, dolphins, and whales, while huge flocks of birds blocked out the sun overhead. Today, only about two percent of the city's natural areas remain as they were.

Lexington

9780738585970

$24.99

Originally known as Saxe Gotha Township when it was created by the Colonial government in 1735, Lexington has a unique and rich history. The county began simply as a buffer between the city of Charleston and the Native Americans. Creative locals built a thriving business community in the area around the Congaree River in present-day Cayce, supporting trade between the colonists and the Native Americans. Emigrants from Germany and Switzerland were invited to become pioneers. They were independent, hard-working farmers who built the area into a strong and sustaining home despite numerous trials and tribulations. Native American wars, fires, Civil War, depressions, and world wars only solidified these settlers' strong sense of ownership and pride in their county. Today visitors enjoy over 50 historical sites and recreation facilities.

Wrentham

9780738500799

$24.99

In Wrentham, authors C. Gordon "Gog" Woodhams and Earle T. Stewart have crafted a fascinating, comprehensive portrait of this 22.6-square-mile,
325-year-old town. Illustrating the town from the
post-Civil War to 1960, the authors examine a variety
of topics, including the changes in the area's geography and local transportation as well as the contributions made by famous residents such as Helen Keller. Compiled from personal collections and the archives of the Wrentham Historical Commission, this visual history contains over 200 rare and diverse scenes. See how the town changed as the horse and oxen were left behind for trains, and later, automobiles. Relive the big band era in the 1920s and 1930s with tantalizing scenes from the Lake Pearl Park and dance hall.

Lake County

9780738530307

$24.99

The slopes of a cooled volcano, Mount Konocti, reflect in the waters of Clear Lake, the oldest lake in North America. Home to Pomo Indians for millennia, the region's first immigrants settled near Kelseyville. Mendocino and Napa Counties vied for ownership of Clear Lake, but disputes ended when a new county formed in 1861. The serene, natural landscape, plentiful mineral hot springs, and remote location attracted thousands of visitors to large resorts like Bartlett, Harbin, and Seigler Springs. Prizefighters came from all over the nation, including Gentleman Jim Corbett and John L. Sullivan, who trained at separate local resorts for their 1892 title bout. Tourists and residents traveled in style on the steamer, City of Lakeport. Lake County towns like Lakeport, Lower Lake, Kelseyville, Upper Lake, and Middletown based their economy on agriculture and orchard crops as well as tourism and recreation, but this ancient lake remained and remains at the heart of all.

Roan Mountain

9781467111850

$24.99

Roan Mountain depicts this history of this small and diverse appalachian community.

Roan Mountain, a 6,286-foot-high peak, straddles the Tennessee and North Carolina state line in the Appalachian Mountains. Home to world-famous rhododendron gardens, the Appalachian Trail, the site of Gen. John T. Wilder's historic Cloudland Hotel, and record-breaking lofty balds, thousands of visitors, including explorer John Muir and Vice Pres. Richard Nixon, have ascended Roan Mountain over the last two centuries. Biologists, botanists, and tourists have enjoyed its unique natural setting. At the mountain's base and on its slopes, rural communities have endearing histories. Decades ago, the East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad passed through the village at the foot of ""the Roan."" The railroad brought wealthy passengers to the mountain-top Cloudland Hotel. It also allowed local industrialists the opportunity to export the area's natural resources. The people of Roan Mountain are proud of their history and have displayed it annually for more than a half-century during the Rhododendron Festival.

Greenwood

9780738578071

$24.99

By 1813, in an area originally inhabited by Native Americans, including a significant Delaware Indian village located on White River's western banks, the future Greenwood was made safe for settlement by the Kentucky and Indiana militias. In 1818, with the New Purchase treaties and establishment of Whetzel Trace, the earliest east-west transportation route through central Indiana, the dense, overgrown forest became readied for settlement. Arising from humble beginnings as Smocktown, the community was officially named Greenfield in 1825, followed by renaming to Greenwood in 1833. The territory has seen tremendous growth through the decades since John B. and Isaac Smock arrived, transforming the land from a pioneer village into a contemporary hub of business and industry. Accused of being a "bedroom community" of Indianapolis, Greenwood strives to maintain its relevance as a unique and historically proud community.

Jeannette

9780738538402

$24.99

Jeannette, the Glass City, was named in honor of H. Sellers McKee's wife and was the first large manufacturing town within Westmoreland County. On May 20, 1889, the first glass was blown, and Jeannette began sending its glass products all over the world. There were seven great glass factories located in the area, as well as the largest pressed-glass factory in America and the largest window glass plant in the world. Two of the largest factories in the world were the McKee Brothers' Works and the Chambers-McKee Glass Company. Jeannette produced more glass in various forms than any other place in the United States. Jeannette was also home to Oakford Park, a trolley park, for the relaxation of its citizens and those in the surrounding areas. The great Oakford Park flood, which took place on July 5, 1903, was the most devastating event in western Pennsylvania since the Johnstown flood of 1889. Oakford Park was rebuilt, and Jeannette recovered and continued producing glass.

Nahant

9780738500805

$24.99

Discover the story of the seaside community called Nahant, a town situated along the rocky coast of Massachusetts Bay, in its first-ever photographic history. In over 200 images--most of which have never been published before--authors Christopher R. Mathias and Kenneth C. Turino trace the town's development from Nahant's early days as the premier resort north of Boston to the peaceful and picturesque village of today. Beginning with illustrations pre-dating the camera, this collection offers rare photographic views from the 1860s through the "baby boomer" years. As you leaf through these pages, you will see the many scenic coastal spots that have always attracted visitors, including Swallow's Cave, the great houses where wealthy Bostonians summered, and charming scenes of daily village life.

El Paso and the Mexican Revolution

9780738584652

$24.99

The Mexican Revolution took place along the entire length of the border between the United States and Mexico. Most of the intense battles and revolutionary intrigue, however, were concentrated in the border region of El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. For 20 years, the U.S. and Mexico border communities dealt with revolution, beginning before the 1909 Taft-Díaz visit and ending with the Escobar Revolution of 1929. In between were battles, assassinations, invasions, and attempts at diplomacy. El Paso was center stage for many of these events. Newspapers and media from all over the country flocked to the border and produced numerous stories, photographs, and colorful renditions of the Mexican Revolution. The facts and myths have been kept alive over the last 100 years, and the revolution remains an important topic of discussion today.

The Mid-South Fair: Celebrating 150 Years

9780738542782

$24.99

Established in 1856 by the Shelby County Agricultural Society, the Mid-South Fair celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2006. Memphis, known as the cotton capital of the South, depended on agriculture for much of the 19th century, and the fair offered farmers and the general public a venue to learn of new products and to compete with others from the region. Through the Civil War, yellow fever epidemics, and two world wars, the fair has prevailed to become one of the largest in the nation. It has been a part of many lives and formed many memories of rides and rodeos, cotton candy and pronto pups, and that first big drop on the roller coaster. The Mid-South Fair: Celebrating 150 Years brings back those memories through words and photographs, taking the reader back to a time when excitement was only a ride away on an old wooden roller coaster.

The Mid-South Fair: Celebrating 150 Years

Wauconda

9780738583174

$24.99

To the Algonquin-speaking Native Americans, the territory later to be named Wauconda was their land. With the 1833 Treaty of Chicago, they were forced to cede it to the US government and move west of the Mississippi River. This action paved the way for white European Americans to settle and prosper. Their descendants thrived, built successful businesses, and raised families. Shortly after the beginning of the 20th century, the railroad and new roads brought out Chicago city folks who cooled themselves on Wauconda's sandy beaches. Now many 21st-century residents who can trace their lineage to those early families continue to live and work as Wauconda adapts to growth.

Seattle Radio

9781467130578

$24.99

Seattle's first radio broadcast aired in 1919, and over the next 90 years, the city drew national attention for its collection of flamboyant and sometimes quirky broadcast impresarios and performers. The parade of people that passed in front of and behind the Puget Sound microphones included a big-time bootlegger and his wife, two embezzling bank managers, a political campaign manager, and a lumber mill baron's daughter. Two local radio men started with practically nothing and built their own successful Northwest station groups. An underpaid novice Seattle radio announcer went on to become the dean of the country's television newscasters. A 1950s disc jockey used acrobatic publicity stunts to draw an audience for his station. A guitar-strumming radio singer capitalized on his fame to build a chain of restaurants. And the founder of a Seattle "free form" FM radio station went on to build a network of community FM stations around the country, making him "The Johnny Appleseed of Community Radio."

Irvine

9780738575759

$24.99

The story of Irvine goes back more than 200 years, to a time when it was a vast, sprawling ranch extending from the brush-covered foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains to the dramatic bluffs of the Pacific coast. Since that time, the Irvine Ranch has experienced a revolutionary change from pastoral wide-open spaces to one of the most successful planned communities in the nation. All along the way, there were people whose vision shaped the transformation of Irvine. Among them were the members of the Irvine family, who for nearly a century were stewards of a ranch that amounted to more than one-fifth of modern-day Orange County. The Irvine of today owes its success to the ideals from its past: the determination to develop the immense potential of the land while still preserving its natural beauty.

Long Island City

9780738573854

$24.99

In 1870, the communities of Astoria, Dutch Kills, Hunters Point, Ravenswood, and others, merged to form a new municipality: Long Island City.

The once independent city continued to exist as an incorporated city until 1898, when all of Queens was annexed to New York City. The factories that supported Long Island City throughout most of the 20th century have been all but abandoned, but since the beginning of the 21st century, large-scale gentrification projects have been undertaken, such as Hunter's Point South. As high-rises replace single-family homes, Long Island City would be unrecognizable to people of the early villages and hamlets that created it. The Greater Astoria Historical Society and photographer Gary Vollo explore the unique places that have shaped Long Island City's development.

Alamance County

9780738500362

$24.99

Alamance County, situated in the lush landscape of North Carolina's Piedmont, has played an important role in the state's history, from its early participation in the American Revolution to its continued contributions to North Carolina's growing industrial market. For generations, residents and visitors have enjoyed the pleasant combination of the county's pastoral scenery and the commercial conveniences of Burlington.
In this volume of over 200 images, readers will experience their hometowns as never before, viewing Alamance from the late
nineteenth century to the 1960s. Alamance County brings to life many of the old ways: scenes of local general stores, where city elders met to discuss the town's political issues and gossip of the day; snapshots of schoolchildren posing proudly in front of their one-room schoolhouses; images of the county's churches and many Victorian homes, their grand facades matched only by the elegance of their interiors; photographs capturing the excitement of Sunday excursions in the country and the commotion of the Centennial Parade down Burlington's crowded Main Street; and pictures and portraits of Alamance County natives--soldiers, merchants, government officials, and everyday citizens.

Alachua County, Florida

9780738543741

$24.99

Alachua County's African American ancestry contributed significantly to the area's history. Onceenslaved pioneers Richard and Juliann Sams settled in Archer as early as 1839. They were former slaves of James M. Parchman, who journeyed through the wilderness from Parchman, Mississippi. They and others shaped the county's history through inventions, education, and work ethics based on spirituality. This book shows people working together, from the early1800s rural farm life, when racial violence was routine, until African Americans broke the chains of injustice and started organizing and controlling civic affairs.

Kaukauna

9781467110907

$24.99

Explorer Jean Nicolet traveled down the Fox River in 1634 and explored an area of three waterfalls. Settlers arrived and began trading at this natural way station in 1760, establishing what became Kaukauna—one of the oldest settlements in the state. In fact, the first land deed ever recorded in Wisconsin happened here. The first state road followed in the 1820s, connecting Kaukauna with Green Bay, and people trickled in to work at the sawmills. Locks and dams were built to harness the river, and the paper mills were not far behind. It was then that Kaukauna was nicknamed the Lion on the Fox, and the boom of a great city began. It is a thriving community today that maintains a small-town feel. Thilmany Pulp and Paper has been the leading employer in the area for more than a century. At the heart of the city remains the Fox River, dividing north and south, and Kaukauna remains the Lion on the Fox.

Pennsylvania Lighthouses on Lake Erie

9781467118743

$21.99

Four lighthouses remain in Pennsylvania, and Lake Erie is home to three. In 1818, Old Presque Isle Light became the first United States lighthouse built on the lake's shore. But a need for even more navigational assistance gave birth to the North Pierhead Lighthouse forty years later. The Presque Isle Light Station first shined on Lake Erie in July 1873. Thanks to the guidance from these landmarks, Erie's port is one of the busiest in the Great Lakes. Author Eugene Ware offers an edifying history of Erie Harbor lights.

Greenup County

9780738586168

$24.99

Greenup County, bordering the Ohio River in northeast Kentucky, is rich in history and culture. Settlers first arrived in the mid-1700s and carved farms from the hardwood forests. Lucy Virgin Downs, the first white child born west of the Alleghenies, lived in Greenup County, as did Jesse Boone, brother of Kentucky icon Daniel Boone. The 20th century brought industrialization and economic diversification to the historically agricultural area. Ashland Oil, a Fortune 500 company, maintained corporate headquarters in Greenup County. Two steel mills, a large rail yard, an excellent hospital, and a number of surface mines also provided employment to many people who continued to work their family farms, too. This economic progress was mirrored in every aspect of county life as education, health care, and recreation all improved dramatically. Today Greenup County's history is appreciated by both longtime residents and cultural tourists.

Capitola

9780738596907

$24.99

School is out and temperatures nudge the triple digits as a great migration begins. Each year, inhabitants of California's sweltering interior valleys journey to the coast. Here, they dash toward the surf and sprawl contentedly in the cool mists of a summer day at the beach in Capitola. Some have made this trip annually all their lives. Parents and grandparents owned or rented cabins on streets named for the stifling cities they had just left, like Stockton, Sacramento, and San Jose. Opening on July 4, 1874, Capitola is "The Oldest Camping Ground on the Pacific Coast." Its visionary owner, German immigrant Frederick Hihn, shaped the grounds in European style, wound up to run as efficiently as a German clock. As the resort progressed from a tent camp into a dignified Victorian retreat by the sea, its character similarly advanced. Incorporating as a city in 1949, Capitola reached its 75th birthday as a tidy village of historic cottages, beach-oriented shops, and esplanade concessions bordering a seasonal lagoon.

North Augusta

9780738541723

$24.99

The story of James U. Jackson and the history of North Augusta are inseparable. In the 1800s, James U. Jackson was one of the youngest railroad officials in the country. As a boy, he dreamed of developing the area on the bluffs across the Savannah River from Augusta, Georgia. That dream became a reality in 1906, when the community of North Augusta was incorporated. Not only a man of vision, Jackson's energy, drive, and personality enabled him to secure financial backing from several cities for his business ventures. His interurban railway, one of the first in the South, contributed to the development of the area's resort hotel industry, which catered to many people from the North during the winter months. Today, North Augusta's riverfront development continues, distinguishing it as a strong and independent community. James U. Jackson's dream continues to prosper.

Wilmington

9780738584447

$24.99

The first settlers began arriving in the Wilmington region in the early 1800s. Less than a decade later, in 1810, Wilmington was chosen as the county seat for the newly formed Clinton County. Although the area has long been known for its agricultural productivity, Wilmington's rich and diverse history includes a territorial governor and Civil War general, a world-renowned sculptor, a musician who performed for years on the Delta Queen, and a Major League Baseball club owner. Wilmington has also been home to several Underground Railroad stops, a Quaker college, an experimental World War II glider base, and a cold war missile site. Twice named one of the "Best Small Towns in America," Wilmington continues to delight visitors with its stately historic buildings and its small-town charm.

The Long Beach Peninsula

9780738529950

$24.99

Jutting northward from the mouth of the Columbia River, the Long Beach Peninsula defines Washington's southwestern coastal geography. The picturesque blend of beach and forest along the river, Willapa Bay, and the Pacific Ocean was home to the Chinook Indians who first settled this region. European and American trade came to this area in the 18th century, opening the way for Lewis and Clark to explore and establish a land route to the Pacific. The region prospered because of its diverse natural resources and thriving fur trade. Today, a vibrant tourist industry fuels the Peninsula's continuing development.

Westfield

9780738573687

$24.99

Explore the town of Westfield and embrace the thriving suburban community, rich in history, culture, and civic pride.

Located just 22 miles outside of New York City, it is affectionately known as ""Colonial Westfield."" In 1720, the ""West Fields"" of Elizabeth Town were settled by English immigrants. During the Revolutionary War, several altercations with the Red Coats took place here. Not only did George Washington stop in Westfield during the Revolutionary War, but it is believed he slept at the home of one of the town's forefathers. After the advent of the railroad in mid-1800s, the small but productive farming village gradually developed into the attractive upscale community it is today. Known for its high standards in education, emphasis on the arts, and religious and civic institutions, Westfield is one of the few suburban towns in New Jersey that continues to maintain an active downtown shopping area, complete with a major department store. With approximately 50 restaurants, it draws visitors from all over the state.

Greensboro, North Carolina

9780738515250

$24.99

The historic city of Greensboro, North Carolina, experienced national attention on February 1, 1960 when four A&T College students sat down at the Woolworth lunch counter, thus birthing the civil rights "sit-in movements." However, African Americans helped shape the city for many decades prior to that event. Palmer Memorial Institute, the country's first African-American finishing school, is located here, as is Bennett College, one of two historically black colleges for women in the United States. Alumni of Greensboro schools include Ruby Dee, Ossie Davis, the late astronaut Ron McNair, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Justice Henry Frye, and former Harlem Globetrotter Freddie "Curly" Neal.

Lehigh Township

9780738510217

$24.99

Lehigh Township was settled in the late 1700s by immigrants who had come to work in the numerous slate quarries. Situated in the foothills of the Blue Mountains, the township represented the last signs of civilization for those traveling north from Philadelphia to the wilderness beyond the Lehigh Gap. The township has remained largely rural, with farms and open fields abundant along its two-lane highways.

Compiled by members and friends of the Lehigh Township Historical Society, Lehigh Township is a collection of rare vintage photographs of the community. The Cherryville Hotel (which in its heyday was known throughout the area as one of the best places to get Pennsylvania Dutch food), local quarries, one-room schoolhouses, Dieter's Foundry, and the Indian Trail and Edgemont amusement parks make up a sampling of the countless familiar images of Lehigh Township's past. Lehigh Township is an indispensable reference for both residents and visitors.

El Cerrito

9780738530284

$24.99

El Cerrito, Spanish for "Little Hill," is a bustling and modern community today, sandwiched between Albany and Richmond along busy San Pablo Avenue. Quaint houses in the hills look down upon an active commercial strip with two BART stations and over the bayfront, where warehouses and processing plants in neighboring Richmond hum night and day. But as modern it is, El Cerrito has roots that run deep. In the early 1900s, only about 1,500 people lived in these hills, then a scruffy cattle-grazing enclave known as Rust. Founder William Rust had a blacksmith shop at the site of the present-day Pastime Hardware. Soon the name was changed to El Cerrito. A tax was levied on the 20- odd saloons scattered through town so that streets could be paved and a modern city administration could be set up. The town grew steadily, especially in the postwar boom years, and today houses roughly 23,000 people in a pleasant and sylvan bayside environment.

Washington, D.C. in Vintage Postcards

9780738541570

$24.99

Created as a Federal City over two centuries ago, Washington, D.C., was designed by architect Pierre L'Enfant on land purchased by the government from Maryland and Virginia. L'Enfant's vision of wide, tree-lined avenues, mixed with modifications by the McMillan Commission in the early 1900s and exemplified by many other architects and sculptors, has evolved into a unique, fast-paced, and politically focused Capital City of the United States of America.

Hamburg Revisited

9780738573304

$24.99

Hamburg Revisited chronicles the people who led Hamburg in business, education, religion, and civic events during the town's period of growth in the first half of the 20th century. Led by architects Lawrence Bley and Frank Spangenberg, Hamburg developed its distinctive brick and stone architecture of the 1920s and later boomed with growth in the post-World War II period. Many aerial photographs from 1950 show the growth of housing developments in Hamburg village, Blasdell, and Lake Shore, as well as many landmarks that have been lost in the past 50 years.

Brewster

9780738510293

$24.99

In 1803, the North Parish of Harwich voted to become the town of Brewster in honor of Elder William Brewster, one of the most distinguished and revered Pilgrims of the Mayflower. As times changed, the people of Brewster turned from farming to fishing and from salt making to tall ships. They traveled the sea, wheeling and dealing with merchants in nearly every port on earth, fighting pirates, and surviving typhoons. Those who returned brought home to Brewster a measure of wealth and sophistication that is an integral part of this little town's lively history. When the age of sail faded, the town looked to a quieter life. Brewster, with its eleven miles of pristine beaches, became the perfect tourist destination.

Brewster tells the unique story of a town that prospered through the good times and held on amazingly during the bad times. It presents captivating photographs of the residents' struggle for existence as farmers, fisherman, and sailors. The book shows what the barbershop looked like and where the early residents of Brewster lived, played, and went to church. Brewster captures the charming moments of a time gone by.

Tarpon Springs

9780738514512

$24.99

Tarpon Springs, the South's Mediterranean port city named for the abundant fish found off its coast, is hailed as the "Sponge Capital of the World." The oldest town in Pinellas County, Tarpon is located along the Anclote River where the river flows into the Gulf of Mexico. History in this coastal community dates back to the 1800s with the arrival of the first settlers. The advent of the railroad and the building of the Anclote Key Lighthouse brought many positive changes to the area; wealthy Northerners flocked here creating a winter haven while numerous fishing vessels plied city waters. Enterprising entrepreneurs boosted the city's economy and reputation with the harvesting of sponges. The Greek immigrants who came to the area to continue their traditional trade of sponge diving forever enriched the city's cultural makeup with their families and customs. Today, the progressive community continues to be a shining example of historic preservation and cultural variety. Images of America: Tarpon Springs celebrates the fascinating history of "the Venice of the South" and invites readers to experience this breathtaking locale through words and vintage photographs. Rare images, including scenes of the early sponge divers, businesses, residents, festivals, and celebrations, abound in this unique volume. Natives, visitors, and history buffs alike will delight in this visual tour of a picturesque and historically interesting community.