Regular price
$24.99
Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 248): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
One of the Largest Tragedies in Iowa History. On January 7, 1950, a fire erupted at St. Elizabeth's Mental Health Facility for women. The disaster garnered state-wide and national attention as the second largest loss of life in the history of the state and the third largest hospital fire in the nation, to date. The fire, started by a patient, claimed the lives of forty patients and one nurse, while twenty-five patients were rescued. Rescue efforts were hampered by the fact that most patients were locked in their rooms at the time. Bret Grimes recounts the lives of those who fought and survived the ordeal.
Rural Iowa Sausage
9781467148542
Regular price
$24.99
Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 248): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
An Iowa Tradition Like No Other
In the 1970s, there were around 450 local meat lockers throughout the state of Iowa. Today, there are little more than 100 left. History is finally back on their side with a wave of consumers wanting to support small businesses, shop small and buy local. Consumers now also have an increased urge to take more day trips and explore regions they don't see much in the headlines and bring these meats home for their own culinary creations. This is the story of heritage from the old country being passed down by generations of Iowans, and the future of an industry that has endured through decades of decline. Jay Goodvin details the history of Iowa Meat Lockers and their future.
Frank Lloyd Wright and Mason City
9781467118606
Regular price
$21.99
Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 248): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
In the early 1900s, Frank Lloyd Wright transformed a small midwestern prairie community into one of the world's most important architectural destinations. Mason City, Iowa, became home to his City National Bank and Park Inn--the last surviving Wright hotel. In addition, his prototype Stockman House helped launch the Prairie School architectural style. Soon after, architect Walter Burley Griffin followed in Wright's footsteps, designing a cluster of Prairie School homes in the Rock Crest/Rock Glen neighborhood. Design historian Roy Behrens leads the way through Mason City's historic development from the Industrial Revolution to the modern era of Frank Lloyd Wright.
Irish Iowa
9781467139700
Regular price
$21.99
Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 248): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
Iowa offered freedom and prosperity to the Irish fleeing famine and poverty. They became the second-largest immigrant group to come to the state, and they acquired influence well beyond their numbers. The first hospitals, schools and asylums in the area were established by Irish nuns. Irish laborers laid the tracks and ran the trains that transported crops to market. Kate Shelley became a national heroine when she saved a passenger train from plunging off a bridge. The Sullivan family became the symbol of sacrifice when they lost their five sons in World War II. Author Timothy Walch details these stories and more on the history and influence of the Irish in the Heartland.
Classic Restaurants of Des Moines and Their Recipes
9781467145459
Regular price
$24.99
Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 248): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
With Italian steakhouses, the Younkers Tea Room and Stella's Blue Sky Diner, Des Moines's culinary history is tantalizingly diverse. It is filled with colorful characters like bootlegger/"millionaire bus boy" Babe Bisignano, a buxom bar owner named Ruthie and future president of the United States Ronald Reagan. The savory details reveal deeper stories of race relations, women's rights, Iowa caucus politics, the arts, immigration and assimilation. Don't be surprised if you experience sudden cravings for Steak de Burgo, fried pork tenderloin sandwiches and chocolate ambrosia pie, à la Bishop's Buffet. Author Darcy Dougherty Maulsby serves up a feast of Des Moines classics mixed with Iowa history, complete with iconic recipes.
The Lincoln Highway in Iowa
9781467149808
Regular price
$23.99
Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 248): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
Iowa's Great Highway
Before there was Route 66, there was the iconic Lincoln Highway. A symbol of limitless potential, America’s first coast-to-coast highway spanned Iowa from the Mississippi River to the Missouri River. When you travel U.S. 30 across Iowa today, you’re never far from the historic Lincoln Highway, if not right on top of it. Learn the history of an Iowa landmark.
Hidden History of Clinton, Iowa
9781467144841
Regular price
$24.99
Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 248): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
Two things people frequently say about Clinton are that it was the lumber capital of the world and home to the most millionaires per capita. While those interesting nuggets are not exactly true, there are plenty of fascinating facts about the city. Learn why Clinton could easily be known as a holiday town if not overshadowed by the meetings and parties of America's lumber kings. See what life was like guiding an acre-long log raft down the Mississippi. Enter the century-long debate on the location of the Big Tree. And find out how Clinton fed the world. Matt Parbs, director of the Sawmill Museum, unearths Clinton's past from the weight of myth and details its hidden history.
Historic Tales of Old Dubuque
9781467152853
Regular price
$23.99
Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 248): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
History That Shaped a Nation
The history of Dubuque is as important to the nation as it is Iowa. Look into the life of railroad-attorney Abraham Lincoln as he pays a visit to a prominent railroad engineer in Dubuque prior to becoming president. Follow congressional debate on whether U.S. Rep. William Vandever (R-IA) had the right to simultaneously hold a seat in Congress and a commission in the U.S. military during the Civil War. View some of the more popular Americans photographed by famed Dubuque photographer Samuel Root, including an image of Frederick Douglass captured while in Dubuque for one of three lectures the “Self-made Man” made in the Key City. Author and historian John T. Pregler sheds light on these rediscovered facets of American history and many others.
Iowa State Hockey and Al Murdoch
9781467153928
Regular price
$23.99
Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 248): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
The Making of Iowa State Hockey During five decades, Alan Murdoch played for, coached and managed the Iowa State Cyclone hockey team, making a life's work out of his personal resourcefulness and initiative. Iowa State grew into a premier program in non-scholarship hockey, and as the network of similar teams became increasingly formalized under the auspices of the American Collegiate Hockey Association - an organization to which Murdoch was an essential contributor - the Cyclones played at a national championship-level. The trophy for which they were vying: the Murdoch Cup. By the time he left the bench, Murdoch's teams had won more than 1,000 games against opponents from around the world. Sometimes funny, sometime emotional, Murdoch and author Tim Harwood explore the story of how winning became a way of life for Cyclone Hockey.
Haunted Iowa City
9781609492861
Regular price
$21.99
Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 248): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
Iowa City is rich in tradition, including a lively history of spooky tales and odd goings-on. Follow in the footsteps of the Wandering Cadaver and accompany the Whistling Janitor. Come up with an explanation for the leg bones encased in a tree. Meet ghosts Maude and George at their respective homes on Bloomington Street and at the Hall Mall. Shrink back against a wall in the Gaslight Village and then realize it is made from cemetery footstones. Pass into the shadow of the Black Angel. Join Vernon Trollinger in discovering the haunted past of Iowa City.
Murder at the Roosevelt Hotel in Cedar Rapids
9781467119603
Regular price
$21.99
Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 248): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
Byron C. Hattman sealed his fate when he checked into the Roosevelt Hotel on December 13, 1948. A maid found his body in a blood-spattered room two days later. An investigation linked him to the young wife of St. Louis pediatrician Robert C. Rutledge, who confessed to the brutal attack after trying to poison himself. The scandal made national headlines and seemed like an easy case for the Linn County court. That is, until new evidence changed the story completely. Reporter and author Diane Fannon-Langton uncovers the truth and compiles the complete details of the Hattman slaying for the first time.
A Culinary History of Iowa: Sweet Corn, Pork Tenderloins, Maid-Rites & More
9781467136327
Regular price
$23.99
Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 248): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
Iowa's delectable cuisine is quintessentially midwestern, grounded in its rich farming heritage and spiced with diverse ethnic influences. Classics like fresh sweet corn and breaded pork tenderloins are found on menus and in home kitchens across the state. At the world-famous Iowa State Fair, a dizzying array of food on a stick commands a nationwide cult following. From Maid-Rites to the moveable feast known as RAGBRAI, discover the remarkable stories behind Iowa originals. Find recipes for favorites ranging from classic Iowa ham balls and Steak de Burgo to homemade cinnamon rolls'served with chili, of course! Author Darcy Dougherty Maulsby serves up a bountiful history of tasty tradition.
Centerville:
9781609496647
Regular price
$32.99
Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 248): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
From the moment that the surveyor set down his tools in 1846 to the instant that the Flying Farmers crossed the sky at the centennial celebration, the history of Centerville, Iowa, has gifted us with a unique insight into the mid-American experience. Though the population never exceeded 8,600, immigrants from more than forty different countries created a community that was both melting pot and crucible--just like the nation at large. The town forged an identity through the Underground Railroad, the Civil War, race relations, education debates and World Wars I and II while its people survived the dark history of Prohibition, crime, the Ku Klux Klan, the Mafia and the Depression. In this definitive history, Enfys McMurry captures both the particular feelings of Centerville's citizens and how they reflected and participated in the larger American story.
Lost Council Bluffs
9781467137478
Regular price
$21.99
Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 248): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
Nestled in the Loess Hills, Council Bluffs grew from a frontier settlement of wickiups and log cabins. The outpost boomed as a gateway to the West when gold was discovered in California in 1849. The Pacific House and the Ogden House became landmark hotels for the transient population. Meanwhile, residents thrived and cultivated a bustling city with the Masonic Hall, Dohany's Opera House and the Merriam block. None of these once iconic buildings remains today. Author S.M. Senden explores the perpetual rebirth of Council Bluffs through its most important buildings and relates a still unfolding story.
Iowa Supper Clubs
9781467145138
Regular price
$21.99
Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 248): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
From relish trays and Old Fashioned cocktails to prime rib and fried fish, supper clubs are a quintessential part of midwestern dining culture. In Iowa, hundreds of supper clubs once dotted the state's rural highways and byways, serving as havens for hungry travelers and community gathering places for small towns. Opened in 1912, the Lighthouse Inn Supper Club in Cedar Rapids is one of Iowa's oldest supper clubs. In their heyday, Iowa supper clubs were also home to nefarious activities, with frequent visits from mobsters, bootlegged beverages and illegal gambling. Supper clubs like Archie's Waeside and Breitbach's Country Dining have even won James Beard Awards. Author Megan Bannister relays the delicious details of an Iowa staple.
Lost Cedar Rapids
9781467140652
Regular price
$21.99
Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 248): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
Cedar Rapids is the only city in America to house its government offices on an island. But tons of other iconic structures that defined the city are no longer around. The Little Gallery on First Avenue was created to showcase local artists. Yager's "moved up to bring prices down." The area was home to thirty-nine theaters, including two from 1928 that are still in operation. From the hotels to the factories, the ethnic districts to the depots, the dance halls to the amusement parks, these are the places that made a difference in the City of Five Seasons. Local author Pete Looney traces the history of the structures.
Bill Riley on the Air and at the Iowa State Fair
9781467136525
Regular price
$21.99
Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 248): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
Many know Bill Riley as Mr. Iowa State Fair, the voice of the Drake Relays or the force behind the Bill Riley Talent Search. He wore all of those hats, along with countless more. An Iowan through and through, Bill worked tirelessly on behalf of the state's outdoor spaces and young people, raising money for bike trails and the Des Moines Children's Zoo, later known as the Blank Park Zoo. In the last years of his life, he collected these memories from a career stretching back to the debut of television in the Hawkeye State.
Creating the Black Utopia of Buxton, Iowa
9781467140461
Regular price
$21.99
Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 248): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
Some have called Buxton a Black Utopia. In the town of five thousand residents, established in 1900, African Americans and Caucasians lived, worked and attended school together. It was a thriving, one-of-a-kind coal mining town created by the Consolidation Coal Company. This inclusive approach provided opportunity for its residents. Dr. E.A. Carter was the first African American to get a medical degree from the University of Iowa in 1907. He returned to Buxton and was hired by the coal company, where he treated both black and white patients. Attorney George Woodson ran for file clerk in the Iowa Senate for the Republican Party in 1898, losing to a white man by one vote. Author Rachelle Chase details the amazing events that created this unique community and what made it disappear.
History of the 33rd Iowa Infantry Volunteer Regiment, 1863-6
9780738594637
Regular price
$21.99
Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 248): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
In presenting this history of our Regiment to my fellow-soldiers of the 33d Iowa Infantry, I hope their memories while reading, may be as warm and pleasant as have been mine while writing it. For whatever of omission or error it contains, I have only to say, that the whole was written amidst the very press of editorial and many other duties, and a very great part of it after nine o'clock at night. The work is as well as I could make it under the circumstances.
RAGBRAI:
9781609497002
Regular price
$24.99
Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 248): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
Launched as a lark in 1973, RAGBRAI has developed into the world's largest, longest and oldest bicycle touring event. Thousands of cyclists from all fifty states and dozens of countries ride across Iowa for a weeklong festival. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of hospitable Iowans welcome, feed and shelter this rolling carnival, showcasing their communities. Greg Borzo has gathered hundreds of stories that reveal the essence of this unique event. He has also gathered a lavish collection of photographs and cartoons--vintage and contemporary, most never published before--that illustrate RAGBRAI's kaleidoscopic character.
Younkers
9781467119955
Regular price
$21.99
Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 248): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
When shoppers went to Younkers, they experienced something magical. Celebrities signed autographs, chefs gave cooking demonstrations and Miss Universe discussed the latest styles in swimwear. The flagship store, a showplace in the heart of downtown Des Moines, boasted dazzling selling spaces equipped with the first escalator and air conditioner in the state. The Tea Room established a legendary reputation for its food, fashion shows and Theater Nights. A great place to work, it gave thousands of teens their first paychecks and afforded hundreds of associates a lifelong career. Join Vicki Ingham for Younkers' journey to become one of the most important department store chains in the Midwest.
Campustown
9781626199903
Regular price
$21.99
Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 248): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
For more than one hundred years, Campustown has served the students and community of Iowa State University. The originally residential neighborhood west of Ames was born in the early 1900s, when the school compelled students to seek residence off campus. However, local government overlooked the neighborhood, and it fell behind the achievements of Big Ames. After the boom of the previous decade, community leaders organized a secession movement in 1916. It took nearly a quarter century, but the neighborhood finally connected to the grid of public utilities. Author Anthony Capps takes readers on a journey from Campustown's roots, through its vibrant years in the 1960s to current projects breathing new life into the district.
East Village, Des Moines
9781467119627
Regular price
$21.99
Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 248): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
East Village was not always the fashionable destination it is today. When the first settlers arrived in 1843 on the muddy banks of the Des Moines River, it was in direct violation of a treaty with the local natives. The settlement grew so quickly that by 1855, the fledgling city had been selected to be the state capital, and the building was constructed in East Village. The next century saw rivalries with the western half of the city, the birth and battle of one of the city's largest red-light districts and the construction of some of Des Moines' most prized historic treasures. Historian Hope Mitchell investigates the people and events that shaped the culture and landscape of Des Moines' most dynamic neighborhood.
Iowa Women's Corrections
9781467147255
Regular price
$21.99
Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 248): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
A History of Life Behind Bars in Iowa Iowa began building its first prison before achieving statehood, and women were sentenced to penitentiaries prior to the establishment of plans for their own housing. Beginning in the mid-19th century, incarcerated females were transitioned through a series of institutions and confinement environments, often as the result of persistent overcrowding, underfunding, discriminatory laws or practices, or to make room for incarcerated males. Early in Iowa's correctional history, women disproportionately served time for crimes considered to be against public decency, such as prostitution, lewdness and incorrigibility. Over time, their conditions and crimes evolved, but the situation continually faced obstacles such as access to treatment and programming, adequate facilities and opportunities for re-entry and reform. Author Erica Spiller dives deep into this intriguing history.
A Brief History of Bucktown: Davenport's Infamous District Transformed
9781626199095
Regular price
$21.99
Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 248): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
German immigrants created leafy beer gardens here nearly two centuries ago, establishing Bucktown as the heart of entertainment in downtown Davenport for generations. In 1916, the founding of the Tri-City Symphony Orchestra at the Burtis Opera House embodied the neighborhood's reputation for high culture. The numerous saloons and theaters, as well as the forty-two documented brothels that flourished within two blocks, lent a bawdy side to the good times. Varied industries thrived through World War II, and downtown bustled with shoppers visiting department stores like Petersen's. Later, the neighborhood struggled and declined as a farming crisis hit the region hard. With revitalized landmarks like the magnificent Hotel Blackhawk and the historic Redstone Building, the community is growing more vibrant as a place to live, work and play. Author Jonathan Turner explores this dynamic history and transformation.
Langworthys of Dubuque, The
9781467148504
Regular price
$21.99
Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 248): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
James, Lucius, Edward and Solon Langworthy arrived in the lead mining district of the Upper Midwest in the 1820s and made a lasting impression on what would become Dubuque. Their father, Dr. Stephen Langworthy, and their seventeen siblings soon joined in the wilderness adventure. Solon plowed the first fields, James built the first Methodist church and Lucius built the first road between Dubuque and Iowa City. Their ancestor James IV fought to secure victory at Fort Ticonderoga during the American Revolution, and cousin Hart Massey founded the Massey-Ferguson Company. Julia Langworthy led relief work for the Union soldiers and helped to found a home for orphans. Author Susan M. Hellert details how the Langworthys helped build a city.
The Dubuque Shot Tower
9781609492564
Regular price
$24.99
Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 248): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
The George W. Rogers & Co. ShotTower claims the distinction of being Dubuque's most recognizable and enduring landmark. And while it only operated intermittently from 1856 to 1862, the Shot Tower continues to serve as a reminder of America's vibrant entrepreneurial spirit of the mid-1800s. To preserve this local legacy and position it in the larger narrative of our nation's past, students from Central Alternative High School in Dubuque invested a year of research in 2005-6 to tell the story. Their findings, combined with essays contributed by community experts, have been edited by John Adelmann into a first-of-its-kind book that presents a fascinating saga of the Shot Tower that has become greater than the sum of its myths and legends.
Carter Lake
9781467118583
Regular price
$21.99
Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 248): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
When a flood redirected the Missouri River in 1877, a small patch of Iowa landed in Nebraska--and a new town was born. Carter Lake incorporated as an independent city in 1930 as Iowa's only community west of the Missouri River. But the town continued to face Nebraska's continued annexation attempts and floods. The Flood of 1952 covered the town in three feet of water. Meanwhile, uncertainty over the state lines led gamblers to flock to Carter Lake for illicit dogfighting, cockfighting, boxing matches and alcohol. Celebrated journalist John Schreier illustrates how the border town once known for its illicit nightlife has evolved into a growing bedroom community beneath the Omaha skyline.
Czech Village & New Bohemia
9781467117616
Regular price
$21.99
Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 248): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
Beginning in the 1870s, thousands of Bohemians flocked to Cedar Rapids in search of a better life. Czech immigrants courageously overcame the difficult conditions of the local packinghouse and the challenge of creating a new home. They maintained a strong cultural identity with Czech music, literature and an undying dedication to family. In the wake of a devastating flood in 2008, the people of Czech Village and New Bohemia re-imagined traditional principles to forge a remarkable resurgence toward a promising future. Author Dave Rasdal travels from the Charles Bridge to the Bridge of Lions in a celebration of Czech heritage and history in Cedar Rapids.
Hidden History of Dubuque
9781467118590
Regular price
$21.99
Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 248): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
Poised on the banks of the mighty Mississippi River, Dubuque provided a vital entry point for westward expansion. Explorers, Native Americans, fur traders, lead miners and pilgrims all played a part in the little-known history of Iowa's Driftless Region. It was Dubuque that contributed the first military company in the country for service at the start of the Civil War. Jefferson Davis made a foray into the city in pursuit of lead miners. And gangster Al Capone reportedly used the Hotel Julien as a retreat and hideout. Uncover these lost stories and more with author and historian Susan Miller Hellert as she chronicles the fascinating and all-but-forgotten tales of Dubuque and the surrounding region.
Crusading Iowa Journalist Verne Marshall
9781467135979
Regular price
$21.99
Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 248): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
On December 12, 1934, police raided a canning factory in Cedar Rapids, uncovering an illegal liquor and gambling set-up. Verne Marshall, tempestuous editor of the Cedar Rapids Gazette, sensed a bigger story and a wider network of corruption. His aggressive investigative reporting led to multiple resignations, nearly fifty indictments and the dramatic trial of the state's attorney general. These explosive exposés earned Verne Marshall and the paper the 1936 Pulitzer Prize. Author Jerry Harrington traces the legacy of Marshall's incendiary crusade across Iowa's political landscape.
Murder & Mayhem in Scott County, Iowa
9781625859761
Regular price
$21.99
Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 248): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
Scott County is one of the oldest counties in Iowa. It is where the Blackhawk Treaty was signed and where the first railroad bridge across the Mississippi River was built. But Scott County has also been witness to many shameful deeds. Travel down Utica Ridge Road, where young Grace Reed paid the ultimate price for spurning the affections of a local farmer. Enter the bedroom of Margaretha Nehlsen, who poisoned her children with chocolate candies. Hear the tale of Harry Hamilton, a former policeman turned career criminal who played a key part in perhaps the most infamous bank robbery in Scott County history. Come and explore these stories and more with author John Brassard Jr. as he guides you through the darker side of Scott County history.
The Chiefs of Council Bluffs: Five Leaders of the Missouri Valley Tribes
9781609496135
Regular price
$21.99
Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 248): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
Two centuries ago, the fierce winds of change were sweeping through the Middle Missouri Valley. French, Spanish and then American traders and settlers had begun pouring in. In the midst of this time of tumult and transition, five chiefs rose up to lead their peoples: Omaha Chief Big Elk, the Pottawatamie/Ottawa/Chippewa Tribe's Captain Billy Caldwell, Ioway Chief Wangewaha (called Hard Heart), Pawnee Brave Petalesharo and Ponca Chief Standing Bear. Historian Gail Holmes tells the story of their leadership as the land was redefined beneath them.
Dubuque During the California Gold Rush:
9781609494919
Regular price
$21.99
Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 248): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
In 1849, news from California produced a strange alchemy in the region around Dubuque. Men used to the daily grind of the local lead mines felt a sudden fever for gold half a continent away. It was like a call to war, pulling the young men of the Midwest away to far-distant climes for an adventure and nightmare they would struggle to explain to those who remained on the home front. After meticulously combing through the correspondence between the Dubuque Forty-Niners and a home radically altered by their departure, Robert F. Klein examines one of the most fascinating periods of the American story from a fresh perspective.
