Name: New York City's Harbor Defenses
Brand: Leo Polaski
SKU: 9780738512334
Price: 24.99 USD
Availability: InStock

New York City's Harbor Defenses

9780738512334

$24.99

The great seaport of New York, one of the largest and busiest natural harbors in the world, was defended for nearly four centuries by a series of more than sixty coastal fortifications. These fortifications were occupied by the Dutch, then the British, and finally, the Americans, who after winning their independence, needed to protect the country they had established. New York City's Harbor Defenses, with more than two hundred vintage photographs, reveals the unusual history of these coastal and island forts and tells of the men and women who served at them during peacetime and while the country was at war. Most of these fortifications are no longer active, but they can still be visited. Gone are the mighty guns, some of which could fire a twenty-four-hundred-pound shell a distance of twenty-six miles. Many of the buildings constructed during national emergencies have been leveled, and the millions of soldiers who lived, trained, and served their country there are absent. This visual history shows what once were the extensive fortifications that defended New York City's harbor.

Newark Museum of Art

9781467160704

$24.99

As the largest museum in New Jersey, the Newark Museum of Art has assembled important and highly regarded collections in the fine arts and decorative arts. It has collected specimens of rocks and minerals as well as plants and animals to illustrate the natural sciences. In all of these areas, it has developed innovative exhibitions. Finally, it has designed engaging educational programs that are both inspirational and transformative for people of all ages from the diverse communities that it serves. In many respects, it remains the model of the “new museum” that was imagined at its inception—a place dedicated to objects and the ideas embodied by them. In the words of founding director John Cotton Dana, “A good museum attracts, entertains, arouses curiosity, leads to questioning, and thus promotes learning.”

Cover image for Newark Museum of Art, isbn: 9781467160704

Orange County:

9780738569086

$24.99

Relatively small in size among California's counties at 789 square miles, Orange County supports one of the nation's largest county populations: three million. Yet this county is surprisingly rich in its diversity of natural elements. Bounded all around by a spectacular seacoast and rambling hills, it contains a portion of Cleveland National Forest, including two mile-high mountain peaks. Orange County has numerous canyons, dramatic in looks and legend, as well as the Santa Ana River with its seasonal branching tributaries. Yet extensive acreage within this forward-looking county is being permanently preserved as wilderness parks, preserves, and conservancies as governmental and private agencies respond to the ecological challenges of the future.

Oregon Shakespeare Festival

9780738570860

$24.99

In 1935, Angus Bowmer, an instructor at Southern Oregon Normal School in Ashland, began with a dream and a small coterie of devoted friends who believed, as he did, in the value of Shakespeare performed on an Elizabethan stage. Though the Oregon Shakespeare Festival's early platforms were rudimentary and the backstage areas primitive, the art drew enthusiastic audiences. The urgency of World War II closed the festival's doors, but in 1947 it reopened with larger theater facilities and an expanded repertory, winning the support and respect of state, regional, and national artists and dignitaries. In a setting of extraordinary beauty and a community dedicated to culture and the arts, the 75-year-old Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) is among the largest and most influential professional regional theaters in North America.

Peoria

9780738571102

$24.99

The city of Peoria, Arizona, located 14 miles northwest of Phoenix, was founded in 1886 near the eastern bank of New River by settlers from Peoria, Illinois. The pioneers used the Arizona Canal to irrigate the surrounding dry desert, turning the town into a farming community. Peoria became a stop along the Santa Fe, Prescott, and Phoenix Railroad in 1895 and boasted its own train station and landmark water tower. A small commercial section developed nearby. Peoria was the last, full-service stop on the way out of the Salt River Valley along U.S. Highway 60 (Grand Avenue) before Wickenburg, 40 miles to the northwest. The town began to take shape as a suburb of Phoenix in the latter half of the 20th century, growing from 600 people in 1920 to over 151,000 in 2007. The city continues to expand by population and land annexation. It now includes the popular recreation area Lake Pleasant and extends into a small portion of Yavapai County.

Redmond

9780738570891

$24.99

In the desert, water is king. Prior to the arrival of irrigation canals in 1906, the Central Oregon region that would become Redmond was little more than a collection of determined settlers, many living in tents, bent on proving up their Carey Act homesteads. By 1910, the Redmond Spokesman, one of two newspapers publishing in the newly incorporated town, was bragging, "Redmond is situated in the heart of the best irrigated farming section in Central Oregon, where abundant crops are grown by an intelligent and progressive class of farmers and ranchers." By 1911, Redmond cemented its reputation as the hub of Central Oregon when the Oregon Trunk Railroad line arrived, boosting Redmond commerce by taking it out of the horse-and-wagon movement of goods and people. After World War II , the City of Redmond purchased an army airbase for $1 and built it into Oregon's largest regional airport east of the Cascade Mountains.

Remembering Virginia's Confederates

9780738566115

$24.99

The commonwealth of Virginia holds a prominent and distinguished place in American Civil War history. Home to the Confederacy's capital city of Richmond, more major battles were fought in Virginia than in any other state. The commonwealth also produced some of the war's most legendary and iconic figures, including Robert E. Lee, Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson, and J. E. B. Stuart. Images of America: Remembering Virginia's Confederates explores the Confederate military and government service of a wide array of Virginia residents, ranging from the most prominent generals, politicians, and spies to little-known enlisted men. It also acknowledges their dedication and sacrifice to a cause in which they strongly believed.

San Francisco, California

9780738518718

$24.99

On January 30, 1847, the small harbor village of Yerba Buena was rechristened "San Francisco." As the Gold Rush quickly propelled the population to over 50,000, fortunes made in the silver Comstock lode and the railroad transformed the area into the financial and cultural center of the West. Captured here in over 200 vintage images are the life and times of the city's earliest residents and their livelihoods. Spanning the mid-1800s through the early decades of the 20th century, this book offers a visual account of early life in San Francisco, from family outings at Golden Gate Park, to the images of San Franciscans rebuilding their city after the devastating Earthquake and Fire of 1906. Also pictured are the joyous occasions, including the Panama-Pacific Exposition of 1915, the openings of the Bay and Golden Gate Bridges, and the 1939 World's Fair. Early views of the city's landmarks capture the magic of the Bay area, such as the Ferry Depot, Nob Hill, turn of the century Chinatown, and Fisherman's Wharf.

Sharpsburg

9780738568058

$24.99

Sharpsburg, with only eight streets, has an international reputation as a travel destination. Best known as the site of the Battle of Antietam, it is also the location of the annual Memorial Day celebration observed since 1868. However, Sharpsburg and the surrounding area are more than a battle site. The "Big Spring" served Native Americans long before Joseph Chapline laid out the town's 187 lots in 1763. Gen. Robert E. Lee, inventor James Rumsey, and abolitionist John Brown all stayed in town. Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, many businesses lined Main Street. The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal and the Belinda Springs resort were well known. The resort is gone, but the canal's towpath is popular with hikers and bikers. The businesses and industries of an earlier Sharpsburg have disappeared, but churches and cemeteries sit on original lots. The remaining structures of log and stone still line the streets, although they are no longer dirt lanes. Many properties retain their stables, chicken coops, or necessary houses.

Spruce Pine

9780738567693

$24.99

There is a little piece of Spruce Pine in almost every home and business in America. Known as the Mineral City, Spruce Pine is the hub of mining activity in the mineral-rich Toe River valley, which provides mica, feldspar, and ultra-pure quartz for computer chips and other electronic components. Images of America: Spruce Pine is the story of a town with two main streets that was started by the arrival of the railroad. This volume includes the characters, events, tragedies, triumphs, and memories shared by town residents. From catastrophic fires, ravaging floods, and economic turmoil, to visits by U.S. presidents and the Carolina Barn Dance, it is all right here.

Tall Ships on Puget Sound

9780738548142

$24.99

This engaging pictorial history tells of the tall sailing ships that came to the Pacific Northwest beginning in the mid-1700s. Met by native Salish people, the ships brought Spanish, British, Russian, and American explorers, as well as settlers and entrepreneurs, to the region. Over the next two centuries, during boom and bust periods, these majestic vessels have continued to ply the waters of Puget Sound. Today the proud tall ships operate in a training and education rather than commercial context; however, the commitment to preserving and promoting their heritage remains strong within the region, as well as throughout the United States and around the globe. This groundbreaking book features 180 rare photographs and illustrations that chronicle the colorful history of tall ships on Puget Sound.

Temecula Wine Country

9780738570143

$21.99

Vineyards flourish in Temecula because of the ideal climate. The name Temecula is taken from Luiseno words that mean "where the sun and earth were created." At an altitude of 1,500 feet, the filtered sunlight and an ocean breeze that drifts through a gap in the mountains coax the decomposed granite soil of Temecula Valley to produce high-quality grapes for premium wines today just as they did over a century ago. From the time the Spanish padres entered the valley and made sacramental wines and French and Italian immigrants brought vines from the Old World, its grape harvests were unknown to the rest of the world. In 1967, Vincenzo and Audrey Cilurzo came from Hollywood to plant the first commercial vineyard, followed by Ely Callaway, who built the first commercial winery in 1974, and soon the Temecula Wine Country was home to 14 wineries. The annual Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival, started in 1983, draws as many as 50,000 attendees.

The Knickerbocker Snowstorm

9780738597904

$24.99

On the evening of January 28, 1922, several hundred people fought their way through the greatest snowstorm in Washington's history to see a show at the Knickerbocker Theater, the city's largest and most modern moving picture theater of the time. Unbeknownst to the theater patrons, the Knickerbocker Theater's flat roof was tremendously burdened by the weight of the snow. During the show's intermission, the snow-covered roof crashed down upon the crowd. As the roof fell, it collapsed the theater's balcony and pulled down portions of the surrounding brick walls, killing 98 people and injuring 133. Some of Washington's prominent politicians and business owners were among the casualties. The disaster ranks as one of Washington's worst in history, and the snowstorm continues to hold the record for Washington's single greatest snowfall.

The Military History of New Bedford

9780738505206

$24.99

This accurate and exciting pictorial history will acquaint the reader with the seacoast defense of New Bedford. Fortified since the 1700s, seacoast defenses provided important protection for the New Bedford area. By the time of the Civil War, a strong granite fortress was under construction to guard the seaward approaches to the harbor of New Bedford and, later, powerful long-range guns were installed to protect the seaport. In The Military History of New Bedford, great care has been taken to identify more than two hundred vintage photographs of the harbor defense systems at all the points of Buzzards Bay, coastal fortifications, and the observation and radar towers from the Cape Cod Canal to Westport. The book identifies and explains the long-abandoned granite and concrete monoliths of New Bedford. It touches upon Gen. Robert E. Lee's role in the construction of the granite fort at Clark's Point (Fort Taber) and describes the impact that Henry Martyn Robert had in the area by writing Pocket Manual of Rules of Order for Deliberative Assemblies, later known as Robert's Rules of Order.

The Military History of the Cape Cod Canal

9780738510095

$24.99

During World War II, with Allied merchant and navy ships under the threat of German U-boats, the eastern seaboard was on high alert. The Cape Cod Canal, a vital waterway for commercial and military traffic, underwent a period of strict control, occupation, and defense. This pictorial history documents the activity during that time and the extensive array of weaponry and manpower brought to bear in coastal defense.

In The Military History of the Cape Cod Canal, the abandoned foundations at Sagamore Hill and throughout most of Buzzards Bay are explored, as well as the weapons, devices, and personnel assigned to ensure the canal's integrity throughout the war. Although the responsibilities of the U.S. Army's Coast Artillery are a focal point, the actions of the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the air arms of all the military services during World War II are also included. The Military History of the Cape Cod Canal documents the mishaps, collisions, and war-damaged ships in and near the canal, as well as the joint military protection forces and plans in effect during World War II.

The State of Jefferson

9780738530963

$24.99

The State of Jefferson was born in the hearts of pioneers who crossed craggy peaks and treacherous canyons to settle near the Oregon and California border. Isolated and feeling neglected by both state governments, they tried to create a new state as early as 1852. The persistent State of Jefferson movement finally received national attention, including articles in Time and Life magazines, and held a boisterous election of county officials in 1941, before being derailed by the onset and priorities of World War II. But solidarity and independence still run like underground springs in the border counties, where rugged individualism matches the often rugged terrain, and where highway signs, businesses, and even public radio stations proudly display the State of Jefferson name and flag.

The University of Rhode Island

9780738502144

$24.99

The University of Rhode Island is an in-depth pictorial history of URI that covers the period
beginning with its inception as a college in 1892 to the term of its current president. Settled in the rural village of Kingston, where a rolling hillside
has evolved into a vast world-class educational institution, URI began as the Rhode Island Agricultural School in 1889. Photographs seen in this book tell the story of the Kingston residents' struggle to bring the state's agricultural school into being. We see the never-ending crusades for necessary facilities and faculty and the radical adaptations utilized during World War I and World War II. The growth and fame of coaches, athletic teams, and athletes are chronicled, and dignitaries such as Eleanor Roosevelt, Presidents Eisenhower and Johnson, composer Aaron Copeland, Igor Sigorsky, and
innumerable others jump from the pages.

Warrenton-Hammond

9780738571607

$24.99

Located near the mouth of the Columbia River, Warrenton, incorporated in February 1899, is a city comprised of many earlier towns and villages. Hammond, although still having a separate post office and zip code, was merged with Warrenton in 1991. Fort Stevens, now an Oregon State Park, is located near Hammond. Lexington was the first county seat for Clatsop County until the county seat was vacated on December 4, 1879, and moved to Astoria. Skipanon, located near the same site as Lexington, was also annexed by Warrenton. Flavel, along the Columbia River between Warrenton and Hammond, was an active port for the Great Northern Steamship Company. It was annexed by Warrenton in 1918. Warrenton-Hammond documents each of these towns as they grew and became the present city of Warrenton.

Warsaw

9780738567761

$24.99

Warsaw, located in Richmond County, is often called the heart of the Northern Neck. Lying between the Potomac River and the Rappahannock River, the Northern Neck was discovered by Capt. John Smith, who called the area "fruitfull and delightsome." George Washington later referred to the same region as the "garden of Virginia." The town of Warsaw, originally called Richmond Court House, was established in its present location around 1692. In 1831, the town petitioned to change its name to Warsaw after Warsaw, Poland. While Poles struggled against the partitioning of their country, sympathy for their plight was great and spread from Europe to the new world. Within the immediate area of Warsaw are two colonial homes that are still occupied by descendents of the original owners. Today Warsaw has a population of approximately 1,400. The Northern Neck and Richmond County are still sparsely populated and predominately agrarian.

When Boston Rode the EL

9780738504629

$24.99

The Boston Elevated Railway broke ground in 1899 for a new transit service that opened in 1901, providing a seven-mile elevated railway that connected Dudley Street Station in Roxbury and Sullivan Square Station in Charlestown, two huge multilevel terminals. When the EL, as it was popularly known, opened for service, it provided an unencumbered route high above the surging traffic of Boston, until it went underground through the city. The new trains of the EL were elegant coaches of African
mahogany, bronze hardware, plush upholstered seats, plate glass windows, and exteriors of aurora red with silver gilt striping and slate grey roofs. They stopped at ten equally distinguished train stations, designed by the noted architect Alexander Wadsworth
Longfellow. All of this elegance, let alone convenience, could be had for the price of a five-cent ticket. The popularity of the EL was instantaneous. The railway continued to provide transportation service high above Boston's streets until 1987, when it was unfortunately ended after 86 years of elevated operation. Today, the squealing wheels of the Elevated trains, the rocking coaches, the fascinating views, and the fanciful copper-roofed stations of the line are a missing part of the character of Boston, when one could ride high above the city for a nickel.