Name: Seattle's Floating Homes
Brand: Erin Feeney
SKU: 9780738595429
Price: 24.99 USD
Availability: InStock

Seattle's Floating Homes

9780738595429

$24.99

Seattle's floating homes community began as a population of unregulated and inexpensive industrial houses in the late 1800s, yet it has evolved to become some of the most sought-after real estate in Seattle today. Little has been shared about this intimate and unique community that is characterized by eclectic architecture, diverse individuals, and a strong sense of community. It is hard to imagine Seattle without its floating homes, but there was a period of time when the community was considered undesirable and was almost driven from the city shores. This book explores the community history of floating homes in Seattle, tales from life on the dock, and the ongoing challenges of being a fringe neighborhood in the urban context of the city.

Lake Winnipesaukee

9780738523552

$24.99

Documenting the history of Lake Winnipesaukee from its early Native American heritage to the lasting legacy of the first American settlers.

A world unto itself, Lake Winnipesaukee and its environs have attracted and sustained a variety of cultures over the past centuries from early American Indian tribes to New World settlers to today's seasonal tourists. Whether Indian hunter, aspiring pioneer or modern-day angler, each, in turn, fell for the region's wild allure: its sheer natural beauty, fertile soils, and waters teeming with an assortment of fish, including great quantities of shad, salmon, pickerel, smelt, and trout. Within this magnificent setting, scores of hardy and resolute frontier men and women worked tirelessly to fashion homes and towns along the bays, tributaries, islands and shoreline of the lake.

With over 150 accompanying illustrations, the many stories recorded in this unique volume evoke memories of a simpler way of life, when the lake was evolving from a scattering of humble villages, like Laconia, Meredith, and Wolfeboro, and just beginning to toy with a budding tourist industry. Readers of many generations will enjoy reliving the early summer camps, upstart businesses and the variety of entertainment and recreation the lake's waters have provided, such as canoe trips, steamships rides and ski boat adventures.

West Valley City

9780738595412

$24.99

In the fall of 1848, Joseph and Susanna Harker became the first pioneers "Over Jordan" as they crossed to the west side seeking a new home in the valley. Other families soon followed, and by the 1880s, canals brought irrigation water, allowing farming settlements to spread out toward the Oquirrh Mountains. The agrarian communities of Hunter, Granger, Redwood, and Chesterfield began to take shape. The decades after World War II saw enormous growth, new neighborhoods, and the Valley Fair Mall. When the area finally incorporated as West Valley City in 1980, it was immediately one of Utah's largest cities. The city has seen remarkable progress in its first three decades, including being a venue city for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games and emerging as Utah's most ethnically diverse city.

Carbon County

9780738536132

$24.99

Nowhere in Pennsylvania is there a sychronicity between geography and history as there is in Carbon County. Intersected by the majestic Lehigh River in the picturesque Pocono Mountains, this is a county built on the discovery of anthracite coal, the fortitude of early settlers, and the boundless imaginations of men like Josiah White, Erskine Hazard, and Asa Packer. For over a century, Carbon County's breathtaking scenery, stunning Victorian architecture, and natural landmarks, such as Hitcheltooth Cliffs and Glen Onoko Falls, have attracted travelers. Whether riding on the hair-raising Switchback Railroad or staying at the American Hotel (now the Inn at Jim Thorpe), travelers loved postcards, many of which are featured in this book. Compiled from some of the finest collections of vintage postcards in the state, Carbon County is a visual treasure documenting the haunting beauty and idiosyncrasies of the area.

Hudson

9781467114172

$24.99

Founded in 1799 as part of the Connecticut Western Reserve, Hudson maintains its charm by simultaneously highlighting its historic attributes and thriving as a contemporary community. For its first 150 years, Hudson was a quiet village, but the population grew when the Ohio Turnpike opened in the 1950s; suddenly, Hudson was on the map, and the preservation of local traditions became even more important to residents. Images of Modern America: Hudson showcases these preservation efforts, including those of the downtown district--much of which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Through vintage color photographs, this collection celebrates Hudson's legacy as it progresses toward the future.

Bristol:

9780738523569

$24.99

The picturesque images and steadfast spirit of small-town America thrive within Bristol. One need only to look along its tree-lined streets and centuries-old waterfront and into its historic homes and buildings to see the romance of Rhode Island's past mingling with its present. Heritage and tradition, especially its long-running celebrations of the Fourth of July, are essential in understanding the character and identity of this little town on the bay.

Bristol: Montaup to Poppasquash takes readers on a unique journey through the community's past, beginning with the voyages of early Norse explorers and detailing major events that shaped the town's history, including the King Philip's War, the Revolutionary War, and a variety of other military conflicts that took local men and women away from their homes. Not only evoking memories of yesteryear, this compelling illustrated history explores the evolving personality of Bristol over the passing decades, from its days as a small fishing village and a haven for privateers to its present status as a premier boat-building center.

Maritime Marion

9780738523668

$24.99

Marion's relationship with the ocean has been the defining element in the small town's development since its settlement as Sippican in America's colonial era. Since 1678, generation after generation of Marion families have relied upon the opportunities a port and sea provide in both life and industry. The waters of Buzzards Bay run deep in this coastal community, and its influence leaves an indelible mark not only upon every cove, beach, and inlet, but upon the very spirit of each resident and visitor.

For many, the sea is a temperamental and dangerous mistress, and Marion's affair with her is no different, for this town has experienced both great gain in wealth and horrific loss of life and property by her hands over the centuries. In Maritime Marion, Massachusetts, readers take a remarkable journey across four centuries of struggle and prosperity as a simple coastal hamlet evolves into a celebrated nautical center for shipbuilding, fishing, and racing. This unique volume, containing over 100 black-and-white illustrations, chronicles the many aspects of maritime life, from trade to recreation, including the once-prominent whaling industry, the various local saltworks, the traditions of Tabor Academy, the influence of the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company, and the prestige of the Beverly Yacht Club. However, one of the greatest pleasures and customs of any seacoast community is its storytelling, and Maritime Marion recounts several of the town's most interesting and puzzling tales, such as the mystery of the Mary Celeste's lost crew, the tragedies of numerous hurricanes, the fate of the British warship HMS Nimrod, and the experiences of the first lighthouse keepers on Bird Island.

Texas City

9780738579702

$24.99

At 100 years old, Texas City is a relatively young city. It was founded not for its beauty or its climate but for its strategic location on the Gulf of Mexico. It developed into a major port city, and industries sprang up and flourished. From bare acreage, the founders forged a community that would become a hometown to thousands of people. Texas City has seen its highs and lows. The US Air Force experienced its humble beginnings here, for instance. The same port, however, that gave life to the desolate land brought destruction in 1947 in the form of the Texas City explosion. A ship carrying ammonium nitrate blew up, killing almost 600 residents, injuring thousands, and bringing damage to nearly every building in town. Texas City recovered from the explosion and in the following decades, continued to be a place of pride for its citizens. The pages of this book are filled with images dating from the 1950s and 1960s to bring back the feeling of a bygone era in Texas City.

Plainfield

9780738594385

$24.99

Plainfield is Will County's oldest community. The area along the DuPage River was originally home to the Potawatomi Indians. By 1830, a small settlement called Walker's Grove was developed along the DuPage River south of where the village is located today. During the Black Hawk War, these settlers constructed and took refuge at Fort Beggs, named after Rev. Stephen Beggs. In 1834, the village of Plainfield was platted by Chester Ingersoll. This book spans the early settlement, the Civil War years, and the commercial development of the 19th century well into the 20th century and includes a chapter on the 1990 tornado. Tim and Michelle will share the many images taken from early glass negatives in addition to a collection of rare documents and paper items from early Plainfield. These images lend the opportunity to reflect upon Plainfield's rich history.

Sullivan's Island

9780738516783

$24.99

Uncover the past in this unique look at the history of Sullivan's Island, South Carolina through the lens of over 200 vintage images.

The Island is a very singular one. It consists of little else than the sea sand and is about three miles long. Its breadth at no point exceeds a quarter of a mile. Edgar Allan Poe's terse description, from his story The Gold Bug, is essentially as true today as when it was written. Others, before and after Poe, have been captivated by ""the Island."" For a long time, Sullivan's Island was the only Charleston-area beach resort, and its importance in the nation's history gave it a special significance. From the Battle of Fort Sullivan (now Fort Moultrie) came the inspiration for the state flag and for the arms of the Great Seal of State. The unique architectural heritage of Sullivan's Island evolved out of this historical background. A visiting New York architect in the 1970s said, ""This Island has the greatest assortment of styles and periods of architecture ever put together in one small area."" However, an 1872 observer more accurately called the style of architecture ""multifarious."" He noted, ""Everybody who builds follows his own ideas-in most cases comfort is consulted-and the resort is a varied collection of cottages and summer villas of every conceivable description.""

Beaver Falls:

9780738523828

$24.99

With an industrial foundation laid down more than 200 years ago, Beaver Falls quickly secured a role in history as one of the most well-established manufacturing towns in western Pennsylvania. Further recognition as a "Pittsburgh in miniature" soon followed as the town's commercial base grew and prospered during the halcyon days of the nineteenth century. Early residents strove to build the town into a self-supporting community committed to family values, and Beaver Falls continued to grow and thrive after the mills and factories gave way to the social experiments of the Harmony Society and the founding of Geneva College.

Beaver Falls: Gem of Beaver County devotes a chapter to local football legend Joe Namath's first season of greatness, complete with play-by-play details of the exciting Friday night high school games. "Broadway Joe's" early team picture is here, along with dozens more rare and compelling, never-before-published images. Readers will also find telling narratives of the Big Snow of 1950 and the Great Race of 1908, with more than 100 vintage photographs and maps detailing the gripping stories and unique memories chronicled here.

New Milford Revisited

9781467123648

$24.99 $12.50 Save 50%

Covering 64 square miles, New Milford is the largest municipality in Connecticut and the southernmost town in Litchfield County. Earliest residents settled around the present-day Village Green, making it the epicenter of town. In the early 1900s, a great fire obliterated a good portion of the downtown buildings, but businesses were quickly resurrected. Establishments such as the Robertson Bleachery, Eastern Lounge, and New Milford Foundry & Machine helped the town rise from the ashes. The 20th century also saw the demise of the tobacco industry that had dominated the area for decades, as several businesses, mostly located in the West Street area, rose to prominence. In later years, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Maggi Company (which would merge with Nestlé), Scovill Manufacturing, Century Brass, and New Milford Hospital all thrived as the town prospered. New Milford's iconic bandstand has been the scene of numerous concerts, including one in 1960 conducted by longtime resident Maestro Leopold Stokowski, and the structure has graced the cover of the Saturday Evening Post. It is no surprise that Fredric March, Vladimir Horowitz, Joan Rivers, Diane von Furstenberg, Eartha Kitt, and Ruth and Skitch Henderson have all chosen New Milford as home.

Granville

9780738599762

$24.99

In 1805, a group of citizens from Massachusetts and Connecticut braved treacherous travel conditions to settle a new village in the heart of Ohio.

Like the Welsh pioneers who arrived in the area a few years earlier, these industrious New Englanders found abundant natural resources to sustain themselves as they erected buildings, planted crops, and platted a town. The result of their hard work was the village of Granville, a beautiful and productive community that continues to adapt and thrive in the 21st century. Downtown Granville has evolved into a popular tourist destination, and Denison University, founded in the 1830s as the Granville Literary and Theological Institution, has become an elite and respected college of liberal arts and sciences.

Jamaica Plain

9780738534602

$24.99

Regardless of how the name came to be, many agree that Jamaica Plain is one of the loveliest areas of New England.

Stories abound as to how Jamaica Plain derived its name; some trace it to the flow of rum shipments to the port of Boston following Oliver Cromwell's seizure of Jamaica in 1660, but whatever the true origin of the name, the area has a rich and colorful history that flows from its rural, pastoral beginnings in the 17th century and into the 21st. Jamaica Plain today is one of Boston's great suburban neighborhoods, but it has not always been connected to the city. Jamaica Plain first became a part of Roxbury, and later West Roxbury, and served as a summer playground for influential Bostonians before becoming part of Boston in 1874. The neighborhood's beauty has been protected by such visionaries as Benjamin Bussey, who bequeathed his estate to Harvard College for what is now the Arnold Arboretum, and Henry A.S. Dearborn, the former mayor of Roxbury who established the Forest Hills Cemetery. Today, the neighborhood is a bustling suburban spot that has preserved its natural beauty and resources.

Rockingham County

9780738517247

$24.99

Named for a British Prime Minister and carved from Augusta County in 1777, Rockingham County lies at the heart of Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. As home to a portion of the Great Wagon Road running southwest from Pennsylvania, the county's culture and landscape reflect the influence of ethnic groups migrating to the frontier along this trail. Rockingham County's rich agricultural traditions have been a constant throughout its history, and while recent population increases have led to the disappearance of much of its rolling farmland, the county maintains a strong adherence to its agricultural past.

Historical Signs of Savannah

9780738516745

$24.99

From the cotton boom after the Civil War to Savannah's economic decline around the middle of the 20th century, the city's streetscapes were crowded with signs. In a time before strict sign regulations, business owners embellished building facades and and rooftops with extensive signage to catch the eye of pedestrians and motorists. The abundance of advertising was symbolic of Savannah's rapid growth and prosperity, but the majority of these signs were discarded over the years, and only a few remain. Photographs and postcards from the past survive, however, and images of historic signs serve as reminders of these lost commercial relics. Such signs give the bricks and mortar of the past another dimension by identifying their social purpose. Through vintage images of Savannah signage, this volume provides a history of the city's businesses and industries. Included are local landmarks like Levy Jewelers, the Globe Shoe Company, the Lucas Theatre, the Marshall House, and Johnny Harris Restaurant.

Texas Boomtowns

9781467118231

$21.99

On January 10, 1901, Beaumont awoke to the historic roar of the Spindletop gusher. A flood of frantic fortune seekers heard its call and quickly descended on the town. Over the next three decades, Texas's first oil rush transformed the sparsely populated rural state practically beyond recognition. Brothels, bordellos and slums overran sleepy towns, and thick, black oil spilled over once-green pastures. While dreams came true for a precious few, most settled for high-risk, dangerous jobs in the oilfields and passed what spare time they had in the vice districts fueled by crude. From the violent shanties of Desdemona and Mexia to Borger and beyond, wildcat speculators, grifters and barons took the land for all it was worth. Author Bartee Haile explores the story of these wild and wooly boomtowns.

Lake Mathews and Gavilan Hills

9780738547794

$24.99

The sparsely populated Cajalco basin holds a rich and varied history. Native American pictographs, grinding slicks, and mortars dot the landscape, while mine shafts and tailings reflect the arduous labor of tin and gold miners in an earlier time. Except for these seekers of fortune, hermits, and the occasional rancher or sheepherder, there were few inhabitants in this region until Lawrence Holmes planted 50,000 carob trees in the 1920s and sold off plots to potential carob barons. Soon the valley boasted carob and citrus groves, homes, a school, and
a store. The need for water in Los Angeles brought significant change to the valley when the Metropolitan Water Department constructed a terminus reservoir for the proposed Colorado River Aqueduct during the 1930s. This and many other events in the history of Lake Mathews and Gavilan Hills are illustrated here for the first time through 200
photographs, many never seen before by the public.

Downtown Phoenix

9780738585239

$24.99

On a bed of a primordial ocean floor and in a valley surrounded by jagged mountains, a city was founded atop the ruins of a vanished civilization. In 1867, former Confederate soldier Jack Swilling saw the remains of an ancient canal system and the potential for the area to blossom into a thriving agricultural center. Pioneers moved into the settlement searching for new opportunities, and on October 20, 1870, residents living in adobe structures that lined dirt streets adopted the name Phoenix, expressing the optimism of the frontier. For decades, downtown Phoenix was a dense urban core, the hub of agricultural fields, mining settlements, and military posts. Unfortunately, suburban sprawl and other social factors of the post-World War II era led to the center's decline. With time, things changed, and now downtown Phoenix is uniquely positioned to rise again as a prominent 21st-century American city.

Mount Savage

9780738516806

$24.99

The town of Mount Savage, Maryland, is a small blue-collar town nestled at the base of Big Savage Mountain in the Allegheny Mountains, between Frostburg and Cumberland. The town began as a small farming settlement in the mid-1800s, but it was not until 1844 that the region was put on the nation's map with the pressing of the first iron rail in the United States. After this claim to fame, Mount Savage became the fifth largest city in Maryland. Named as the headquarters for the short line railroad and the Cumberland & Pennsylvania Railroad, the area was deemed an industrial center. In addition to the rail businesses, Mount Savage attracted a foundry, two brick refractories, and several local merchants. In this company town, the industries shaped the economy and topography of Mount Savage, building housing for workers and donating land for schools, churches, and other public buildings. The town was a cultural melting pot attracting English businessmen and Irish, Scottish, Welsh, Italian, and German workers. With this diverse mix of cultures, the identity of Mount Savage was molded into a close knit community. Despite the loss of the industries to the region, Mount Savage continues to celebrate its hard-working traditions. The photographs contained in Images of America: Mount Savage offer a fascinating look into the irreplaceable memories of the people and places that have made Mount Savage what it was, is, and will become.

Williamson Valley Road

9780738579870

$24.99

Centuries ago, Williamson Valley Road began as a game trail for native inhabitants. In the 1400s, ancestors of the Yavapai and Hualapai hunted along ancient footpaths. Later explorers widened these paths for horses. The 1800s brought military wagons transporting supplies between the Rawlins, Hualapai/Tollgate, and Fort Whipple camps while traders and settlers followed in stagecoaches. The fertile lands of Mint Valley, Williamson Valley, and Walnut Creek were ideal for raising stock and produce. Farmers sailed from Europe and up the Colorado River before traversing the Hardyville Toll Road. Ranchers imported the fittest stock and exported the finest meat with the expertise of Mexican ranch hands. Camp Wood timbermen met the demand for lumber. Eastern store owners set up shop as railroaders laid far-reaching plans but short-reaching rails. Residents in the early 1900s arrived at rodeos, camp meetings, concerts, and dances in their Model Ts using this road. Present-day suburbanites, schoolchildren, and contractors commute on Williamson Valley Road, which was designated as a Scenic and Historic Route in 2010.

Lost Denver

9781467132916

$24.99

Newcomers to the "Mile-High City" of Denver, whether arriving during the 19th, 20th, or 21st centuries, have often remarked on how new the city seems, and how proud its citizens are of it. Heady boom times at various intervals have inspired successive waves of city builders eager to make their mark by building grand, new edifices. Often, these new wonders replaced older structures that earlier Denverites had once seen as great accomplishments. As Denver has grown to become the hub of a major American metropolis, remnants of its earlier heritage have vanished into history, leaving newcomers to ponder, "What makes Denver Denver?" and longtime residents to ask, "Where has my Denver gone?" Lost Denver celebrates what the city once built and has since lost, along with what has made it unique, exploring where and how Denverites once worked, shopped, and played.

Wenham

9780738576459

$24.99

Established in 1643, the picturesque town of Wenham is located in the heart of Essex County on Massachusetts's North Shore. The town boasts of a "great pond" with ice so clear that "Queen Victoria would have no other," 11 First Period Colonial homes, the Wenham Museum, an immense and wild swamp, a unique teahouse, and a doll that traveled the world as a goodwill ambassador. Historically, Wenham was a farming community, but the advent of the railroad in 1839 and electric cars in 1895 brought opportunity for businesses, such as a leather and a shoe factory, and the ice trade. By 1940, only small shops remained. Wenham proudly retains its historic and pastoral charm today.

Bay City and Beyond in Vintage Postcards

9780738523484

$24.99

Throughout its history, the Bay City area has been a fascinating place to explore. Its early 20th century role as a lumber and shipping center helped it develop into a charming place to live, work, and raise a family. While thriving industry contributed to the development of Bay City itself, neighboring communities like Auburn, Essexville, Kawkawlin, Linwood, and Pinconning were developing into smaller agricultural and residential villages.

This book, a companion to Bay City: 1900-1940 in Vintage Postcards, uses archival postcards to document the progress and growth that have taken place in Bay City and its surroundings. Bay City and Beyond takes readers on a captivating tour of the streets, businesses, schools, homes, people, and events that have shaped the Bay City area as it is known today.

Bay City and Beyond in Vintage Postcards

Around Herndon

9780738516813

$24.99

The town of Herndon is situated on the western edge of Virginia's picturesque Fairfax County. In the 18th and early 19th centuries, this part of Fairfax County was primarily agricultural, and as additional settlers arrived farming flourished. Early residents found woods, flat open fields, outcroppings of rocks, and workable soil throughout the region. By 1857, the installation of the railroad line brought summer residents, commuters, and real estate developers to the area. Residential growth continued into the 20th century, as more Washington, D.C. workers chose Herndon as a convenient town from which they could commute to their jobs. From 1959 to 1961, the railroad line experienced busy years when it was used to haul sand and construction materials to build neighboring Dulles Airport, which opened in 1962. Although the region has become a center of Internet technology, with several high tech companies located in the area, Herndon still retains a small-town charm.

Early Bessemer

9780738588032

$24.99

In 1887, iron and steel magnate Henry Fairchild DeBardeleben founded Bessemer and named it for English inventor Sir Henry Bessemer. DeBardeleben's dream was to make the city a steel center that would attract companies and people from all over the United States. Bessemer, like nearby Birmingham, is located within a few miles of all raw materials needed to make steel (coal, limestone, and iron ore). DeBardeleben bought 4,040 acres of land and marked off blocks for the town along Alabama Great Southern Railroad lines. With $2 million in starting capital, he built several blast furnaces for his coal and iron company. Within three years, Bessemer was Alabama's eighth largest city. The population grew so rapidly that Bessemer was nicknamed "The Marvel City." The town quickly developed a thriving business district, beautiful neighborhoods, recreations ranging from parks to boating and dances at Westlake, and industries that spread iron, coal, and railcars across the nation.

Fading Ads of Cincinnati

9781467118729

$24.99

Hidden down alleyways, on street corners or on the bricks above the cityscape, Cincinnati's fading advertisements hide in plain sight. These ghost signs still tout their wares and services, remnants of a bygone era. Each sign has a vivid story behind it unique to its era, product and craftsmanship. "Wall dogs" like sign artist Gus Holthaus left their marks on the city. A sign for the Beehive, the club and restaurant at the top of the arena, reminds residents of Cincinnati's pro hockey team, the Stingers. Not many can remember "the Other Place," but a hand-painted advertisement still adorns a city wall. Join author and photographer Ronny Salerno for a tour of Cincinnati's vanishing signs and their intriguing history.

Waxahachie:

9780738523897

$24.99

The people of Waxahachie, Texas, have always been at the heart of a thriving community that was once the largest cotton-producing county in the nation. As county seat, Waxahachie burgeoned into a bustling center for business and education and carved out a unique niche in the growing landscape. But its citizens overcame significant obstacles as well, facing such challenges as a massive slave revolt during the Civil War and the economic bust of the 1930s. Reflecting both the glory and hardship of these struggles, Waxahachie today stands as a testament to Southern determination and how a town came to be defined by a crop on which America still relies-cotton.

Always with an eye on their future, the people of Waxahachie, in 1912, supported the development of an interurban electric railway system linking them to Dallas and Waco. Each July between 1900 and 1930, Texans from all over the state came to Waxahachie by covered wagon, on horseback, and later by automobile to participate in the national Chautauqua phenomenon and hear such great orators as William Jennings Bryan and Will Rogers. Waxahachie's Chautauqua Auditorium, still in use today, is one of the few national survivors of this educational movement. This tradition of community and culture survives to the present day in such events as the Scarborough Fair, the National Polka Festival, and the Gingerbread Trail of Homes. In this new historical account, Waxahachie, Texas: Where Cotton Reigned King, the town springs to life in a blend of more than 100 vintage photographs and stories that chronicle the perseverance and love of a people for their town.

Williamsport

9781467123600

$24.99

Once known as "the Lumber Capital of the World," Williamsport, Pennsylvania, is more than its lumber heritage. It is an artistic and cultural hub enjoying a revitalization, much of which is due to the discovery of Marcellus Shale and the gas industry. As the birthplace of Little League Baseball, Williamsport boasts an award-winning school district and public library, two nationally ranked colleges, and several landmarks listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Businesses like the Grit newspaper and Shop-Vac have been at the forefront of major industries, including aircraft engines, railroad transport, and manufacturing. A new generation of business owners is changing the downtown landscape through public art, community events, and cultural activities. No matter what challenges residents face, they are dedicated to preserving and advancing the city they call home.

Ralls County

9780738594026

$24.99

In 1820, Ralls County was the cradle of northeast Missouri civilization. Ralls was a "Benton Baby," born from a political deal brokered by the powerful Thomas Hart Benton and named for an ordinary New London farmer and state representative. In fact, no other US county is named Ralls. One citizen became a Texan patriot serving defenders at the Alamo, while a slave from the county was ordained as America's first African American Catholic priest. Ralls is blessed with springs, salt licks, farmlands, wildlife, abundant hardwood timber, coal, sand, gravel deposits, and limestone, and most importantly the Salt River passes through it. Development progressed slowly, but Ralls became a major north-south thoroughfare and had the first direct rail route from Hannibal to St. Louis. The Atlas Cement plant produced millions of barrels of cement that were used in the construction of the Panama Canal and the Empire State Building. Today, the Clarence Cannon Dam prevents flooding while providing recreational opportunities rivaling more prominent Missouri lakes.

Stennis Space Center

9781467128216

$24.99

Originally known simply as Mississippi Field Operations, Stennis Space Center arose from the dissolution of two towns and several surrounding communities that had served the lumber industry since the 1800s. Its sole purpose was to static test the free world's most powerful rockets after they arrived by barge via the Pearl River. Spurred on by an intense Cold War race to the moon, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) battled mud, mosquitoes, and snakes as it cleared the way for its colossal test stands for the Apollo program. When completed, the A & B Test Complexes towered between 200 and 400 feet high, the tallest structures in the state of Mississippi in 1965. Dr. Wernher von Braun, the first director of Marshall Space Flight Center, was fond of saying that "to get to the moon, we will have to go through Mississippi to get there!" Today, Stennis Space Center is NASA's largest propulsion test complex and also home to a diverse collection of resident agencies: federal, military, private, local, national, and international.

Curiosities of the California Desert:

9781467118378

$23.99

One might not expect to find much in the middle of California's hot, dry deserts. But to the curious explorer, they're scattered with strange and extraordinary sights. On old Route 66, the desert traveler can find quirky roadside art and mementos left by motorists. In the El Paso Mountains of the Mojave, the daring adventurer can crawl through a tunnel that was hand dug by an old prospector named Burro Schmidt. In Landers, the weary wanderer can enjoy a rejuvenating "sound bath" in an acoustically perfect dome supposedly designed by aliens. From astounding natural wonders to remnants of ancient civilizations and the Wild West, discover treasures of history, puzzling mystery and uncommon eccentricity alongside seasoned road trippers Alan and Claudia Heller.

Santa Monica

9780738524696

$24.99

An icon of Southern California and one of America's most imaginative and vibrant cities--the fitting destination at the end of Route 66--Santa Monica lies on the brink of the West and is known throughout the nation for its beaches and its Hollywood A-list locals With a foundation built by the Gabrielino Indians and molded by Spanish and Mexican land grants, railroad battles, and a constant influx of settlers, Santa Monica became an oceanside haven for actors and airplane companies, road races and ranchers.

Stratford and the Sea

9780738523996

$26.99

For nearly four centuries, the maritime history of Stratford, Connecticut set the standard for the growing relationship between the United States and the sea. For the long years when ocean and river were the only practical means of travel, and from the struggles for independence to the quest for commerce that played out upon the waves, Stratford's brave sons have navigated both Long Island Sound, whose waters lap their shores, and the wide world beyond. Stratford and the Sea is the story of Captain David Hawley fighting to save the young American Revolution. It is the story of privateer Samuel Nicoll's furious attacks on British shipping in the War of 1812 that forever altered our nation's future. And it is the story of merchant captains like Dowdall, Sterling, and Benjamin who pioneered transatlantic commerce and opened up trade routes to the Orient, establishing American dominance in international trade. But there is more to the story than the men who tell it. Here also-brought to life with 200 vintage photographs, period maps, and antique postcards-is the tale of the rise and fall of the mighty oyster fishery, the birth of decoy carving as a unique American folk art, and the rush of progress and industry brought to town by Igor Sikorsky and his flying boats.

A Monterey Album

9780738520988

$24.99

Resting on the shores of a sparkling, crescent-shaped bay, the city of Monterey is known worldwide for the beauty of its landscape, scenic vistas, verdant hills, and unique architecture. While Monterey has become a luxurious tourist destination, it is the people of Monterey who tell its story most vividly. Drawn to the coastal region from all parts of the world, Monterey's citizens brought with them a diversity of cultures and together created their homes and livelihoods by Monterey Bay.

Selected from the photo collections of the Monterey Public Library, the photographs in this new volume, A Monterey Album: Life by the Bay, show the activities of everyday life. From festivals like the Santa Rosalia to family picnics, from artists to fishermen, from children's antics to civic club events, from beaches to hillside neighborhoods, and from weddings to fiestas, Monterey's residents tell their stories in work, play, and celebration. This collection of their cherished memories reveals not only customs, styles, and events, but reflects and illuminates the life of one of California's most historic places.