Brief History

The Brief History series offers a fresh and vivid look at the history of an area, from its founding to the present day. Get to know the southern charm of Mount Dora, Florida, learn the history behind Lake Norman, the largest lake in North Carolina, and travel through the rugged heart of New England on the Boston & Maine Railroad. From the proud river town of Rabbit Hash, Kentucky to Geneva-on-the-Lake, also known as Ohio’s first summer resort, these brief histories pay tribute to small towns and beloved landmarks. [View all Brief History books]
5 products
Campustown
Campustown
$21.99
East Village, Des Moines
East Village, Des Moines
$21.99
A Brief History of Bucktown: Davenport's Infamous District Transformed
A Brief History of Bucktown: Davenport's Infamous District Transformed
$21.99
Carter Lake
Carter Lake
$21.99
Czech Village & New Bohemia
Czech Village & New Bohemia
$21.99

Campustown

9781626199903

$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.
Campustown

East Village, Des Moines

9781467119627

$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.
East Village, Des Moines

A Brief History of Bucktown: Davenport's Infamous District Transformed

9781626199095

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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.
A Brief History of Bucktown: Davenport's Infamous District Transformed

Carter Lake

9781467118583

$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.
Carter Lake

Czech Village & New Bohemia

9781467117616

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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.
Czech Village & New Bohemia