Images of America

Discover the history of your hometown with Arcadia Publishing's best-selling Images of America History Book series, crafted by local authors. Visit landmarks like the Yellowstone National Park, the Biltmore Estate, or Alcatraz Island without ever leaving your backyard. Hike to the rural Angwin village on Howell Mountain, time-travel to Chicago’s 1893 World Fair, or experience sports history at Fenway Park. Through iconic images of America, these local history books open a window into yesterday for eager history lovers. [View all Images of America books]

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Remembering Virginia's Confederates

$24.99

New York City's Harbor Defenses

$24.99

Temecula Wine Country

$21.99

Madison County

$24.99

Tall Ships on Puget Sound

The Military History of New Bedford

The University of Rhode Island

The Knickerbocker Snowstorm

$24.99

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Crofton

9780738567839

$24.99

Established in 1964 as a planned community, Crofton's almost 2,000 acres have been colonized and cultivated since the mid-17th century. Its roots can be traced to America's first planned community--Williamsburg, Virginia. Williamsburg's elegance and charm inspired developer W. Hamilton Crawford's idyllic design for Crofton: a grand boulevard, curving residential streets, arching trees, a country club, and easy access to nearby Washington, D.C., and Baltimore. This collection of photographs from the mid-19th to the mid-20th century reflects the life and times of the maturing village of Crofton. Fields of tobacco and corn, towering woodlands, cherry tree saplings along Crofton Parkway, the dedication of Crofton Park, summer Little League camp--Images of America: Crofton is a compendium of dreams fulfilled. Independence Day parades; fairs; bicycle races; pumpkin-design competitions; softball, soccer, and basketball teams; and summer concerts on the Green are all here. While historians record the facts, artists and cameras capture the small moments as well as the grand events. Those moments, large and small, are what readers will find between these covers.

Bear Creek Valley

9780738570419

$24.99

Memories of Montana's Bear Creek Valley flicker briefly to life each February on the anniversary of its darkest day. It is remembered as the site of Montana's worst coal mining accident, which claimed the lives of 75 miners, but the valley was so much more. For decades it was Montana's "coal basket," housing two towns, dozens of coal mines, and a population equaling that of neighboring Red Lodge. Businesses included a movie theater, dry goods store, grocery stores, hotels, hospitals, butchers, banks, bars, and union halls, all serving residents with pan-European origins. Its schools produced championship sports teams and community leaders. Gone, but not forgotten, Bear Creek Valley lives on in this book.

Eagle Rock

9780738569963

$24.99

Eagle Rock grew as a small farming community just north of Los Angeles on Tongva ancestral lands that had become the great eastern pasture of the Rancho San Rafael. Eagle Rock enjoyed a geographic unity and a strong identity that revolved around its prominent namesake promontory. By 1906, trolleys made for an easy commute to Los Angeles, and Eagle Rock, which incorporated as a city in 1911, became increasingly integrated in the urban fabric yet remained defined by its residential nature and small-town character. Occidental College saw the quaint neighborhood at one end of York Valley as a place to grow. The annexation of Eagle Rock by Los Angeles in 1923 brought ample water supply as well as Eagle Rock High School, a center of town life into the 21st century. Freeway construction and shifts in business patterns affected Eagle Rock's growth in the post-World War II years, but the pleasant neighborhood identity remains despite its proximity to urban bustle.

Around Warrensburg

9780738572192

$24.99

William Bond became the first Warrensburg settler, when he arrived in the Echo Lake area, in 1787. Shortly thereafter, Warrensburg became known as "the Bridge" because it was the location of the only bridge in the area that crossed the Schroon River. In February 1813, the town of Warrensburg was formed from part of Thurman. By the mid-1800s, A. C. Emerson and B. P. Burhans had moved to Warrensburg and begun to harness the waterpower of the Schroon River and utilize the nearby timber resource. The Emerson sawmill and Burhans's tannery and gristmill provided employment and capital to support a growing and thriving town. Other industries, such as a woolen mill and pants factory, sash and blind factory, shirt factory, and shoe peg factory, soon followed. With the dawn of the 20th century, improved transportation in the form of railroads and the automobile began bringing more people to Warren County. This trend continues today as numerous visitors summer in the Adirondacks to enjoy the clean air and water of the north country.

Burnet

9780738571218

$24.99

Nestled along Hamilton Creek in the hills of Central Texas, the city of Burnet began in the mid-1800s as a settlement across the creek from Fort Croghan. Initially called Hamilton, it was a travel crossroads, making it an important trade center. Logan Vandeveer built the first commercial limestone building in 1854, and Peter Kerr, a cattle merchant, later donated 100 acres of land for the county seat. The city was eventually named after David G. Burnet, the first provisional president of the Republic of Texas. Burnet is still the progressive city it has always been, building a strong infrastructure to support its growth, and yet its modern economy continues to be boosted by its past. Every week, the Hill Country Flyer steam train brings hundreds of tourists who enjoy the charming historic district and courthouse square with its shops, cafés, and friendly people.

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.

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.

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.

Madison County

9780738567792

$24.99

Madison County became the hub of West Tennessee in the 20th century. Now major highways and rail lines traverse the county and its seat, Jackson. Three railroad companies and industry spawned by the railroads, such as the cotton mill town of Bemis, provided the main sources of employment during the 1900s. As job opportunities abounded, the population grew. Images of America: Madison County features the industrial development, business history, and lives of those people who were touched by this tremendous growth in Jackson and the county's outlying communities during the 20th century.

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.

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.

Mission

9780738571485

$24.99

Mission is named for the chapel built at La Lomita ("little hill") on a former Spanish land grant. During the 1850s, the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate began serving the ranches between Brownsville and Roma. La Lomita was a resting place midway through their 100-mile circuit. In 1908, developers John J. Conway and James W. Hoit bought land from the Oblate Fathers and established the town of Mission, just north of La Lomita. They advertised throughout the Midwest, and soon farmers arrived by rail, wagon, and automobile. Through the efforts of Nebraskan John H. Shary, the citrus industry flourished, and Mission became renowned for its grapefruit. Three-time presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan, Dallas Cowboys coach Tom Landry, baseball great Leo Najo, and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient José M. Lopez have all lived in Mission. Their tradition of leadership continues within the fields of medicine, education, military service, and ecotourism.

Anamosa Penitentiary

9780738577791

$24.99

In 1868, with Iowa fast outgrowing its only prison in Fort Madison, state lawmakers began thinking about building a new penitentiary. Several cities around the state vied for the prestige and economic benefits the new prison would provide. Anamosa, a rapidly growing town of 2,000 in east-central Iowa, was ultimately awarded the prize, in no small measure because of its proximity to some of the largest and finest dolomite limestone deposits in the world, coveted as the perfect building material for the massive institution. From 1873 until major construction ended in 1943, inmate workers literally built walls around themselves, slowly erecting a structure from the Iowa prairie whose imposing and magnificent architecture would continue to command respect and awe even to the present day. From Wild West bad man Polk Wells and boy-murderer Wesley Elkins to heinous mass murderer John Wayne Gacy, many have passed through Anamosa's iron gates and, with the quietly dedicated men and women who managed them, have contributed to the rich tapestry of Anamosa prison history.

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.

Bridgeville

9780738572246

$24.99

Bridgeville has a rich historical heritage dating back to Colonial times. In the early 1800s, a small village grew along the meandering Chartiers Creek between two bridges on the Black Horse Trail. The construction of the Chartiers Valley Railroad, the establishment of the Norwood Hotel, and the opening of commercial bituminous coal mines in the region generated a population boom that motivated residents to seek autonomy from Upper St. Clair Township. In 1901, the borough of Bridgeville was incorporated, and the next 50 years saw the community become the social and business center for the four neighboring townships with schools, churches, and a bustling downtown business environment. Bridgeville remains close enough to Pittsburgh to enjoy the cultural advantages of a big city, yet far enough away to retain the feel of a small hometown.

Lemhi County

9780738531267

$24.99

Situated at the base of the Continental Divide and surrounded by the Lemhi and Salmon River Ranges, Lemhi County, Idaho, provides a fascinating look at the "Old West" as it makes its precarious transition to a new order. Traditional homeland to the people of Sacajawea, Lemhi County became a destination point for Lewis and Clark as they worked their way across the continent, for trappers, for missionaries, and finally, in 1866, for prospectors and those who kept them fed, clothed, and entertained. The community that developed in the valleys of the Salmon, Lemhi, and Pahsimeroi Rivers benefited from long-term mining and the simultaneous evolution of ranching and the timber industry, and this growth was well documented by local photographers.

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.

Cleburne

9780738571195

$24.99

Once known for its cotton production and Jersey cows, Cleburne has evolved from its agricultural heritage into a diverse community. This former Civil War training camp, located near Buffalo Creek, was named for Confederate general Patrick Cleburne when it became the county seat in 1867. Just west of town, cowboys moved cattle up the Chisholm Trail before the Santa Fe Railway brought jobs and money in 1881. As lieutenant commander of the navy dirigible USS Akron, Charles Rosendahl soared over his childhood home of Cleburne in 1932. From early opera and movie houses, saloons, and congested trade days, to live theaters, parks, and modern industries, Cleburne continues to progress. Today a new economy and booming growth have emerged due to the Barnett Shale gas exploration.

Monroe County

9780738568218

$24.99

Monroe County is situated on some of the richest soil in the Arkansas Delta region and has supported an agrarian culture for more than two centuries. The initial survey point of the Louisiana Purchase lies here in a black-water swamp, marking the origin of nearly every township boundary and property line in 15 states. The Great Flood of 1927 devastated the county, destroying vast acres of farmland and displacing thousands of families. Monroe County is home to two large wildlife management areas, including the Cache River Wildlife Management area, where the ivory-billed woodpecker, once considered extinct, was sighted in 2004. However, the real history of Monroe County is a story of the brave and diligent people that cleared the land and forged a new life through prosperity and drought, driven by their love of family and friends.

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.