Name: Columbia River, The
Brand: John A. Harrison
SKU: 9781467107686
Price: 23.99 USD
Availability: InStock

Columbia River, The

9781467107686

$23.99

The Columbia River is the dominant river system of the Northwest United States. It is a river of many uses--hydropower, fisheries, and irrigation--and was known by many names--Columbia's River, the Big River, and even River in the Chickadee Territory. It is the fourth-largest river by volume in North America, draining parts of seven states and the province of British Columbia. Because of its unique location close to the ocean, its tall mountain ranges, its steep drop from headwaters to the ocean, its deep and solid canyon, and its huge volume of clear, cold water, the Columbia River evolved as one of the great salmon and hydropower rivers of the world. And therein lies the chief paradox of the Columbia--the conflict of its natural history with its human history. Today, the river is an "organic machine," in the words of historian Richard White, part nature, part machine. This book briefly explores the natural and human histories of the river through photographs from historical archives, government agencies, and personal collections.

Italians in the Pacific Northwest

9781467160469

$24.99

From hardscrabble days as homesteaders and farmers in the 1880s to becoming successful entrepreneurs of the postwar boom generation, Italians settled and later thrived in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Italians labored in several industries, including railway tie hacking in Idaho, coal mining in Black Diamond, logging in Aberdeen, canning salmon in Astoria, terra-cotta and brick manufacturing in Taylor, and growing onions in Walla Walla. Those who ventured into business later grew notable local companies such as DeLaurenti Food & Wine, Pacific Food Imports, Oberto Sausage, Napoleon Oil, and La Panzanella Crackers. Further still, Italians in the area contributed to inventions from the collapsible crab pot and trawl nets to the atomic bomb, the vaudeville circuit, the Pellegrini bean, and one-of-a-kind accordions. Italian pioneers in the Pacific Northwest also have a connection to Hemingway, Elvis, President Kennedy, Mother Cabrini, and the Loprinzis, the "strongest family in America." Today, over 300,000 Italian Americans call this region home, and it is the author's hope that this book highlights the contributions of many Italians, known and unknown.

Walla Walla

9780738528793

$24.99

Nestled at the foot of the Blue Mountains in the southeastern corner of Washington State, the area that would become Walla Walla was the home of the Cayuse, Umatilla, Walla Walla, and Nez Perce Indians. Fur traders and missionaries began to carve out settlements in the early 1800s, but with the lure of nearby gold in the 1860s, the landscape was soon dominated by commercial, banking, and manufacturing enterprises. As the boom ended, the resilient residents of Walla Walla turned to farming, and today, sweet onions, wheat, grapes, and other agricultural products continue to play an important role in the local economy and the community's unique identity.

Bellevue

9781467131599

$24.99

Bellevue has grown, in just a few generations, from a small farming town into an important urban center and economic hub, with the foundations for this success being laid in the two decades following World War II. The opening of the Mercer Island floating bridge, in 1940, promoted the settlement of the lands to the east of Lake Washington during the population and housing boom of the 1950s and 1960s, and Bellevue became the primary commercial center for these vibrant new communities. Families flocked to the shiny subdivisions, with new schools, shopping centers, churches, and parks springing up right behind. But it was strong political, business, and civic leadership that kept Bellevue from being just another sprawling suburb. As business began to push outward from Seattle, Bellevue was able to grow gracefully and preserve its sense of place. It remains a wonderful community for families from around the globe and a place that longtime residents are reluctant to leave.

The Navy in Puget Sound

9780738580814

$24.99

Even before settlers came to the Puget Sound, the U.S. Navy was exploring the sheltered inlets and deep water ports of what was dubbed "America's Mediterranean." In 1856, the sailors of the navy warship Decatur repelled an attack by Native Americans, saving a tiny village on the shores of Elliott Bay named Seattle. In the ensuing years, Puget Sound became the West Coast's premier port of call for the navy's vessels and aircraft operating in the vast Pacific Ocean. During World War II, the region turned out a long line of combat and support vessels while quickly repairing many other ships that had been horribly damaged in clashes with the Japanese. In both peace and war, the communities of Puget Sound and the U.S. Navy have shared an enduring partnership that remains today.

Boeing Field

9780738556154

$24.99

Even before there were runways, the area south of the city of Seattle was Washington's aviation hub. Charles Hamilton, a daredevil dubbed "Crazy Man of the Air," became the first flyer in the state when he coaxed his Curtiss biplane into the sky over Meadows Racetrack in 1910. He promptly crashed. With the help of William Boeing and his growing aviation company, Boeing Field opened in 1928. In those early days, brave air travelers could hitch a ride along with bags of mail in cold, noisy biplanes. Bigger, better aircraft soon followed, but wartime intervened. Thousands of Flying Fortress bombers emerged from Boeing's Plant 2 at the edge of the airfield and winged off to war. In the years after, Boeing Field served a dazzling array of winged machines--from the smallest Piper Cub to Air Force One.

Seattle's Waterfront

9781467130523

$24.99

Seattle's waterfront has served as a central hub for people, transportation, and commerce since time immemorial. A low natural shoreline provided the Duwamish-Suquamish people with excellent canoe access to permanent villages and seasonal fishing camps. High bluffs served as a sacred place for tribal members' final journey to the spirit world. When the first settlers arrived in the 1850s, Seattle's shoreline began to change drastically. Emerald hills covered with dense forests were logged for timber to make way for the new city. As time passed, Seattle constructed a log seawall, wooden sidewalks, wharfs, buildings, streets, railroad trestles, and eventually, a massive concrete viaduct over the original aquatic lands, changing the natural environment to a built environment. Today, Seattle's shoreline continues to change as the city demolishes the viaduct, rebuilds the seawall, and creates an inviting new waterfront that all will enjoy for generations to come.

Exploring Maritime Washington

9781467150576

$23.99

An authoritative guide to Washington’s nautical heritage.

Discover the popular destinations and hidden gems along Washington’s coastline, from the Mukilteo Lighthouse to the Wedding Rocks petroglyphs and beyond. Learn about the seafaring Coast Salish people, who navigated the waters of the Pacific Northwest for thousands of years, and the early exploration and settlement by European-Americans in the late 18th century. Delve into the expansion and growth that led to the development of international ports and the modern maritime economy. View the enormous sternwheel snagboat, W.T. Preston—one of a trio that kept inland waterways navigable for nearly a century—and hundreds of other fascinating sites.

Join author Erich R. Ebel and historian Chuck Fowler as they guide you through the cultural and nautical history of the Maritime Washington National Heritage Area.

Spokane International Railway

9781467102995

$24.99

The last half of the 19th century was typified by tycoons and shrewd railroad barons. A key figure in the development of the Spokane International Railway was James Jerome Hill, or simply Jim Hill. Spokane businessmen regarded Hill as a tyrant and considered his Great Northern and Northern Pacific railroads unwelcome monopolies in Northeast Washington and the Idaho Panhandle. In 1905, Daniel Chase "D.C." Corbin broke the Hill lines' stronghold by forming the Spokane International Railway as a 140-mile rail line from Spokane, Washington, to Eastport, Idaho, to interchange traffic from the Canadian border to the Pacific. Today, the route continues to be profitable under Union Pacific Railroad ownership with commodities shipped to Western markets via the Canadian Pacific Railway. This book shares the story of the Spokane International Railway and traces its international and local connections with every major railroad in the Pacific Northwest.

Cover image for Spokane International Railway, isbn: 9781467102995

Naval Air Station Whidbey Island

9781467126120

$23.99

Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island in Washington State has a long and storied history that began in 1942 and continues to the present day. Tucked away on an island that is its namesake, NAS Whidbey was originally conceptualized as a small support base for an existing air station in nearby Seattle. That prewar plan was rapidly eclipsed by world events, and the proposed support base quickly evolved into an air station of its own right. Through historic photographs chosen from the archives of the US Navy, the PBY-Naval Air Museum, and the personnel of NAS Whidbey Island, both past and present, the story of the air station is told. These images will serve not only as a trip down memory lane for those stationed at Whidbey in days gone by, but will also illustrate to younger generations their connection to those who served in the not so distant past.

Tacoma Narrows Bridge

9781467106276

$24.99

When the first Tacoma Narrows Bridge opened on July 1, 1940, the bridge was in use for 130 days before it collapsed due to faulty engineering and high winds. A decade later, following World War II, the second Tacoma Narrows Bridge opened, and it is still in use today. However, due to a population increase over the bridge's 57 years of use, an additional bridge was opened in 2007 to alleviate increasingly high traffic. The completion of the third bridge allowed vehicle speed to increase from less than 25 miles per hour to the present speed of 60 miles per hour during commuting times. Today, sections of the original bridge that was opened in 1940 and is pictured on the cover are still submerged in Puget Sound and were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.

Seattle's 1962 World's Fair

9780738581255

$24.99

When the United States entered the 1960s, the nation was swept up in the Space Race as the United States and the Soviet Union competed for supremacy in rocket and satellite technologies. Cities across the country hoped to attract new aerospace companies, but the city leaders of Seattle launched the most ambitious campaign of all. They invited the whole world to visit for the 1962 Seattle World's Fair, and more than nine million people took them up on the offer. A colorful collection of exhibits turned 74 acres of rundown buildings into a futuristic wonderland where dozens of countries and companies predicted life in the future. The entire city was transformed with the addition of the soaring Space Needle and the futuristic monorail. When the fair ended, the site became a complex of parks and museums that remains a vibrant part of Seattle city life today.

Pullman

9780738581040

$24.99

Located at the confluence of three creeks, amid the rich agricultural soil of Eastern Washington's Palouse region, Pullman seemed destined to flourish. From its founding in the 1880s, growth was spurred by the discovery of artesian wells, its selection as the location of the State Agricultural College, and the building of rail lines through the town. Pullman, named for railroad car manufacturer George Pullman, became a thriving center of commerce, agriculture, and education. Today Pullman remains a vibrant commercial agricultural center, built upon wheat, peas, and lentils, with a downtown nestled among four hills. Pullman is home to cutting edge technology companies and a major research institution, Washington State University. Its rich heritage in agriculture, education, and technology guarantees its future as a highly successful 21st century city.

Pierce County

9781467104760

$24.99

Located in western Washington, Pierce County includes much of the southern Puget Sound shoreline, the entirety of Mount Rainier National Park, and Fort Lewis Base McChord, along with small towns such as Gig Harbor, Fife, Eatonville, Steilacoom, and Puyallup. With unlimited fishing and timber available, the area was first settled in the early 1800s. On December 22, 1852, the county was incorporated and subsequently named after Franklin Pierce, the recently elected president of the United States. Pierce County's development advanced in the following decades with the formation of Frederick Weyerhaeuser's Weyerhaeuser Company in 1900, the making of pleasure craft and fishing vessels for the county's seaport industry, and the creation of naval watercraft for World War II. Today, Pierce County is home to almost 900,000 individuals.

The 1910 Wellington Disaster

9781467102735

$24.99

The town of Wellington was located by the Stevens Pass summit in the Cascade Mountains. During the last days of February in 1910, the snow was relentless in the Cascades, falling as much as one foot per hour and rising up to 20 feet deep in areas. Rotary plows could not keep the lines open as snow covered the railroad tracks almost immediately after being cleared. The Seattle Express, coming from Spokane, and a fast mail train were stranded just beyond the "safety" of the Cascade Tunnel, where they remained unmovable for almost a week under the snowpacked mountains. On March 1, an avalanche swept away the tracks and passengers aboard the two trains as well as several of Wellington's buildings and homes. Almost 100 individuals were killed in just a few seconds, creating America's deadliest avalanche and train disaster in history. Today, the site is part of the Iron Goat Trail off Highway 2, east of Skykomish. The snowshed, the abandoned original Cascade Tunnel, and various scraps of the trains left in the ravine are the only evidence that remain of Wellington, its long-forgotten inhabitants, or the disaster.

Cover image for The 1910 Wellington Disaster, isbn: 9781467102735

Preserving Ballard

9781467107938

$23.99

As the first community to incorporate after Washington achieved statehood in 1890, the original city of Ballard has one of most storied histories in the state.

Bordered by Salmon Bay, the famous Ballard Locks, a bascule bridge, and the Salish Sea, the longtime joke was that one needed a passport to enter. The convergence of protected water and rich forests made Ballard's resources a seasonal draw for the Shilshole branch of the Duwamish tribe and then homesteaders. Dating back to the first claim of 820 acres in 1852, Ballard has weathered waves of development and rare times of bust. Once known as the Shingle Capital of the United States, Ballard saw many of its mills burn, its fishing fleet endure, and its local museum become a national treasure. Ballard always rises again, as did the iconic bell, which graced its city hall before annexation and now anchors the Ballard Avenue Landmark District, from its wildly popular Farmer's Market by day to destination nightlife. Preserving Ballard celebrates what has always kept the community's independent spirit alive.

Formed in 1988, the Ballard Historical Society is a nonprofit organization committed to the research, preservation, and public awareness of the Ballard community. The society maintains a growing interactive archive of photographs, media materials, and artifacts. Preserving Ballard showcases Ballard's spirit by providing historic knowledge and a deep sense of place to a district experiencing rapid change.

The Rise of Washington State University Football

9781467152914

$24.99

The rise of the crimson and gray.

In 1987, Dennis Erickson arrived in Pullman, Washington to take over the struggling Washington State University football program. Under his leadership, the Cougars ended 1988 with a 9-3 record and a victory in the Aloha Bowl. In just two years, the team had transformed, and Erickson’s lifelong friend, Mike Price, took over in 1989 to build on that legacy. By the end of Price’s tenure, WSU had appeared in five bowl games including two Rose Bowls, eclipsing the four bowl games in the entire program’s history. The coaches also produced a number of high-profile NFL quarterbacks, including Drew Bledsoe and Ryan Leaf.

Join author Ben Donahue as he explores how the Washington State University Cougars went from doormats to perpetual contenders.

The Rise of Washington State University Football

West Seattle

9780738581330

$24.99

The idea of a big city named New York Alki began in 1851 with the arrival of the Bell, Low, Denny, Boren, and Terry families on a Puget Sound shore. Since that rough beginning, logging, farming, shipbuilding, fishing, steel manufacturing, trolleys, and bridges have shaped the area's people and built communities. Beaches on Puget Sound and a river leading inside the country have defined the Duwamish Peninsula. In 1907, long having discarded the misfit name New York, the town of West Seattle was annexed into Seattle. Being the largest landmass annexed to Seattle brought advantages while West Seattle's neighborhood distinction and independent spirit remained.

Early Ballard

9780738548173

$24.99

The first land claim in what would become the city of Ballard was made in 1852, but it wasn't until a ship captain named William Rankin Ballard lost a bet with a business partner and found himself the owner of 160 acres of seemingly worthless land that the city prospered and became the "Shingle Capital of the World." Incorporated in 1890, Ballard grew quickly, thanks to shingle and lumber mills and the Scandinavian fishing fleet. When a horse was supposedly found in the city water supply in 1906, reluctant Ballardites voted to be annexed to the city of Seattle, and the flag flew at half-staff at Ballard City Hall. Home to the Nordic Heritage Museum, Chittenden Locks, and the fishing fleet, this bustling city-within-a-city still retains its unique Scandinavian flavor to this day.

Fort Lewis

9780738520513

$24.99

The area now known as Fort Lewis was first recognized for its potential as a military reservation in the early 1900s when a series of militia and national guard encampments were held in the area. Camp Lewis was established as the United States entered World War I in 1917 and became the first Army installation in the history of the nation to be created as a direct result of the outright gift of land by private citizens. During World War I, Camp Lewis became the largest military post of the era. Here, thousands of "doughboys" trained for the Great War and began a tradition of training excellence that continues to this day. In 1927, the camp was designated a permanent post and offically became Fort Lewis.

The story of this important military installation is told here in a series of historic photographs, from the collections of Fort Lewis Military Museum dating from the early 20th century to the present. The photographs capture not only the natural beauty of the area and prominent buildings, but also many of the men and women who have served their nation at Fort Lewis.

Maritime Seattle

9780738520643

$24.99

Seattle grew from pioneer settlement to bustling metropolis, its waterfront evolving from a marsh to a thriving complex of industrial sites on both salt and fresh water. This pictorial history weaves the story of the evolution of the Seattle and King County waterfronts through photographs, images, and maps as it develops from marsh to container terminal. Beginning in 1850 with the pre-canal era, here are the lumber mills, local freight and passenger transportation, coastal and ocean shipping, the shipyards, and the stories of significant figures in the history of Seattle's waterfront. Shown also is how the rapid growth of the shipyard facilities was counterbalanced with the development of the labor movement. The forging of this shipping epicenter is captured here in over 200 vintage photographs.

Ferries of Puget Sound

9780738530871

$24.99

Ferryboats have been a way of life on Puget Sound since settlers first arrived there. From the wooden Mosquito Fleet to the sleek art deco Kalakala, the ferries of Puget Sound serve as a cultural icon to visitors and locals alike. Running from Point Defiance to Sidney, British Columbia, the Washington State ferry system is the single largest tourist attraction in the state, with 28 routes and 23 million riders annually. Names like Vashon, Kalakala, and Chetzemoka still resonate with fondness and nostalgia long after they have gone, while ships built the year Lindberg flew solo across the Atlantic will soon be pensioned off and pass into the "Ghost Fleet." In this volume, travelers are invited to look back to the past and bid Puget Sound's "ancient mariners" a fond farewell.

Camano Island

9780738531359

$24.99

Camano Island is one of dozens of islands in Puget Sound once covered with immense stands of Douglas fir and Western red cedar. Beginning in 1858, and while the Civil War raged half a continent away, a large mill operated at the northern end of the island where the tall ships anchored to take away spars, pilings, and lumber for export abroad. The mill closed in 1891, and small logging companies took the rest of the big trees over the years. Once a bridge was built in 1909, Camano became the "island you can drive to" for a fishing trip, hunting outing, or a vacation cabin within a few hours of Seattle. In the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains, Camano has become home to thousands of newcomers who enjoy spectacular panoramic views of the
Cascade and Olympic Mountain Ranges from Mount Baker to Mount Rainier.

Maritime Olympia and South Puget Sound

9781467125352

$24.99

This engaging pictorial history traces the evolution of South Puget Sound from the provider of rich resources for the First Nations to Olympia's role as an important international seaport. The estuary was named Puget's Sound after Lt. Peter Puget, of British captain George Vancouver's 1792 exploration of the region. The capital city of Olympia was a frequent stop for Mosquito Fleet steamers a century ago and has evolved into a major port for the worldwide export of timber. Today, people enjoy Olympia as a vibrant, modern seaport with many recreational opportunities.

Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition

9780738571324

$24.99

The Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition, held during the summer of 1909, was the first "world's fair" held in Seattle. Capitalizing on the popularity of the booming gold rush, the exposition was designed to showcase the riches of the Pacific Northwest and highlight trade with the Pacific Rim nations and beyond. Millions of visitors came to Seattle to experience the one-of-a-kind attractions, exhibits, and events held during the AYPE, which became the footprint for the modern University of Washington campus. Many of these visitors stayed to populate the growing metropolis. From the ornate European-style architecture to the fountains and gardens, the amusements of the Pay Streak, and the exotic Oriental exhibits, the AYPE entertained and educated while bringing needed business to Washington State.

Vanishing Seattle

9780738548692

$24.99

Though Seattle is still a young city, growing and changing, much of its short past is already lost-but not forgotten. Generations of Seattleites have fond memories of restaurants, local television shows, stores, and other landmarks that evoke a less sophisticated, more informal city. This new book explores Seattle at a time when timber and fish were more lucrative than airplanes and computers, when the city was a place of kitschy architecture and homespun humor and was full of boundless hope for a brighter future. These rare and vintage images hearken back to the marvels of the 1962 World's Fair, shopping trips to Frederick & Nelson and I. Magnin, dinners at Rosellini's, dancing at the Trianon Ballroom, traveling on the ferry Kalakala, rooting for baseball's Rainiers, and local personalities including Stan Boreson, J. P. Patches, and Wunda Wunda.

Vanishing Vancouver

9781467130301

$24.99

Stretching along the north shore of the Columbia River, Vancouver, Washington, is the gateway to the state of Washington. Beginning as a wilderness outpost for the Hudson's Bay Company, Vancouver has seen many, often rapid changes. In its early years as an Army town, Vancouver attracted settlers seeking the security of the military. Farms and orchards prospered. Shipyards and the defense industry brought explosive growth during both world wars, each followed by a devastating slump. New highways and bridges brought more growth through the last half of the 20th century. The city grew to the north and the east. Through all the changes, the resiliency of the city and its people shone through, and as changes alter the present-day city, that tradition is certain to continue.

Tacoma Curiosities

9781467135535

$21.99

When the Northern Pacific Railroad laid its final tracks within the fledgling hamlet of Tacoma, it brought opportunity and wild characters by the car full. Seemingly overnight, the quiet Puget Sound village transformed into a booming metropolis and eccentric playground with its fair share of growing pains. On one unlucky evening, residents awoke to the cries of a man who fell into the sewers after a road collapsed. Tacoma's first school avoided demolition for a time thanks to a band of enterprising tramps who converted the place of learning into Hotel de Gink, complete with unique minstrel show. Local author and guide Karla Stover explores these and many more stories of the quixotic and curious history of the City of Destiny.

Dry Falls and Sun Lakes

9781467106665

$24.99

In the center of the Grand Coulee in Washington State is the largest extinct waterfall in the world, Dry Falls. A gathering place for travelers over the decades, Dry Falls continues its legacy of creating memories among everyone who comes to visit. What started as "a damn hole in the ground" has become a marvel of the scientific community, dreamers, poets, and adventurers alike. How did it become the behemoth of the tourism industry that it is today? Located at the base of Dry Falls is a string of lakes that would forever become entwined with the history of the area and the creation of Sun Lakes. Take a journey to the Dry Falls of yesteryear in this book and find out how it all came together to create one of the most visited and inspirational state parks in Washington history.

Mount St. Helens

9781467130554

$24.99

The story of Mount St. Helens is that of an active volcano and human interaction with it. The mountain is culturally important to the regional native people. Its Cowlitz name, Lawetlat'la, means "Person From Whom Smoke Comes." Early European settlers saw opportunities to make a living from the natural resources, and people fell in love with the forested valleys and slopes of the glacier-clad peak with the blue lake at its foot. Forgotten were the eruptions of the 19th century and the fact that the landscape was a product of frequent violent explosions. A report from the 1970s reminded locals that Mount St. Helens is an active volcano and could erupt again before the end of the 20th century. Only a few people at that time were aware of what the mountain was capable of, and many were surprised at the events that took place in 1980.

Logging in Grays Harbor

9781467131896

$24.99

Grays Harbor reigned supreme as the "Logging Capital of the World" for 150 years. Homesteaders became loggers and hired local Indians, who had logged the area's massive trees since ancient times. Sailors, too, were hired to rig spar trees. They fearlessly plied lumber schooners across destructive waters and carried timber products to the East Coast, South America, and other foreign ports. Over time, power saws replaced crosscut saws, and logging methods evolved. Today, loggers in Grays Harbor have begun a new phase of producing timber products that is built on a heritage of strong families, good citizens, and hard work.

Cemeteries of Seattle

9780738548135

$24.99

A fascinating story exists just below Seattle's surface, buried in the city's many historic cemeteries. Founded in 1872 on land acquired from Doc Maynard, Lake View Cemetery holds the remains of one of Seattle's favorite sons, Bruce Lee, whose son Brandon Lee is buried beside him. Maynard is also buried here, along with most of the Seattle pioneers, including the Dennys, Borens, Maynards, Yeslers, and Morans. Princess Angeline, Chief Sealth's daughter, was buried here in a canoe-shaped coffin, and Madame Damnable's remains supposedly turned to stone. Evergreen-Washelli Cemetery, founded in 1884 by the Denny family, contains Judge Thomas Burke, known as "the man who built Seattle"; a Veterans' Memorial Cemetery dating from the Civil War; and two cannons from the USS Constitution, famously nicknamed "Old Ironsides." Mount Pleasant Cemetery, founded in 1883 in Queen Anne, is the final resting place of the labor martyrs of the Everett Massacre and William Bell, of Belltown fame. Remembrance benches for Nirvana's Kurt Cobain and Jimi Hendrix's memorial are also local landmarks.

Lake Washington:

9780738531069

$24.99

Lake Washington is among the most spectacular urban water bodies in the world. From Kirkland through Bellevue to Kennydale, the lake has shaped and defined the communities that hug its eastern shore for nearly 150 years,
and the activities along the shore have, in turn, shaped the lake. Cities on the lake's east side evolved from native villages into homesteads, farms, and mining settlements by the 1880s as pioneer families immigrated to Washington. With the advent of the innovative Lake Washington Floating
Bridge in 1940, the wooden ferries that plied their trade on the lake faded into memory, and the eastern shore changed from a rural landscape of strawberry farms and horse trails to the upscale urban towns and neighborhoods evident today.

Spirits Along the Columbia River

9781467150569

$21.99

The breathtaking scenery of the Pacific Northwest hides a myriad of dark secrets.

From sightings of the Columbia River Sea Serpent, nicknamed "Colossal Claude," to tales of Bigfoot encounters dating back to 1865, strange creatures lurk both on land and at sea. Shipwrecks, drownings, shanghaiing, and nautical superstitions abound. The restless settler spirits of those who lived and died on the Oregon Trail are said to linger alongside apparitions of adventurers and soldiers, while others, including the 1920's-era ghost of a woman in white and a man in top hat haunt places like the Columbia Gorge Hotel.

Join author Ira Wesley Kitmacher as he takes you on a journey through one of the most haunted regions in America.

Gig Harbor

9780738596020

$24.99

Gig Harbor, located in southern Puget Sound, received its name from the Wilkes Expedition in 1841. History indicates that the captain's gig led the expedition into this small harbor during a storm that came up quite suddenly, hence the name, "Gig." Following the Native Americans, the early settlers were fishermen, farmers, boatbuilders, and lumbermen. Gig Harbor was dependent mostly upon land and water travel until 1940, when the first Narrows Bridge was built; however, it collapsed in less than a year after being built. The replacement bridge was not completed until 1950, but with its construction, Gig Harbor grew very quickly and became a bedroom district of Tacoma and the greater Puget Sound area. Fishing remains one of the mainstays of Gig Harbor commerce, although there are presently no sawmills or lumber mills in the area.