New books publishing today!
History isn't only made in capitals and courtrooms, it's made in backcountry fields, mining camps, small-town gristmills, and along roadways dotted with hand-painted barn signs. Today, Arcadia Publishing releases a fresh batch of titles that prove exactly that. Every community has stories worth preserving, and this week's new releases are no different. Whether your passion is regional folklore, Gilded Age moguls, or the humble founding of a Texas crossroads town, there's a book in today's lineup that was written for you.
In 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt embarked on one of the most audacious journeys in presidential history: the epic “Great Loop Tour.” This daring nine-week, fourteen-thousand-mile train trek across twenty-five states transformed the landscape of American conservation.
At the heart of this monumental trip lies a legendary three-night camping expedition through Yosemite alongside renowned naturalist John Muir. This profound experience would help spark the creation of the national park system and the preservation of many of America’s wild spaces for future generations.
Roosevelt’s tour broke other boundaries along the way, including the presence of courageous African American Buffalo Soldiers who not only protected the president but also became the first guardians of our national parks.
The remarkable connections between Roosevelt, Yosemite, and President Abraham Lincoln, along with many other fascinating characters, helped shape the modern conservation movement for decades to come.
Tales of the Land of Enchantment’s lost treasures and lost mines span centuries. Montezuma’s Aztecs reportedly hid gold, silver, and other riches in their journey through what would become New Mexico, and the Great Southwestern Revolt of 1680 is another source of many tales of lost treasure.
Under Victorio Peak in the White Sands Missile Range, a contested find of hidden Spanish and Apache treasure got the U.S. military involved, while the Organ Mountains, Burro Mountains, and other ranges are rumored to have their own lost riches.
Pack trains and wagon trains sometimes buried treasure in case of attack, but not all was recovered, including Madam Barcelo’s millions. And outlaws like El Chato, Black Jack Ketchum, Jesse James, and the Reynolds Gang stashed loot throughout the territory.
True Tales of Murder and the Unexplained
Inspired by actual newspaper articles, these disturbing and bizarre accounts explore the macabre, and sometimes humorous, instances of death and dying.
The tragedy of death and burial is eclipsed by graveyard gossip and unbelievable stories of mishaps. Some demises were distinctive in their ridiculousness, some in their atrocity, and some in their stupidity. Egregious murders and suicides highlight the barbaric nature of humanity—husbands killing wives, children killing children, and people killing themselves—and yet the horror of these crimes equally matches the absurdity of the acts.
From failed hangings to lynch mobs, ghostly inhabitants to vampire cults, this collection of stories revels in these incredible historical accounts. It is indeed a ghastly grab bag of tales, both ludicrous and laughable.
Our Lady of Lourdes National Shrine of Euclid
Tucked away under stately trees in Euclid sits Our Lady of Lourdes National Shrine, a peaceful sanctuary steeped in history that draws thousands of people from around the world each year. The land was farmed by the Harms family, and in 1870, the Blessed Mother appeared to Julia Harms in the spot where a statue of Mary stands today. In 1926, a replica of the original Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine was built on the property, featuring a grotto with water flowing over a stone on which Mary stood when she appeared to St. Bernadette in Lourdes, France.
Smith Memorial Playground and Playhouse
Since opening in 1899, at the bequest of Richard and Sarah Smith, this unique play space, complete with a mansion purpose-built to support young children’s play, has provided a respite from city heat, connection to nature, and myriad opportunities for child-directed play and family recreation. The playground’s beloved Ida Newman wooden slide, originally built in 1905, has delighted generations of children. The evolution of Smith’s Playground and Playhouse and the numerous other programs and facilities it ran across the city over its first 125 years follows the development and theories of the playground movement and other child-saving campaigns of the 19th and 20th centuries.
National award-winning essayist and historian Julia Hans has assembled nearly 200 vintage postcards unique to Southern Pines. Thanks to the efforts of the Moore County Historical Association, thousands of these postcards have been digitally preserved for future generations.
Established in 1887 by industrialist John T. Patrick, Southern Pines was first a seasonal health resort and winter escape for Northerners. But at the turn of the 20th century, thousands of people flocked to the Sandhills for golf, riding, and other outdoor activities. Hotels and boardinghouses were built to accommodate the influx of visitors. This collection of historic postcards chronicles the bygone era of grand hotels, steam railroads, Model T Fords, and virgin pine forests. Included are vintage postcards of the town’s Blue and Gray Picnic, one-room jailhouse, downtown theaters, and early health sanitarium. The postcards capture the evolution of Broad and Bennett Streets and chronicle the people and places that make Southern Pines special.
Litchfield County in the American Revolution
From the first sparks of revolution in the 1770s, Litchfield County played an important role in the War of Independence.
Roger Sherman of New Milford was on the five-member committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence. Oliver Wolcott of Litchfield signed the document and oversaw the transportation of a toppled statue of King George III from New York City to his hometown, where it was melted down and turned into more than forty thousand musket balls. Those musket balls were perhaps fired by hundreds of local militia, including Black residents, who served in the war, while many other residents helped furnish supplies and information for the army.
However, not everyone supported the Patriot cause, as the county was also home to those who remained loyal to the British King. Later years saw the Continental Army make a winter encampment in New Milford and several visits by George Washington.
Local history is the kind of reading that sneaks up on you. You pick up a book about a copper magnate in Montana or a rocket scientist from Worcester, Massachusetts, and before long you're three chapters deep, marveling at how much happened right under history's nose. Today's new Arcadia titles are that kind of book, carefully researched, written by people who love these places, and built to stay on shelves for generations.
Don't let these slip by. Head over to Arcadia Publishing to browse all of today's new releases, and grab a copy (or three, they make great gifts) while they're fresh off the press. Your hometown history is waiting.