New Local History Books to Explore
Every town has its secrets, and every neighborhood holds mysteries waiting to be uncovered. While you might think you know your local area inside and out, we're willing to bet there are stories lurking in plain sight that would completely surprise you – tales of remarkable individuals, forgotten events, and pivotal moments that quietly shaped the place you call home.
Today, we're excited to introduce you to our newest releases, each one a carefully crafted window into different aspects of our region's rich and complex past. These aren't your typical dry historical accounts filled with dates and statistics. Instead, they're engaging narratives that bring real people and authentic experiences back to life, making history feel immediate and personal.
Whether you're passionate about local genealogy, fascinated by how places evolve over time, or simply love a good story well told, these new releases promise to change how you see the familiar landmarks and landscapes around you.
Enjoy a glimpse of the history behind the most prestigious museums and discover sites better known for their part in international scandals. Peek into California’s colonial past, visit sites from the golden age of film or explore the urban legends surrounding the Black Dahlia. With tips from the best times to visit to where to park, experience the best of Los Angeles like a local.
Join author Adam Papagan, experienced tour guide and true California character, for a tour of Los Angeles you’ll never forget.
Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort and Ranch by Lisa Leavitt Messenger
In the middle of June 1855, a small group of Mormon missionaries arrived to a blistering hot, desolate valley. The call to Las Vegas was twofold; the men were to assist their fellow brethren traversing the Mormon Corridor and to establish peaceful relations with the region’s Southern Paiutes. The men organized a waystation inside an impressive adobe fort erected with thousands of bricks made by their own hands. When their two-year assignment ended, possession of the fort was assumed by others who transformed it into a supply station and ranch. Historical societies have long united to properly recognize the fort remnant and bring about meaningful preservation. They saw their work realized with the opening of the Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park.
Lisa Leavitt Messenger was introduced to the history of the Old Mormon Fort and Ranch while researching her personal genealogy, both her grandfather and great grandfather spent time on the Old Ranch. Her personal connection nurtured a deep interest in the historical property that has only intensified. She volunteers with affiliated historical societies, namely the Friends of the Fort and the Daughters of Utah Pioneers, which aim to promote the history with the community of Las Vegas.
The Weather Gods Curse the Gettysburg Campaign
by Jon M. Nese and Jeffrey J. Harding
As the nation’s future hung in the balance, the Weather Gods delivered a wrath of fury on Union and Confederate forces throughout the Gettysburg Campaign. First, record-breaking heat and humidity wore down the warring armies during ungodly forced marches. Next, relentless storms plagued the soldiers with resultant muddy slogs on nearly impassable roads. As the armies met in mortal combat, soul-crushing heat turned the bucolic fields of Gettysburg into a sanguinary and barren expanse. Finally, torrential rains haunted the Confederate retreat and narrow escape across a swollen Potomac River. Authors Jeffrey J. Harding and Jon M. Nese present firsthand accounts, harrowing narratives and groundbreaking meteorological research that reshapes how we view the Civil War’s Gettysburg Campaign.
Cleveland's Neighborhood Taverns by Tom Kasechalk
Built by hardworking immigrants chasing the American Dream, these taverns were where workers cashed their paychecks, swapped stories, celebrated victories and sometimes witnessed late-night crimes. Family-run bars were often passed down through generations, becoming intertwined with the ever-changing face of the city. Although many did not survive the 1960s and ’70s, their memory lives on.
Native Clevelander and founder of My Cleveland History Tom Kaschalk honors the legendary watering holes that shaped Cleveland’s communities, hosted vibrant music scenes and served as the backdrop to both good times and life-changing events.
Detour Texas by Raegan Scharfetter
Although occasionally long and roughly paved, roads less traveled reveal cultural gems in every region of the state. From the peaks of the Guadalupe Mountains to the valleys of the Rio Grande, find the best food you’ve ever indulged in, the kindest people you’ve ever met and stories that’ll last a lifetime. Make time for Texas’s wineries and historic churches. Explore true crime and paleontology specific excursions, and relish natural wonders and landmarks of human ingenuity. Author Raegan Scharfetter leads a tour through some of the most rewarding destinations in the Lone Star State.
We hope you're as excited as we are about these new releases! Each book represents passionate research and storytelling, and we can't wait for you to discover the hidden gems within their pages.
You can find all of these new releases at www.arcadiapublishing.com, and as always, we love hearing from our readers.
Keep exploring, keep questioning, and keep celebrating the rich tapestry of stories that make our community truly unique. After all, today's everyday moments are tomorrow's local history, and you're part of that continuing story.
Happy reading, and here's to uncovering more of our shared past together!