Name: Railroads of Dubuque
Brand: John Tigges
SKU: 9780738539577
Price: 24.99 USD
Availability: InStock

Railroads of Dubuque

9780738539577

$24.99

The city of Dubuque, settled on the west side of the Mississippi River in 1833, has historically been home to four major railways and numerous trolleys and passenger trains. Dubuque's railroad legacy was precipitated by local resident John Plumbe Jr., "the Father of the Transcontinental Railroad," who proposed a transcontinental railroad in 1838 and promoted the idea throughout the Midwest. The Illinois Central Railroad first reached the east bank of the Mississippi in 1855, followed by the Milwaukee Road, the Chicago and Great Western, and the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroads. This book uses rare photographs and historical text to chronicle the development and heyday of these four pioneering railways, as well as Dubuque's many trolleys and its two funicular railroads. While the glory days of Dubuque's railroads may have passed, the legacy they brought to the city lives on, and is evident in the Fourth Street Elevator, which remains the world's shortest, steepest railroad.

Red Oak

9780738561318

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Where the Red Oak Creek flowed into the Nishnabotna River, thick groves of walnut, oak, and cottonwood trees crowded about their banks. This gentle intersection of waterways was to become the junction of railroads, highways, and so many people's lives. The seeds of the hopes and dreams of early pioneers where planted in the fertile soil. Nurtured by the promise of the railroad, the town began to grow and earned the honor of becoming the county seat. With the building of the railroad, Red Oak Junction was regarded second only to Deadwood as a wild outpost on the western frontier. With the completion of the railroad, the laborers left, taking that reputation with them, and Red Oak blossomed into a booming city directed by the strong personalities of the city fathers who sought to have it be a leader of culture, building, technological improvements, and businesses in the state. Fires, grasshoppers, hailstorms, and floods could not dampen the indomitable spirit of those who have lived in Red Oak through the years.

Ringgold County

9780738583747

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Ringgold County was named for Maj. Samuel Ringgold, a hero of the Mexican-American War, who died in battle on May 11, 1846. The first white settler, Charles Schooler, came to what would later be called Ringgold County in 1844. Other settlers followed, and the county was officially established on May 14, 1855. The towns of Caledonia, Ringgold City, and Mount Ayr, the county seat, were all established that same year. Beginning in 1879, the railroads came, and other towns grew up quickly along those lines. Only one railroad town does not survive today: Knowlton, which forfeited its incorporation in the mid-1920s. Road construction and the automobile spelled doom for rural post offices, schools, and general stores, but much of this history was captured in pictures.

Rural Iowa Sausage

9781467148542

$24.99

An Iowa Tradition Like No Other

In the 1970s, there were around 450 local meat lockers throughout the state of Iowa. Today, there are little more than 100 left. History is finally back on their side with a wave of consumers wanting to support small businesses, shop small and buy local. Consumers now also have an increased urge to take more day trips and explore regions they don't see much in the headlines and bring these meats home for their own culinary creations. This is the story of heritage from the old country being passed down by generations of Iowans, and the future of an industry that has endured through decades of decline. Jay Goodvin details the history of Iowa Meat Lockers and their future.

Sac County

9781467104999

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Every box of Cracker Jacks comes with a prize inside. Judging by the number of prizes found in Sac County, Iowa, it is only fitting that the area has grown most of Cracker Jack's popcorn. The 1908 Chautauqua Pavilion in Sac City is one of the nation's best monuments to the movement Teddy Roosevelt described as "the most American thing in America." After becoming a county in 1851, the area's rich agricultural land attracted many settlers. W.P. Adams acquired the 7,000-acre Wheeler Ranch in 1896 and worked tirelessly to improve plant genetics, animal husbandry, and farm marketing techniques, laying the groundwork for modern farming practices. Profits from farming contributed to the growth of the county's nine incorporated communities, development of commercial and manufacturing districts, investment in cultural resources, and construction of an extensive transportation system.

Scott County Cemeteries

9780738583150

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

After the Blackhawk Purchase of 1832, settlement of eastern Iowa was opened up to white settlers the next year. Antoine LeClaire, who served as the translator at the purchase, received large tracts of land from grateful members of the Sauk tribe. With this land, he and others founded the city of Davenport, named after Col. George Davenport, a successful fur trader. Other towns cropped up throughout Scott County, newly formed in 1837. Over the next several decades, Davenport and these other towns throughout the county grew and gave rise to successful, interesting citizens of their own. Some were inventors like William Bettendorf, who created the Bettendorf Truck. Others were lawyers and mayors, such as Ebenezer Cook and Ernst Claussen. Whatever their profession or the path they took in life, many left their mark on Scott County. They now lay in their final resting spot in the cemeteries of Scott County.

Sheldon

9781467108898

$23.99 $16.79 Save 30%

Sheldon, Iowa, the largest town in O’Brien County, was established when the Sioux City & St. Paul Railway (now the Union Pacific) reached the townsite on July 3, 1872. Named after Israel Sheldon, a stockholder in the railroad company, the area was known for its Prairie Queen Flour Mill, three railroads, and two major highways. Sheldon was also famous for its air shows; attracting one of the largest audiences in attendance at a Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus performance; and for being a regional business, agricultural, and industrial center. The collapse of the Sheldon National Bank in 1961 became a national story as the largest bank embezzlement in the United States at that time. This book covers from 1872 through the 1970s and shows Sheldon’s growth in business, education, and industry.

Sioux City Railroads

9780738552224

$24.99

Toward the end of the 19th century, railroads transformed Sioux City from a western outpost to one of the fastest-growing municipalities in the world. Prior to the arrival of the railroads, Sioux City depended on the Missouri River for transportation. The Missouri, however, was not dependable because of flooding and droughts. As an all-season mode of transportation, the railroads permitted the flourishing of the meatpacking industry in Sioux City. In fact, it was the large number of different railroad companies that made Sioux City a major agricultural center rather than just another county seat or market town. Trains carried cattle and hogs to the plants and then carted away the Sioux City-processed products to the nation and to the world.

Steam Railroads of Northern Iowa and Southern Minnesota

9781467102889

$24.99

Steam railroading became an integral part of the communities in northern Iowa and southern Minnesota in the late 1800s. The railroad provided hundreds of jobs and the ability to transport both goods and passengers across the Midwest. The Chicago & North Western Railway, the Chicago Great Western Railroad, the Minneapolis & St. Louis Railway, the Chicago, Rock Island, & Pacific Railroad, and the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad (called the Milwaukee Road by employees) served five principal gateways, which included Chicago, Illinois; Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota; Omaha, Nebraska; and Kansas City and St. Louis, Missouri. Operating steam engines required tremendous manpower, and by the 1920s, some steam passenger trains were replaced by more efficient motor cars, fueled by oil-powered engines. Steam engines could no longer compete with the reduced operating costs, smaller crew requirements, and time savings provided by diesel, which ultimately led to the fall of steam in 1955.

Cover image for Steam Railroads of Northern Iowa and Southern Minnesota, isbn: 9781467102889

Story City

9780738593968

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

In the early 1850s, as settlers began to move into central Iowa, a small pioneer community developed in the tall prairie grass. These first settlers named their community Fairview and began to transform the rich soil along the Skunk River into productive farmland. In the following years, an influx of Scandinavian immigrants arrived in the area, playing a major part in the development of a thriving rural community. After the introduction of a railroad line, the community continued to grow and was renamed Story City after US Supreme Court justice Joseph Story. Today, Story City is a heritage-minded community with a thriving Main Street district, a number of successful businesses, and beautiful historic architecture.

The Chiefs of Council Bluffs: Five Leaders of the Missouri Valley Tribes

9781609496135

$21.99

Two centuries ago, the fierce winds of change were sweeping through the Middle Missouri Valley. French, Spanish and then American traders and settlers had begun pouring in. In the midst of this time of tumult and transition, five chiefs rose up to lead their peoples: Omaha Chief Big Elk, the Pottawatamie/Ottawa/Chippewa Tribe's Captain Billy Caldwell, Ioway Chief Wangewaha (called Hard Heart), Pawnee Brave Petalesharo and Ponca Chief Standing Bear. Historian Gail Holmes tells the story of their leadership as the land was redefined beneath them.

The Chiefs of Council Bluffs: Five Leaders of the Missouri Valley Tribes

The Dubuque Shot Tower

9781609492564

$24.99

The George W. Rogers & Co. ShotTower claims the distinction of being Dubuque's most recognizable and enduring landmark. And while it only operated intermittently from 1856 to 1862, the Shot Tower continues to serve as a reminder of America's vibrant entrepreneurial spirit of the mid-1800s. To preserve this local legacy and position it in the larger narrative of our nation's past, students from Central Alternative High School in Dubuque invested a year of research in 2005-6 to tell the story. Their findings, combined with essays contributed by community experts, have been edited by John Adelmann into a first-of-its-kind book that presents a fascinating saga of the Shot Tower that has become greater than the sum of its myths and legends.

The Floppy Show

9781467126045

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

In 1957, WHO-TV asked staff performer Duane Ellett to come up with an idea to help teach children how to better care for their pets. Ellett created Floppy, a high-voiced beagle dog puppet that became his sidekick for the next 30 years. Together, the iconic duo made 200 personal appearances every year at community festivals and events. The Floppy Show aired weekday afternoons in part of four decades, featuring a live studio audience of children telling Floppy riddles, beeping his nose for luck, and watching cartoons. On weekends, the duo appeared in a variety of programs over time, from the S.S. Popeye in earlier years to The Floppytown Gazette in the 1980s, featuring Floppy and other puppets Ellett created. Thousands of Iowans outside of Des Moines discovered the duo from their performances at the Iowa State Fair. Even now, 30 years after their last television appearance, Duane and Floppy still hold a warm place in the hearts of baby boomers across America.

The Iowa Caucus

9781467115834

$24.99

For more than 40 years, Iowa has held the first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses. A vibrant political culture has emerged as a result of this role, and Iowa voters have a unique opportunity to get to know the nation's presidential candidates as they travel the state, attend small-group meetings, and hone their messages. Candidates come to Iowa--where "retail politics" is the name of the game--early and often. But the campaign trail in Iowa isn't just about candidates. It's about average Americans in small-town diners, church basements, and high school gyms. In an age of public cynicism about politics, the Iowa caucuses continue to demonstrate the importance of real people talking about issues with would-be presidents.

The Iowa State Fair: In Vintage Postcards

9780738540375

$24.99

Each August, the Iowa State Fairgrounds, home to America's quintessential state fair, becomes 400 acres of sights, sounds, and aromas. More than just a showcase for farm machinery, the fair has one of the world's largest livestock shows, hundreds of competitive events, first-class entertainment, and ever imaginable food-on-a-stick. The first Iowa State Fair, held in 1854 at Fairfield, drew 10,000 visitors, and attendance now tops one million each year. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it has been held at its present location in Des Moines since 1886. In the early 1900s, fairgoers could choose from a large selection of postcards, stick on a penny stamp, and mail them to friends to describe their blue ribbon, an exciting midway ride, or the great entertainment. Over 190 vintage postcards provide glimpses of the fair from the 1890s to the mid-1950s in The Iowa State Fair.

The Iowa State Fair: In Vintage Postcards

The Lincoln Highway in Iowa

9781467149808

$23.99

Iowa's Great Highway

Before there was Route 66, there was the iconic Lincoln Highway. A symbol of limitless potential, America’s first coast-to-coast highway spanned Iowa from the Mississippi River to the Missouri River. When you travel U.S. 30 across Iowa today, you’re never far from the historic Lincoln Highway, if not right on top of it. Learn the history of an Iowa landmark.

The Mississippi River

9780738507453

$23.99 $16.79 Save 30%

Named by Algonkian-speaking Indians, Mississippi can be translated as "Father of Waters." The river, the largest in North America, drains 31 states and 2 Canadian provinces, and runs 2,350 miles from its source to the Gulf of Mexico. The Mississippi River is truly one of the great forces that has shaped the United States into the country it is today.

Although its role has changed over the past few centuries, the Mississippi has always been important to those who lived along its banks. Indigenous peoples fished its waters and depended on the waterway for transportation. Explorers and traders traveled the river in hopes of conquering more land and obtaining wealth for their countries. Settlers moved close to take advantage of the rich farmland the river provided. All of these pursuits resulted in a trade industry that brought about a social and economic transformation, when news and goods made their way downriver and livelihoods were provided. In fact, the Mississippi River's economic and strategic value was so important that when Ulysses S. Grant won the siege of Vicksburg and control of the river during the Civil War, the Confederacy was dealt a serious blow. Today, although still used to transport goods, the river has taken on yet another identity: that of entertainer. Literature, pleasure boats, and floating casinos all showcase a new dimension of this magnificent river.

The St. Elizabeth Hospital Fire in Iowa

9781467155571

$24.99

One of the Largest Tragedies in Iowa History. On January 7, 1950, a fire erupted at St. Elizabeth's Mental Health Facility for women. The disaster garnered state-wide and national attention as the second largest loss of life in the history of the state and the third largest hospital fire in the nation, to date. The fire, started by a patient, claimed the lives of forty patients and one nurse, while twenty-five patients were rescued. Rescue efforts were hampered by the fact that most patients were locked in their rooms at the time. Bret Grimes recounts the lives of those who fought and survived the ordeal.

Cover image for The St. Elizabeth Hospital Fire in Iowa, isbn: 9781467155571

University of Northern Iowa

9780738507224

$24.99

The University of Northern Iowa has evolved from its humble beginnings in 1876 as a normal school with 27 students to a thriving educational community with a student body of over 13,000. But as this pictorial history vividly depicts, its founding principles have remained the same: a commitment to high-quality education, an impressive teaching staff, and eager students with a desire to learn. Originally established in a former home for the orphans of Iowa's Civil War veterans, the University of Northern Iowa has matured from a small teacher's college to the university which is internationally known today. Inspired leadership from university presidents helped bridge this transition, and to give guidance to an institution deeply affected by the Great Depression, emerging only to face new challenges brought on by World War II. WAVES and US Army Air Corps personnel trained here, and GIs were educated upon their return from service. Civil Rights, the anti-war movement, and the technology revolution all helped shape the university into the excellent institution it is today.

Washington

9781467110020

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Washington was founded in 1839 and is the county seat of Washington County. The population grew significantly after the arrival of the first railroad in 1858. Much of its past and present economy is based on agriculture, and the county has some of the richest soil in the world. Through the years, industries have included cigar, pearl-button, and buggy manufacturers, as well as calendar and biofuel producers. Washington has a rich history and many well-preserved historical sites, and it has been listed as "one of the best small towns in America" three times by author Norman Crampton. With approximately 7,200 residents, Washington maintains a historic downtown square and a variety of vintage buildings and homes, many of which are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. In 2008, it was designated a Main Street community.

Waterloo

9780738583396

$24.99

Waterloo started out like many other towns: as a small pioneer village located along the banks of the Cedar River. It must have been a breathtaking sight--a beautiful river lined with red cedar trees, prairie grasses blowing in the breeze, and abundant wildlife. After winning the battle to become the county seat in 1855, Waterloo began to grow into the metropolis it is today. The popular slogan, "Waterloo Way Wins," has proven true over the years, and one can feel a sense of pride while looking at the images in this book.

Waukee

9781467114332

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

In 1869, Gen. Lewis Addison Grant and Maj. William Ragan purchased the land around the Des Moines Valley Railroad bed owned by Cyrus W. Fisher in Walnut Township. A plat map was drawn, and Waukee began. The Des Moines Valley Railroad was completed in June 1869, and Waukee was incorporated in 1878. Work, family, and church were the centers of life, and agriculture was predominant in Walnut Township. The Harris Coal Mine opened in 1920 and closed in 1928. The Shuler Coal Mine, opened in 1921, employed 500 men and closed in 1949. Community events are still held at the historic Triangle. Waukee's first school, facilitated in 1870, was held in the Presbyterian church. Today, Waukee is the fastest-growing school district in Iowa. On April 16, 2014, the Waukee City Council unveiled plans for Kettlestone, a 1,500-acre mixed-use development that will include an outdoor town center, housing, retail space, green space, trails, and an amphitheater.

West Des Moines and Valley Junction

9780738561882

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

In 1867, James Jordan, one of the first European settlers in the area, agreed to donate land and plat a small town in exchange for a railroad spur to serve his cattle operation. Jordan's business prospered as did the railroads and with them the town, which became known as Valley Junction. In 1891, the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad decided to relocate its engine shops from East Des Moines to the growing community that was now on the main line. Prosperity turned to bust when the rail yards moved out during the Depression, and the city renamed itself West Des Moines to invite a more stable population. The community bonded together during the war years, and when the interstate came, the city grew outward as a hub of retail commerce and transportation. Now a financial center in its own right, West Des Moines hosts several Fortune 500 headquarters and is a magnet for the best and brightest entrepreneurs in the state. This collection showcases the history and character of the city through the eyes of its citizens.

Wise Animal Handbook Iowa, The

9780738528205

$16.99

Read-aloud time is about to get a lot more fun!

The Iowa Wise Animal Handbook offers laugh-out-loud animal kingdom advice for kids of every age! Engaging animal photos entertain while charming read-aloud rhymes help jump-start conversations about practical life solutions.
The Read Together/Do Together? experience continues with pull out coloring pages in the back of the book featuring fun facts about special Hawkeye State animals including the eastern goldfinch and North American bullfrog.
Enjoy the opportunity to share your own practical wisdom with your favorite little one as you read-aloud... and laugh-aloud....again and again.

Younkers

9781467119955

$21.99

When shoppers went to Younkers, they experienced something magical. Celebrities signed autographs, chefs gave cooking demonstrations and Miss Universe discussed the latest styles in swimwear. The flagship store, a showplace in the heart of downtown Des Moines, boasted dazzling selling spaces equipped with the first escalator and air conditioner in the state. The Tea Room established a legendary reputation for its food, fashion shows and Theater Nights. A great place to work, it gave thousands of teens their first paychecks and afforded hundreds of associates a lifelong career. Join Vicki Ingham for Younkers' journey to become one of the most important department store chains in the Midwest.