Name: Sedona Verde Valley Art
Brand: Lili DeBarbieri
SKU: 9781626198418
Price: 21.99 USD
Availability: InStock

Sedona Verde Valley Art

9781626198418

$21.99

The jaw-dropping allure of the Sedona Verde Valley is a magnet for celebrated visual artists from around the world. This unforgettable landscape has inspired nearly a century of diverse painting, experimental collage, provocative sculpture and stimulating architecture. Tourists and locals are enamored of the Chapel of the Holy Cross, and the unique and often political art of Jerome continues to evolve. In a captivating exploration of state and regional styles alongside profiles of contemporary masters, author and historian Lili DeBarbieri presents the full story of Sedona art.

Sedona Verde Valley Art book cover with an orange circle title over a collage of Sedona landscape and paintings

Arizona State Museum

9781467131629

$24.99

In 1893, nineteen years before statehood, the first anthropology museum in the Arizona Territory was created on the campus of the fledgling University of Arizona. Located in the small desert city of Tucson and originally occupying a single room, what was first called the Arizona Territorial Museum had one part-time curator and has steadily grown over the last 120 years. Dedicated to the archaeology, history, culture, and arts of the peoples of Arizona and the Southwest, the Arizona State Museum is the oldest and largest anthropology museum in the region. It cares for the world's largest collections of Southwestern Native American pottery, basketry, textiles, and fiber arts, all of which have been designated American Treasures. Its exceptional artifactual, biological, and documentary collections, maintained by an accomplished staff and faculty, keep its programs at the forefront of scholarly investigations while providing public outreach to Arizona's multicultural communities and visitors from around the world.

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Buckeye

9780738548890

$24.99

The town of Buckeye--located in the Valley of the Sun, just 35 miles west of Phoenix--was founded in 1888 following the completion of a 10mile irrigation canal in 1886. Throughout the 20th century, this farming community grew as residents established businesses, built churches, raised families, and worked together to carve a home out of the desert. The coming of the Arizona Eastern Railroad in 1910 was so significant that the town's business district was moved to accommodate the location of the railroad station. And as a result, Buckeye boomed. By 2005, with a population over 35,000, the town again faced significant change as the old cotton fields were replaced by housing developments. Though ever changing, the future remains bright for Buckeye, and its heritage remains a valuable treasure for residents, both old and new.

Buckeye cover with a sepia tone showing a historic town street and horse drawn wagon

Arizona's Murdered Madams

9781467171069

$24.99

The true stories of the lost queens of vice

Territorial Arizona was a rough-and-tumble place, but three resilient women carved out places for themselves on the Western frontier. Minnie Powers, a former Mormon, ruled early Phoenix’s red-light district, while "Dutch May" Prescott’s scandalous Flagstaff sex show drew in crowds from miles around. In Jerome, "Belgian Jennie" Bauters lost her brothel to fire more than once, but she rose from the ashes every time. Their grit and determination to make the best of their new homes weren’t the only things they had in common. They might have survived the local gossip and notoriety with aplomb, but all three were gunned down in cold blood. Where their scandalous livelihoods once dominated headlines, now they’re remembered, if at all, for their sensational murders.

Author Merry Gordon delves into the lives—and deaths—of three of Arizona’s most infamous madams.

Cover image for Arizona's Murdered Madams, isbn: 9781467171069

Chiricahua National Monument

9781467129114

$7.99

This collection of mailable vintage-photograph postcards celebrates Chiricahua National Monument, located in Arizona's southeast corner and amous for its scenic and biological wonders. Every year, thousands of people visit the largest of the Sky Island mountain ranges to marvel at fantastic rock formations, hike scenic pathways, bolster a birding list, or simply gaze into starry skies while relaxing in a quiet campground. Thorough visitors soon discover that there is much more to the Wonderland of Rocks than just rocks. Those rocks are the backdrop to the story of Chiricahua Apache leader Geronimo and the black 10th Cavalry Regiment soldiers pursuing him. James Logan, John Robinson, and other Buffalo Soldiers assembled local rocks into a one-of-a-kind monument. Ed and Lillian Riggs, owners of Faraway Ranch, preserved rocks from that monument partially because their families homesteaded and ranched in the area with the soldiers' protection. Faraway Ranch became one of Arizona's first guest ranches, and it provided a way for sightseers to appreciate the Wonderland of Rocks' unique history and appearance.

Cover image for Chiricahua National Monument, isbn: 9781467129114

Murder & Mayhem in Yavapai County

9781467151078

$24.99

In Yavapai County, the Wild West way of living never died.

Fatal tales of jealousy, corruption, and organized vengeance swept across the landscape all the way through to the early twentieth century. In Prescott, a man with a grudge killed a fellow worker and led the sheriff on a roundabout chase before being sentenced for the murder and then, inexplicably, released and appointed to the position of constable. Near Jerome, a land deal gone wrong triggered an attempted murder, while a union dispute left the rail depot in ashes and several men dead.

Join author Drew Desmond as he brings to life the waning days of the Old West in Yavapai County with these never-before-told stories of vigilante justice and revenge.

Cover image for Murder & Mayhem in Yavapai County, isbn: 9781467151078

Buckeye

9780738579245

$24.99

With a population of more than 48,000, Buckeye is the ninth-fastest growing municipality in the United States. The town's rapid growth has left many longtime residents wondering what happened to the place where they grew up. Originally an agricultural community, Buckeye has embraced the 21st century, becoming a hub for the affordable housing market in the Valley of the Sun.

Buckeye book cover showing a modern street scene above a vintage town photo

Mesa

9781467160407

$24.99

Brigham Young sent the first pioneers to Mesa in the late 1870s to help support the Mormon Church’s expansion into Mexico. Some of the earliest businesses during those days included a blacksmith shop, theater, lumberyard, and mercantile. Much of the early architecture still exists among the downtown buildings, churches, and schools.

Cover image for Mesa, isbn: 9781467160407

Litchfield Park

9781467130448

$24.99

In 1908, William Kriegbaum, a California citrus grower, arrived as the first settler in what was to become Litchfield Park. He, along with other settlers from California, owned the land until 1916, when Paul Litchfield of Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company came to the area and purchased 16,000 acres to plant cotton for tires. In 1918, the townsite was planned with tree-lined streets and buildings to include an "organizational house" for Goodyear executives, which is now the famed Wigwam Resort. When new materials for tires were developed, cotton was no longer needed for cord. Shortly thereafter, Goodyear brought its tire-testing fleet to Litchfield, and farm equipment companies followed suit, sending engineers to design and test new machinery. The steel-wheeled tractor tire was replaced by Paul Litchfield's newly patented pneumatic tire as the standard for farm equipment. The World War II years brought changes to the area as an influx of new residents transformed the company town to a more planned community.

Litchfield Park cover with a sepia photograph of a vintage tractor in a dusty field by Celeste S. Crouch

Vail and Colossal Cave Mountain Park

9780738548821

$24.99

Just 22 miles southeast of Tucson in the Sonoran Desert sits the town of Vail, colloquially known as "The Town between the Tracks," which refers to the two train tracks running through its tiny business center. The area is named for Walter L. Vail, who, with his partners, formed the sprawling Empire Ranch in 1876. Vail is also the home of Colossal Cave, a "dry cave" where visitors can view stunning formations and hear stories of Native Americans, bandits, and moviemakers. The cave served as the site of a Civilian Conservation Corps camp in the mid-1930s, when workers installed trails and lighting in the cave, constructed administration buildings, and built roads and picnic spots in the surrounding area. Colossal Cave is now united with the La Posta Quemada Ranch, a working cattle ranch since the 1870s, to form the 2,400-acre Colossal Cave Mountain Park.

Book cover for Vail and Colossal Cave Mountain Park with a sepia group photo of miners.

The White Mountains of Apache County

9780738566900

$24.99

Towns and communities such as Springerville, Eagar, Alpine, Nutrioso, Vernon, Greer, McNary, and Maverick of Apache County's White Mountains hold fascinating histories of outlaws and Arizona Rangers; Texas cattlemen and Mormon farmers; and New Mexico Hispanics and forest service men. Aldo Leopold was one of the forest service men who, in A Sand County Almanac, described the Boneyard, Campbell Blue, and Frijole Cienega. Of Paradise Valley, he wrote, What else could you call it? In 1913, the Good Roads Association described the roads winding through the area with canyons that are flanked on every side by timber-covered, snow-clad peaks. It also noted that the area had become an interesting point for the genuine home seeker, who will not likely want to continue his journey farther. That description remains true today.

Cover image for The White Mountains of Apache County, isbn: 9780738566900

Historic Heritage Square

9781467130752

$24.99

Located in downtown Phoenix, Historic Heritage Square is an urban park that preserves the last intact residential block of the city's original townsite. The square's Victorian-era ambiance includes one of Phoenix's most popular attractions, the Rosson House Museum. Other early territorial buildings (primarily pre-1912) today house the Arizona Doll and Toy Museum, five restaurants, and administrative offices. For many years, the block was a fashionable residential area that was once home to a Phoenix mayor. Over time, the neighborhood deteriorated until the early 1970s, when it was threatened with demolition for urban renewal. Preservation efforts led by Phoenix mayor John Driggs, however, saved the historic buildings. Opened in 1980 as Historic Heritage Square, the park expanded in the mid-1990s to its current size. While remaining an important historical living education center, the square also hosts numerous festivals as a vibrant element of the city's arts and cultural scene.

Historic Heritage Square book cover featuring a large Victorian house in sepia tones

Hotel San Carlos

9780738571416

$24.99

On the corner of Central Avenue and Monroe Street, in the center of downtown Phoenix, is the historic Hotel San Carlos. Local Native Americans once worshipped a god of learning in this same area, and so early white settlers chose the site for the city's first school, the Little Adobe School, in 1873. After the Little Adobe School, the location served as a ballpark, a brick schoolhouse, the Central School, and finally the Hotel San Carlos, which opened in March 1928. The first hotel in Phoenix to boast steam heat, elevators, and air-conditioning, Hotel San Carlos has a remarkable story and has even seen its share of movie stars, including Mae West, Gene Autry, and Marilyn Monroe. Clark Gable always stayed in the same corner room on the fourth floor so he could people-watch. Even the friendly ghost of Leone Jensen, who appears regularly at the foot of the guest beds, has added to the unique legacy and continuing popularity of Hotel San Carlos.

Cover image for Hotel San Carlos, isbn: 9780738571416

Mexicans in Scottsdale

9780738548265

$24.99

Though their role in the history of Scottsdale's development has been marginalized over the years, Mexicano residents made many important contributions to the city's establishment and growth. In the early 1900s, businessman E. O. Brown recruited Mexicanos from Arizona border towns to work in the area's cotton fields and on the farms. These laborers were the first people to live in the neighborhood that now makes up the center of Old Scottsdale. Some called it the barrio, but Scottsdale Mexicanos called the area home. Today only a few buildings remain that can attest to the neighborhood's original inhabitants, most notably the Old Adobe Mission and Coronado School, now the home of the Scottsdale Historical Museum. The preservation of these buildings and the more than 200 photographs included in this book are just a few of the testaments to Scottsdale's fascinating Mexican heritage.

Cover image for Mexicans in Scottsdale, isbn: 9780738548265

Warren Ballpark

9780738596433

$24.99

If there is a place where the ghosts of baseball players come at night to relive their glory days, it is Warren Ballpark in the old copper-mining town of Bisbee, Arizona. Warren Ballpark has been in use as a sports facility since 1909--longer than any other ballpark in the United States. Some of the most colorful and notable figures in baseball history have stepped onto its field as barnstorming big leaguers or as minor-league players hoping to make their way up to the "Big Show." Several players implicated in the infamous 1919 "Black Sox" scandal played in an "outlaw" league at Warren Ballpark during the 1920s. In 1917, it was the holding facility for 1,500 striking copper miners rounded up during the Bisbee Deportation. It is also the site of one of the longest-running and most bitterly contested high school football rivalries in America, between the Bisbee Pumas and the Douglas Bulldogs.

Warren Ballpark cover from Images of Sports featuring a sepia photograph of players in a dugout framed by a red border.

Lost Restaurants of Tucson

9781467118859

$21.99

From western roadhouses to fine dining, Tucson boasts an extraordinary lineup of diverse restaurants. Though some of its greatest no longer exist, their stories conjure the sights, smells and sounds of the city's history. Longtime locals still buzz about Gordo's famous chimichangas, an accidental dish originating in Tucson. The legendary Tack Room was a beacon of fine dining. Places like Café Terra Cotta and Fuego pioneered a new southwestern cuisine, serving regional dishes like prickly pear pork and stuffed poblanos. University of Arizona alumni miss old spots like the Varsity, while long-gone haunts like Gus & Andy's attracted a unique crowd of businessmen, movie stars and the occasional mobster. Join local food writer Rita Connelly as she serves up savory stories of good food and good company from the gone but never forgotten favorites of the Old Pueblo.

Cover image for Lost Restaurants of Tucson, isbn: 9781467118859

Orzel

9781626199620

$21.99

In 1967, Scottsdale's longtime Arabian horse breeder Ed Tweed embarked on a mission to race the horses he bred. He imported a chestnut stallion from Poland named Orzel, or Eagle in English, that flew past competitors to become the first U.S. National Racing Champion. Among other wins in halter and performance, Orzel was the victor in the debut of the U.S. National Championship Ladies' Sidesaddle category, partnered with Tweed's granddaughter Shelley Groom Trevor. Thousands of fans visited the legendary performer in retirement at Brusally Ranch. Decades after Orzel's death, horses he sired continue his winning legacy. Author Tobi Lopez Taylor chronicles this triumphant story.

Cover image for Orzel, isbn: 9781626199620

The Arizona State Fair

9781467125208

$24.99

The diverse and glorious story of the Arizona State Fair is vividly portrayed here with images from the territorial days to the present. The state fairgrounds occupy 80 acres in the heart of Phoenix, and neighborhoods listed on the National Register of Historic Places surround it on all four sides. From illuminating the abundance of agricultural and mineral riches prior to statehood to administering programs during the Great Depression and from providing a facility for defense during World War II to being a magnificent resource for Hurricane Katrina evacuees, the fair, which is in its 112th year of existence, and its fairgrounds have always mattered to Arizonans.

Cover image for The Arizona State Fair, isbn: 9781467125208

Legendary Locals of Tempe

9781467102285

$24.99

Tempe started collaboratively, and its innovative citizens continue to work together, creatively solving problems and capitalizing on opportunities in the landlocked 40 square miles surrounded by Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Chandler, and Guadalupe. The vision began with freighter Charles Trumbull Hayden, who worked with Mexican settlers to optimize the productivity of the valley south of the Salt River with his ferry, canal building, and milling activities in 1870, and continued with the 1885 founding of the Territorial Normal School, now Arizona State University. Subsequently, Tempe has remained successful due to both individual innovations, like creating Big Surf, the first man-made wave pool in the United States, and city-led initiatives like the development of Tempe Town Lake, which reinvigorated the shore line of a river bottom frequently left dry since the implementation of a dam system.

Cover image for Legendary Locals of Tempe, isbn: 9781467102285

Show Low

9780738571386

$24.99

In true Old West fashion, Corydon Cooley and Marion Clark decided ownership of their ranch in the White Mountains with a game of "seven-up." Cooley turned over the winning low card, and the name, Show Low, became history. Today the main street is the "Deuce of Clubs," and visitors learn the town was "Named by the Turn of a Card." Mormon settlers and Apaches, sawmills and logging, hunting and fishing, and rodeos and ranching all add to the history of this tiny community. When Highway 60 was completed through Salt River Canyon in the 1930s, adequate access from Phoenix and the nation was finally available. At an elevation of 6,500 feet, there is usually a slight wind moving through the ponderosa pines, and Show Low stands ready to welcome visitors.

Book cover Show Low depicting diners around a table in a rustic lodge setting.

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

9780738586717

$24.99

Since 1952, Bill Carr and Arthur Pack have inspired visitors to live in harmony with the natural world by fostering love, appreciation, and understanding of the Sonoran Desert.

When the two men founded the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, it had only four employees, but today it has more than 100 paid employees, nearly 200 docents, and close to 300 volunteers. About 85 percent of the museum is outside, where visitors can enjoy native and the endangered animals exhibited in award-winning naturalistic habitat enclosures, an innovation in exhibitory developed by the museum. Most visitors spend between two and three hours touring the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, but as the museum continues to grow, it is becoming harder and harder to see it all in such a short amount of time. Visitors should plan to come early and stay late!

Cover image for Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, isbn: 9780738586717

Historic Tales from Ahwatukee Foothills

9781467140317

$21.99

Phoenix's Ahwatukee Foothills is a true trailblazing community, growing from open desert to a community of nearly ninety thousand in just a few decades.

From the first homesteaders and farmers to the modern visionaries and trailblazers who established homes and businesses, it is a very compelling story. Discover the mystery of the Lost Ranch, the reason for Elliot Road's misspelling, the battle over annexation and the origins of the Easter Parade. Local historian Marty Gibson recounts the challenges, struggles and successes in this collection of tales from the other side of the hill.

Cover image for Historic Tales from Ahwatukee Foothills, isbn: 9781467140317

Queen Creek

9781467130608

$24.99

From Charles Rittenhouse's 1919 thousand-acre Queen Creek Farms Company to the railroad settlement called Rittenhouse, the area renamed Queen Creek in 1947 continued to flourish as an agricultural and farming community. By the 1970s, as farming became less profitable, the land began to give way to new development. Homes and businesses began to settle among family farms, and the school district expanded. By 1989, Queen Creek had incorporated to become Arizona's 84th municipality, and the following years saw the town establishing its own goals and traditions. The town of Queen Creek is located 35 miles southeast of Phoenix. To the north lies the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, which is the former Williams Air Force Base. Queen Creek is home to the historic Rittenhouse School. A strong volunteer base allows the community to participate in the decades-long traditions of an annual Christmas parade and Fourth of July celebration.

White abstract sculpture in a park with trees behind on the cover of Images of America Queen Creek

Around Dewey-Humboldt

9781467131124

$24.99

Nestled in the Arizona mountains are several small, unassuming towns that belie the importance of their heyday. These towns are all intrinsic to each other for one reason: mining. The nearby ranches were established to feed the miners, and in many cases, residents moved back and forth among them depending on which mines were prosperous or closed. Some no longer exist, evidenced now by rock walls or other harder-to-find clues. Some have turned into tourist attractions. The first legislative meetings of the Arizona Territory were held at the Woolsey Ranch in nearby Dewey, where the first building in Yavapai County was constructed. Indian wars occurred here, and many of the natural resources used to support the growing country came from iron and copper mines found deep within the bowels of the Dewey-Humboldt area. The towns of Cherry, Dewey, Humboldt, Mayer, Cordes Junction, Crown King, and Bumble Bee still exist. Others, like Agua Fria, Chaparral, Stoddard, McCabe, Poland, and Cleator, have mostly vanished, but their pioneering spirit and importance will never be forgotten.

Cover image for Around Dewey-Humboldt, isbn: 9781467131124

Wicked Prescott

9781467119528

$21.99

Swindlers, confidence men and outlaws—the mountain shadows and Ponderosa pines surrounding Prescott conceal their grim histories and crooked ways. The small hamlet turned mining town became Arizona's first capital in 1864, and with wealth and power came every type of vice and crime. One block west of the famed Whiskey Row, the roaring red-light district attracted ladies of easy virtue, who often became victims of crimes of passion and coldblooded murder. Legendary crook Fleming Jim Parker escaped from Yavapai County Jail on the back of the sheriff's stolen horse. Cattle rustlers terrorized nearby ranches, while tavern brawls and liquor-fueled shootouts dominated newspaper headlines. More than ten legal hangings brought criminals to justice. Local author Parker Anderson recounts these and more wicked misdeeds from Prescott's wild early days.

Cover image for Wicked Prescott, isbn: 9781467119528

Downtown Phoenix

9780738585239

$24.99

On a bed of a primordial ocean floor and in a valley surrounded by jagged mountains, a city was founded atop the ruins of a vanished civilization. In 1867, former Confederate soldier Jack Swilling saw the remains of an ancient canal system and the potential for the area to blossom into a thriving agricultural center. Pioneers moved into the settlement searching for new opportunities, and on October 20, 1870, residents living in adobe structures that lined dirt streets adopted the name Phoenix, expressing the optimism of the frontier. For decades, downtown Phoenix was a dense urban core, the hub of agricultural fields, mining settlements, and military posts. Unfortunately, suburban sprawl and other social factors of the post-World War II era led to the center's decline. With time, things changed, and now downtown Phoenix is uniquely positioned to rise again as a prominent 21st-century American city.

Book cover for Downtown Phoenix showing a busy early 20th century downtown street with cars and tall buildings.

Williamson Valley Road

9780738579870

$24.99

Centuries ago, Williamson Valley Road began as a game trail for native inhabitants. In the 1400s, ancestors of the Yavapai and Hualapai hunted along ancient footpaths. Later explorers widened these paths for horses. The 1800s brought military wagons transporting supplies between the Rawlins, Hualapai/Tollgate, and Fort Whipple camps while traders and settlers followed in stagecoaches. The fertile lands of Mint Valley, Williamson Valley, and Walnut Creek were ideal for raising stock and produce. Farmers sailed from Europe and up the Colorado River before traversing the Hardyville Toll Road. Ranchers imported the fittest stock and exported the finest meat with the expertise of Mexican ranch hands. Camp Wood timbermen met the demand for lumber. Eastern store owners set up shop as railroaders laid far-reaching plans but short-reaching rails. Residents in the early 1900s arrived at rodeos, camp meetings, concerts, and dances in their Model Ts using this road. Present-day suburbanites, schoolchildren, and contractors commute on Williamson Valley Road, which was designated as a Scenic and Historic Route in 2010.

Williamson Valley Road book cover showing a vintage truck and workers in a dusty landscape.

Phoenix's Roosevelt Row

9781467134903

$24.99

The nationally recognized Roosevelt Row Artists' District in downtown Phoenix originated during the platting of the Churchill Addition in 1888, when fewer than 4,000 people called the city home. The Evans and Churchill Additions enjoyed vibrant, walkable mixed-use growth until the suburban sprawl of the 1950s pulled people and resources away from the downtown city core. Significant decline fell upon the area for decades, until artists began to imagine new possibilities in the 1990s. Few urban areas in the United States have undergone such rapid and dramatic revitalization as Roosevelt Row. In 2000, the area's affordability attracted artists who began to transform underutilized structures and vacant lots into a vibrant, diverse, welcoming community. Iconic events, live music, unique performances, and temporary public art have made it one of the largest monthly art walks in the county, and USA Today recently named Roosevelt Row one of the ten best city arts districts in the country.

Cover image for Phoenix's Roosevelt Row, isbn: 9781467134903

Pioneer & Military Memorial Park of Phoenix

9781467138031

$23.99

Pioneer & Military Memorial Park exists to honor the legacies of early residents buried in seven historic cemeteries established in 1884 and closed in 1914. Henry Garfias, a popular and prominent lawman, once served the town as constable and marshal. Rose Gregory, one of Phoenix's most colorful forerunners, is remembered as a benevolent madam. Charles Posten was once regarded as the Father of Arizona. And the tragic death of Letitia Rice led to a hasty trial and acquittal before being ruled accidental. The Pioneers' Cemetery Association delves into the past and brings to light the movers, shakers and regular folks who built this incredible desert city.

Cover image for Pioneer & Military Memorial Park of Phoenix, isbn: 9781467138031

Early Bisbee

9781467133524

$24.99

Before Bisbee became a bustling mining camp, it was a haven to Native Americans for centuries. However, their presence brought the intrusion of army scouts and prospectors into the Mule Mountains. The coincidental discovery of vast mineral wealth at the future site of Bisbee permanently affixed the fate of the land forever. Rising from the remote desert was a dynamic mining city, a city that grew into one of the most influential communities in the West. Bisbee was unique in the Old West because of the mixed moral values. High society and the decadent underworld lived in a delicate balance, but a vibrant multicultural community was forged from these social fires.

Placeholder cover image for Early Bisbee product awaiting release.

Legend City

9781467130714

$24.99

Conceived and built in the early 1960s by local artist and advertising man Louis E. Crandall, Legend City was an ambitious and star-crossed mid-century attempt to bring a world-class theme park to the Phoenix metropolitan area. Despite daunting financial challenges and an unforgiving Arizona sun, the park managed to survive for two full decades, entertaining countless Arizonans and forging an enduring place for itself in the hearts and minds of local residents. A sad tale of broken dreams and economic failure on the surface, the story of Legend City is actually an exhilarating and fascinating chapter in the cultural history of Arizona.

Cover image for Legend City, isbn: 9781467130714

Flagstaff

9780738585109

$24.99

On July 4, 1876, members of the Second Boston Party made camp at Antelope Spring on their way to California. To celebrate the country's centennial, the men prepared a ponderosa pine tree by stripping it of its branches and creating a flagpole. With the arrival of the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad in 1882, this "flag staff" was once again discovered. The area was growing in population, so it became necessary to establish a post office. Many names were proposed for the new town, such as "Antelope City" and "Flagpole," but the name "Flag Staff" fit best. As an oasis in the middle of the southwest desert, Flagstaff has been a hub for many attractions surrounding the city, prompting visitors to send news of their experiences via a picture postcard. Many of the cards in this volume have messages and postmarks that help show a glimpse of what life was like in Arizona's High Country.

Vintage postcard history cover for Flagstaff with a historic main street photograph.

Tovrea Castle

9780738579139

$24.99

For more than 80 years, the remarkable, wedding cake–like structure located on the eastern fringe of Phoenix has intrigued residents and visitors alike. Perched on a granite promontory, Tovrea Castle at Carraro Heights reflects the dreams of several people. Alessio Carraro started construction in 1929, but the Depression spoiled his dream of a magnificent resort. E. A. Tovrea purchased the property in 1931 but died soon thereafter. Tovrea's widow, Della, after marrying William Plato Stuart in 1936, moved back and forth between the castle and Prescott, depending on the weather. When Stuart died in 1960, Della lived in the castle until her death in 1969. For many years after her death, the castle stood lonely and neglected, and it held its mystique because few people were ever invited inside. In 1993, the castle and surrounding acreage were acquired by the City of Phoenix for a new purpose: transformation into a city park.

Cover image for Tovrea Castle, isbn: 9780738579139

Super Parks! Grand Canyon National Park

9781467198912

$14.99

Sometimes the coolest places are right outside your front door. Learning about the Grand Canyon’s interesting and unique culture has never been so super fun!

Did you know that the Grand Canyon is home to more than 400 animal species? Or that the oldest rocks in the Canyon, called gneiss, were formed 1.8 billion years ago? What about the fact that President Theodore Roosevelt made the entire Grand Canyon a Game Reserve, protecting it for generations to come? From the North Rim to the South, Super Parks! Grand Canyon covers it all, and is sure to engage any reader with fun facts about the history, culture, and people who make this city great. See Havasu Falls, learn about Arizona’s indigenous peoples, and make your way across the SkyWalk, all right here. Take a peek inside to learn more about the impressive, unusual, super history of the Grand Canyon!

Cover image for Super Parks! Grand Canyon National Park, isbn: 9781467198912

Bowie

9780738585093

$24.99

Founded in 1880 along the Southern Pacific Railroad line, Bowie is located in northern Cochise County. It was originally named Teviston after Capt. James H. Tevis, operator of the Butterfield Overland Stage Station. Later, the town was named after nearby Fort Bowie, which was the scene of many battles with the Chiricahua Apaches. In 1886, the Apaches, including Geronimo and Cochise's son Naiche, were loaded on trains in Bowie and sent to Florida as prisoners of war. The Indian Wars in America were over. Bowie became a major shipping point for the military and the mines. A beautiful train station with a first-class hotel and dining room served the thousands of passengers traveling through. Great soil, pleasant climate, and artesian wells attracted homesteaders who grew every kind of fruit and vegetable imaginable. Ranchers in the nearby mountains shipped cattle by hundreds of carloads at a time. After US Highway 86 was completed, Bowie became a favorite stopping point for travelers. Pecans, pistachios, and wine from local vineyards attract visitors today.

Cover image for Bowie, isbn: 9780738585093

The Ghostly Tales of Prescott

9781467198790

$12.99

Ghost stories from Prescott, Arizona have never been so creepy, fun, and full of mystery!

The haunted history of Prescott comes to life—even when the main players are dead. Visit the Palace Saloon, but be sure to watch out for bottles thrown by phantom hands! Or attend a show at the Elks Opera House, but prepare to be distracted by wandering specters. Dive into this spooky chapter book for suspenseful tales of bumps in the night, paranormal investigations, and the unexplained; just be sure to keep the light on.

Cover image for The Ghostly Tales of Prescott, isbn: 9781467198790

Tolleson

9780738556307

$24.99

In 1907, five years before Arizona's statehood, Walter Gist Tolleson and his wife, Alethea, chose the dry Arizona Territory for their sick son. In 1910, they purchased and later subdivided 160 acres just 10 miles from a young settlement known as Phoenix. And in 1912, the town of Tolleson was born. By the 1940s and 1950s, the community had become the "Vegetable Center of the World." The area that was once an agricultural mecca is now divided by suburban sprawl, but Tolleson's original spirit remains. It is bustling with growing schools and industry, as well as world-class sports, shopping, and entertainment facilities, all surrounding a 6-square-mile community with small-town pride. That inexhaustible spirit continues to make Tolleson one of the greatest places in the country to live.

Tolleson cover depicting a crowded packing shed with workers gathered around a long table of produce.

Arizona's Fire Departments

9781467163088

$24.99

Arizona’s fire departments started forming while the area was still a territory. Early days of firefighting were largely done by residents rushing to help their neighbors with water bucket brigades trying, almost always unsuccessfully, to save houses or businesses.

In 1865, Wickenburg formed the first formal fire department to protect the growing mining town from the constant threat of fire. The next fire departments did not form until 1881 in Tombstone and Tucson. After that, fire departments developed quite rapidly as specific methods of firefighting were instituted. These included using hand-pulled fire wagons with water tanks and hoses and then horse-drawn apparatus with water or chemicals that were now being manufactured. By the time Arizona gained statehood in 1912, fourteen major towns had an official fire department. Today, there are over 140 fire districts and roughly 35 municipal fire departments.

Carol A. Schumacher is the chairperson for Arizona’s Queen Valley Fire District Board of Directors. She is also president of the Queen Valley Historical Society and authored Superior and Queen Valley with Arcadia Publishing. She visited every fire department in this book to research the history and gather photographs of these heroic firefighters. Chief Cecil Fendley, with the Queen Valley Fire District, is the longest-serving fire chief in Arizona, with 38 years of experience as of 2025.

Cover image for Arizona's Fire Departments, isbn: 9781467163088

Cemeteries of the Verde Valley

9781467163309

$24.99

Over one hundred photographs capture the lives of those who once claimed Arizona's Verde Valley as home.

Verde Valley is regarded as one of Arizona’s most beautiful and scenic areas, with its red rock vistas and cultural heritage. From Sedona to Jerome to Camp Verde and other towns in between, Verde Valley attracts scores of visitors and new residents every year. The area’s history and culture are also reflected in its simple but deeply reverent burial grounds, where many of the Verde Valley’s early pioneers are buried. Verde Valley burials include ranchers, farmers, civic leaders, and many others, such as Sedona Schnebly, for whom the town is named, and Arizona governor Raul Castro. Additionally, some isolated burials are noted.

Cover image for Cemeteries of the Verde Valley, isbn: 9781467163309

Navajo Weavers of the American Southwest

9781467129725

$24.99

From the mid-17th century to the present day, herding sheep, carding wool, spinning yarn, dyeing with native plants, and weaving on iconic upright looms have all been steps in the intricate process of Navajo blanket and rug making in the American Southwest. Beginning in the late 1800s, amateur and professional photographers documented the Diné (Navajo) weavers and their artwork, and the images they captured tell the stories of the artists, their homes, and the materials, techniques, and designs they used. Many postcards illustrate popular interest surrounding weaving as an indigenous art form, even as economic, social, and political realities influenced the craft. These historical pictures illuminate perceived traditional weaving practices. The authors' accompanying narratives deepen the perspective and relate imagery to modern life.

Cover image for Navajo Weavers of the American Southwest, isbn: 9781467129725

Wicked Flagstaff

9781467156394

$24.99

A rowdy red-light district, secret tunnels, and scathing newspaper editorials.

Once home to sheep herders and ranchers, the railroad brought a new breed of pioneer to Flagstaff. Entrepreneurs and outlaws alike flocked to the growing town, some finding success and others finding their end at Greenwood Cemetery. When saloons and bawdy houses rebelled against new blue laws, quick-thinking mayor Thomas E. Pollock found a compromise that appeased most locals. Incorrigible characters like Commodore Perry Owens and Ben Doney could be found in town at the Parlor Saloon, while Dutch May Prescott kept the red-light district in the black.

Author Susan Johnson uncovers the weird and wicked side of Flagstaff.

Cover image for Wicked Flagstaff, isbn: 9781467156394

Latter-day Saints in Mesa

9780738558578

$24.99

The city of Mesa initially began with a tiny colonizing expedition sent from Utah by leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1876. These devoted pioneers and others who followed faced an arduous trek, oppressive heat, and drought but persevered in their mandate. Two years later, Andrew S. Gibbons predicted the Salt River Valley would become "the garden spot of Arizona," noting a climate well adapted to raising grapes, cotton, sugar cane, oranges, and olives. Agriculture became the foundation of the town of Lehi, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, and the city of Mesa, now the third-largest municipality in the state of Arizona. This retrospective highlights both the growth of the church in Mesa and the unique experiences of its members from those early days to the modern era.

Latter-day Saints in Mesa cover featuring a large temple building and crowds gathered on the steps in sepia

The Elks Opera House

9780738585420

$24.99

For over 100 years, the Elks Opera House has been a landmark of the cultural scene in Prescott, Arizona, and the western United States. In 1904, the people of Prescott raised $15,000 toward a performance hall to be included in the Elks Building. The original structure featured opera boxes that were later removed to adapt to the demands of motion pictures, and the entire proscenium arch was covered with wood paneling. In 2010, the Elks Opera House Foundation completed major renovations to restore the original 1905 grandeur of the theater and the 1928 marquee, which was paid for by grants from local charitable foundations, Arizona historic preservation funds, and generous participation by businesses and individuals. The Elks Building was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

Cover image for The Elks Opera House, isbn: 9780738585420

Irish Arizona

9780738556475

$24.99

The Irish greatly contributed to the creation of the territory and state of Arizona due to their enterprising personalities and persistence in a difficult environment. The first documented Irishman in Arizona was Hugo O'Conor, who established the Presidio of Tucson for the Spanish government in 1775. Sheriff Bucky O'Neal of Yavapai County and the Brophy and Riordan families left their mark on Arizona's landscape as well as the Irish-born Sisters of Mercy, who established St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix. This photographic history identifies famous and lesser-known Arizona settlers who were ranchers, merchants, miners, lawmen, explorers, soldiers, and healers. Irish Arizona offers a unique perspective on an ethnic group not typically associated with the American Southwest.

Cover of Irish Arizona depicting a desert frontier scene with cowboys and a small shack.

The Wigwam Resort

9780738548258

$24.99

The evolution of an arid desert area into the verdant oasis that is the Wigwam Resort was ultimately brought about by an unlikely crop needed by an important American corporation in the early 20th century. The crop was long-staple cotton and the corporation was the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. When the U.S. Department of Agriculture discovered that Arizona's Salt River Valley was an ideal location to domestically grow long-staple cotton, Goodyear purchased 16,000 acres in the desert west of Phoenix to cultivate the crop for their newly developed pneumatic tire. The company built a three-room lodge, originally called the "Organization House," for the executives that came to oversee the farming operations. The location became a popular winter retreat within the company, and in 1929, Goodyear expanded the facilities and opened "The Wigwam" as a hotel. As the years progressed, amenities such as golf and fine dining were added, and the Wigwam Resort became one of the premier luxury destinations in the Southwest.

The Wigwam Resort book cover featuring a vintage wagon with people in front of a lodge.

Legendary Locals of Buckeye

9781467102001

$24.99

In 1884, Malie Monroe Jackson began and named a canal Buckeye in honor of his native state, Ohio, the Buckeye state. In 1886, Thomas Newton Clanton added 10 miles to the canal. The following year, he applied for a post office, and on March 10, 1888, the post office, named Buckeye, was established. Clanton platted a townsite and named the town Sidney, though why he chose that name remains a mystery. Beginning in 1910, advances in transportation put the community on the map, and Sidney became Buckeye. Hugh Watson, founder of the Buckeye Valley Bank, became the town's first mayor in 1929. On January 1, 2014, Buckeye became the newest city in Arizona. This newest volume also celebrates today's Buckeye settlers, such as Levi Beard, Tony Youngker, Clemie Arnold, and Bob Doster, DVM, updating Buckeye's colorful history of notable residents.

Cover image for Legendary Locals of Buckeye, isbn: 9781467102001

Coolidge

9781467133852

$24.99

Even by Arizona standards, Coolidge is a relatively new town. Its original site was platted in 1925 with a modest 80 acres purchased by Phoenix businessman Richard J. Jones, and it would be another 20 years before the town was incorporated. Nevertheless, the Coolidge environs possess a rich and colorful history going back several thousand years when the ancestral Sonoran people began building permanent structures and constructing canals to divert Gila River water for their crops. Two hundred years after the ancient civilization abandoned the area, Spanish explorers passed through on their way to California. But it was ultimately the establishment of main line rail service, the construction of a dam, and the building of the only north-south highway between Tucson and Phoenix that led to the formation of this town named after America's 30th president.

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St. Johns

9780738556284

$24.99

Settled in 1872 by Spanish pioneers from New Mexico, the town of St. Johns began as a farming and sheep-raising community far removed from the county seat and territorial capital of Prescott. Soon after, the Mormon Church, represented by Bishop David King Udall, purchased 1,200 acres for Mormon colonizers to settle. With the building of the Lyman Dam, the town was finally able to provide adequate water for crops and began to thrive. The building of a power plant in the 1970s doubled the population of St. Johns, but many of the original settlers' descendants are still there as well, canning their gardens' harvest and dusting from their homes the dirt brought in by the wind that never stops blowing. Although the streets are now paved and many of the old buildings and homes have long been razed, St. Johns has a unique story to tell.

Cover of St Johns from the Images of America series showing a 19th century town street with horse drawn wagons

Latter-day Saints in Tucson

9780738596372

$24.99

The Sonoran Desert may seem an unlikely place for a farming community, but members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had perfected the art of irrigation in Utah, and in 1900, Nephi Bingham believed he could make the desert blossom even amid saguaros and creosote. With water from the Rillito River and influxes of members from St. David, Douglas, the Gila Valley, and the colonies in Mexico, Binghampton became a distinctive enclave of Latter-day Saints in the otherwise non-LDS community of Tucson. When a second congregation was established in Tucson proper, LDS members began to flourish and participated in nearly every aspect of city life. Today, this heritage is celebrated with a monument to the 1846 entry of the Mormon Battalion and the first US flag flown over Tucson.

Sepia cover for Images of America Latter-day Saints in Tucson with musicians playing instruments.

Phoenix Beer

9781467140980

$23.99

Despite many challenges, Phoenix has become an oasis of beer.

Phoenix’s brewing history dates back to the mid-1800s, when small breweries had to contend with brackish water, searing desert heat and no refrigeration. By the time Prohibition arrived, the state’s breweries were tapped out. It wasn’t until the 1930s that Arizona Brewing Company left the first indelible mark on the Copper State’s thirst. When its last call came, a new force called Four Peaks rose from the ashes as majestically as the mountains for which it is named. Author Dave Clark guides you from the area’s beer icons of yesterday to the rapidly evolving brewing scene of today. Discover and appreciate Phoenix beer, from the classic, clean pilsner from Helton Brewing that rivals Germany’s best to Fate’s local taste of the Southwest, Hatch Chile Gatos.

Cover image for Phoenix Beer, isbn: 9781467140980

Nogales:

9780738524054

$24.99

Nogales inhabits La Frontera, the Arizona-Mexico border country that exists as much as a state of mind as a place. Here among the saguaro under the Sonoran desert sun came conquerors under the flags of Spain, Mexico, the United States, and the Confederate States. From the arrival of Fray Marcos de Niza in the Ambos Nogales territory in 1539 when Nogales was part of New Spain, through the marches of Conquistadores along Spain's El Camino Real or Royal Road, to the exploits of Apache warriors and the Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa, Nogales has been at the center of life on the frontier.

Nogales: Life and Times on the Frontier explores the rich history of this area seasoned by cultures from across the border and around the world. Tales of the bustling ranching, railroad, mining, military, and produce industries are brought to life through the eyes of figures like rancher Pete Kitchen and West Point's first African-American graduate Henry Ossian Flipper. These unique stories are highlighted by striking images from vintage postcards, period photographs, detailed maps, and other illustrations that chronicle the journey from lonely Spanish outpost to thriving modern gateway.

Nogales Life and Times on the Frontier book cover with a vintage group photograph

The Phoenix Sound

9781467118989

$21.99

In 1956, a fresh-faced Sanford Clark recorded The Fool with guitarist Al Casey at Floyd Ramsey's small Phoenix recording studio. Written by local deejay Lee Hazlewood, the song became a top-ten Billboard hit nationwide and launched a new trailblazing era of Arizona music. Their success paved the way for other Phoenix acts and producers to chart national hits. Grammy-winning audio engineer Jack Miller started out in Ramsey's studio, and Hazlewood produced rock hall of famer Duane Eddy's debut album, Have ‘Twangy' Guitar, Will Travel. These early artists pioneered a sound that inspired Arizona's best musicians from Waylon Jennings and Buck Owens to Stevie Nicks and Linda Ronstadt. Join former radio and broadcast personality Jim West for the story and soundtrack to the early days of music in the Valley of the Sun.

Cover image for The Phoenix Sound, isbn: 9781467118989

Phoenix's Greater Encanto-Palmcroft Neighborhood

9781467131254

$24.99

The Encanto-Palmcroft neighborhood in central Phoenix was created in the twilight of the "City Beautiful Movement," a philosophy that supported beautiful surroundings to promote moral and social order. Palmcroft was developed in 1927 by prominent Phoenix booster Dwight B. Heard and William G. Hartranft, father of the Phoenix parks system. Encanto, "The Enchanting," was founded by Lloyd C. Lakin and George T. Peter in 1928. These custom Period Revival homes were styled as bucolic refuges from the bustle of downtown. Even into the 21st century, this neighborhood maintains its integrity and significance due to the participation of residents who realize its historic importance.

Sepia toned book cover showing a palm lined river with people in canoes Phoenix's Greater Encanto-Palmcroft Neighborhood

Holbrook and the Petrified Forest

9780738548852

$24.99

Largely a sea of sand and sand-turned-to-stone, the cold desert at the junction of the Rio Puerco and the Little Colorado Rivers seems an unlikely place for human settlement. Indeed, even the Puerco and Little Colorado seldom visit, and when they do, they sweep away dams and ditches and sometimes more. But with the coming of the railroad in 1881, the community of Holbrook became a hub of commerce for Mormons, cowboys, Native Americans, railroad men, and the military. Hashknife cowboys brought cattle to ship to market and stayed to spend their money in saloons. Visitors from the East came to see the Triassic forest and stayed to eat in Fred Harvey's elegant dining room, a series of five boxcars on a sidetrack. Route 66 and the Santa Fe Railway defined this tiny town and made it a historic crossroads in northern Arizona.

Book cover Holbrook and the Petrified Forest featuring a sepia town street with wagons and people.

The Whiskey Row Fire of 1900

9781467143158

$23.99

A fire of frightening magnitude was not a question of "if" but "when" in young Prescott, and on July 14, 1900, the feared conflagration found its spark. After several years of drought, a candle slipping from its holder was all it took to utterly destroy Prescott's business district, red-light district and famous Whiskey Row. People grabbed what they could to rescue it from the flames, but the party didn't stop. Even the piano from one saloon was moved to a new location, and people continued to play. Author Bradley Courtney explores the conditions leading up to the disaster, the surprising details of its effects and the amazing recovery that shapes the town today.

Book cover for The Whiskey Row Fire of 1900 with a smoky red sunset and ruined street scene

Parker

9780738556383

$24.99

In 1908, Congress authorized the town site of Parker to be reserved and set apart. The boundaries of the surveyed and platted town site are located within the interior of the Colorado River Indian Reservation, which was established in 1865. The federal government initially intended the town site as the location to create housing for employees of the Arizona and California Railroad Company, which had already begun using the location as a division point. By 1918, funds arising from the sale of town lots were needed for the continued construction of a pumping plant and irrigation project on the reservation. News outlets emphasized the business potential from both mining interests in the area and agricultural development once the reservation lands were open. However, as the test of time has proven, it is the enjoyment of activities on the Colorado River that keep bringing people back to this small desert town.

Parker book cover with sepia photo of a vintage street scene and a classic car.

Circle Z Guest Ranch

9781467116626

$29.99

Nestled in Sonoita Valley along the banks of Sonoita Creek, just 15 miles north of Mexico, Circle Z Guest Ranch welcomes vacationers to experience a taste of the Old West, with the comfortable pleasures of a traditional family-style ranch but without the risks. Horseback riding, relaxation, and cowboy cookouts have been the ranch's main attractions for the past 90 years, earning Circle Z the distinction of being the oldest continuously operating guest ranch in Arizona. It evolved from a four-room adobe homestead to a working cattle ranch before becoming a highly profitable sheepherding operation. In 1924, brothers Carl and Lee Zinsmeister arrived in Patagonia with a vision of developing a dude ranch with a resort feel. They purchased 5,000 acres of the San José de Sonoita land grant, which included the Sanford estate. Circle Z opened in 1926 and quickly became one of the finest guest ranches in the state. Today, the Nash family operates this memorable ranch famous for its well-trained horses and miles of scenic trails.

Cover image for Circle Z Guest Ranch, isbn: 9781467116626

Phoenix's Ahwatukee-Foothills

9780738548555

$24.99

South of Phoenix's South Mountain, west of Interstate 10, north of the Gila River Indian Community, and east of Arizona state land lies the picturesque village of Ahwatukee-Foothills, home to some 87,000 people. Its proximity to adjacent cities, cultural centers, shopping, and dining combines with these natural boundaries to give the area its beautiful topography, sense of peaceful isolation, and high desirability as a great place to live, work, and play. But long before there was a freeway, the area was part of the Kyrene farming community, a rural patchwork of hardy pioneer families typifying the country's agricultural way of life during the first half of the 20th century.

Cover image for Phoenix's Ahwatukee-Foothills, isbn: 9780738548555

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Phoenix

9781467144681

$21.99

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul started in Paris, France, in 1833 and is now established in more than 150 countries throughout the world. The Phoenix Council was founded in 1946 at St. Mary's Catholic Church by a group of visionary individuals who came together to address poverty in Phoenix. The seeds they planted have grown into a multifaceted organization, providing much-needed assistance to thousands of individuals and families throughout central and northern Arizona. Author Frank Barrios shares the Phoenix Council's history, from its beginnings as a small thrift store and rented restaurant space in the early 1950s through today's services, which include five dining rooms, seventeen thrift stores and myriad special assistance programs.

Collage cover for The Society of St Vincent de Paul Phoenix with volunteers cooking, sorting supplies, and gardening.

Golf in Scottsdale

9780738556321

$24.99

For 100 years, golf in Scottsdale, Arizona, has challenged and entertained professionals, duffers, and spectators alike. Courses have evolved from the oiled sand courses of the early 1900s to championship layouts with breathtaking scenery--lush green fairways surrounded by cacti, boulders, and desert washes. Scottsdale's favorable winter climate creates an ideal setting for international golf tournaments, like the FBR Open, featuring stellar tour professionals and watchable celebrities. Scottsdale-area golf businesses enhance the game and the local economy. Rarely seen images in this new retrospective have been gathered from a variety of local archives, historical societies, and private collections.

Golf in Scottsdale cover with a sepia framed photo on a dark background and an orange frame

Miracle on the Salt River

9781626196940

$21.99

Following enactment of the Reclamation Act, the first federally constructed dam broke ground in Arizona's Salt River Valley in 1905. With the inauguration of Roosevelt Dam, the distant dream of an abundant life in the desert became a reality. The dam and farmer-operated water distribution system tamed the vicious drought, created arable land and became an irrigation model for the West. With the water came farmers and families, all eager for the chance to build new lives and communities. Many were just like the Haley family, farmers from Kentucky and Missouri who settled in the area and whose descendants still call the valley home. Follow their journey and discover a snapshot of the life and community that grew from the ditches of the valley. Author Meredith Haley Whiteley explores this story from the ordinary person's perspective, weaving valley history through drought, loss, plenty and joy.

Cover image for Miracle on the Salt River, isbn: 9781626196940

Navajo and Hopi Art in Arizona

9781467117890

$24.99

Arizona's Navajo and Hopi cultures span multiple generations, and their descendants continue to honor customs from thousands of years ago. Contemporary artists like Hopi katsina doll carver Manuel Chavarria and Navajo weaver Barbara Teller Ornelas use traditional crafts and techniques to preserve the stories of their ancestors. Meanwhile, emerging mixed-media artists like Melanie Yazzie expand the boundaries of tradition by combining Navajo influences with contemporary culture and styles. Local author Rory Schmitt presents the region's outstanding native artists and their work, studios and inspirations.

Cover image for Navajo and Hopi Art in Arizona, isbn: 9781467117890

Snowflake

9780738548388

$24.99

A temple with the traditional angel-tipped spire stands on a little juniper-covered hill in the northeastern Arizona town of Snowflake as a testament to the hard work and sacrifices of early Mormon pioneers. These ranching and farming families, sent from fruitful Utah to colonize a land only marginally suitable for farming, became experts in irrigation as they struggled to utilize the waters of Silver Creek and the Little Colorado River. Through sheer determination, they turned alluvium into verdant fields, and the surrounding well-drained Great Basin Desert Shrub became their pastures. But their religion and their families were always the main focus. Today the growing communities of Snowflake, Taylor, and Shumway attract new residents and visitors alike with the beauty of their natural setting, mild yet distinct seasons, and hometown charm. Many historic pioneer-era buildings have been restored to honor the area's unique past.

Snowflake cover from Images of America featuring a vintage parade scene with a truck and flags.

Graham County

9780738548487

$24.99

Originally located in Doña Ana County in New Mexico Territory, the area that eventually became Graham County, Arizona, was part of a vast high desert landscape that stretched all the way to the Colorado River. In 1881, the Arizona legislature broke from the tradition of naming counties after local Native American tribes when it carved Graham County out of Pima and Apache Counties and named it for the 10,516-foot Mount Graham, the highest peak in the area. The last refuge of the legendary Native American war leader Geronimo, the region also boasts some of southeastern Arizona's most beautiful topography, including the Santa Teresa Range, Mount Turnbull, the Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness, Roper Lake, the Pinaleño Range, and the Gila River. Today more than 33,000 residents call Graham County home.

Graham County Images of America cover showing women in white uniforms serving food in a cafeteria.

Avondale

9780738548432

$24.99

Founded in 1896 and originally known as Coldwater, the town of Avondale was settled along the banks of the Agua Fria River under the leadership of William "Billy" Graham Moore, a former blacksmith who supposedly ran with the Civil War's infamous Cantrell's Raiders. Moore operated a freight station on the west bank of the river, but after an argument with a postal inspector who proclaimed that homemade "hooch" was not to be sold in an enterprise that handled government mail, the post office was moved to the Avondale Ranch and took on the ranch's name as the Avondale Post Office. Since that time, Avondale has grown tremendously to become a thoroughly modern city, near the heart of the Phoenix metropolitan area.