Arcadia Bestsellers

Join author Fred Whitted as he recounts the unique history in this visual record of the black community in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

A city known historically for its ethnic diversity, Fayetteville has truly served as a leader and model in the state by providing opportunity to the African-American community. During the South's antebellum era, freedmen and local slaves established a strong black identity in the city, one that would grow cosmopolitan and evolve over the decades, surviving wars, depressions, and social inequalities. This work, with over 200 images, relates the black contribution to the city, featuring its earliest civic leaders, some of its older schools, such as Fayetteville State University, and a few of its outstanding citizens.

Located near the center of North Carolina, the Lee County area has been defined by transportation for the past two centuries.

From navigation along the Cape Fear and Deep Rivers to early plank roads, crisscrossing railroad lines, and major U.S. highways, this area has seen countless travelers come and go by boat, car, horse, buggy, train, and motor vehicle. Along the way, a number of the travelers settled, and communities formed. Through the efforts of leaders such as Jonesboro and Sanford, a new county was formed for these towns and villages in 1907-1908. Lee County was the 98th county formed in North Carolina, and despite its relatively small land area, it has a rich and vital history.

Authors Sue Greenberg and Jan Kahn once again delve into Asheville's rich past. This new companion to the acclaimed Asheville: Volume I resumes our look at this colorful city in the mountains.

In its early days, Asheville quickly developed into a resort getaway for those seeking fresh air and high society during the late 1800s. This intriguing book continues our journey, this time taking us from the end of World War I to the 1960s. The over 200 rare postcards presented here show how Asheville emerged from a period of hard times brought on by a great flood and a country at war. Once World War I ended, a feeling of newfound freedom overtook Asheville's citizens and the fast tempo of the earlier days soon resumed. Asheville once again became a destination for travelers—this time the automobile brought sightseers to the mountains and many new roadside motels and restaurants thrived.

200 black-and-white photographs and captions revisit the days when the communities within Burke County were just beginning, and chronicle the memorable events, important personalities, and significant architecture that helped to sculpt today's county.

Situated where the rolling hills meet the majestic mountains in western North Carolina, Morganton and Burke County share a long, vivid, and unique history together. Having been blessed with natural wonders-from the pristine Lake James and the Catawba River to the mysterious Brown Mountain Lights and the Linville Gorge-Burke County has attracted people of all walks of life for centuries. Morganton and Burke County is a celebratory volume that expresses the fascinating storied past of this county, its seat, and the friendly residents who have called them home.  Scenes of dirt roads lined with horses and buggies rather than automobiles and varied views of the long-standing Burke County courthouse are just a few of the images that will no doubt spark the memories of longtime residents, while allowing members of the younger generations to marvel at the way this Tarheel county once looked.

Take a nostalgic journey through North Carolina with this captivating book filled with vintage images of the Tar Heel State. The book features stunning photographs captured by renowned photographers, showcasing the rich history and culture of North Carolina.

The Images of America book series by Arcadia Publishing is known for its incredible collection of books that transport readers back in time and this book is no exception.

North Carolina State University provides a unique look into the history of this university from its beginnings in 1889 to present day using vintage images.

North Carolina State University opened as a land grant institution in 1889. Born out of debate and indecision, it was established as the North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts—the college of the common man. There was indifference and resistance from the educated about the usefulness of a program for the sons of farmers and mechanics with a curriculum of useful and practical arts. Within three decades, the school surpassed all expectations in its contributions to the state's economy. In 2000, NC State was the largest educational facility in North Carolina and had outgrown its early derogatory epithets. This work passes the formality and function of the brick and mortar of buildings and gets to the heart of the students, alumni, and educational community. It is truly a celebration of possibilities and dedication and a tribute to the history of North Carolina State University and the citizens of North Carolina.

Manteo embraces the northern part of Roanoke Island, the historic island inset from North Carolina’s Outer Banks.

It is best known as the site of Sir Walter Raleigh’s first settlement in the New World.In the early 1800s, the town was a small, unnamed fishing village on Shallowbag Bay.Roughly 300 years after the colonists mysteriously disappeared, the town was named Manteo after the Native American who befriended the settlers and was baptized by them.The peaceful life enjoyed by islanders radically changed when they were overwhelmed by Union army troops, Confederate prisoners, and 3,000 former slaves who made up the Freedmen’s Colony during the Civil War.In 1899, Manteo incorporated and became the commercial and governmental center of Dare County.National recognition came several decades later in 1937 with the production of Paul Green’s outdoor drama The Lost Colony.Manteo has undergone many timely and creative renovations, including an ambitious project that culminated in 1984 with the celebration of our nation’s 400th anniversary on the island where America first began.

Authors Deb Schillo and Barbara Miller take the reader through the fascinating history of the Southern Highland Craft Guild through a series of charming images and narratives of the craftspeople and artists throughout the 20th and into the 21st century that have made the Guild the world-renown cultural staple that it is today.

Rising from the banks of the Cape Fear River like a spectral stage, Wilmington, North Carolina, remains one of America's most haunted cities. Its beautiful homes and tidal waterways belie a history of violence.

Wilmington is a true theatre of horror, the cast of which includes runaway slaves, children lost at sea, murderous lovers and fallen women of the night who linger in Paradise Alley. Wilmington's ghosts make the Cape Fear region worthy of its name. Author John Hirchak calls upon years of experience as the owner and guide of the Ghost Walk of Old Wilmington to lead his readers on a journey down back alleys and docksides, stopping at various points along the way to listen to the lingering whispers of generations long dead. A wonderful mix of humor and horror, Ghosts of Old Wilmington will delight any reader with an interest in Wilmington's unsavory past.

Did you know that escapees from an escargot farm keep the snail police on their toes?

The Outer Banks has a long history of unconventional characters and curious occurrences. A larger-than-life likeness of Sir Walter Raleigh was once beheaded in Manteo, and the town gave itself a royal makeover in honor of a visit from a princess. The village of Corolla was integral to the early years of the Space Race. Local author Sarah Downing shares these and many more offbeat tales.

Elizabeth City is a volume that shares with readers keepsakes from the town's defining years. Vintage photographs, many taken by well-known Elizabeth City photographer William Henry Zoeller, come alive through descriptive text. Spotlighted are the many residents who contributed to the city's heritage, whether publicly or in a smaller, more personal fashion, including Dr. A.L. Pendleton and his family in the city's first automobile and the Wright Brothers who stayed in the city for a while before making their way to Kitty Hawk. Other images offer glimpses of the ever-changing streets and waterfront, as well as the various forms of architecture that have lined both over the years.

North Carolina musicians pioneered and mastered the genres of old-time and bluegrass music.

The roots of American music are deeply grounded in North Carolina's music history. Doc Watson played mountain fiddle tunes on guitar. He emerged as the father of flatpicking and forever changed the role of the guitar in American music. Charlie Poole created techniques that eventually defined bluegrass, and folks around the state heard his banjo on some of the most important old-time recordings. Rising star Rhiannon Giddens keeps the music alive today through new interpretations of classic old-time and bluegrass songs. Elizabeth Carlson profiles these and other masters of string music in this fascinating record of North Carolina's musical past, present and future.

Located in the rural northeastern part of North Carolina, Somerset was cumulatively home to more than 800 enslaved blacks and four generations of a planter family.

When the institution of slavery ended in 1865, Somerset Place was the third largest plantation in North Carolina. During the 80 years that Somerset was an active plantation, hundreds of acres were farmed for rice, corn, oats, wheat, peas, beans, and flax. Today, Somerset Place is preserved as a state historic site offering a realistic view of what it was like for the slaves and freemen who once lived and worked on the plantation, once one of the Upper South's most prosperous enterprises.

Ashe County Revisited focuses on the distinctive geographical features of Ashe County and how the geography shaped the remarkable pioneers who settled the region. These hardy folk came from the relative security of the Piedmont and valleys of Virginia and North Carolina to a mountainous region dominated by 5,000-foot peaks, fertile bottomland, and vast stretches of timberland and meadowland. They forded the many streams feeding the two forks of the New River and carved roads around and through sheer granite walls. They mined ore from the mountains and felled vast timber resources before replanting the forests and developing new industries. The character of Ashe County reflects how these pioneers learned to live with the demands of the harsh mountainous environment. The residents of the county and their myriad accomplishments are celebrated once again in a stunning visual history.

-- General overview of the picturesque county located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

-- Walking and driving tours through Henderson County s most fascinating historic areas, including Hendersonville, Flat Rock and Fletcher.

-- Images and illustrations of the most important sites, from churches and historic houses to cemeteries and inns.

-- Timeline of key events capturing the historic spirit and heritage of Henderson County.

Written by accomplished historian and author Alexia Jones Helsley and her father, Dr. George Alexander Jones, founder of Henderson County Genealogical and Historical Society and director of Henderson County History.

Asheville, North Carolina has a long history with beer, one that is still easily seen in this city today, from moonshine to craft beers and breweries.

Drinking local harks back to the founding of Asheville in 1798. Whether it be moonshine or craft beer, the culture of local hooch is deeply ingrained in the mountain dwellers of Western North Carolina. Both residents and visitors alike enjoy Asheville's wealth of breweries, brewpubs, beer festivals and dedicated retailers. That enthusiasm earned the city the coveted Beer City, USA title year after year and prompted West Coast beer giants Sierra Nevada, New Belgium and Oskar Blues to establish production facilities here. Beer writer and educator Anne Fitten Glenn recounts this intoxicating history, from the suds-soaked saloons of Hell's Half Acre to the region's explosion into a beer Mecca.

The enduring spirit of Wake Forest is celebrated in this memorable collection of more than 200 vintage photographs.

Wake Forest College was founded in 1834 to train Baptist ministers. Now a nationally and internationally recognized university, it is renowned for both its graduate and undergraduate programs. Over 6,000 students attend this university nestled within the beauty of the North Carolina Piedmont. The school's motto, pro humanitate, meaning ""for the good of humanity,"" reflects the university's emphasis on the importance of values, ideals, human service experiences, and faith in the educational process. Wake Forest University explores the founding of the college in 1834, its move to Winston-Salem in 1956, and its development into a modern university beginning in the 1960s. Wake Forest University features many notable alumni that walked the campus pathways including Arnold Palmer, Tim Duncan, Brian Piccolo, W.D. Cash, and Al Hunt.

Discover the story behind the potent partnership between High Point University and the furniture industry.

High Point University was founded in 1924 as a small liberal arts college. The High Point Furniture Market was founded in 1921 and has since grown to be the largest wholesale furniture market in the world. Over the last century industry and university have developed an ongoing, mutually beneficial partnership that has resulted in industry-specific programs being offered to students at the school. Discover the history of this relationship and the impact that real-world exposure has had on both the furniture business and the students. Read the stories of several High Point University graduates who are successfully employed in various positions throughout the industry.

High Point professor and furniture industry veteran Richard Bennington unearths the history of a dynamic partnership.

Before the American Revolution, the Fight for Liberty Began in North Carolina

The Regulators Movement in colonial North Carolina was one of the earliest and most powerful acts of rebellion against British rule in America—five years before the official start of the American Revolution. In the 1760s and early 1770s, thousands of backcountry settlers rose up to protest excessive taxation, corrupt royal governors, and a justice system that favored the wealthy elite.This gripping historical account uncovers how the Regulator Rebellion helped ignite revolutionary ideas in the Southern colonies and reshaped the political landscape of the American frontier. The conflict alienated Loyalists, radicalized future Patriots, and forced many to take sides in a brewing civil war. In fact, the movement’s legacy played a crucial role in the Revolutionary War’s Southern Campaign, where the final and most brutal battles were fought—and lost. Join Author Marcia Phillips for the forgotten history of the first American freedom fighters who challenged tyranny and laid the groundwork for independence. The story of the Regulators is essential to understanding how the struggle for American liberty began not in Boston, but in the hills and backcountry of pre-Revolutionary North Carolina.

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.

Before the American Revolution, the Fight for Liberty Began in North Carolina

The Regulators Movement in colonial North Carolina was one of the earliest and most powerful acts of rebellion against British rule in America—five years before the official start of the American Revolution. In the 1760s and early 1770s, thousands of backcountry settlers rose up to protest excessive taxation, corrupt royal governors, and a justice system that favored the wealthy elite. This gripping historical account uncovers how the Regulator rebellion helped ignite revolutionary ideas in the southern colonies and reshaped the political landscape of the American frontier. The conflict alienated Loyalists, radicalized future Patriots, and forced many to take sides in a brewing civil war. In fact, the movement’s legacy played a crucial role in the Revolutionary War’s Southern Campaign, where the final and most brutal battles were fought—and lost. Join Author Marcia Phillips for the forgotten history of the first American freedom fighters who challenged tyranny and laid the groundwork for independence. The story of the Regulators is essential to understanding how the struggle for American liberty began not in Boston, but in the hills and backcountry of pre-Revolutionary North Carolina.

Although much of New Bern's architecture has existed for decades, paved streets, cars, and power lines offer a much different feel than did the dusty roads traveled by horses in days gone by. Then and Now: New Bern revisits historic locations in the city and offers comparative photographs of the location in both past and present times. Caleb Bradham's original pharmacy, where Pepsi-Cola originated, is depicted along with the location today, where a store exists that is dedicated to the drink's origin. Also illustrated are many of the town's most beloved landmarks and historic homes, all of which retain an old-fashioned flair that characterizes New Bern. In addition, the book offers the beautiful Tryon Palace during its restoration as well as today.

DO YOU KNOW…WHAT special museum floats at the port of Wilmington? (Hint: It used to be a city at sea!)

HOW pine trees contributed to the state's nickname? (Hint: The nickname really started to "stick" after the Civil War!) Find these answers and more in the North Carolina edition of What's So Great About This State?

Cape Fear Lost celebrates places that have vanished from present day Wilmington, North Carolina. In this volume of more than 200 photographs, you will be able to explore the Wilmington of a bygone era.

Progress is a contradictory term, one that inherently means an improvement of luxury and an advancement of technology, yet usually at the expense of a community's identity, traditions, and history. Though many buildings survived Civil War skirmishes and Northern occupation during Reconstruction, these same structures did not escape the plans of ambitious entrepreneurs and thus disappeared from Wilmington's landscape, only to be replaced, over time, by shopping plazas and nationally recognizable commercial facades. Cape Fear Lost celebrates places that have vanished from present day Wilmington. In this volume of more than 200 photographs, you will be able to explore the Wilmington of a bygone era, one punctuated by unpaved tree-lined streets and architecturally diverse dwellings. As you thumb through these pages, you will experience firsthand the beauty of many former mansions scattered throughout the downtown area, familiar churches, civic buildings and schools that once dotted the cityscape, the many businesses that utilized the pedestrian, horse-and-wagon, and shipping traffic along Market Street, and the transformation of Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach from humble summer bungalows into major tourist retreats. These varied scenes allow you an extraordinary insight into this coastal communities changing character over the past century and a half.

Lincoln County Revisited, a companion to Images of America: Lincoln County, features never-before-seen vintage photographs that chronicle the history of the county from the late 19th century through the 20th century.

Known as The Golf Coast, and famous for its south-facing beaches, the South Brunswick Islands have a history built on functionality and reinvented as a vacation hotspot.

The South Brunswick Islands—Holden Beach, Ocean Isle Beach, and Sunset Beach—are man-made barrier islands formed when the North Carolina section of the Intracoastal Waterway was constructed between 1930 and 1940.

In the late 1940s, Odell Williamson dreamed of a tranquil, family-vacation island and began buying tracts of land that would later become Ocean Isle Beach. This seven-mile-long island was incorporated as the town of Ocean Isle Beach in 1959. Mannon C. Gore envisioned the three miles of Sunset Beach as a peaceful residential community when he purchased the island in 1955. With over eight miles of oceanfront, Holden Beach is the longest and the largest of the three islands in the group. Each island boasts a unique character and has remained quiet with pristine beaches and a focus on families.

Join author and photojournalist Pamela M. Koontz as she takes you on a trip back through the history of this beautiful North Carolina island destination.

Linville Gorge is one of the few examples of old-growth forest in the Blue Ridge Mountains and draws thousands of visitors every year.

The Gorge was approved by Congress in 1964. The Grand Canyon of the East was named for William Linville, a member of a party of long hunters in 1766 who fell victim to a Shawnee attack. The difficult terrain made early settlements nearly impossible and logging unprofitable. Unique rock formations, from Table Rock to the Chimneys, and miles of trails attract thousands of climbers, hikers and adventure seekers each year. In this revised edition, author Christopher Blake draws on American colonial reports, travel writings, diaries, fiction and numerous archival records to weave a narrative fabric of an American treasure.

The Outer Banks of North Carolina attract those with a conviction to dream and do. Explorers, pirates, lifesavers and the world's first pilots decorate the halls of local history.

Some of the Outer Banks' greatest accomplishments are due to daring women who pushed the odds. Eleanor Dare created a new life amidst a doomed colonial expedition, Chrissy Bowser found her freedom as the Civil War rocked Roanoke Island, and Irene Tate watched the Wright brothers assemble their glider in her front yard then went on to become a record-setting pilot herself. The women in this book fought for their homes. They stepped outside the traditional roles of their day and age, seeking to preserve its history and heritage. They saved sand dunes and moved lighthouses.

Local author Hannah West tells the stories of these remarkable women.

Granville County Revisited is a fantastic companion to Granville County. The second volume includes classic photographs of the Granville County Courthouse, Hall's Drug Store, Oxford College, Creedmoor High School, Camp Butner, Abram's Plains, and many other Granville County landmarks. With over 200 vintage black-and-white photographs, the book explores Oxford, Creedmoor, Butner, Stovall, and other surrounding communities. Every page reveals another aspect of the evolution of Granville County, its buildings, streets, and people.

The Images of America series celebrates the history of neighborhoods, towns, and cities across the country. Using archival photographs, each title presents the distinctive stories from the past that shape the character of the community today. Arcadia is proud to play a part in the preservation of local heritage, making history available to all.collections and family albums, with detailed descriptions of the county. This book's singular quality will delight longtime residents and newcomers alike, while assisting the area by preserving its history for future generations.

Davie County, carved out of Rowan County and named for a Revolutionary War hero in 1836, boasts a rich history.

The Great Wagon Road brought many settlers to the area in the 18th century, including Daniel Boone's parents—buried in Joppa Cemetery in Mocksville. The National Historical Register includes 16 county sites, among them the Cooleemee Plantation, home to the Hairston family since 1817. Davie County's agricultural heritage is complemented by its progressing commercial and retail development. Images of America: Davie County commemorates the area's communities, people, livelihoods, pastimes, and traditions, including the annual Masonic Picnic, observed for over 130 years.