Arcadia Bestsellers

Where the Shenandoah Riverforks, Front Royal and Warren County lie nestled at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Explore the area’s rich history.

Although explorers first viewed the area in the mid-1600s, Front Royal was not chartered until 1785, and it was 1836 before Warren County was formed. Shortly thereafter, railroad service came to the region, creating a tremendous economic impact. The War Between the Statestook a great toll on the town and county, with the Union Army occupying the town six times. Although economically devastated by the war, the communities were rebuilt and the railroad resumed operation in 1873, giving the entire region a much needed revival.

During the 20th century, industry flourished here, primarily dominated by American Viscoseand the Old Virginia Packing Company. The 1930s brought a great influx of people to the area with the development of the Shenandoah National Parkand the exploration of Skyline Caverns, situated between Front Royal and Skyline Drive.

Today countless visitors are drawn to the rich history and quaint charm of Front Royal and Warren County.

Local author Barbara Glakas uses rare photographs and firsthand accounts to tell little-known stories of the people, places and events that shaped the history of the Town of Herndon.

A mysterious stranger who passed through the village one night suggested the name Herndon, after the captain of a sunken ship. The Civil War split loyalties among the townspeople and brought an unexpected Confederate raid on the town. Prohibition brought bootleggers with it, but its repeal caused an uproar from temperance-minded residents. Lively community fairs were ever present in the 1920s, but so was the Ku Klux Klan. Behind Herndon’s past as a sleepy farming community hide forgotten tales of growth and progress.

From the Civil War period, Hampton's African-American community has fashioned strong churches, institutions, businesses, and a major university where political and economic leaders have emerged.

The indefatigable spirit of a people once called ""contraband"" has a remarkable story illustrated by vintage photographs of Emancipation Oak, Freedom Fortress, Aberdeen Gardens, Little England Chapel, Bayshore Beach, and other historic sites.

Prince William County, just south of Washington, D.C., has changed dramatically over the years.

The area welcomes thousands of visitors annually to historic sites and is home to thousands more residents. This volume takes readers on a journey through the county that preserves its past with an eye to the future.

The images depicted within this pictorial feature only a fragment of the vast chronology of the game of baseball as it was played in Norfolk over the years. They allow the reader to revisit the past, examine the present, and ponder the future of baseball in the city of Norfolk. All photographs were painstakingly selected by the authors for their dynamic visual appeal and historical impact to accurately reflect the story of baseball in Norfolk.

In 1839, the Virginia Military Institute became the nation's first state-sponsored military college when the state arsenal in Lexington, Virginia, adopted an additional duty providing a college education to a small group of cadets.

This humble experiment became the nation's model for educating the citizen-soldier. Today cadets live a military lifestyle while pursuing an undergraduate degree and may choose to accept a commission in any branch of the armed forces upon graduation. Noted alumni include Pony Express organizer Ben Ficklin (1849), Nobel Peace Prize recipient Gen. George Marshall (1901), Polar explorer Adm. Richard Byrd (1908), U.S. Supreme Court Justice Tom Clark (1921), and actor Dabney Coleman (1957). Numbered among the alumni are over 260 general officers, 13 Rhodes Scholars, and a saint in the Episcopal Church. The Post, as the campus is called, is a National Historic District with its distinctive Gothic Revival architecture surrounding the central parade ground.

Located at the southern end of the Shenandoah Valley, Botetourt County's history is closely tied to its role as a transportation crossroads.

The area's 18th century trails and wagon roads have long since transformed into today's US Route 11 and Interstate 81, but Botetourt County still stands. Many traveled along these earlier routes and found lodging at some of Botetourt County's inns and taverns, such as ""Hotel Sam"" Obenshain's Blue Ridge Hall, or at roadside motels like the Royal and the Shenandoah. After the Civil War, the hardworking and industrious residents of Botetourt County returned to their respective communities to rebuild, and they prospered in agricultural, industrial, and commercial pursuits. Botetourt has also produced talented artisans and craftsmen, such as furniture maker Charles Keeling and coppersmith Porter Caldwell. Through vintage images of the homes and farms of the Bolton family, the Stevens family, and others, Botetourt County Revisitedremembers and celebrates the significant impact these individuals had on building the county's strong communities.

The story of a high stakes rivalry between Governor Francis Nicholson and pirate captain Louis Guittar.

Governor Francis Nicholson of Virginia was a proven pirate-hunter and enforcer. By the spring of 1700, his concerns about pirate activity in the Chesapeake Bay and rivers of Virginia were at a fever pitch. Nicholson was unimpressed with the HMS Essex Prize and its commander, John Aldred, who had been tasked with keeping colonial shores safe from smuggling. The HMS Shoreham was sent to Virginia to secure the area from the scourge of piracy, and its arrival brought some relief. Then, the arrival of the ship La Paix, commanded by buccaneer captain Louis Guittar, brought Nicholson on high alert and ready for action.

Author Jeremy Moss tells the stories of Nicholson and Guittar through their fateful battle on the Lynnhaven Bay.

Virginia Beach: A History of Virginia's Golden Shore brings to life the people, places, and events that contributed to the city's celebrated reputation. Through stories and memories, readers are introduced to the varied citizens who called this land home, including such characters as Sarah Offley who married three of early Virginia's most powerful settlers, and to the city's illustrious visitors. This volume also details, in both word and image, the influential resort age, which began in 1880 and saw the community flourish as people flocked to the Atlantic shore to dance, picnic, and enjoy the surf at the Princess Anne Hotel. Everyday vacationers mingled with notables such as Alexander Graham Bell and John, Lionel, and Ethel Barrymore at the landmark hotel with the railroad at its front door. Although little of the golden shore remains unchanged, modern residents continue to preserve what they can-especially their memories, pride, and love for the city.

In Historic Haunts of Winchester, author Mac Rutherford presents Winchester's haunted past as never before.

From the ghost of Tillie Russell—frequently seen running through the streets in search of a wounded captain—to ghostly echoes of artillery fire, Rutherford relates a spine-tingling record of spirits and specters. Along the way he chronicles Winchester's most shocking and unusual spirits, such as the legendary Giant Indiansoften glimpsed at the corner of Indian Alleyand Piccadilly Street.

Read Historic Haunts of Winchesterand immerse yourself in Winchester's incredible history of hauntings.

From seaport pubs to international cuisine, Alexandria's culinary history runs deep.

George Washington danced in the ballroom of Gadsby's Tavern, an Old Town landmark. The Royal Restaurant hung its first shingle a century ago where Market Square is today. Chadwick's has survived fire and flood in its home on the Potomac riverfront. The storefront of legendary Shuman's Bakery may be closed, but the latest generation continues to serve the famous jelly cake to loyal locals. Journalist Hope Nelson curates this tasting menu of some of Alexandria's favorite restaurants, watering holes and breweries - past and present.

Raise a glass to Virginia, birthplace of American spirits, and its long history of distilling and imbibing.

Colonist George Thorpe first crafted “corn beere,” an ancestor to bourbon, in 1620 at Berkeley Plantation, and George Washington once operated one of the nation’s largest distilleries. Icy mint juleps were first served in Virginia until the state was one of the first to enact Prohibition. That dark period gave rise to bootlegging, moonshining, and even NASCAR.

Through well documented research, interviews with key stakeholders, and plenty of cocktail recipes for the reader to shake and stir at home, author Patrick Evans-Hylton showcases the rich history of 400 years of drinking in the Commonwealth.

Explore the fascinating history of Warrenton, Virginia with more than 200 vintage photographs and anecdotes from the locals who experienced it.

When Warrenton was founded in the 18th century, it was nothing more than a dusty road and watering hole. It served as a tavern and courthouse for weary travelers on the Falmouth-Winchesterand Alexandria-Culpeper roads.

As it grew and became the seat of Fauquier County, it was transformed into a magnet for judges and lawyers--many of whom shaped the country's government after the Revolutionary War. Almost a century later, Warrenton changed hands more than 60 times during the Civil War; it experienced Reconstructionand rose from the ashes after a great fire that wiped out almost half the town. Today, it has become an epicenter for equestrians, serving as home to foxhunters, the Virginia Gold Cup Steeplechase, and the Warrenton Horse Show.

With vintage photographs, Warrentonbeckons readers back in time, along the backdrop of beautiful 18th- and 19th-century architecture and estates, to remember the spirit of a bygone era that still paints the streets and colors the culture of the people who live there.

A part of the Underground Railroad, read here of enslaved people and their stories of using Virginia's waterways to achieve freedom.

Enslaved Virginians sought freedom from the time they were first brought to the Jamestown colony in 1619. Acts of self-emancipation were aided by Virginia's waterways, which became part of the network of the Underground Railroad in the years before the Civil War. Watermen willing to help escaped slaves made eighteenth-century Norfolk a haven for freedom seekers. Famous nineteenth-century escapees like Shadrack Minkins and Henry Box Brown were aided by the Underground Railroad. Enslaved men like Henry Lewey, known as Bluebeard, aided freedom seekers as conductors, and black and white sympathizers acted as station masters. Historian Cassandra Newby-Alexander narrates the ways that enslaved people used Virginia's waterways to achieve humanity's dream of freedom.

Told through the eyes of three Irish immigrant families who helped build it, discover the groundbreaking story of the  construction of the Blue Ridge Tunnel.

In one of the greatest engineering feats of his time, Claudius Crozet led the completion of Virginia's Blue Ridge Tunnel in 1858. Two centuries later, the National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark still proudly stands, but the stories and lives of those who built it are the true lasting triumph. Irish immigrants fleeing the Great Hunger poured into America resolute for something to call their own. They would persevere through life in overcrowded shanties and years of blasting through rock to see the tunnel to completion. Prolific author Mary E. Lyons follows three Irish families in their struggle to build Crozet's famed tunnel and their American dream.

The Chesapeake Bay has been a multifaceted engine of American history and commerce since its first settlers touched the shore in the early 1600s.

Since English settlers first touched the shore of the new country in 1607, the Chesapeake Bay has been a multifaceted engine of American history and commerce. The body of inland tidal water between the largest bay cities, Norfolk and Baltimore, was large enough to be the setting of adventure and close enough to allow smaller towns and cities to grow up on its shores. The common community came to life with the technologies of steamboats that could cover the long distances between North and South relatively quickly. Steamers filled in the nooks and crannies of the bay's geography, and by the mid-19th century, the skies over the bay were lined with dark, waterborne contrails in all directions. Strong machines built to master rough seas while moving gently enough for small harbors, many steamers had life spans that crossed whole eras in American history.

Some were drafted into distinguished service in domestic and foreign wars. The steamers plied the bay and its rivers with a feminine grace well into the mid-20th century, when they were overtaken by the rush of modern times. The last steamer sailed into oblivion exactly 150 years after the first of them appeared in Baltimore harbor.

A pictoral history of Tazewell County, documenting this county's development and evolution through time via rare and vintage images.

Tazewell County, one of the gems of Southwest Virginia, lies within a couple hours' drive of four state lines in this unique corner of the Commonwealth. There are five incorporated towns in Tazewell County, each one unique in its history and in the contributions of its citizens. Tazewell, formerly known as Jeffersonville, is the county seat and political center of the county; Bluefield, once called Graham, shares its name with its sister city in West Virginia. Richlands was once destined to become the ""Pittsburgh of the South""; Cedar Bluff lies in a uniquely beautiful setting on the banks of the Clinch River; and Pocahontas, center of the famous Pocahontas Coalfields, is potentially the ""Coalfield Williamsburg"" of Southwest Virginia. As readers review these photographs of Tazewell County's growth and development in this historical collection, it will stir within them many memories of the great people and places that have made Tazewell County such a unique Virginia treasure.

A History of Chesapeake, Virginia chronicles the history of this famous city, from its colonial to beginnings to its modern day prestige.

An entertaining and informative history for all who love Chesapeake--and a must-read for anyone who calls this beautiful city home. Chesapeake, Virginia, is one of the newest cities in the Commonwealth, but the area is undeniably steeped in history that dates to the colonial era and before. In this exemplary volume, historian Raymond Harper traces Chesapeake-area settlement from Native Americans to early Europeans and continuing through the modern era. With fascinating detail, Harper presents the impact of the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, the development of education and religion and the growth of one of the nation's most beloved cities.

Under the Clock documents the fascinating historical chain of department stores Miller & Rhoads through its many transformations.

Under the Clock tells the story of Miller & Rhoads, from its incarnation as a little dry goods store in 1885 through more than a century as a beloved Richmond landmark. Earle Dunford, longtime city editor for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, and George Bryson, a Miller & Rhoads veteran for thirty-nine years, usher us behind the scenes at the famous department store, sharing anecdotes they have collected from the many devoted shoppers and loyal employees who remember the good old days at Miller & Rhoads. Meet them ""under the clock"" to read about the famous Tea Room, Book and Author Dinners, fashion shows, Sara Sue hats, Christmastime with Santa Claus and countless other memories of a bygone era in shopping.

Author Nelson Harris delves into the annals of history to uncover these marvelous and mostly unknown stories of the Star City of the South.

How did a Roanoke neighbor's secret upend North Carolina politics and why did a weeding scandal in Big Lick make front-page headlines in New York? These questions and many more are answered in this exciting volume of hidden stories and forgotten tales from the Star City. Discover why a Roanoker was found frozen in the North Atlantic and what Mother's Day crime and trial shocked the city in 1949. Meet the Black Cardinals, a semi-pro African American baseball team that played in the 1930s and '40s, and find out how a fistfight at Shenandoah Life helped save the company.

Compiled for the first time in this volume, this selection of articles by Harry Kollatz Jr. sheds light Richmond's lesser-known history.

Richmond, Virginia's beautiful capital on the James River, has seen more than its fair share of history. Although it is probably best known as the site of one of the first English settlements in America and its role as the Confederate capitol in the Civil War, the city's past has much more to offer. Since 1992, Harry Kollatz Jr. has been recording the lesser-known heritage of Virginia's Holy City in his "Richmond Flashbacks" column in Richmond magazine. From the inauguration of the world's first practical electric trolley system an early Civil Rights activists, to a psychic horse and a wild ride on a sturgeon, he has covered it all.

Charlottesville and surrounding Albemarle County have the peaceful charm of another era. Author Jean Cooper reveals fascinating details of Charlottesville's history at every turn.

Nestled at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, this area's celebrated allure comes from a storied past filled with intriguing people and events. Author and local resident Jean Cooper brings Charlottesville's past to life while providing a useful guide to the city's most historic streets, buildings and neighborhoods. This guide invites all to explore different time periods of Charlottesville's history including the colonial era, the War for Independence, the Civil War and early twentieth century.

Following this historic battle, the United States Colored Troops (USCT) had proven their valor and taken their rightful place amongst heroes in America's history.

In the predawn darkness of September 29, 1864, black Union soldiers attacked a heavily fortified position on the outskirts of the Confederate capital of Richmond.

In a few hours of desperate fighting, these African-American soldiers struck a blow against Robert E. Lee's vaunted Army of Northern Virginiaand proved to detractors that they could fight for freedom and citizenship for themselves and their enslaved brethren. For fourteen of the black soldiers who stormed New Market Heightsthat day, their bravery would be awarded with the nation's highest honor: The Congressional Medal of Honor.

With vivid firsthand accounts and meticulous tactical detail, James S. Price brings the Battle of New Market Heightsinto brilliant focus with maps by master cartographer Steven Stanley.

The engaging history of Buchanan County is explored in-depth in this book.

Buchanan County, like many small counties, has gone through boom and bust in its history. From floods and fires to economic prosperity, Buchanan went from being one of the wealthiest counties to one of the poorest in the state of Virginia. Unlike many small counties, Buchanan is reinventing itself. The original county is no more and is currently being rebuilt.

The history of the house and its grounds offers a glimpse into the private dilemmas and public struggles that mark the development of democracy and reflect the creation of the United States as a nation. Newly renovated and restored to the era President Madison lived and entertained there, the home stands as a testament to its great proprietor's interests and tastes, and as a witness to American history.

A Lifeline from Darkness

More than a year before America entered World War II, a ship from Europe became one of the nation’s first and closest experiences with the wickedness of the Holocaust. As war raged across their homeland, dozens of Jews boarded the SS Quanza in the summer of 1940, desperate to escape Nazi evil. Tragically, the United States barred their entry. When Mexico denied them as well, it seemed that they would become the next victims of the Holocaust. But a lucky stop in Norfolk, Virginia, saved their lives. Sallie and Jacob Morewitz, lawyers who had fought for the Jewish community for years, rushed into court on their behalf, and Jewish and pro-refugee groups rallied to their cause. Even Eleanor Roosevelt stepped in. After many defeats, America welcomed them to a new, safe life.

Award-winning journalist Jason Norman unfolds this remarkable story of deliverance.

Unsung heroes of the Old Dominion

Historians have spilled plenty of ink on the leaders of the Continental Army and French forces at the 1781 Siege of Yorktown. But less is known about the top leadership of the Virginia militia forces who were also at that decisive engagement. Several—including Brigadier General George Weedon, Colonel James Innes and Lieutenant Colonel William Darke—were former Continental Army officers with extensive battlefield experience. Others—such as Colonel Sampson Mathews, Colonel John Page and Colonel Sir John Peyton—were prominent civic leaders who took to the field to defend their native state.

Using a wide array of sources and compelling images, Sean M. Heuvel explores the lives and service of the regimental and brigade-level Virginia militia commanders who served at Yorktown.

A haunted legacy on the Lynnhaven.

On the banks of the Lynnhaven River stands Ferry Plantation, former home of several prominent Virginia Beach families—and one of the most haunted places in the state. A spectral nanny is said to still care for ghosts of children, and an upstairs landing hosts the spirit of an artist that continues to paint for all eternity. The lingering presence of a young woman mourning the death of a fallen soldier haunts the halls, along with other mysterious sightings. The house has witnessed tragedy, death and celebrations, and all have left their mark.

Join author Kristen P. Ellis as she explores the history and haunts of Virginia’s Ferry Plantation.

Dig into the long history of cider in Virginia—the Old Dominion’s original craft beverage.

When the adventurers aboard the Susan Constant, Discovery, and Godspeed stepped foot on Virginian soil they brought with them the traditional English love of cider. Required by statute to plant orchards, the apple played a central part in the development of the colony as its juice became the favored libation of every class of society. From the modest laborer to the table of Thomas Jefferson, cider was Virginia’s tipple of choice. More than 400 years later, the libation is enjoying a renaissance. Read about a new generation of makers re-introducing Virginians to their original craft beverage.

Local author Alistair Reece tells the story of cider in the Old Dominion, aided by the stunning photography of J. Mark Stewart.

Williamsburg has been meticulously restored and preserved as a living museum to reflect the beliefs of the time that stated traditional cities should be centers of government, learning, and religion.

Discover crimes that made headlines across northern Virginia in the 1950s and 60s. As the suburbs of Washington, D.C. expanded in the mid-twentieth century, growth inevitably led to increasing crime, and grisly murders began to shock local communities. Learn the story of the killer and his victim who are buried only a few yards apart. The truth behind the tale of the murderous toddler and the sad story of the death of an agent at National Airport belie the picture perfect image of those decades. Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church and Prince William witnessed atrocities that grabbed headlines in their day but have since faded from collective memory. Local author Zachary Ford uses detailed research drawn from contemporary accounts to bring these stories to life.

Explore the vibrant history of Smith Mountain Dam in Pittsylvania County, Virginia.

The construction of a dam in the gap of Smith Mountainin Pittsylvania County, Virginia, had been considered as early as the 1920s. However, the dam's construction did not begin until 1960.Smith Mountain Damclosed the gap completely in 1963, and Smith Mountain Lakebegan to fill and form behind it.

The hydroelectric dam consists of 175,000 cubic yards of concrete and has the capacity to generate 605 megawatts of electricity for up to 11 hours.Smith Mountain Damis part of a two-dam system on the Roanoke River, and its companion dam, the Leesville Dam, is a smaller structure designed to pump water back to Smith Mountain Lakeand to also generate hydroelectric power for American Electric Power (AEP) customers.Smith Mountain Lakecovers 20,000 acres and has a 500-mile shoreline, which borders Franklin, Pittsylvania, and Bedford Counties.

Over the years, development near and around Smith Mountain Lakehas exploded, and this has presented both opportunities and challenges in regard to stewardship of the area's natural resources. James A. Nagy, author of Images of America: Franklin County, presents images from various collections, including the AEP archives, showing the construction and development of Smith Mountain Dam and Lake.

The New River, creeks, limestone, timber, mineral springs, mountains, and railroads have shaped the small communities, industries, and tourism of Giles County, Virginia.

Many once-bustling places in the county are quieter today, but buildings and landscapes of earlier times are still present and interesting to compare to photographs of the past. Terri L. Fisher, executive director of the Giles County Historical Society and author of Images of America: Pearisburg and Giles County and Lost Communities of Virginia, is a resident of Narrows.

The Byrd Machine ran Virginia politics for more than half a century.

This political organization rose to power during the era of Jim Crow, wielding power and influence over everything from who got the nod to be governor to how the state maintained racial segregation. Inheriting its tactics from two previous political machines, the Byrd organization operated with a pathological hatred of debt spending, crushing the power of labor unions and forcing its will on Black schoolchildren protesting separate and unequal facilities. The nadir of its era was massive resistance, a move to close public schools rather than integrate them.

Journalist and author Michael Lee Pope details the rise and fall of the last great political machine in Virginia.

Images of America: Portsmouth, Virginia is an educational and entertaining volume that will delight residents and visitors as well as lovers of history everywhere.

Located in heart of the Chesapeake Bay at the zero milepost on the Intracoastal Waterway, Portsmouth's five historic districts and its thriving downtown are living landmarks, reminding onlookers of the gracious living, perilous times, and exciting events that often played a crucial role in the life of the nation.

Here the last Colonial governor of Virginia took refuge, and here Lord Cornwallis garrisoned his British troops before going to Yorktown, where his defeat gave birth to the United States. Here the first ironclad ship, the first battleship, and the first aircraft carrier were designed and built, and here the wounded from all of America's wars since 1830 have been brought to recover at Portsmouth's naval hospital. Vintage photographs within these pages capture the everyday lives of almost four centuries of residents. The ferries that connected Portsmouth to nearby Norfolk, the trains that made it the gateway to the South, and the city's center-its commercial district-all come alive through the images.

Focusing on the Olde Towne historic district, the Naval Hospital, the Naval Shipyard, and the downtown area district, this volume provides a tour of the quaint structures of the oldest part of the city and preserves part of the nation's heritage. Author, and lifelong Portsmouth resident, Robert Albertson draws together postcards, photographs, paintings, and engravings that capture the drama of the city's past and disclose the charm of its neighborhoods.

Travel back in time and witness Roanoke Valley's humble beginnings and how it has grown into the region it is today.

Nestled in the shadows of the Blue Ridge, the Roanoke Valley has developed as the capital region for western Virginia. After a century of growth fueled by transportation, education, and healthcare, the region has undergone significant visible change. While some of the valley's landmarks remain, many have been replaced or dramatically altered.

A collection of photographs from one of America's most famous amusement parks, Kings Dominion, and the iconic attractions that make up the park.

Kings Dominion officially opened in 1975 on a 400-acre site between Richmond, Virginia, and Washington, DC. Modeled on sister park Kings Island in Ohio, it debuted with several iconic attractions, including the Eiffel Tower, Rebel Yell, and Lion Country Safari. Over the decades, ownership has changed several times, yet the park continues to grow and remain popular, even "starring" in the 1977 film Rollercoaster. Now celebrating its 40th anniversary, it has evolved into one of North America's premier regional theme parks and is currently home to an impressive assortment of attractions and live entertainment. The park also boasts a formidable arsenal of roller coasters (14), including four of the wooden variety, three LIM-launched coasters, and the 30-story-tall Intimidator (I-305) giga coaster.