Name: The Dallas Music Scene
Brand: Alan Govenar
SKU: 9781467131513
Price: 24.99 USD
Availability: InStock

The Dallas Music Scene

9781467131513

$24.99

For much of the 20th century, Dallas was home to a wide range of vital popular music. By the 1920s, the streets, dance halls, and vaudeville houses of Deep Ellum rang with blues and jazz. Blind Lemon Jefferson was discovered singing the blues on the streets of Deep Ellum but never recorded in Dallas. Beginning in the 1930s, however, artists from Western swing pioneer Bob Wills to blues legend Robert Johnson recorded in a three-story zigzag moderne building at 508 Park Avenue. And from the late 1940s to the mid-1960s, a wrestling arena called the Sportatorium was home to a Saturday night country and rock-and-roll extravaganza called the Big D Jamboree.

Cover image for The Dallas Music Scene, isbn: 9781467131513

Building Modern Houston

9780738585246

$24.99

Founded in 1836, Houston is now the country's fourth-largest city. In the early 20th century, Houston's economy shifted from agriculture to oil, fueling the city's explosive growth in the following decades. Houston grabbed the reins and saw a building boom in commercial, residential, and civic architecture redefine the city and skyline. Modernism was a new and fresh architectural expression and the perfect complement to the city's can-do entrepreneurial spirit. The 1960s brought ground-breaking ceremonies for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) headquarters, while residents and tourists alike lined up to tour the revolutionary new Astrodome. Building Modern Houston tells the story of Houston's architecture during its transformation from "Bayou City" to "Space City."

Huntsville Penitentiary

9780738599618

$24.99

The state of Texas, home to one of the largest prison systems in the country, opened its first penitentiary in 1849. The Walls Unit in Huntsville was the genesis of a prison system that became the home of notorious convicts and the focus of much debate about incarceration and the death penalty in the United States. The Walls Unit housed gunslinger John Wesley Hardin, members of the Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker gang, and infamous drug cartel leader Fred Carrasco. Built using convict labor, the Walls Unit was heralded as a modern approach to incarceration in Texas. The prison dominated the landscape of the town of Huntsville when it was built and remains central to that community today.

Cover image for Huntsville Penitentiary, isbn: 9780738599618

Phoenix Television

9781467102797

$24.99

Immediately following World War II, television burst upon the American scene. Radio had been the popular way of receiving news and entertainment during the war years, but now, television could provide pictures to illustrate radio's programs. It was like having your own personal movie theater in your living room. Although isolated in the Sonoran Desert, Phoenix citizens were not to be denied the wonders of this new communication medium. KPHO-TV, Channel 5, signed on the air on December 4, 1949, with a selection of programs from all four television networks. Channels 12, 10, and 3 were soon to follow, and the lifestyles of the residents of Phoenix would never be the same. The flickering blue light from the Magnavox or RCA receivers danced on the curtains of the darkened living rooms all over town. Now Phoenicians could experience the televised dramas from New York City or view the films of Hollywood with just the flip of a switch—and maybe some careful adjustment of the rabbit ears.

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Oklahoma City Zoo

9781467112246

$24.99

What started as a small menagerie in 1902 officially became Oklahoma City Zoo in 1903. Journey through the second half century of its illustrious history in Oklahoma City Zoo: 1960-2013. Meet the staff and animals and explore the exhibits that propelled it from a third-class animal facility to one of the best zoos in the United States. In the 1960s, its animal population exploded as knowledge of animal care improved. The zoo soon assembled the largest-known collection of hoofed animals. Later, a rare mountain gorilla named M'Kubwa stole newspaper headlines, a third leopard escaped, and the zoo met its first cheetah babies. The opening of Aquaticus in the 1980s "brought the ocean to the prairie" in the form of a dolphin and sea lion show. Elephants, however, remain the queen attraction at the Oklahoma City Zoo. In 2011, the birth of the zoo's first baby elephant baby, Malee, was a crowning achievement in its 110-year history.

Seguin and Guadalupe County

9780738578880

$24.99

Originally named Walnut Springs in 1838, Seguin was renamed one year later after Mexican Texas Revolution hero Juan N. Seguin, who fought at the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto. The town of Seguin and the surrounding area have always been a crossroads for commerce—from the southeast Gulf Coast region throughout the rest of the state. Seguin's Texas Rangers initially provided security for frontier settlers, and many of the area's residents served in the U.S. military. From Austin to the U.S. Congress, Seguin's citizens have also served their country as representatives, state senators, and as governor. In the 21st century, Seguin continues to redefine itself as a leading business and manufacturing community while still retaining its agricultural roots. Seguin and Guadalupe County's achievements in education have been recognized at the national level for Texas Lutheran University, and by the state for its public school system. Longtime residents of Seguin and Guadalupe County remember their heritage with pride as they welcome newcomers to the area.

Cover image for Seguin and Guadalupe County, isbn: 9780738578880

Las Vegas

9781467130660

$24.99

Las Vegas, New Mexico, is 70 years older than the Nevada city of the same name. Eleven years after its founding in 1835, it was the first settlement in Mexico reached by invading US troops in the Mexican-American War. In later years, it was an intensely violent place, an equal to Dodge City and Tombstone. Gunmen such as Billy the Kid, Mysterious Dave Mather, Doc Holliday, and others walked the streets of Las Vegas. The town also built grand houses and mercantile buildings. It rivaled Albuquerque and Santa Fe for importance and boasted one of the state's two streetcar systems. Here, Teddy Roosevelt announced his availability to serve as president, and Tom Mix filmed his earliest movies.

El Paso and the Mexican Revolution

9780738584652

$24.99

The Mexican Revolution took place along the entire length of the border between the United States and Mexico. Most of the intense battles and revolutionary intrigue, however, were concentrated in the border region of El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. For 20 years, the U.S. and Mexico border communities dealt with revolution, beginning before the 1909 Taft-Díaz visit and ending with the Escobar Revolution of 1929. In between were battles, assassinations, invasions, and attempts at diplomacy. El Paso was center stage for many of these events. Newspapers and media from all over the country flocked to the border and produced numerous stories, photographs, and colorful renditions of the Mexican Revolution. The facts and myths have been kept alive over the last 100 years, and the revolution remains an important topic of discussion today.

Cover image for El Paso and the Mexican Revolution, isbn: 9780738584652

Northern Arizona Space Training

9781467126137

$29.99

During the 1960s and early 1970s, northern Arizona played a critical role in fulfilling President Kennedy's bold challenge of sending humans to the moon. From the rocky depths of the Grand Canyon to lofty cosmic views from Flagstaff's dark skies, northern Arizona was ideal for activities ranging from moon buggy testing and geology training to lunar mapping and mission simulation. Every astronaut who walked on the moon, from Neil Armstrong to Gene Cernan, prepared for his journey in northern Arizona, and all used maps created by Flagstaff artists to navigate their way around the lunar surface. This book captures the spirit of these pioneers with stunning images from NASA, the US Geological Survey, and others.

Cover image for Northern Arizona Space Training, isbn: 9781467126137

Carthage

9780738571126

$24.99

Founded in a pine forest on the East Texas frontier, Carthage assumed the name of one of the greatest cities of the ancient world. Although Carthage, Texas, did not become a bustling metropolis, the community has enjoyed a long history as the type of stable town that forms the backbone of America. For more than a century and a half, residents have played roles—at times prominently—in the historical and cultural life of Texas and the nation. Carthage has produced decorated war heroes, internationally famous country music stars, a noted American historian, and a groundbreaking political figure. As the home of Tex Ritter, Gentleman Jim Reeves, Linda Davis, and the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame, the community has become a country music mainstay. Beyond its celebrities, however, Carthage has most importantly produced generation after generation of patriotic and hard-working men and women.

Cover image for Carthage, isbn: 9780738571126

Dallas Landmarks

9780738558523

$24.99

Dallas has a reputation as a progressive city—always ready to build something new and better to replace the old.

In the late 19th century, as Dallas became the transportation and commercial center for North Texas, brick and stone edifices supplanted the simple frame structures of the early days. By the 1920s, the city was the financial capital of the region and boasted the tallest building west of the Mississippi. In 1936, Dallas hosted the Texas Centennial Exposition in Fair Park, an ensemble of art deco buildings that is a National Historic Landmark. As business grew, so did the skyline. Today Dallas has a rich collection of historic buildings that chronicle the city's growth and progress.

Cover image for Dallas Landmarks, isbn: 9780738558523

Globe

9780738548333

$24.99

According to Arizona folklore, "Globe City" was named for an extremely large globe-shaped silver nugget found along Pinal Creek in the 1870s. The town site, nestled in the foothills of the Pinal Mountains, was laid out in 1876, and miners and prospectors soon flooded the camp, joining ranchers already in the area. In 1881, Globe was named the county seat of Gila County, allowing for the continued growth and development of mining, ranching, and commerce. Many Arizonans who helped shepherd the Territory of Arizona into statehood came from Globe, including the state's first governor, businessmen George W. P. Hunt. Today Globe is a thriving community of 7,500 residents who take pride in their town's unique historic legacy.

Spring Branch

9780738585116

$24.99

When someone thinks of the Spring Branch area of Houston, Texas, chances are that a multicultural, highly populated residential area on the west side of the city comes to mind. Yet photographs of Spring Branch's early history are very different from the urban images of today. In the 1840s, about the time Texas became the 28th state, German settlers came to a rural area centered around a tributary of Buffalo Bayou that runs through Houston but which was well outside the city limits at the time. These immigrants, who were farmers, business owners, and shopkeepers, came to America to embrace and fulfill their dreams--living a life of freedom, owning property, and raising their families. They were prepared to earn their success without slave labor available during that era, and they worked together to build a well-known residential area of present-day Houston.

Texas City

9780738579702

$24.99

At 100 years old, Texas City is a relatively young city. It was founded not for its beauty or its climate but for its strategic location on the Gulf of Mexico. It developed into a major port city, and industries sprang up and flourished. From bare acreage, the founders forged a community that would become a hometown to thousands of people. Texas City has seen its highs and lows. The US Air Force experienced its humble beginnings here, for instance. The same port, however, that gave life to the desolate land brought destruction in 1947 in the form of the Texas City explosion. A ship carrying ammonium nitrate blew up, killing almost 600 residents, injuring thousands, and bringing damage to nearly every building in town. Texas City recovered from the explosion and in the following decades, continued to be a place of pride for its citizens. The pages of this book are filled with images dating from the 1950s and 1960s to bring back the feeling of a bygone era in Texas City.

Amarillo

9780738571232

$24.99

Many people are surprised to learn that the city of Amarillo was actually founded twice. Originally settled by J. T. Berry in April 1887 and known as Oneida, the site of the town was located on such low ground that many residents feared it was susceptible to flooding. In 1888, one concerned resident named Henry B. Sanborn began buying land a mile east of the site as a potential place to relocate the town. In 1889, the town's fears came to fruition when heavy rains flooded the original town site, prompting residents to move to Sanborn's new location. The town went on to become one of the world's busiest cattle shipping points in the late 1890s, causing its population to grow significantly. Today Amarillo is the largest city in the Texas Panhandle, and its economy continues to thrive on cattle, along with agriculture, oil, and natural gas.

Apache Junction and the Superstition Mountains

9780738530406

$24.99

In pioneer lore, the Lost Dutchman's Mine remains an intriguing mystery of the Old West. What became Apache Junction in the Salt River Valley was already an established home for prehistoric Native Americans and the Apache tribe, when it was further settled and cultivated by Spanish and Mexican expeditions, American wagon trains, mountain men, and the U.S. military in the late 19th century. But Apache Junction became legendary when German immigrant Jacob Waltz discovered a secret gold mine. Thousands of prospectors traversed the crooked top Superstition Mountains in search of this treasure, enriching the area's history and leading to the development of a unique community that has endured and grown alongside the famous legend.

Cover image for Apache Junction and the Superstition Mountains, isbn: 9780738530406

Socorro

9781467132190

$24.99

The town of Socorro got its name from the "succor" travelers found at the northern end of a 90-mile-long desert trail known as the Jornada del Muerto, the "Journey of the Dead Man," in central New Mexico. The village of Socorro, located at the site of the ancient 1600s Piro Pueblo, was first settled sometime around 1816 as an agricultural community. The discovery of silver at Socorro Peak and the Magdalena Mountains and the arrival of the railroad in 1880 brought boom times to the town. The demonetization of silver in 1893 was the end of Socorro's boom, and the community gradually reverted to its agricultural heritage. Reminders of days gone by can still be seen in Socorro. The Garcia Opera House, the Crown Mill, the Illinois Brewery, and several historic houses have been successfully preserved.

New Mexico State Police

9781467129992

$24.99

The New Mexico State Police traces its beginnings to the New Mexico Mounted Police, a statewide law-enforcement agency that was disbanded in 1921. No state law enforcement existed until the formation of the New Mexico Motor Patrol in 1933. A year and a half later, the governor of the state of New Mexico and the chief of the patrol saw the need to expand their forces to better serve the citizens of New Mexico. The New Mexico State Police formed in 1935, marking the beginning of what has become many years of tradition and service.

Crowley

9781467108287

$23.99

Established around 1848 as Deer Creek Settlement, Crowley grew from a small pioneering community just south of Fort Worth, Texas. When Galveston, Colorado & Santa Fe Railroad Company constructed a rail line during the 1870s connecting Cleburne to Fort Worth, the settlement relocated about a mile west. The first train ran through Crowley on December 8, 1881. An integral part of Crowley's growth, the railroad provided ease of shipping cattle and crops and access to transportation. Cattle were either loaded on to railcars or unloaded and sent directly to stock pens. From there they went straight to an auction barn. A feed mill was built, and grocery and hardware stores soon opened. Records indicate that the first post office was housed in Hayes Brothers General Store and opened in 1883. Crowley was officially on the map as a thriving town. By the end of the 20th century, Crowley boasted approximately 8,000 residents. Since then, the population size has doubled.

Thurber

9781467105569

$24.99

Once a busy industrial town of nearly 10,000, Thurber now boasts a residency of less than 10. For approximately 50 years, from 1886 to 1936, migrants from the United States, Mexico, Russia, Britain, and Eastern and Western Europe mined bituminous coal, manufactured bricks, and provided the labor for all of the residual businesses in an entirely company-owned town. The rich history of Thurber includes big-city investors, Texas Rangers, labor unions, railroads, sports, opera, diversity, tragedy, triumph, and the everyday lives of men, women, and children.

Glendale

9780738578958

$24.99

More than a century ago, the building of a canal allowed a barren and dry area to flourish. Soon settlers were drawn to the canal, and they created a thriving community. From those early beginnings, Glendale has become one of the fastest growing cities in the country.

The Port of Houston

9781467130769

$24.99

To reach the Port of Houston's Turning Basin, a ship must travel 50 miles along a narrow and twisting channel that passes through Galveston Bay, the San Jacinto River, and Buffalo Bayou. Despite this improbable location, Houston has the world's largest landlocked port. Measured by annual tonnage shipped, the Port of Houston is the second-largest port in the United States. Its docks, wharves, and facilities cover more than 25 miles. The port starts its second century as a seaport in 2014. Its transformation from a crowded river port into an industrial giant is fascinating. It is a tale of technology, geography, politics, hard work, and Texas brag—mixed with a little luck.

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Muskogee

9780738590509

$24.99

On New Year's Day in 1872, a Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (Katy) track crew reached a point just a few miles south of the confluence of the Arkansas, Grand, and Verdigris Rivers in Indian Territory and established a depot it called Muscogee Station. A ragtag settlement quickly developed nearby, and the name was eventually changed to Muskogee. By the turn of the century, Muskogee became the center of political and commercial activity in the territory. Nicknamed the "Queen City of the Southwest," Muskogee was a boomtown, and expectations were high that the city would develop into a large metropolitan area. However, by the 1920s, after the oil boom in nearby Tulsa, Muskogee's growth waned, and it became a working-class Oklahoma town. The city was thrust into the national limelight in the 1960s by country music star Merle Haggard and his song "Okie from Muskogee," which described Muskogee "as a place where even squares can have a ball." An ethnically diverse community, Muskogee has a rich history of developing artists, musicians, politicians, and entrepreneurs.

Bandera County

9780738585543

$24.99

Located in the picturesque Texas Hill Country, Bandera County was named for nearby Bandera Pass, a naturally occurring passageway through the neighboring hills. Near the pass, the Medina River weaves its way through the county. In 1853, a group of settlers arrived and set up camp to make shingles from the huge cypress trees that grew along the river. Soon immigrant workers from Poland were recruited to work at a newly built sawmill. The beauty and abundance of resources also attracted an early group of Mormons, who established a nearby colony. The town of Bandera was designated the county seat at the formation of Bandera County in 1856. Bandera became a staging area for cattle drives up the Western Trail, and today the county still maintains its frontier character. The Western way of life prevails as visitors from around the world come to sample cowboy living on local dude ranches and enjoy honky-tonk music and dancehalls.

Cover image for Bandera County, isbn: 9780738585543

Petrified Forest National Park

9781467104906

$24.99

Petrified Forest National Park in Northeast Arizona was set aside in 1906 by Pres. Theodore Roosevelt to protect the scientifically important Mesozoic forests. With a boundary encompassing 225,000 acres, the park protects not only the largest and most colorful deposits of petrified wood in the world but also significant archeological and ecological resources and other important fossils, like the oldest dinosaurs in North America. The park has been a crossroads for travelers and a destination for scientists, including Albert Einstein and John Muir. As a work site of the Civilian Conservation Corps, the only national park crossed by the famous Route 66, and a centerpiece of the National Park Service's Mission 66 initiative, Petrified Forest National Park has a history that rivals that of more familiar national parks.

Denison

9780738584744

$24.99

Denison is known as Katy's Baby, The Infant Wonder, and The Gateway City to Texas. Founded in 1872 as the first Lone Star stop on the Missouri, Kansas, and Texas Railroad, the city rapidly grew to 3,000 residents in its first 100 days. Citizens of the new town wanted a quality education for their children, and in 1873 they opened the first free, graded public school in the state. From Denison came many influential people, including Allied Forces supreme commander and U.S. president Dwight David Eisenhower, born here in 1890. The Perrin Air Force Base served as an important military training facility from 1941 until the 1970s. Denison is now home to numerous industries and major providers of medical services, and the Denison Dam across the Red River has formed a major recreation area for local citizens.

Cover image for Denison, isbn: 9780738584744

San Augustine County

9780738579375

$24.99

San Augustine has been called the Eastern Gateway into Texas for more than three centuries. Many immigrants crossed the Sabine River and followed El Camino Real to the little settlement nestled on each side of this ancient roadway. Alamo-bound David Crockett wrote his last letter to his daughter Margaret from San Augustine on January 9, 1836. Davy's words echoed the favorable impressions expressed by new arrivals to Texas: I am hailed with hearty welcome to this country . . . The cannon was fired here in San Augustine on my arrival. What I have seen of Texas, it is the garden spot of the world, the best land and the best prospects for health I ever saw, and I do believe it is a fortune to any man to come here. San Augustine County still retains the charm of times past through her well-preserved 19th-century homes and churches. Images of America: San Augustine County profiles these cherished landmarks and others through the vintage photographs of local historical groups, family collections, and private archives.

Cover image for San Augustine County, isbn: 9780738579375

La Grange

9780738556369

$24.99

La Grange, voted the capital of the Republic of Texas in 1838, is as colorful and audacious as the state itself. Its citizens were instrumental in winning the republic's freedom and have always been willing to fight for their beliefs. Many defend La Grange as the true capital of Texas, unfairly stripped of its title. The town flourished during the 19th century and witnessed the birth of a rough-and-tumble society, where arguments were commonly settled with fists, knives, and guns. In later years, immigrants flocked to the area and built a strong agricultural economy. The 20th century might have passed quietly into history if not for a Houston television reporter who publicized the demise of one of Texas's best-known brothels, the Chicken Ranch, located just outside of La Grange. The extensive publicity surrounding the closing of the "Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" resulted in a musical and movie of the same name, as well as a song by ZZ Top.

Cover image for La Grange, isbn: 9780738556369

Hillsboro

9780738599588

$24.99

Situated on the "Main Street of Texas," Hillsboro's influence has radiated far beyond its locale on Interstate 35 in Central Texas. Once a part of the Texas frontier, the area was settled by pioneers in the 1840s, and in 1853, the Texas legislature created Hill County. Located east of the Brazos River on the Blackland Prairie, the dusty cattle town of Hillsboro soon became the county seat. In 1881, the railroad transformed Hillsboro, attracting migrant farmers and merchants from the Old South. By 1900, Hillsboro was a center for cotton production, and public buildings and homes still testify to the influence of "king cotton." Politics have long been a staple of the culture, and Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock, Attys. Gen. Thomas S. Smith and Crawford Martin, Speakers of the House T.S. Smith, Robert Lee Bobbitt, and Robert W. Calvert, and Sam D. Johnson have all called Hillsboro home.

Fort Worth's Historic Hotels

9780738599748

$24.99

Fort Worth, originally named Camp Worth, was founded as an Army outpost in 1849, and the old cavalry stables became Fort Worth's first hotel. The Texas & Pacific Railroad arrived in Fort Worth in July 1876, bringing the need for more lodging. Shortly after its arrival, boardinghouses and simple accommodations were quickly opened. At the turn of the century, Fort Worth became a center for cattle ranchers, and the first luxury hotels were built. By the next decade, wealthy oil barons replaced the cattle ranchers, and the demand for larger and more elaborate hotels was established. Many of these first hotels were replaced with motor lodges and smaller chain hotels after the growth of the automobile industry; however, a few are still in operation today.

Cover image for Fort Worth's Historic Hotels, isbn: 9780738599748

Seabrook

9780738579405

$24.99

Seabrook enjoys a prime location on Galveston Bay at the outflow of Clear Creek. Formerly a Spanish land grant known as Morris Cove, the town began to assume its modern shape in 1895 when Seabrook Sydnor purchased part of the Morris league and platted the town site. Brothers Albert and Ernest Fay founded the Seabrook Shipyard in 1938, which went on to build submarine chasers and rescue boats during World War II. The year 1961 was a landmark moment for Seabrook: Hurricane Carla hit on September 11, and a week later, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced that its Manned Spaceflight Center would be built in nearby Clear Lake, launching a period of accelerated growth. Fearing annexation by Houston or La Porte, Seabrook leaders took steps toward incorporation that same year. Today Seabrook is listed on the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail and is part of the third-largest boating community in the United States.

Cover image for Seabrook, isbn: 9780738579405

African Americans of Houston

9780738584874

$24.99

Texas is a Southern state, and in many ways, Houston is a typical Southern city. While Houston did not experience the types or degrees of racial violence found in other Southern cities during the Jim Crow era, black Houstonians nonetheless found themselves often relegated to the margins of society. For decades there were two distinct Houstons: one white and the other black. However, Houston's black community created businesses that flourished and schools that educated children and developed a culture that celebrated the accomplishments of their parents while eagerly anticipating the accomplishments of future generations. Images of America: African Americans of Houston captures the many facets of black Houston. From churches to nightclubs; city parks to city hall; and political giants Barbara Jordan, Mickey Leland, and Sheila Jackson Lee to the driving beats of Archie Bell and the Drells, the Ghetto Boys, and Beyoncé, black Houston is alive with a determination that past injustices will never dampen the future opportunities for greatness.

Cover image for African Americans of Houston, isbn: 9780738584874

McCurtain County

9780738582696

$24.99

McCurtain County has been home to several of the most interesting and diverse people and historical events that Oklahoma has ever known. The Choctaw Indians migrated to what is now McCurtain County in 1831. All of McCurtain County was located in the Appukshunubbee District, which held court near present-day Ringold. With Oklahoma's statehood in 1907, county officials began to work on a county courthouse in Idabel. In the years following statehood, the lumber and timber industry thrived in the county. Towns began to sprout up and expand near the county's several sawmills. Agriculture has also contributed to the success of McCurtain County with many pastures, ranches, tree farms, and pecan orchards. The county's economy still depends heavily on agriculture today, but recently, the tourism industry has also flourished within the county. The Beavers Bend State Park, established in the 1930s, along with the Broken Bow and Pine Creek Lakes and the Mountain Fork River, brings countless tourists to the area. The rich history and pristine beauty of McCurtain County has always been a source of pride to all who have ever called it home.

Street Railways of El Paso

9780738571140

$24.99

Spanish explorers traveling north from Mexico in 1581 crossed the Rio Grande at present-day El Paso and called the area El Paso Del Norte, or the pass of the north. Two cities were linked together: Ciudad Juarez and El Paso. In 1881, the railroad brought even more people to El Paso. What had been a sleepy adobe town became a vibrant, bustling city. Public transportation was established with a mule-car system in 1882 and ran for 20 years. The first electric cars were introduced in 1902 and were also very successful, serving all parts of the city and establishing neighborhoods. At the zenith of the system, there were 63 miles of track, 17 routes, and over 100 streetcars. In those days, everyone used the electric cars.

Cover image for Street Railways of El Paso, isbn: 9780738571140

Falcon Field

9780738571379

$24.99

Mesa's Falcon Field began during World War II when a small group of Hollywood celebrities financed pilot training facilities (Southwest Airways) in the United States for American Allied forces. Thousands of British Royal Air Force pilots, joined by pilots from Russia, China, and 24 other nations at neighboring airfields, earned their wings in the Arizona desert. In 1945, the City of Mesa purchased the facility for $1, and then for the next 20 years leased it to Rocket Power, Inc., which manufactured a solid fuel rocket propellant. Today Falcon Field is a bustling municipal airport and a growing business center, with companies like Boeing, Nammo Talley, and MD Helicopters. The airpark also features the Commemorative Air Force Museum, home of one of the last flying B-17 bombers.

Dumas

9780738570617

$24.99

In 1891, Louis P. Dumas heard about cheap land in the Texas Panhandle. He left his successful enterprises in Sherman and chose a section of grassland in Moore County to "build a town." He had not bargained for the harsh elements that came with the territory, though. Within five years he abandoned his town, as did most of the other residents. Dumas was a ghost town three times in its first 10 years, but gradually, a quiet village developed. Oil and gas discovered in the 1920s brought about growth and continues to support the economy. Phil Baxter, who wrote the song "Ding Dong Daddy from Dumas," spoke of the friendliness and spirit of the people he met there in 1927. Today those qualities endure in the people of Dumas.

Tulsa Christmas Parade

9781467127653

$24.99

Since 1926, the Tulsa Christmas Parade has entertained thousands of children and adults year after year as it winds through the historic streets of downtown Tulsa. In its early days, when Tulsa was a new town booming with rapid growth from the recent discovery of oil, the Christmas parade quickly became an annual tradition that has continued to be a favorite event for the past 90 years. Throughout part of its history, the parade has been held at night, and Tulsa and the surrounding communities have come together to put on elaborate, twinkling displays—full of sparkling lights—including floats, marching bands, and large balloons, culminating each year with the guest of honor, Santa himself, making a special trip from the North Pole all the way to Tulsa, Oklahoma. This book explores the grandeur and excitement of Tulsa Christmas Parade's history against the backdrop of one of the largest collections of Art Deco architecture in the United States.

Cover image for Tulsa Christmas Parade, isbn: 9781467127653

Old San Carlos

9780738558912

$24.99

Established in 1873, the San Carlos Indian Agency provided a reservation for the area's Western Apache bands. A U.S. Army post was created nearby to exert military control. Together the original agency and army post are known today as Old San Carlos. From 1874 to 1877, the U.S. government's peace policy directed additional Apache groups and other regional natives to San Carlos. Ensuing turmoil, including renewal of traditional intergroup rivalries and rebellion against civilian and military control, initiated the familiar Apache Wars. These campaigns were fought through the 1870s and 1880s, as Apache rebels intermittently broke from the reserve and returned to former haunts or sought refuge in northern Mexico. By all accounts--from white civilians, military personnel, and native people alike--the San Carlos Agency and army post was an inhospitable locale, compounded by recurring instability and conflict.

Rails around Houston

9780738558844

$24.99

Several railroads were chartered by the Republic of Texas, but the first line built was the Buffalo Bayou, Brazos and Colorado, which began construction near the Port of Houston Turning Basin in 1851. The BBB&C would become the oldest segment of the country's first transcontinental railroad under sole ownership: the Southern Pacific's Sunset Route, connecting New Orleans and Los Angeles and completed in 1883. By the time oil was discovered near Beaumont in 1901, Houston was such a transportation hub that it became the heart of the petrochemical industry. Houston saw narrow-gauge lines, two interurban lines, light rail, and even a monorail. For many years, the chamber of commerce proudly proclaimed that Houston was the place "where seventeen railroads meet the sea." More than 30 beautiful trains with names like Sunset Limited, Sunbeam, Sam Houston Zephyr, Twin Star Rocket, Bluebonnet, Texas Rocket, and Texas Chief would serve three depots.

Oklahoma City

9780738502090

$24.99

Located along the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad, at a stop known as Oklahoma Station, Oklahoma City was born on April 22, 1889, at 12 noon. By 6:00 p.m., she had a population of around 10,000 citizens. As with any birth, there were many firsts in the newly opened territory, and many of these landmark events have been captured and preserved in historic photographs. With images culled from the archives of the author''s own vast personal collection as well as the Oklahoma Historical Society and other collections, the stories of prosperity and development of the area''s first settlers are told through Statehood. In light of this perseverance, it is no wonder that Theodore Roosevelt announced, '"Men and Women of Oklahoma. I was never in your country until last night, but I feel at home here. I am blood of your blood, and bone of your bone, and I am bound to some of you, and to your sons, by the strongest ties that can bind one man to another.'"

Grand Canyon's Tusayan Village

9780738578903

$24.99

With the glamorous Grand Canyon as its backyard, Tusayan has a fascinating history. Dedicated just one year after the Grand Canyon National Park, the village of Tusayan had its humble beginnings in 1920 as a small sheep ranch operated by the Hull brothers. Tusayan quickly became a hub for the millions of travelers who made their way to the Grand Canyon each year. The two areas share a mutual school, a health care center, and other amenities. Other pioneers, such as R. P. Thurston, helped ensure the area's longevity with the addition of Highway 64 through the center of the village and the arrival of the Grand Canyon Airport, making Tusayan one of the most visited little towns in northern Arizona.

The Austin Dam Disaster of 1900

9781467127455

$24.99

The Austin Dam Disaster of 1900 recreates the era of Gay Nineties Austin, then--as now--a city on the rise and on the make. In 1891, at the behest of ambitious city fathers, the little city of just 15,000 people gambled its future on a project of breathtaking size--a massive hydroelectric dam across the Colorado River. This book follows the epic construction project and the brief golden era of the pleasure resort at Lake McDonald. Though troubled and controversial from the get-go, the dam embodied all of Austin's dreams. Then, on Friday, April 6, 1900, it began to rain . . .

The Phoenix Area's Parks and Preserves

9780738548869

$24.99

Metropolitan Phoenix is one of the country's fastest growing areas, contains the nation's fifth largest city, adds more than 100,000 residents each year, and rapidly consumes the surrounding desert. However, it is not losing all of its open space. One can stand anywhere in the Valley of the Sun and look toward the horizon--in just about any direction the glories of nearly 100 years of preservation efforts are visible. All told, over 300 square miles of the most beautiful desert and mountain scenery are preserved or targeted for preservation in the Phoenix area. This book celebrates the beauty of these special places, and the foresight, determination, and efforts required to preserve this critical link to the great outdoors. Using more than a century's worth of historical photographs, it tells the stories of the acquisition and development of seven of the Phoenix area's most important parks and preserves.

Chickasha

9780738591797

$24.99

In 1892, the depot of Chickasha came to life when the Rock Island Railroad halted construction and set up temporary headquarters. Within a short time a tent city developed, and when the railroad moved on Chickasha remained. Chickasha continued as an important transportation stop, first for the railroads and then for the several highways that crisscross Oklahoma. With its access to transportation and open land, Chickasha became a thriving city after 1900, boasting a larger population than Tulsa and having all the modern amenities of a major city. Because of its strategic location, the city was chosen to house the Oklahoma College for Women in 1908, one of only five of its kind nationally. Now called the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (USAO ), it is Oklahoma's only public liberal arts institution. Today, Chickasha is also known for its Christmas celebration, the Festival of Light, which draws more than 250,000 visitors annually.

Cover image for Chickasha, isbn: 9780738591797

Early San Angelo

9780738584768

$24.99

Soon after the Civil War, the city of San Angelo developed around Fort Concho. The mission of this western fort was to protect transportation routes, travelers, and settlers as they moved into territory claimed by Native Americans; and the mission of San Angelo was to make money by providing goods that the military personnel wanted and needed. After Fort Concho created peace in West Texas, it ceased operations. By 1889, however, San Angelo had plenty of dedicated citizens who would create an important western city on the banks of the Concho River. Agriculture was the basis of the economy in early San Angelo, which became a financial and marketing center for a wide region of West Texas. This book presents fascinating photographs that highlight the early history of a frontier town. The story ends in the late 1920s, when the discovery of oil changed the area dramatically.

Hatch Valley

9781467133142

$24.99

The headline said it all: "Chili Industry Gains Foothold in the Hatch Community." The Las Vegas Daily Optic of January 17, 1929, reported that the "Farmers of [the] Hatch community, who have developed the chile industry as one which threatens the laurels of King Cotton, are moving out shipments to market." The article reported that just three years prior, only a mere 300 pounds of chile had been marketed in the entire Rincon Valley, of which the Hatch Valley was a part. As of 1929, farmers estimated that 250,000 pounds of chile were being sent to market. The Hatch Valley was on its way to being known as the Chile Capital of the World. True to the nature of a pioneer, the hardy residents of the Hatch Valley have fought against the devastation of floods, the Great Depression, and a changing economy. Their tenacity has made the Hatch Valley what it is today.

African Americans of Galveston

9781467130271

$24.99

In the 19th century, Galveston shores were a gateway for immigrants to Texas and destinations beyond. Slaves, the forced immigrants, were brought to Galveston as property for sale. The largest slave trade operation in Galveston was implemented by Jean Laffite, a pirate. His slave trade business began around 1818. However, for the most part, slaves entering the port of Galveston were destined for other Texas cities and other states. Images of America: African Americans of Galveston presents the community life and accomplishments of Galveston slaves, the descendants of slaves, and descendants of those who migrated to Galveston after the Civil War. The book celebrates Galveston's African American culture from the 1840s to the 1960s.

Cover image for African Americans of Galveston, isbn: 9781467130271

Pima County

9780738595313

$24.99

In the southwestern United States, Pima County encompasses a mosaic of cultures and history. Living together in this region are Native American tribes with roots going back to prehistoric times, descendants of Spanish settlers who colonized the valley in the late 1600s, Mexican families who settled the area before the 1854 Gadsden Purchase, and current generations of late-19th-century American pioneers who ventured into the borderland of the Arizona Territory seeking new beginnings. Signs of a rich cultural heritage are everywhere. The Tohono O'odham and Yaqui peoples are a vital part of the community. Preserved missions, presidio fortresses, and ranches are evidence of the legacy of Spanish exploration, mission building, and colonization that began in the late 1600s. Streets in Tucson, lined with Sonoran-style adobe houses, recall when this region was part of Mexico. Ghost towns, old mines, military forts, and Territorial-era ranch houses are visible reminders of a series of gold and silver rushes, the settling of the West, and the rise of a cattle industry.

Uvalde

9780738585314

$24.99

In 1853, Reading Black founded Encina on the banks of the Leona River. With the vision of a modern-day entrepreneur, Black opened a store, established two rock quarries, and surveyed the town by 1855. In 1856, Uvalde County was organized, and the town name was changed to Uvalde. In this wild, untamed region, early settlers fought the hardships of frontier life, with frequent Indian uprisings, dangerous wildlife, and floods. In 1892, John Nance Garner moved to Uvalde. A future speaker of the house and vice president, Garner lived, worked, and raised a family in Uvalde, which he called home until his death. Uvalde was also home to other famous Texans, from the Newton Boys to former Gov. Dolph Briscoe. The memories and moments captured here are reminders of both the strength of character shown by these early settlers and their strong sense of purpose--and also to point out that the streets were not always paved.

Rails Around Fort Worth

9781467131681

$24.99

Railways played a central role in the development of the American West. The railroad came to Fort Worth in 1876, and with it came the boom that transformed a city into a metropolis. From the arrival of the Texas & Pacific Railroad to the streamliners of the postwar era, Fort Worth has always seen the railroad as a vital part of its character. From transcontinental locomotives to the construction of elegant architectural landmarks and to small but convenient interurban passenger lines, railroad history is central to Fort Worth's development. This is the story of a city's love affair with technology, transportation, and industry. Through its connection to an emerging country via the railroad, the young frontier town of Fort Worth came to offer as much to the nation's development as it benefited from it.

Gilbert

9781467132855

$24.99

Gilbert is one of the fastest growing communities in the country. There were only 500 residents when the town was incorporated in 1920. Since 1980, the population has doubled every five years. But how did this small desert community come to have such explosive growth in just over 30 years? Early pioneers began arriving in 1890, and in 1902, the Arizona Eastern Railway decided to build a rail line from Phoenix that went through Florence to the mining town of Kelvin. After purchasing land from Bobby Gilbert, a depot was built in 1905, and the town began to grow. Because of the creation of canals and Roosevelt Dam, Gilbert became a thriving agricultural community. In 1971, Gilbert had less than 2,000 residents, and in 1975, the town council approved a land annexation that added over 53 square miles to Gilbert. In 2014, that population number approached 250,000. By 2040, Gilbert is expected to be the fourth largest community in Arizona with approximately 330,000 residents.

Royse City

9780738596785

$24.99

In 1886, Confederate veteran Burgess Griffin Royse platted his namesake townsite on the blackland prairie of North Texas. A savvy businessman, Royse knew that the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad line between Dallas and Greenville was being planned, and he was instrumental in making sure its route passed through the newly platted city. Train service was a major economic boom to the area, and the small community grew quickly. By 1890, Royse City had a population of 1,000 and boasted two cotton gins, a gristmill, and 20 businesses. Through the mid-1900s, Royse City thrived on farming, with cotton growing, cotton ginning, and cottonseed oil manufacturing serving as the major industries. Although most Royse City citizens now commute to jobs throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, this small bedroom community celebrates and preserves its history through the Texas Main Street program, a thriving city-owned historical museum, and many festivals and celebrations that highlight its rich heritage.

Parkland Hospital

9781467134002

$24.99

In 1890, Dallas was a frontier town with medical care delivered by doctors on horseback. The poorly funded city hospitals were ill equipped and had no real medication or nurses. It is difficult to look back on history and define the moment when modern medicine began, but for Dallas, that moment was in 1894 with the building of Parkland Hospital. As Dallas grew and felt the pain of the polio epidemic, world wars, and the Kennedy assassination, Parkland Hospital was there. This is the story of Parkland Hospital and its 120-year journey from frontier medicine to becoming one of the world's premier medical centers.

Casa Grande

9780738579535

$24.99

Casa Grande, Arizona, is located on desert and farmland between Tucson and Phoenix and began as the end of an unfinished railroad line—thus its early name, Terminus. On May 19, 1879, when early summer heat halted construction of the railroad in what would soon become Casa Grande, only three buildings and five residents constituted the town. The names reflect the ethnic diversity of the sparse population: Buckalew, Ochoa, Smith, Watzlavocki, and Fryer. In September 1880, executives of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company named the town Casa Grande after the prehistoric Hohokam Indian ruins located 20 miles to the east. This volume illustrates how a desert railroad stop grew into a city. Today, as Casa Grande's population increases, new neighborhoods, schools, malls, and entertainment venues provide exciting new reasons for living here. However, as the population grows, the town struggles to retain its identity as an agricultural community.

Cover image for Casa Grande, isbn: 9780738579535

Calhoun County

9780738596600

$24.99

Calhoun County is a regional playground along the mid-Texas coast. Located where US Highway 87 begins and the Guadalupe River ends, the county was organized in 1846. Bordered by inland bays and the Gulf of Mexico, the area boasts of more than 560 miles of coastline, making it a hot spot for tourists and boaters. Easy access to the Gulf via the Port O'Connor jetties makes this one of the most popular fishing resorts on the entire Texas coast. With the abundance of water, coastal prairies, and marshes, Calhoun County is also favorite place for birders and photographers and is home to more than 400 species of birds and eight birding sites along the Texas Birding Trail. The county's visitor-friendly population of 21,000 even doubles on some weekends, such as the Fourth of July.

Chiricahua National Monument

9781467128490

$24.99

Chiricahua National Monument, located in Arizona's southeast corner, is famous 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.

Prescott

9780738548586

$24.99

In 1864, the beautiful park-like basin under Thumb Butte was surveyed, and the town that is now Prescott was laid out along Granite Creek where gold had been panned. Twice designated the capital of the newly established Territory of Arizona, Prescott suffered a devastating fire in July 1900 that destroyed the downtown district, but the blaze afforded the town's resilient citizens the opportunity to rebuild in more durable brick and stone. Since then, the mining and ranching opportunities, the cowboy-and-Indian lore, the commercial ventures, the salubrious climate, and the picturesque landscape have characterized Prescott as one of the most desirable and livable communities in the country. The city's dedication to preserving its unique heritage has resulted in more than 600 buildings being placed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the 1864 Governor's Mansion has been beautifully preserved as part of the Sharlot Hall Museum, which opened in 1927.

Early Yuma

9780738548579

$24.99

At the end of the 19th century, outlaws opined they would rather kill themselves than be taken alive to certain slow-boiled death in the caldron of Yuma's territorial prison, known nationally as "The Hell Hole." But to the pioneer residents of Yuma, the prison was the finest structure in town, sitting atop a breezy hill. When the prison was closed, Yuma's citizens used the abandoned structure as a school. That Yuma's residents lived happily where the West's most notorious outlaws feared to die is just one testament to the profound strength and perseverance of the first settlers of the community. This photographic history pays tribute to those men and women-Quechan, Spanish, Mexican, and Anglo-who looked past the arid landscape to envision a thriving river port, then a mining center, and finally, a verdant valley and winter playground.

Phoenix Zoo

9781467128346

$24.99

In the late 1950s, philanthropist Robert Maytag, the grandson of the Maytag Company founder, had a dream that the growing city of Phoenix needed a world-class zoo. Under Maytag's formidable vision and leadership, the dream became a reality in 1962. Now the Phoenix Zoo is one of the biggest privately owned, nonprofit zoos in the United States and one of the most visited places in Arizona. The zoo maintains a year-round staff of over 300 employees and covers 125 acres housing 3,000 animals, including 30 threatened or endangered species. Without much room to expand, the zoo utilizes its current space to rebuild and renovate. Since opening, the Phoenix Zoo has welcomed more than 43 million visitors through its gates, fulfilling its mission of providing experiences that inspire and motivate people to care for the natural world.

Cover image for Phoenix Zoo, isbn: 9781467128346

Bandelier National Monument

9781467134620

$24.99

Bandelier National Monument is located about 60 miles west of Santa Fe, New Mexico, on the edge of the Valles Caldera, the center of a massive extinct volcano that forms the Jemez Mountains. The 50-plus-square-mile preserve was designated a national monument in 1916 and is named for anthropologist Adolph Bandelier, the first Euro-American to describe the area and encourage its preservation. Within its boundaries are some of the most important archaeological resources and the most striking scenery in the American Southwest. With deep canyons cutting through volcanic ash, the dramatic geology of the area alone would warrant national attention. However, this is also a place that shows evidence of nearly continuous human occupation for more than 10,000 years and still retains direct links between prehistoric and living Native Americans.

Cover image for Bandelier National Monument, isbn: 9781467134620

Lake Havasu City

9780738530123

$24.99

Founded in 1964 as a planned community, Lake Havasu City is nestled amid craggy desert peaks on the Colorado River in western Arizona. Perhaps best known as the American home of the famous London Bridge--moved to town, piece by piece, in 1971 and painstakingly reconstructed--Lake Havasu City was first home to natives of the Mohave and Chemehuevi tribes. Steamboats plying the waters of the Colorado, mining interests in the region, and the construction of Parker Dam, which resulted in the 45-mile-long Lake Havasu, all played important roles in the development of this unique community. Today, the city's more than 50,000 residents and 2.5 million annual visitors enjoy myriad recreational opportunities in this desert oasis,
as well as a historical legacy unlike any other.

Shawnee and Pottawatomie County

9781467125468

$24.99

Restless pioneers surrounded the border of what would become Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma, on September 22, 1891, with the goal of staking prime land. The crowd was diverse and not always well-behaved, but chaos eventually turned to order. Businesses opened quickly, and towns were established. Tecumseh would be designated the county seat, but it would not be long before Shawnee would steal it away and even have aspirations of becoming the state capital. Shawnee and Tecumseh would become the focus of the county, but other towns like Asher, Dale, Earlsboro, Macomb, Maud, McLoud, St. Louis, and Wanette persevered in their own ways, bringing a unique version of small-town charm. Pottawatomie County today is home to just over 70,000 citizens. Shawnee, still the county seat, boasts a prestigious college and university and is known as the birthplace of Sonic Drive-In. Sixteen sites listed in the National Register of Historic Places are in the county. Jim Thorpe, Gordon Cooper Jr., Wanda Jackson, and Brad Pitt have all called Pottawatomie County home.

Lockhart

9780738585192

$24.99

When people think of Lockhart today, they think of barbecue. However, Lockhart's history and culture are much more. As Spanish land grants were awarded to Anglos to settle this virtually uninhabited territory, they came to what is now Lockhart because of the many springs, live oaks, rolling hills, and good soil. First were Native Americans, like the friendly Tonkawa tribe, and then in 1840, a few Anglo families settled on Plum Creek, six miles from today's town center. In August 1840, the legendary Battle of Plum Creek ended the Great Comanche Raid, clearing the way for further settlement. Farming and ranching led to a melting pot of ethnic entrepreneurs who opened related businesses around the square of the Caldwell County seat. Cattle and cotton became kings and, even today, remain leading agribusinesses. Dubbed the "Barbecue Capital of Texas" by the Texas Legislature, Lockhart can boast that over 1.2 million people visit annually to eat barbecue.

Lincoln

9781467130561

$24.99

The town of Lincoln is nestled in the lush green valley of the Rio Bonito in Southeastern New Mexico. It lies on US Route 380 about 57 miles west of Roswell and south of the Lincoln National Forest. Lincoln has been a National Landmark since 1960, and historians often refer to it as the most authentic Old West town remaining in the United States. Spanish settlers arrived in the area during the 1840s. By the 1860s, Lincoln served as a supply center for local ranches, mines, and nearby Fort Stanton. Lincoln merchants vied for lucrative government contracts, and the famous Lincoln County War erupted. As a result, Lincoln holds a unique place in American history, connected with the names of Lew Wallace, Billy the Kid, Sheriff Pat Garrett, and John Chisum. Seventeen historic buildings and four museums highlight the town as well as an annual folk pageant, The Last Escape of Billy the Kid, held since 1949.

San Angelo 1950s and Beyond

9780738596860

$24.99

San Angelo grew steadily as the largest trading center in the region after World War II, doubling in population from 1940 to 1950. Growth was spurred by oil production west of the city, construction of the Goodfellow Air Force Base, and the establishment of local ranches to raise sheep, goats, and cattle. San Angelo had its share of regional and national businesses, such as Woolworth, S.H. Kress & Co., Sears, and Safeway, and the booming economy included many local businesses that thrived and expanded in the 1950s. Businesses in downtown San Angelo moved to the suburbs or completely went out of business in accordance with the national trend; in recent years, however, the downtown has seen a rebirth thanks to visionary individuals, with projects such as a new fine art museum and a department store converted into the central library. Many other developments are on the horizon.

Boerne

9780738579436

$24.99

In 1849, German "Freethinkers" had been dreaming of a communal utopia, free from oppression by church and state. They settled in Texas on the Cibolo Creek, where Native Americans and Spanish explorers had gone before them. The experiment evolved into a frontier outpost, a stage stop, a health spa, a railhead, a small village, a brief chapter in the Civil War, and a farm and ranch community. Boerne is now a tourist destination and a lovely place to live. This collection of pictures and stories explores what has been amazing, unique, and a little odd about this bend in the Cibolo, as well as the history of local conservation efforts. As the little town of Boerne goes through its inevitable growing pains, it is important to remember its special people and places, and what is worth saving.

Building Bartlesville

9780738550510

$24.99

Bartlesville was founded in 1897 in the oil-rich northeast corner of a state that was soon to become the most prosperous oil-producing region in the world. Its architectural heritage prior to World War II reflected its citizens' European and East Coast tastes for classical, large-scale buildings typical of the era. Although symbols of their time, as well as the prosperity of their owners, their designs
slightly pale in comparison to the unique modernistic styles that began appearing after 1940. Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959) and Bruce Goff (1904-1982) were perhaps the most famous architects working in and around Bartlesville in the second half of the century. As harbingers of a new type of "mid-century modernism," their designs were notable alongside those by Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum (founded in 1955), Taliesin Associated Architects (founded in 1959), Clifford May (1908-1989), and Thomas McCrory (1925-). Building Bartlesville: 1945-2000 documents the architectural richness of this "City of Legends" and includes photographs, drawings, and documents in an excellent companion for those interested in both Oklahoma history and modern architecture.

Houston's River Oaks

9781467117340

$24.99

River Oaks is a name that has rung out in Houston, Texas, since its founding in 1923. The neighborhood's uncertain geographical boundaries may be a point of controversy, but the impact River Oaks has had on the city is indisputable. River Oaks has been home to astronauts who have contributed to American space exploration; lawyers who are involved in the interworking of the United States' legal system; oil tycoons who have helped Houston grow; and doctors who are responsible for inventing lifesaving medical procedures. The neighborhood is also home to one of the country's most exclusive country clubs, and River Oaks has been served by some of the same schools, churches, stores, and restaurants since its founding. This book explores how River Oaks not only celebrates, grieves, and lives life day-to-day, but also how it changes the world.

Cover image for Houston's River Oaks, isbn: 9781467117340

Fayette County

9780738584867

$24.99

Established in 1837 out of Stephen F. Austin's original colony, Fayette County's roots reach back in Texas history to the days of Mexican empresarios and native Indian tribes, spanning the boom period of 19th century European migration and colonization and stretching into the earliest days of 20th century America. It is the quintessential Texas county made up of vibrant, diverse cultures and unique communities. Originally settled by "Americans" from the southern United States, its later development was influenced and led by first German and then Czech immigrants escaping the European revolutions and economic hardships in search of the definitive American Dream.

Hobbs and Lea County

9780738558561

$24.99

When Lea County was created in 1917 from Eddy and Chaves Counties in the far southeastern corner of New Mexico, it was virtually a blank canvas for new settlers, with few roads, towns, or amenities. At that time, the area was little more than vast pasture lands for cattle, though a handful of hardy folk had already established homesteads in the region. But on June 13, 1928, that all changed when oil was discovered, and almost overnight, an influx of new settlers arrived, and development began in earnest. Oil wells were drilled on ranchers' property, and saloons, stores, and hotels sprang up, especially in the city of Hobbs. The oil boom drove the early economy of Hobbs and Lea County and of southeastern New Mexico, but through boom and bust, the community has endured, and today more than 50,000 residents call it home.

Chimayó

9780738585437

$24.99

The name Chimayó is derived from the Tewa Indian term Tsi Mayoh and was given to a sacred place of the Pueblo Indians located in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains between Santa Fe and Taos. Many of the Spanish colonists who settled in Chimayó after peaceful reentry to New Mexico in 1692 were descendants of those who left Castile and Extremadura. Nurtured by their faith and strengthened by the traditions and skills they brought from Spain, settlers converted a harsh environment into a fertile, green valley that provided them a livelihood for several generations. In 1810, Don Bernardo Abeyta, a prominent citizen of Chimayó, discovered a crucifix buried near a sacred well of healing earth, where he built a church. This is the site of present-day Santuario de Chimayó, also known as the Lourdes of America. Over the centuries, the descendants of Chimayó colonists developed a unique weaving tradition that is also known throughout the world. Present-day Chimayó offers a unique glimpse into a culture that has endured for centuries.

Cover image for Chimayó, isbn: 9780738585437

Houston Police Department

9780738595351

$24.99

The Houston Police Force was established by the naming of a city marshal in January 1841. Houston Police Department historian Denny Hair wrote, "As befitted a frontier community, the meeting of justice in Houston was swift and uncompromising. Trials were conducted in an informal manner with little attention paid to formal rules of evidence and legal procedure." Eventually, conditions changed and law enforcement became more sophisticated. The "Bayou City" population went from 44,633 in 1900 to almost 1 million by 1960. "Houston" was the first word spoken from the moon, thus it became "Space City" and, ultimately, the nation's fourth-largest city. Its police department weathered decades of mayoral appointment for every officer before state civil service reform in the 1940s. It also met the civil rights years better than most cities and saw dramatic change with the 1982 appointment of Lee Brown as the first African American police chief of a large American city.

Enid

9780738577470

$24.99

Enid is the eighth-largest city in Oklahoma and the largest city in northwest Oklahoma. Its origins can be traced to September 16, 1893, the day of the Cherokee Outlet Land Run, when more than 100,000 people raced for six million acres of land. The town quickly grew as inhabitants came to Enid to register claims at the land office. As the seat of Garfield County, Enid was the hub for numerous railroads, including the Rock Island, Santa Fe, and Frisco lines. It was already a prosperous town when in 1916 the Garber-Covington oil field was discovered east of town, guaranteeing that the area would become a center of petroleum production. The community has nurtured interesting people, such as Marquis James, a writer who won two Pulitzer Prizes, and H.H. Champlin, founder of the Champlin Refining Company. Enid: 1893-1945 features these residents' stories and many others that made the period Enid's first golden age.

Willcox

9780738571775

$24.99

Founded in 1880, Willcox became a major supply center for the military posts, the booming mining towns, and the huge cattle ranches in the surrounding area. Willcox is surrounded by beautiful mountain ranges that are just a short trip, and yet a world away, from Tucson. Many historic buildings have been preserved and are now museums and stores, including the original Southern Pacific train depot and the oldest store in Arizona to remain in its original building. The high desert country of Sulphur Springs Valley attracts thousands of rare Sandhill Cranes, which draws birders to the Wings Over Willcox event every January. October brings the annual Rex Allen Days that honor one of Willcox's native sons and last of the silver-screen cowboys. The Old West still lives here through tales of Apache Indians, train robberies, and shootings-Warren Earp was killed at Willcox's Headquarters Saloon. Perhaps the area is most known, though, for its friendliness and Western hospitality.

Weslaco

9780738503059

$24.99

Often called "The Magic Valley" because of its tropical climate and rich soil, the Lower Rio Grande Valley is a fertile agricultural region known for its cultivation of citrus, sugar cane, cotton, and
a variety of vegetables. In the heart of the Valley is Weslaco, a typical Valley town that serves as market, business, social, religious, and educational center for a broad Hispanic/Anglo population. This compilation of mid-Valley memories focuses on the development of agriculture and community life in Weslaco from the early 1900s to the 1950s, as once again the Valley undergoes transition, this time from agriculture to international trade due to NAFTA. Featuring images of Weslaco's buildings, schools, colorful residents, lively celebrations, and
the Texsun Corporation, which employed Valley workers for almost 60 years, this photographic tour
provides insight into the area's diverse heritage.

Nacogdoches in World War II

9780738579733

$24.99

Nacogdoches, the oldest town in Texas, has a long and colorful history starting in 1716, when the first mission, Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de los Nacogdoches, was founded. The people of this rich area have since come together countless times to survive challenges. During World War II, patriotism brought everyone closer as the young men of the area left to fight for their country. College enrollment declined drastically until a masterstroke by its president brought the nation's first WAC school to the campus. An unexpected ice storm killed valuable timber, bringing Nazi POWs to the area to harvest the pine trees. On the home front, everyone got involved in the war effort. They knitted, rolled bandages, collected scrap metal, bought war bonds, grew victory gardens, and participated in rationing and blackouts; but most of all they sacrificed their sons. They came together during those years and still come together today to celebrate the historic town's past and to honor its veterans of all wars.

Cover image for Nacogdoches in World War II, isbn: 9780738579733

Galveston:

9780738596471

$26.99

Galveston had adopted the moniker "Playground of the Southwest" by the 1920s. This title noted the city's economic revival following the 1900 hurricane. Galvestonians envisioned a tourism industry largely built around its beaches on the Gulf of Mexico, the tranquil water of Galveston Bay, and a year-round mild climate. Island business leaders also introduced amusement parks, nationally renowned events, and nighttime entertainment venues. By the 1930s, in a waning national economy, Galveston saw the quiet return of more questionable tourist businesses including gambling and prostitution, challenging the concepts of the conventional tourism industry until closed by the Texas Rangers in the 1950s. Later in the 20th century, Galveston Historical Foundation leaders who discovered the economics of heritage tourism began promoting the island's captivating history.

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Dude Ranching in Arizona

9781467116022

$24.99

Dude ranches were Arizona's first destination vacation. The earliest were built on working cattle ranches, stage stops, mining claims, and homesteads. Early dudes were typically wealthy and stayed for a long time, some for so long that one ranch had a school for its guests' children. Dude ranches were built around unspoiled country and offered spectacular views, healthy weather, and the chance to experience the cowboy life. Hollywood filmmakers came and, with them, some of the biggest figures of their time. Among those who were guests at dude ranches were John Wayne, Gary Cooper, Clark Gable, Katherine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, Dean Martin, Tom Hanks, Walt Disney, and US presidents.

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Goliad

9780738578736

$24.99

The battle cry shouted at the Battle of San Jacinto--"Remember Goliad!"--cemented Goliad's place in its importance to the Texas Revolution. In fact, every schoolchild learns about the significance of this special town in Texas history courses. Goliad is also famous for originating the Texas cattle industry, due in large part to the thousands of cattle raised at nearby missions. After the Texas Revolution, Goliad became a prosperous Texas ranching town, with the businesses, services, and social organizations appropriate to such a community. Since that time, the town has harkened back to its Spanish colonial and Texas Revolutionary past, to ranching, and to that original late-19th, early-20th century town, continually reinforcing and celebrating those periods. Much remains from those earlier eras, which makes Goliad one of the most visited and loved towns in Texas.

Okmulgee

9781467115513

$24.99

In 1868, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation confirmed its constitution and established Okmulgee, which means bubbling waters, as its capital. After a grueling journey on the Trail of Tears, they settled in the Okmulgee area. Many brought their slaves, who would later join the tribe as freedmen after the Civil War and form the beginnings of a thriving African American community. As Okmulgee grew, white traders and settlers arrived in the burgeoning town. A post office was established, and in 1900 the Frisco Railroad line was built. By 1907, statehood loomed and oil fields dotted the landscape. This boom would continue until the Great Depression. World War II brought the construction of the Glennan Military Hospital, which cared for American service members and German prisoners of war from Oklahoma prison camps. Okmulgee's interesting cultural history continues to be preserved today.

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Katy

9781467132794

$24.99

Settlers coming to the Katy area in the mid-1800s found a cane-filled creek on the vast coastal prairie. The area became known as Cane Island. When the Missouri-Kansas-Texas (MKT) Railroad laid tracks in the 1890s, a stop 30 miles west of Houston was needed to refill the water tanks on steam engines. Land agents were hired to find residents for a town, and in 1896, that town was named Katy. Early residents were farmers and ranchers, and businesses opened to support a growing community. By the mid-1900s, rice farming dominated thousands of acres. The crops brought migrating birds, and hunting became a second industry. Now known as one of the fastest growing and most desirable locations in the nation, Katy's roots are firmly planted in an area with rich history and a growing population that is working hard to preserve it.

Broken Arrow

9780738520148

$24.99

Broken Arrow was established in 1902 as a railroad terminal on the Missouri, Kansas, & Texas Railroad. It became a trade center for cattle, cotton and corn. In the early days, roses were planted in homes and along streets, and the use of a local spring for city water gave Broken Arrow the title of "City of Roses and Pure Water." The population was stable until 1950, when the rapid growth of the city made it the fifth largest in Oklahoma. Broken Arrow: City of Roses and Pure Water is a collection of vintage images that illustrates the development of the town from an agricultural trade center to a prosperous city of diversified, light industry and a center of education. Featured in this book are the busy streets, parades and festivals, softball tournaments, tourist attractions, and recent civic improvements that make Broken Arrow unique. Historic photographs of downtown stores and residential homes depict the earliest growth patterns of the city and show the development of Broken Arrow as a community.

Hidalgo County

9780738507729

$24.99

Hidalgo County, located in the heart of the Lower Rio Grande Valley, is a contentious land of impossible contrasts: tropical sunsets and swaying palm trees, rare birds and javelina, cactus and mesquite, soft breezes and broiling sunshine-and hurricanes. Spanish colonists settled here in 1749, receiving huge land grants in exchange for their labor and their loneliness. One hundred years later, a Scotsman named McAllen came to work in a riverfront store, and stayed to found a dynasty. Between 1900 and 1940, more immigrants arrived to build railroads and towns, turn brush land into farmland, and create a unique cultural environment. Hidalgo County illustrates the rapid development of this environmental and cultural crossroads at the beginning of the 20th century. River boats and oxcarts gave way to railroads and the Model T. Tent cities became thriving towns with business districts, homes, schools, churches, and agricultural industries. The changes experienced-and created-by the hardy pioneers who struggled to survive are chronicled here. The courage, stamina, and optimism of these brave souls inspire us a century later in Hidalgo County.

Garland

9781467132268

$24.99

Garland began as an amalgamation of a number of rural communities in northeastern Dallas County. A compromise solution to the rivalry of two railroad towns, Duck Creek and Embree, it is now the 12th largest city in Texas and the 87th most populous city in the United States. Evolving from its origins as a farming community, by the 1950s, Garland had become an industrious suburb of the Dallas metro area. The can-do spirit of the community has enabled its stalwart pioneer settlers to overcome natural disasters and make necessary improvements that contributed to its growth and position in the county. Surrounded by interstates, toll roads, and connecting rail lines, Garland links the Dallas Metro with Northeast Texas. Its future continues to diversify and adapt to the growing environments of Texas.

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Paradise Valley Architecture

9780738596594

$24.99

Three surveyors in the late 19th century were so attracted to the area's desert beauty that they named it the Paradise Valley. Starting in the 1920s, adobe homes were constructed in various revival styles. In 1936, the Camelback Inn resort set a high-quality standard with an inviting and relaxed character. Other guest lodges arrived, including the Hermosa Inn and the El Chorro Lodge. The 1950s brought more luxurious resorts, including the Paradise Valley Racquet Club and the Mountain Shadows Resort. With the threat of Phoenix or Scottsdale annexing the area, the citizens started debating incorporation in 1949 and were successful in 1961. Churches, schools, town facilities, and single-family homes followed. Numerous town ordinances were adopted to preserve a quiet, desert lifestyle such as burying all utilities, restrictive zoning, and hillside preservation.

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Oklahoma City

9780738503141

$24.99

The first session of the 59th Congress introduced the
consideration of the statehood bill, providing for the admission of two states: one to be composed of the Indian and Oklahoma Territories, and the other formed by uniting Arizona and New Mexico Territories. The Omnibus Statehood Bill became law on June 14, 1906. On the morning of November 16, 1907, more than 10,000 residents from Oklahoma City
traveled to Guthrie to celebrate their recently won statehood. Using over 200 images combined with well-documented facts from city directories, newspapers, and first-hand accounts, this book chronicles Oklahoma City''s unique history from its beginnings in the early 20th century as Packingtown to the
Depression Era. Also featured are many glimpses into the city''s everyday past'--scenes of residents enjoying a day at Belle Isle, the State Fair, and on the streets of downtown'--and a section on Henry Samuel Overholser, the Father of Oklahoma City.

Mercedes

9781467132060

$24.99

Mercedes is located in Hidalgo County in South Texas in a geographic area called the Lower Rio Grande Valley, which is really a river delta at the mouth of the Rio Grande River first inhabited by Coahuiltecans. Spanish colonists arrived in this area in 1749 to establish ranching communities. In 1905, the American Rio Grande Land and Irrigation Company purchased land in the Llano Grande Spanish land grant, built Mercedes as a showcase headquarters, constructed the largest irrigation system then known, and proceeded to develop the area through commercialized agriculture. Home of notable author Dr. Rolando Hinojosa-Smith, G.I. Forum founder Dr. Hector P. García, Olympic athlete Billy Gene Pemelton, US congressman Rubén Hinojosa, and the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show, Mercedes continues to attract many visitors who seek the mild climate and warm hospitality of the town.

Stephenville

9780738579634

$24.99

On July 4, 1855, on the fringe of the Texas Cross Timbers frontier, John M. Stephen and George B. Erath completed the survey of the Stephenville city square. Stephenville quickly became a prosperous settlement and a center for cattle raising, cotton production, and most recently dairy production. Styled today as the City of Champions, Cowboy Capital of the World, and the Dairy Capital of Texas, Stephenville has a colorful 155-year history. The evolution from cattle ranching to dairy farming finds delightful expression on the original town square where Moo-la—a life-size fiberglass Holstein milk cow—celebrates Stephenville's agricultural achievements. The 'Ville has produced football heroes such as 1938 NFL Champion New York Giants fullback Hugh Wolfe and 2010 Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Kevin Kolb and rodeo champions Whit Keeney, Tuff Hedeman, and King of the Cowboys Ty Murray. Music celebrities Lee Roy Parnell, Johnny Duncan, Larry Joe Taylor, and Jewel have also called Stephenville home.

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Albuquerque International Sunport

9781467103510

$24.99

In 1928, two Santa Fe Railway employees became so intrigued with aviation that they took it upon themselves to lease a parcel of land and build an airport for Albuquerque.

Within one year, Charles Lindbergh chose Albuquerque to be a stop on the nation’s first commercial transcontinental air route between Los Angeles and New York.A north–south air route between Denver and El Paso with a stop in Albuquerque was soon established, making the city a crossroads for air service in the Southwest.Using funds from a Works Progress Administration grant, the city then constructed its own airfield, and the Albuquerque Municipal Airport opened in 1939.Since then, this airport—now the Albuquerque International Sunport—has been an air transportation hub for the state of New Mexico and for the Southwest United States, now handling more than five million passengers per year.The development of the Sunport as well as the route structure and aircraft of each and every commercial airline that has served Albuquerque is featured.

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Lowell Observatory

9781467134170

$24.99

Atop a mesa one mile west of downtown Flagstaff, Arizona, sits Lowell Observatory, an astronomical research facility steeped in tradition. Percival Lowell, scion of a Boston Brahmin family, initially established his observatory in 1894 to study the possibility of intelligent life on Mars. Lowell widely popularized his controversial theories, sparking debate among both the scientific community and lay public. In the following years, the observatory's astronomers made several discoveries that dramatically altered our understanding of space, including Clyde Tombaugh's discovery of Pluto in 1930 and V.M. Slipher's detection of the expanding nature of the universe in 1912. Decades later, Apollo astronauts visited as part of their training to fly to the moon. These stories and others offer a glimpse of the scientific discovery, community pride, and personal triumph that define Lowell Observatory.

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Oklahoma City's African American Education

9781467127400

$24.99

Oklahoma City's African American community, from the beginning of the settlement of the Oklahoma Territory in 1891, placed a high priority on education. Established on January 5, 1891, Frederick A. Douglass High School became an Oklahoma City institution that produced scholars, educators, military heroes, musicians, athletes, attorneys, firefighting experts, doctors, national and international leaders in medicine, civil rights pioneers, and even cowboys. At the center of this substantial pool of achievers stood one man, Frederick Douglass Moon, the longest-serving principal at the school. His vision established the winning model that produced students who could compete anywhere in the world with their talents, skills, and knowledge. Countless legends and icons attended the school, including Charlie Christian, Ralph Ellison, Jimmy Rushing, Anthony Watson, Zora Brown, Dr. Roger Countee, and others. This book showcases former students of Oklahoma City whose contributions still matter today.

Oklahoma City's African American Education

Edinburg

9780738584775

$24.99

A town with two locations and multiple names, Edinburg today is the seat of Hidalgo County. Edinburgh, Texas (now known as Hidalgo) was first established on the Rio Grande River by shopkeeper John Young, who was originally from Edinburgh, Scotland. In 1852, Hidalgo County was formed, and Edinburgh became the county seat. In 1908, the changing course of the river threatened to flood the courthouse, resulting in a small but contentious countywide election about where to move the courthouse. Under armed guard, John Closner and other victors of the election led a hurried move by oxcart through the brush to the undeveloped townsite of Chapin. Dennis Chapin lost his good name and reputation in 1911, and as a result, the town became Edinburg (without the h). Today Edinburg is recognized for its location as a gateway city and as the home of the University of Texas-Pan American. Edinburg residents' pride in their town has shown throughout the years, from beautifying the courthouse square to being named an All-America City three times by the National Civic League.

Early Settlers of the Panhandle Plains

9781467130684

$24.99

The panhandle plains were Texas's last frontier, barren lands populated by hostile Comanche and outlaws attempting to outrun civilization. It was Texas Ranger and frontier scout Jim Jackson who first saw potential in the region. Jackson accompanied Col. Ranald Mackenzie into unsettled Kent County in 1875. He climbed a mountain at Polar to witness a sea of tall grass and a good stream of water. This was good news for Jackson's friends and relatives in Coleman County. Many chose to leave the crowded range and move their cattle herds west. Those who answered the call of the wild were Elkins, Mann, Brown, Overall, Sharp, Wallace, and a host of others. They were the point riders who took the challenge of opening Kent, Garza, Crosby, Lynn, Borden, Dawson, Mitchell, Fisher, Scurry, Stonewall, and Nolan Counties to permanent settlement.

Cave Creek and Carefree

9781467130394

$24.99

The towns of Cave Creek and Carefree are nestled in the lush foothills of the Sonoran Desert 35 miles north of Phoenix. Theprehistoric Hohokam first inhabited the area, settling along Cave Creek and elsewhere above the washes. The settlement of Cave Creek dates to the 1870s and has a rich history of mining, ranching, and homesteading. Early settlers persevered in this beautiful but rugged environment, isolated from the conveniences of urban life. Carefree, in contrast, was a master-planned town built in the late 1950s, providing modern amenities and infrastructure. Both towns offer a dramatic landscape and profuse desert plant life. Visitors are drawn to the area for the abundant recreational activities, community festivals, and art fairs as well as a unique blend of Western and contemporary cultures. The two towns are committed to protecting the desert environment and the welcoming, small-town atmosphere that is their historical legacy.

Lost Abilene

9780738596938

$24.99

In 1881, the Texas & Pacific Railroad described Abilene as the "Future Great City of the West." While the train line was laying rails west out of Fort Worth, a group of ranchers, wanting the new town to become a prominent cattle-shipping point, selected the name Abilene after Abilene, Kansas, which was a main cattle-shipping town in the 1870s. With the arrival of the railroad to Abilene, this part of Texas opened up for settlement. Families rushed to establish the town and set up new businesses, but it was the military coming to Abilene that really made the city's population explode. Lost Abilene documents the early homes, businesses, schools, and entertainment that helped shape the city.

Irving

9781467116084

$24.99

Irving, Texas, was founded in 1903 by two eager individuals, J.O. Schulze and Otis Brown, of the Chicago, Rock Island & Gulf Railway Company. Beginning as an agrarian area of farmland, cotton, and cattle, Irving grew to include industrial facilities while persevering through the financial difficulties resulting from the Civil War and the two world wars. Irving maintained its growth when other cities in the United States could not. Schulze and Brown recognized the importance of utilizing both agricultural and industrial resources in creating and sustaining a successful city. Remnants of early communities, such as Bear Creek, Elm, Estelle, Kit, Sowers, Twin Wells, and Union Bower, can still be identified. Situated between Dallas and Fort Worth, Irving is a robust and thriving city that has greatly contributed to the creation and preservation of Texas history.

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El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro

9781467106795

$23.99

El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, the Royal Road of the Interior, is the earliest Euro-American trade route of cultures and commerce in the United States. It spanned about 1,800 miles from Mexico City, where the road originated, to Santa Fe, in New Mexico. For three centuries, this Spanish colonial road followed a network of ancient Native American footpaths and trails that followed the wide expanse of the Rio Grande valley. There were parajes, or campgrounds, along the way for travelers, and early Spanish settlements were established too. Some of the towns and villages are now modern cities, such as Las Cruces, Albuquerque, and Santa Fe. Mexico City, as the former capital of La Nueva España, New Spain, is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Center. In 2000, El Camino Real was officially designated as a national historic trail, administered by the US Department of the Interior. In 2005, the El Camino Real International Heritage Center was erected near Socorro, New Mexico. This is an interpretive learning center that presents the history and heritage of the Royal Road in the region as an integral part of Spain's global network of roads and maritime trade routes.

Mason County

9780738579313

$24.99

When an army scouting party headed north from Fredericksburg in 1851 to select a site for a new military post, they found an area of remarkable natural beauty on the northwestern edge of the Texas Hill Country. This land of clear streams, rocky hills, live oak thickets, and abundant wildlife had long served as a hunting ground for Comanches, Kiowas, and Lipan Apaches. A few German farmers had already settled along the Llano River, and a town soon sprang up in the shadow of Fort Mason. By the 1920s, Mason County's population included German Americans, descendants of old families from the southeastern states, Mexican immigrants who had fled the revolution, and African Americans whose ancestors had arrived in the 1850s. For decades, the region has attracted hunters, river enthusiasts, naturalists, and geologists. The town of Mason features one of the most picturesque courthouse squares in Texas. Its old-time storefronts and handsome sandstone houses make it a popular tourist destination today.

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Fort Davis

9780738579863

$24.99

Established and named for US secretary of war Jefferson Davis in 1854, Fort Davis was key to the eventual settlement of the Davis Mountains' rich grasslands. Camels once grazed at the fort. It served as home to the African American regiments known as the Buffalo Soldiers, and Lt. Henry Flipper, the first African American to graduate from West Point, was court-martialed at this post. Present-day visitors to the town of Fort Davis can gaze at the stars and imagine the immensity of the universe at the University of Texas McDonald Observatory, stay the night at the Civilian Conservation Corps-built Indian Lodge at Davis Mountains State Park, or visit with a living-history volunteer or park ranger at Fort Davis National Historic Site.

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Lake Pleasant

9780738571768

$24.99

If the Hohokam beheld Lake Pleasant today, spreading across the desert northwest of Phoenix, their eyes would scarcely recognize their home. Nearly a century ago, early pioneers in central Arizona were inspired by the Hohokam's hand-dug irrigation to divert the Agua Fria River from the Bradshaw Mountains, creating colossal agricultural potential in the Sonoran Desert. Lake Pleasant stands alone among the great reclamation efforts of the West, largely due to the tenacity of one man--William H. Beardsley, who died before it was completed. Beardsley, along with other visionaries like Carl Pleasant and Donald Waddell, overcame all odds to create the Pleasant Dam, which was completed in October 1927 and was later renamed the Waddell Dam. In the late 20th century, the New Waddell Dam was constructed, which tripled the size of the lake and made the water flow uphill, back into Lake Pleasant. Today Lake Pleasant Regional Park offers visitors over 20,000 acres of crystal clear water ideal for boating, water sports, and fishing and over 140 developed sites for RV and tent camping.