Northern Arizona boasts a rich history. In this collection of vintage-photograph postcards, Kevin Schindler and William Sheehan explore the area's role in space training.
Legendary Locals of the Big Bend and Davis Mountains
9781467100540
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
"Home of the Last Frontier" is how the local radio station aptly describes the Big Bend and Davis Mountains region of West Texas, the sparsely populated area of desert and mountain close to the Mexican border. After 1848, the first settlers started to move in. They came to make a living, and a few made a fortune. Mysterious cattle baron Milton Faver ran 10,000 cattle in the 1870s. Others came for their health, like J.O. Langford, his wife, and young daughters who, seeking a dry climate, came to homestead on the Rio Grande. Today's newcomers are equally pioneering in their own way. Donald Judd was the catalyst that changed Marfa from a moribund cow town to an internationally recognized art center. Edie Elfring, an immigrant from a small island in the Baltic Sea, has picked up trash and tended Alpine's public gardens--unasked and unpaid--for years. They were drawn to what their predecessors found: a boundless landscape peopled by a few hardy, independent souls.
Legendary Locals of El Paso
9781467101875
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
From a small settlement along the Rio Grande to a major metropolitan area at the crossroads of three states and two nations, El Paso has grown immensely. Known as the Sun City, the region has always attracted individuals and families from around the world who were looking to establish roots and make their mark. In the early days, pioneers such as Zach White, Anson Mills, and Joseph Magoffin helped lay a solid foundation on which the city was built. Gunfighters like John Wesley Hardin walked the streets of El Paso, while lawmen like Dallas Stoudenmire did their best to keep them off. Lining the streets of El Paso were, and still are, beautiful edifices designed by famed architect Henry Trost. El Paso's unique location, history, and culture have helped inspire many artists, writers, and musicians, such as Jim Ward, Cormac McCarthy, and Tom Lea. Take a moment and learn about some of El Paso's legendary locals.
Legendary Locals of Grand Prairie
9781467102179
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
Grand Prairie is a city on the edge. Citizens have been innovators with a love for family and community. Alexander Dechmann traded land to insure a railroad depot; early settlers started schools for their families; and the police department hired one of the first women. Leaders at nonprofits such as Brighter Tomorrows not only helped the local community, but also helped develop services in surrounding communities. Business owners and volunteers have strong family traditions of giving back to Grand Prairie, and civil servants have loyalties for extended years of service, such as Ruthe Jackson and her family, who provided support for both businesses and the community. From the early settlers to today's city, Grand Prairie is built upon loyalty.
Legendary Locals of Rockwall
9781467101899
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
Since its founding in 1854, Rockwall has been home to dedicated public servants, pioneer personalities, hometown heroes, successful business owners, devoted educators, and hardworking farmers. Containing more than 100 profiles of Rockwall's interesting and influential citizens, Legendary Locals of Rockwall includes the stories of Confederate veteran John Summerfield Griffith, who rode on horseback to Austin to gain the original charter for Rockwall County; long-tenured office holders such as Lannie Stimpson, who served 53 years in office, and Derwood Wimpee, who served 35 years; a long list of educators, including Maurine Cain, Dorothy Smith Pullen, Ouida Springer, and Doris Cullins, who influenced generations of Rockwall students; and business professionals such as newspaper publishers P.J. and Jane Bounds, local developer and philanthropist Raymond Cameron, and Texas's first formally trained female dentist, Dr. Jessie Castle LaMoreaux. In addition, Rockwall has long honored its agricultural heritage by naming roads after farming families who influenced the region. The names Bourn, Rochell, Cornelius, Clem, and Smirl, among others, will be familiar to those who travel the roads of Rockwall County.
Legendary Locals of Buckeye
9781467102001
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
In 1884, Malie Monroe Jackson began and named a canal Buckeye in honor of his native state, Ohio, the Buckeye state. In 1886, Thomas Newton Clanton added 10 miles to the canal. The following year, he applied for a post office, and on March 10, 1888, the post office, named Buckeye, was established. Clanton platted a townsite and named the town Sidney, though why he chose that name remains a mystery. Beginning in 1910, advances in transportation put the community on the map, and Sidney became Buckeye. Hugh Watson, founder of the Buckeye Valley Bank, became the town's first mayor in 1929. On January 1, 2014, Buckeye became the newest city in Arizona. This newest volume also celebrates today's Buckeye settlers, such as Levi Beard, Tony Youngker, Clemie Arnold, and Bob Doster, DVM, updating Buckeye's colorful history of notable residents.
Legendary Locals of Oak Cliff
9781467100779
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
Since its earliest days, Oak Cliff, a rolling, tree-covered section of Dallas, has generated outstanding personalities in all fields of American society and business and continues to do so today. In a high school history class, future US Speaker of the House Jim Wright caught his political vision; two years later, future Olympic champion and LPGA founder Babe Didrikson began her training at Lake Cliff Park. The legendary Stevie Ray Vaughan, along with contemporaries Michael Martin Murphy and Ray Wylie Hubbard, began his music career in Oak Cliff, while sports legends like Jerry Rhome and Harvey Martin paid their dues on local fields of play. Hollywood successes Belita Moreno and Stephen Tobolowsky first trained in their high school drama classes, decades after pioneer Oak Cliff girl Sarah Horton Cockrell became Dallas's first millionaire. Although a presidential assassin once lived in the community, two of America's largest mega-churches now call Oak Cliff home, as did the Father of the Texas Sesquicentennial.
Legendary Locals of Arlington
9781467100588
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
The people of Arlington have always had a can-do spirit. There's Carrie Rogers, the society matron who became marshal; Tillie Burgin, who changed the face of social services in Arlington; and Tom Vandergriff, the boy mayor who stayed on the job for 26 years. When educational opportunities were deemed inadequate, Edward E. Rankin and other leading citizens founded and supported a school that grew into the University of Texas at Arlington. Before there was the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act, Jim Hayes opened the eyes of Arlington leaders to the difficulties of navigating the University of Texas at Arlington and the city in a wheelchair. Never willing to be overshadowed by Dallas or Fort Worth, their larger neighbors to the east and west, Arlington residents embraced industry and progress, and their enterprising spirit attracted the notice of the nation. Today, the city boasts major businesses and attractions--General Motors, Six Flags, the Texas Rangers, and the Dallas Cowboys--and continues to grow thanks to the aspirations of its people.
Legendary Locals of Santa Fe
9781467100472
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
Founded in 1610, Santa Fe has been a beacon for those yearning for adventure, a different way of life, a place of expression, and the opportunity to meld the old with the new. Designated America's first United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Creative City in 2005, Santa Fe is home to people from around the world. Legendary Locals of Santa Fe pays tribute to a diverse group of individuals, who through different eras have contributed to the city's vitality: Native American Po'pay, leader of the Pueblo Revolt; world-renowned sculptor Allan Houser; performing artist Maria Benitez, who rejuvenated the genre of Spanish Flamenco dance and music; Pulitzer Prize authors Willa Cather and Oliver La Farge; Fray Angelico Chavez, Santa Fe's preeminent historian; Santa Fe Opera founder John Crosby; Stewart L. Udall, former Secretary of the Interior under the Kennedy and Johnson administrations; and Sgt. Leroy A. Petry, the 2011 Medal of Honor recipient. All share an enduring spirit and belief in the community that the Spanish explorers had the foresight to name the City of Holy Faith.
Legendary Locals of Gallup
9781467125673
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
Geography has conspired to make Gallup, New Mexico, a special place with unique people and a colorful history. It has been a place of struggle and extremes where cultures have clashed, mixed, and melded. Gallup is a community that is simultaneously challenging and uplifting, heartrending, and redemptive. To local Native Americans, the Navajo and Pueblo people, Gallup is located on their ancestral homeland and bordered by their sacred sites. To early settlers, Gallup was a place that permitted transportation across the continent, first by foot and horseback, then by stagecoach and railroad, and ultimately, by America's Mother Road, Route 66. With its founding, Gallup became a place where European, Asian, and Hispanic immigrants—with hands that built America—came to construct a transcontinental rail line, harvest timber, mine coal, and establish businesses, while seeking a new life among the region's original native people.
Legendary Locals of Alamogordo
9781467102117
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
By the time Alamogordo's founders platted the town in the late 1800s, bestowing it with the Spanish name for Fat Cottonwood, the region's lush grasses were luring cowboys such as Oliver Lee. Then, in 1941, an event more than 3,000 miles away changed the quiet community. When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, chamber president Mose Cauthen quickly spearheaded bringing the Army's mission to train bomber pilots to the Tularosa Basin. During the Space Race, Dr. John Stapp oversaw the programs at Holloman Air Force Base that sent Joe Kittinger, Dave Simons, and Demi McClure floating heavenward underneath balloons. Soon after, Ed Dittmer was training chimpanzees to rocket out of Earth's atmosphere and prove man could survive in that hostile environment. Alamogordo is where the Old West melds with ever-evolving technology, along with a rich artistic and literary legacy championed by such women as Linnie Townsend, Maude Rathgeber, and Margaret Flickinger.
Legendary Locals of Albuquerque
9781467101974
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
Spanish settlers founded Albuquerque in 1706, making it the third of only four villas (towns) in colonial New Mexico. Located in the Rio Abajo along a wide turn on the Rio Grande, the settlement developed from a small farming community into New Mexico's largest, most modern city. Many notable men and women participated in this remarkable growth, lending their talents and sacrificing their time, energy, and sometimes their very lives. Dozens of these legendary figures are portrayed in this unique book, with chapters devoted to those who played important roles in politics and diplomacy; the military; law and order; religion and education; art and literature; culture and entertainment; business and tourism; health, science, technology, and space; and sports. A final chapter describes several of Albuquerque's sung and unsung heroes. The result is a collage of a Western city filled with diversity, tradition, and cultural pride.
Mesa
9781467160407
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
Brigham Young sent the first pioneers to Mesa in the late 1870s to help support the Mormon Church's expansion into Mexico. Some of the earliest businesses during those days included a blacksmith shop, theater, lumberyard, and mercantile. Much of the early architecture still exists among the downtown buildings, churches, and schools.
Wharton
9780738579078
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
On a bend in the Colorado River where it meanders through the Bay Prairie lies the town of Wharton. Caney and Peach Creeks spill into the river nearby and mark the boundaries of this small community. Stephen F. Austin first brought settlers here in the early 1820s, and the town of Wharton was organized in 1846. Named in memory of two brothers who fought in the Texas Revolution, the town sits astride trade routes that connect larger cities like Houston and San Antonio. Steamboats made their way up the Colorado River, and the railroad bustled through in the 1880s. The town began to grow quickly by 1900, and now, a century later, Wharton honors a diverse cultural heritage passed down for six generations. Today Wharton has more than 9,000 residents who make up a diverse and thriving community, and who still appreciate their special place along the mighty Colorado River.
Mount Pleasant
9781467131797
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
Mount Pleasant lies atop a tree-covered hill in the midst of East Texas timber country. The native Caddo Indians referred to the hill as "pleasant," and so it was named. Though it hails from within the historic area known as "Devil's Triangle," the city has been dubbed "the sweetest town in Texas." This area has been alternately ignored, fought over, and claimed, proving the people of Mount Pleasant are resilient, adaptable, and consistently hardworking. It is the kind of stable community that showcases many of the strengths of America. The city's location as a byway along transportation routes, including roads, railroads, and an interstate highway, has contributed to its growth over the years as industrial businesses have come to town. Named one of the best small towns in America, it currently serves as the trailer manufacturing capital of the United States. This "bass capital of Texas" boasts more than 17,000 acres for fishing, swimming, and waterskiing, as well as bird watching along the Texas Bluebird Trail.
San Antonio in the Great War
9781467131759
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
San Antonio, Texas, has been called Military City USA for many years. It earned this sobriquet not only by virtue of its major military installations but also because of its close and cordial relationship with the US Armed Forces. But in 1916, the year before America entered the Great War, all of that was still in the future. Fort Sam Houston was the largest US Army post in the country, but its attention was focused on the border with Mexico. This changed on April 6, 1917, as the United States needed to quickly raise an expeditionary army of three million men with its attendant air service and send it overseas. This volume portrays the growth of military facilities and infrastructure in San Antonio during World War I that started the Alamo City on the road to becoming Military City USA.
Winnsboro
9780738599670
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
From its meager beginnings as "The Crossroads," Winnsboro has become a bustling small town situated in the heart of the beautiful Piney Woods of East Texas. Settled in 1854, when the railroad came in 1876, Winnsboro became a major shipping center for goods going west to the frontier. At one time, the area was one of the top producers of fruit for Bama Pies; one local grower referred to his business as "My Slice of the Pie." From 1932 to 1934, Winnsboro was a destination stop for Bonnie and Clyde when they traveled from central Texas to Louisiana. Because of their friendship with a local resident, the couple promised never to rob anyone in Winnsboro. Home to the Bowery, the town had as many as eight saloons from 1893 to 1910, and people still talk about the shoot-out at Massel's Saloon. With a thriving community arts center as well as galleries and venues for live theater and music, Winnsboro has been named a State of Texas Cultural Arts District.
Texas Sesquicentennial Wagon Train
9780738584881
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
In 1986, the Texas Sesquicentennial Wagon Train joined the 150th birthday celebration that commemorated the state's independence from Mexico. The wagon train followed a jagged 3,000-mile circle around the state to bring it within approximately 100 miles of every town or city in Texas. The six-month schedule began January 2, 1986, in Sulphur Springs and was followed so closely that each town or city knew the exact day the wagon train would arrive and could make plans for welcoming it with local events. Some folks traveled the entire route; others joined for a day or a week. A total of 10,000 riders from 27 states traveled at least a part of the way during the six months. While people and wagons came and went, a core group of participants and support staff completed the entire trip, arriving at the Fort Worth Stockyards on July 3, 1986, for a final celebration.
Litchfield Park
9781467130448
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
In 1908, William Kriegbaum, a California citrus grower, arrived as the first settler in what was to become Litchfield Park. He, along with other settlers from California, owned the land until 1916, when Paul Litchfield of Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company came to the area and purchased 16,000 acres to plant cotton for tires. In 1918, the townsite was planned with tree-lined streets and buildings to include an "organizational house" for Goodyear executives, which is now the famed Wigwam Resort. When new materials for tires were developed, cotton was no longer needed for cord. Shortly thereafter, Goodyear brought its tire-testing fleet to Litchfield, and farm equipment companies followed suit, sending engineers to design and test new machinery. The steel-wheeled tractor tire was replaced by Paul Litchfield's newly patented pneumatic tire as the standard for farm equipment. The World War II years brought changes to the area as an influx of new residents transformed the company town to a more planned community.
Pflugerville
9781467130806
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
When the early settlers arrived in the 1850s, the Blackland Prairie was covered with four-foot sage grass on which buffalo grazed. Land was cleared, homes were built, crops were planted in the rich fertile soil, and cattle were driven, via the Chisholm Trail, to market in Kansas. The village of Pflugerville in northeast Travis County received its name in 1893 when postal service was approved. In 1904, the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad established a depot on land donated by George Pfluger. The railroad was the economic engine that spurred the growth of the town, attracting new businesses and visitors. Diligent leaders established churches, schools, and support organizations, forming the firm foundation and core values that are still visible today. The football team received national recognition in 1962 for its 55 consecutive victories. Present visionary leaders face the challenges of another explosive boom in growth, providing support, opportunities, quality of life, and excellent education for Pflugervillians.
Albuquerque's Parks and Open Space
9780738584706
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
Albuquerque is a city of crossroads and cultures. Located at the southern end of the Rocky Mountains, at the edge of the Great Plains, and in the high desert along the banks of the Rio Grande, it is the junction where historic Camino Real crosses venerable Route 66. Although officially founded as a Spanish Colonial villa in 1706, native people have lived in the Albuquerque area for over 10,000 years. Thousands of ancient petroglyphs are testimony to the endurance of today's pueblo peoples. Explorer Francisco Vazquez de Coronado overwintered his famed expedition here in 1540-1542. Albuquerque has been a boomtown several times, from the coming of the railroad to its role as a health mecca, and from postwar urban growth to recent sunbelt immigration. This mile-high city has always attracted outdoor enthusiasts, as this chronicle of its parks and magnificent open space system attests. Contributions of Aldo Leopold, Clyde Tingley, Harry Kinney, and many community activists have melded with native and Hispanic traditions to create a place unlike any other.
Latter-day Saints in Mesa
9780738558578
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
The city of Mesa initially began with a tiny colonizing expedition sent from Utah by leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1876. These devoted pioneers and others who followed faced an arduous trek, oppressive heat, and drought but persevered in their mandate. Two years later, Andrew S. Gibbons predicted the Salt River Valley would become "the garden spot of Arizona," noting a climate well adapted to raising grapes, cotton, sugar cane, oranges, and olives. Agriculture became the foundation of the town of Lehi, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, and the city of Mesa, now the third-largest municipality in the state of Arizona. This retrospective highlights both the growth of the church in Mesa and the unique experiences of its members from those early days to the modern era.
Corsicana
9780738578781
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
The first Texas legislature created Navarro County in 1846 and named it in honor of Texas patriot Jose Antonio Navarro. When asked to name the new seat of government, Navarro replied, "Call it Corsicana for the island of Corsica, the birthplace of my father." From its beginnings in 1848, Corsicana's history has been marked by Texas icons such as cotton, cattle, and chili. The town's history took a dramatic turn when drillers looking for water struck oil instead in 1894. By the end of the decade, more than 500 wells dotted the landscape, marking the first commercial oil field in Texas and launching the industry that has become synonymous with the Lone Star State. Oil, business enterprises, and politics are important parts of Corsicana's legacy, but much of its history is found in the everyday events that make up the fabric of a community. Local history is filled with stories of people who overcame obstacles to fulfill the American Dream.
Old Sylvan Beach and the Pavilions
9781467132077
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
Sylvan Beach is synonymous with bathing beauties, moonlit pavilions, the jitterbug, the Charleston, and a train called the Moonlight Express, as well as picnics, carnivals, music, romance, love, and legend. The unlikely truth is that familiarity and age can make our most beautiful treasures banal if we do not pause to remember and observe and venerate the events and moments when we first saw, or most appreciated, a place like Sylvan Beach. For this reason, we ask you to come back with us to Sylvan Beach, where, for over 100 years, Houston and much of Texas has come to play, dance, pray, fall in love, relax, or simply swim in the bay. Today, the park and its pavilion are enjoying renewed popularity.
Live Oak County
9780738595337
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
In 1856, Live Oak County was chartered by frontiersmen under the spreading limbs of a great live oak tree near the Nueces River. As far back as 12,000 years, hunter-gatherer Paleo-Indians subsisted on berries, roots, and megafauna like mastodons in this timeless frontier. Cabeza de Vaca, prisoner of Coahuiltecans in 1535, provided the first European description of the area. The Spanish then explored and unsuccessfully attempted to colonize the region, and when Spanish troops withdrew from Texas in 1813, the sole Spanish colonizers in the area, the Ramirez brothers, abandoned their ranch and left with them. Shiploads of Irish immigrants next arrived between 1828 and 1834, and following the Civil War, herds of wild Longhorns driven north turned drovers like George West into wealthy cattle barons. The early-1900s arrival of the railroad created new towns, causing others to die. Today's Live Oak County citizens draw on its indomitable pioneering spirit to meet new 21st-century challenges.
The Elks Opera House
9780738585420
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
For over 100 years, the Elks Opera House has been a landmark of the cultural scene in Prescott, Arizona, and the western United States. In 1904, the people of Prescott raised $15,000 toward a performance hall to be included in the Elks Building. The original structure featured opera boxes that were later removed to adapt to the demands of motion pictures, and the entire proscenium arch was covered with wood paneling. In 2010, the Elks Opera House Foundation completed major renovations to restore the original 1905 grandeur of the theater and the 1928 marquee, which was paid for by grants from local charitable foundations, Arizona historic preservation funds, and generous participation by businesses and individuals. The Elks Building was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
Irish Arizona
9780738556475
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
The Irish greatly contributed to the creation of the territory and state of Arizona due to their enterprising personalities and persistence in a difficult environment. The first documented Irishman in Arizona was Hugo O'Conor, who established the Presidio of Tucson for the Spanish government in 1775. Sheriff Bucky O'Neal of Yavapai County and the Brophy and Riordan families left their mark on Arizona's landscape as well as the Irish-born Sisters of Mercy, who established St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix. This photographic history identifies famous and lesser-known Arizona settlers who were ranchers, merchants, miners, lawmen, explorers, soldiers, and healers. Irish Arizona offers a unique perspective on an ethnic group not typically associated with the American Southwest.
Taylor
9780738585024
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
El Camino Real de los Tejas, a National Historic Trail, connected the Rio Grande to the Red River Valley through the middle of Taylor on Highway 95. Moses Austin used this trail to establish a colony in Spanish Texas, and he was followed by Kit Carson, Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie, Sam Houston, Santa Anna, and many more. The Spanish and the French were the groups who marked the trail. Today, Taylor is restoring historical sites and preserving local history by encouraging quality growth as it protects the unique features of the community that make it an outstanding place to live, work, shop, and play. Over the years, Taylor has continued to prosper and grow, making the town truly blessed with people that made its history and await many future opportunities.
Midlothian
9780738579450
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
Ada
9780738584362
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
Ada, named after the eldest daughter of Jeff Reed, a founder of the town, is located in the east central part of Oklahoma. It is the county seat of Pontotoc County and was called the worst town for criminal activity in the Indian Territory for the lack of justice. The west end block of Main Street was called the "Bucket of Blood" and harbored many murderers and outlaws until, in 1909, the hanging of four men in a stable advised all who would hide in Ada to leave or suffer the same fate. The murder of former U.S. marshal Gus Bobbitt was the catalyst for this desperate action. The hanging is one of the most talked about tales of the early West. Growing from the oil, cotton, and cement industries, Ada is known as the city of clear spring water. The Chickasaw Nation has its headquarters in Ada and has been a fount of industry and beauty in the town.
Around Yavapai County
9780738579627
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
On February 23, 1863, Pres. Abraham Lincoln signed the bill creating the Territory of Arizona. The first Arizona Territorial Legislature established the capital at Prescott and met in September 1864. They divided the territory into four counties: Mohave, Pima, Yavapai, and Yuma. Yavapai County, the "mother county," consisted of approximately 65,000 square miles and was believed to be the largest county in the United States. By the time Arizona attained statehood on February 14, 1912, there were 14 counties, and Yavapai County had been reduced in size to 8,125 square miles. Yavapai County has a rich history in mining, ranching, farming, military, and business. Today, Yavapai County is a thriving, growing county with nine incorporated cities and towns and numerous unincorporated communities, such as Ash Fork, Black Canyon City, Cornville, Mayer, and Skull Valley. Historic sites include Sharlot Hall Museum in Prescott, the town of Jerome, Fort Verde, Montezuma's Castle and Well, and Tuzigoot.
Stephen F. Austin State University Jacks
9780738571805
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
Stephen F. Austin State University opened its doors in 1923, and its administrators instituted intercollegiate athletics almost immediately. Over the next eight decades, the Lumberjacks and Ladyjacks--team names derived from the area's predominant forest products industries--participated successfully in the Lone Star, Gulf Star, and Southland Conferences. Such outstanding Lumberjacks as James Silas, Mark Moseley, and Jeremiah Trotter have even gone on to successful careers in the NBA and NFL. This book offers readers a retrospective look at the success of SFA's athletic programs, as well as the players, coaches, and fans that led them to victory.
Golden Hurricane Basketball at The University of Tulsa
9780738533469
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
When Kendall College fielded its first basketball team in 1907, no one could predict what great sports moments were in store for the city of Tulsa. All-American caliber athletes such as Bob Patterson, Jim King, Bobby "Bingo" Smith and Willie Biles laid the foundation under the direction of groundbreaking coaches like Clarence Iba, Joe Swank and Ken Hayes. The past 25 years have arguably seen some of the best court action in The University of Tulsa's history. Paul Pressey, Steve Harris, Tracy Moore, Shea Seals, Michael Ruffin and Kevin Johnson are just a few of the marquis players that have donned the Blue and Gold. They have been led into battle by a "who's who" of big time coaches including Nolan Richardson, Tubby Smith and Bill Self.
White Rock Lake
9780738578835
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
In 1909, Dallas city leaders approved the damming of White Rock Creek to create a new water source for the increasing needs of a growing city. As a result, so much of the life and history of Dallas has echoed through the life and history of White Rock Lake. In the early decades, the lake was home to many private summer homes and boat houses, as well as hunting and fishing clubs. Soon thereafter, a bathing beach, sailing clubs, public boathouses, and picnic facilities were added. The Civilian Conservation Corps and the Works Progress Administration transformed the lake with more recreational and leisure amenities. World War II brought increased military uses that included a POW camp for German officers. Those early city leaders could hardly know that the lake they were creating 10 miles outside of Dallas would become an urban oasis enjoyed by over two million visitors a year.
Vail and Colossal Cave Mountain Park
9780738548821
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
Just 22 miles southeast of Tucson in the Sonoran Desert sits the town of Vail, colloquially known as "The Town between the Tracks," which refers to the two train tracks running through its tiny business center. The area is named for Walter L. Vail, who, with his partners, formed the sprawling Empire Ranch in 1876. Vail is also the home of Colossal Cave, a "dry cave" where visitors can view stunning formations and hear stories of Native Americans, bandits, and moviemakers. The cave served as the site of a Civilian Conservation Corps camp in the mid-1930s, when workers installed trails and lighting in the cave, constructed administration buildings, and built roads and picnic spots in the surrounding area. Colossal Cave is now united with the La Posta Quemada Ranch, a working cattle ranch since the 1870s, to form the 2,400-acre Colossal Cave Mountain Park.
Walker County
9781467127127
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
Founded in 1846, Walker County is a scenic, sprawling territory of 800 square miles located in the southeastern region of Texas. Huntsville, the county seat, serves as home to Sam Houston State University, the Texas State Penitentiary, and Huntsville State Park. New Waverly, Riverside, and other smaller towns dot the landscape, which remains rustic and beautiful, with rolling hills, open prairies, and piney woods. Visitors to the area may find museums, restaurants, shops, and sporting events to attend.
Medina Lake
9780738585475
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
Surrounded by the beautiful Texas Hill Country, Medina Lake has a rich history of fortunes rising and falling as rapidly and unpredictably as the level of the lake. Completed in 1912, Medina Dam was, at the time, the largest concrete dam in Texas. The lake was initially constructed to irrigate farmlands, but its rising waters forever altered a way of life for the ranchers and farmers who lived on the land above the dam. When ranchers and farmers were faced with condemnation of their lands, the first cries of whiskey's for drinking and water's for fighting were heard. As a testament to the resiliency of these original families, they turned their losses into a new way of life catering to the tourists, hunters, and fishermen who flocked to the newly formed lake. As continual droughts plague the semiarid desert that surrounds the lake, a never-ending tug-of-war over water resources continues. Meanwhile, the lake's pristine blue-green waters continue to attract boaters, swimmers, fishermen, revelers, and those who have made their homes on the limestone bluffs that encircle Medina Lake.
San Antonio's Historic Market Square -- Spanish Language Edition - La Histórica Plaza del Mercado en San Antonio
This history of the Greeks in Houston is really the story of individuals who worked diligently to forge new lives for themselves even as they maintained their Greek identity and their Orthodox faith. The efforts of many of the founders are immortalized in the buildings that constitute the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral complex. Their names remind us of their hard work and commitment to establishing their koinonia (communion) in Houston. There are many other names that have gone unremarked over the decades but to whom we owe just as much for their tenacity and dedication. And there are the new generations who inherited this legacy and keep it vibrant through the stewardship of their faith and culture.
Scottsdale Architecture
9780738578774
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
U.S. Army chaplain Winfield Scott and his wife, Helen, founded Scottsdale in 1888 as a small farming and ranching settlement on undeveloped desert east of Phoenix. After World War II, many people were attracted by the dry climate, desert landscape, and business opportunities. The community encouraged creativity in architecture, and Frank Lloyd Wright, Paolo Soleri, and Paul Schweikher designed buildings here. To draw tourists, the business community adopted "The West's Most Western Town" as a slogan in 1947. By the time employers such as Motorola arrived, fast-paced construction was already underway and the architecture reflected that era. In the 1970s, an architectural debate took place between western and modern styles, resulting in innovative architecture. Transitioning into the 21st century, Scottsdale witnessed more growth with downtown revitalization, a new appreciation of contemporary projects, and an awareness of desert preservation.
Manchaca
9781467130516
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
Manchaca, which takes its name from nearby Manchaca Springs, is nestled in the beautiful rolling hills about 10 miles south of Austin. Spanish land grants issued in the 1830s opened the land for settlement, and by the 1850s, stage stop Manchac Springs was established, bringing new settlers through the area. Many liked what they saw and settled in. The population grew in great bounds when the International & Great Northern Railroad laid track through Manchaca in 1881, which led to the building of a new school and several mercantile stores. By the turn of the century, Manchaca had grown into a bustling community.
Crane
9780738595825
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
Crane is the county seat and only town in Crane County, Texas. Hot, windy, and impossibly dry, save for the Pecos River and the oil bubbling below, people still have been migrating to or passing through it for hundreds of years. In 1583, Spanish explorers traversed the Pecos at a ford known as Horsehead Crossing. In 1858, the crossing became an important stop on the Butterfield Overland Mail route. Famous adventurers Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving trekked through the crossing in 1866. Castle Gap, a mountain with castle-like boulders, offered shelter to prehistoric people. Likewise, forty-niners sought protection there while migrating to California. Legend states that the Mexican emperor Maximilian once buried vast golden treasures there. Nearby, Juan Cordona Salt Lake provided salt to Native American traders. Historically, ranching has been important in Crane County, although oil is king in the region, being one of the largest oil-producing counties in Texas. Throughout the years, the city of Crane has maintained a consistent population of approximately 3,500, subsisting primarily on the oil and gas industry.
Historic Heritage Square
9781467130752
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
Located in downtown Phoenix, Historic Heritage Square is an urban park that preserves the last intact residential block of the city's original townsite. The square's Victorian-era ambiance includes one of Phoenix's most popular attractions, the Rosson House Museum. Other early territorial buildings (primarily pre-1912) today house the Arizona Doll and Toy Museum, five restaurants, and administrative offices. For many years, the block was a fashionable residential area that was once home to a Phoenix mayor. Over time, the neighborhood deteriorated until the early 1970s, when it was threatened with demolition for urban renewal. Preservation efforts led by Phoenix mayor John Driggs, however, saved the historic buildings. Opened in 1980 as Historic Heritage Square, the park expanded in the mid-1990s to its current size. While remaining an important historical living education center, the square also hosts numerous festivals as a vibrant element of the city's arts and cultural scene.
Ennis
9780738558592
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
In 1871, the Houston and Texas Central Railroad reached what would soon become Ennis, Texas. A year later, the city was officially established and named for Cornelius Ennis, a Houston and Texas Central Railroad tycoon. It became home to many, including a number of Civil War veterans. Czech immigrants also made Ennis their home, adding their rich cultural heritage to this growing city. In its "Wild West" days, there were as many as 13 saloons in the city, and it became a popular train stop for as many as 10 passenger trains a day. A thriving cotton industry brought thousands to the downtown district on Trade Days. Family, tradition, and a strong sense of community have always been the foundation from which Ennis has prospered. This remains evident with yearly events such as the Bluebonnet Trails and Festival, the National Polka Festival, and the Christmas Parade of Lights.
Krum
9780738579917
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
Krum is one of the crown jewels of North Texas. Located north of Fort Worth and just west of Denton, Krum was once famous for an award-winning strain of wheat. The town even established three grain mills to accommodate wheat production. Over a million pounds of grain were shipped in 1900, when Krum was known as the largest wagon grain market in the United States. The town now serves northwest Denton County as a center for agricultural, financial, and emergency services, with its citizens as Krum's major asset. Descendants of many of the original settlers are still here by preference and are proud to tell the world they live in Krum. Why go anywhere else?
Baseball in Albuquerque
9780738579641
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
Albuquerque, New Mexico, is more than a refueling place for motorists on I-40. Professional baseball has been played here for more than 70 years, and fans have had the opportunity to see future Dodgers stars like Don Sutton, Ron Cey, Steve Garvey, Orel Hershiser, Eric Karros, and Mike Piazza hone their skills. Hall of Fame members Tom Lasorda and Duke Snider managed here; Darryl Strawberry, Eddie Murray, and Manny Ramirez have spent short stints "rehabbing" here; and big-league preseason games played in Albuquerque give fans a chance to see non-Dodgers favorites. Albuquerque is also where the Los Angeles Dodgers' triple-A farm team, the Albuquerque Isotopes, played before 600,000 fans in 2009, when the Dodgers "returned" after a nine-year absence. Isotopes Park, a baseball jewel, features great entertainment, a gorgeous view of the majestic Sandia Mountains, and a chance for baseball fans to see major league stars of tomorrow.
Tempe
9780738548883
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
Home to 165,000 residents (within a 40 square mile radius), the city of Tempe is surrounded by the booming cities of Mesa, Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Chandler. But the Salt River Valley area was once populated with just a few small farms, when Charles Trumbull Hayden, owner of a mercantile and freighting business in Tucson, homesteaded here in 1870. The community he established--Hayden's Ferry--soon became the trade center for the south side of the valley. Hayden's Ferry became Tempe in 1879 at the suggestion of Englishman Darrell Duppa, who commented that the area reminded him of the Vale of Tempe in Greece, and it was not long before other developments promoted the growth of this new town. In 1885, the Arizona legislature selected Tempe as the site for the Territorial Normal School, the predecessor of Arizona State University. The Maricopa and Phoenix Railroad, which crossed the Salt River at Tempe, was built in 1887, and in 1911, the Roosevelt Dam was completed. World War II, the creation of Tempe Town Lake, and other 20th-century events also influenced the growth and character of Tempe, now Arizona's seventh largest city.
The Wigwam Resort
9780738548258
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
The evolution of an arid desert area into the verdant oasis that is the Wigwam Resort was ultimately brought about by an unlikely crop needed by an important American corporation in the early 20th century. The crop was long-staple cotton and the corporation was the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. When the U.S. Department of Agriculture discovered that Arizona's Salt River Valley was an ideal location to domestically grow long-staple cotton, Goodyear purchased 16,000 acres in the desert west of Phoenix to cultivate the crop for their newly developed pneumatic tire. The company built a three-room lodge, originally called the "Organization House," for the executives that came to oversee the farming operations. The location became a popular winter retreat within the company, and in 1929, Goodyear expanded the facilities and opened "The Wigwam" as a hotel. As the years progressed, amenities such as golf and fine dining were added, and the Wigwam Resort became one of the premier luxury destinations in the Southwest.
Roanoke
9780738584584
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
The first pioneers who came to the Roanoke area in 1844 were led by Lewis and Charles Medlin of Missouri. This group consisted of about 20 families, including the 10 sons of the Medlin brothers. They came for an opportunity where each married man could obtain 640 acres and single men could receive 320 acres. Settlers were primarily looking for water, timber, and abundant game, which they found near Denton Creek. They built log houses and a school (where church was held), and they soon began businesses to sustain their new town. Today Roanoke is a fast growing, small city that is distinguished by a charming and eclectic downtown and steady lines of hungry diners. Roanoke was appointed "the Unique Dining Capital of Texas" for its concentration of delicious and entertaining family-owned restaurants and welcomes thousands of visitors each year to enjoy many special events, including the annual Celebrate Roanoke in October.
Yavapai County
9781467124508
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
In 1864, Arizona was divided into four counties named after the local Indian communities: Yavapai, Yuma, Mohave, and Pima. Believed to have been the largest county ever created in the lower 48 states at the time, Yavapai encompassed over 65,000 square miles until 1891, when the state was divided into additional counties. Yavapai finally settled to 8,125 square miles. While still a US territory in 1900, Yavapai County had a population just under 13,800 people and was quite remote. Within a few years, postcards started appearing in drugstores, such as Brisley, Timerhoff, Owl, Heit, Corbin and Bork, or Eagle Drug in Prescott and Lynn Boyd or Mitchell in Jerome. Many of the original postcards showcase early mines, towns, and buildings that no longer exist today.
Warren Ballpark
9780738596433
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
If there is a place where the ghosts of baseball players come at night to relive their glory days, it is Warren Ballpark in the old copper-mining town of Bisbee, Arizona. Warren Ballpark has been in use as a sports facility since 1909--longer than any other ballpark in the United States. Some of the most colorful and notable figures in baseball history have stepped onto its field as barnstorming big leaguers or as minor-league players hoping to make their way up to the "Big Show." Several players implicated in the infamous 1919 "Black Sox" scandal played in an "outlaw" league at Warren Ballpark during the 1920s. In 1917, it was the holding facility for 1,500 striking copper miners rounded up during the Bisbee Deportation. It is also the site of one of the longest-running and most bitterly contested high school football rivalries in America, between the Bisbee Pumas and the Douglas Bulldogs.
Around La Porte
9780738584904
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
The city of La Porte and the surrounding communities are laden with historical events and characters. Pioneers began settling 10 years before the Battle of San Jacinto, where Texas gained its independence. The land that was to become the cities of Morgan's Point, Shoreacres, Lomax, and La Porte was home to such Texas luminaries as Gen. Sidney Sherman, Gov. Ross Sterling, Andrew Jackson Houston, and James Morgan. The beauty of the area attracted legions of summer visitors, including Sam Houston and Dr. Ashbel Smith. Years later, pioneers of the Texas oil industry looked to the shores of Galveston Bay in La Porte to entertain and build summer places. La Porte was legally organized January 1, 1892, and for over a century of ups and downs has remained steadfast in preserving the natural beauty that is its legacy, the friendliness that is its nature, and the educational excellence to which the city's founders aspired. Today, La Porte is a unique combination of quaint small-town living with big-city amenities.
Mexican American Baseball in the Alamo Region
9781467133388
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
Mexican American Baseball in the Alamo Region celebrates the game as it was played in the Tejano and Tejana communities throughout Texas. This regional focus explores the importance of the game at a time when Spanish-speaking people were demanding cultural acceptance and their political and civil rights in cities like San Antonio, Corpus Christi, New Braunfels, San Diego, Kingsville, and Pleasanton. All had thriving Mexican American communities that found comfort in the game and pride in their abilities on the field. On these pages are historical images and wonderful stories that are now immortalized, taking their rightful place in the annuals of the game. ¡Viva Tejas, Viva Béisbol, y Viva los Peloteros!
Education in Albuquerque
9781467131032
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
A mix of cultures unique to any space in North America funneled into the Albuquerque, New Mexico, area after Spanish invaders stumbled in through the south in 1506. For centuries, indigenous Americans had established ways of knowing and transmitting learning to their young, but colliding old and new cultures left the area's learning communities irrevocably changed. Subsequently, other native tribes and more European, South American, and Asian cultures proudly ported their perceived best practices concerning educating youth into the area. In 1880, the railroad, bolstered by powerful Anglo economic forces, blasted into Albuquerque, carrying new cultures clinging to the railcars: Greeks, Italians, Germans, Jews of many heritages, English, Easterners, Southerners, a host of cowboys, farmers, merchants, and more—all shadowed by motivated politicians. The founding, unfolding, and evolution of educational systems in Albuquerque weaves a crazy-quilt story regarding public, private, and parochial schooling—as well as regrettably ill-founded systems that wronged natives.
Baseball in Tulsa
9780738523323
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
The rich tradition and history of professional baseball are brought to life in Baseball in Tulsa. Wayne McCombs traces Tulsa's baseball past from the cow pastures of Indian Territory into the 21st century. The book documents the struggle many players endure in the coveted quest to become a major league baseball player. Showcasing a collection of over 170 rare photographs, this new volume vividly documents the sport that makes Tulsa one of the best minor league cities in America. See all the greats from the original Tulsa Oilers through today's Tulsa Drillers, including hall-of-famers Satchel Paige, Frank Robinson, Steve Carlton, Dizzy Dean, and Warren Spahn-each of these legends either played or coached in Tulsa.
The Texas Association of Chicanos in Higher Education
9781467130820
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
For the past 40 years, the Texas Association of Chicanos in Higher Education (TACHE) has been on the forefront of advocacy to improve opportunity in higher education for US persons of Mexican origin. Chicano faculty at the University of Texas, together with a few Chicano students, organized the group's first gatherings in 1974, and since then, TACHE has held thematic annual conferences that signal its mission and program focus and allow professional networking. Chicano faculty and students in colleges and universities have increased, but much still remains to be done. Although funding for education is drastically being cut, Chicano and Latino students are at the front door of higher education, and the number of college-ready students is reaching significant levels across the nation. The official designation of Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), for schools with Chicano and Latino student enrollment in excess of 25 percent, has become a badge of honor among colleges and universities.
Jefferson
9780738585321
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
Jefferson, Texas, began as a simple ferry crossing on the Big Cypress Bayou. By 1841, Allen Urquhart had realized the potential for a town at this spot and purchased 640 acres. Daniel Alley bought the adjacent tract, and the city of Jefferson was born. The town flourished as a steamship port during the 1800s and became the second-largest city in Texas. Steamboats from as far south as New Orleans would dock in Jefferson, unloading travelers and freight before taking on new cargo and starting on the return trip. When the water levels in the bayou eventually fell, Jefferson was no longer accessible by steamship, and the population began to dwindle. Many saw this as the end of the city. However, the 1960s brought a rebirth to the town, and today Jefferson shares its rich history with travelers from across the nation.
Florence
9780738548999
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
In 1866, Florence rose on the banks of the Gila River in south central Arizona. People came from near and far to this early settlement in the Arizona Territory, joining the Native Americans and Mexican farmers already established there. The town boomed with the discovery of a silver mine nearby. Politicians and lawyers followed when Florence became the seat of Pinal County in 1875, and when the Territorial Prison arrived in 1909, the community's future no longer depended upon the fickle mining business. World War II brought a prisoner-ofwar camp, and popular youth rodeos added to Florence's remarkable character and history. In the 1970s, citizens began a model effort to preserve their community's legacy and remaining historic structures. The major growth that early Florence anticipated is finally occurring all around the town, bringing change once again.
Pryor Creek
9781467114875
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
Pryor Creek, originally named Coo-y-yah (Cherokee for huckleberry), incorporated as a city in 1894. Also known as Pryor by the US Postal Service, it is located in northeastern Oklahoma and is the seat of Mayes County. The community is rich with history that dates back to its early days as Indian Territory, where many early residents settled after suffering a grueling journey on the Trail of Tears from the old Cherokee Nation. After starting as a rural farming community, with the addition of the railroad in 1870 Pryor Creek grew to become a major industrial economic force in the region following World War II. During the war, the area was home to a massive ammunition ordnance plant, which eventually became the largest industrial park in Oklahoma. In 1942, Pryor Creek's downtown business district was destroyed by the fifth-deadliest tornado in Oklahoma history. Pryor Creek is also a gateway known for its regional lakes and recreational areas.
Around San Tan Mountain
9780738548951
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
Within a few years of 1912--the year Arizona became the 48th state admitted to the Union--families began to settle on homesteads 30 miles southeast of Phoenix. These early settlers were primarily farmers of diverse heritage and faith. San Tan Mountain provided the backdrop for the arduous task of clearing cactus and thorny scrub brush from the desert. As irrigation water was pumped from drilled wells, crops took root on newly cultivated fields, and the communities of Rittenhouse, Higley, Combs, and Chandler Heights were established. Rittenhouse later became the town of Queen Creek. These communities were influenced--like many others across the Southwest--by war, the Depression, and immigration, all of which challenged and enriched the area.
Norman's Navy Years
9781467115643
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
In 1944, A.L. Simon, a sailor at the Norman Naval Air Station, illustrated a booklet, "On the Beach," about Navy life in Norman, Oklahoma. The title he chose reflected the irony of the US Navy establishing two bases in a landlocked prairie town in 1942. The initial activation of the Navy bases (from 1942 to 1945) and their reactivation (from 1952 to 1959) greatly increased the employment rate and economy in Norman, offering locals a much-needed boost after the Great Depression of the 1930s. The men who influenced the Navy to choose Norman as the location for Navy installations were T. Jack Foster, of the Norman Chamber of Commerce; Joseph Brandt, president of the University of Oklahoma; and Savoie Lottinville, director of the University of Oklahoma Press.
Lancaster
9780738578767
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
In 1841, the Republic of Texas was on the brink of bankruptcy, and it needed to attract new immigrants in order to survive. With this important goal in mind, in 1844 the Texas congress authorized the republic's president, Sam Houston, to contract with individuals to colonize the state. In September of that same year, one group headed by Capt. Roderick Rawlins from Illinois came to Texas and settled in what would become the town of Lancaster. Farmers grew grains and cotton, and Lancaster became a trade center with a lively town square. A commercial club organized in order to coordinate advertising for local businesses, and it also held trade days that later became town fairs. Local residents worked hard all week and enjoyed horse races, baseball, "forty-two" parties, music performances, and other entertainment on the weekends. By the late 1800s, Lancaster was connected to the rest of the state by the railroads, but the town still retained its independent, small-town Texas character.
Houston Fire Department
9781467132985
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
Houston's firefighting service began in 1838 with the founding of Protection Fire Company No. 1. As the city of Houston grew throughout the early and mid-19th century, volunteer companies formed and grew along with it. By 1895, city leaders decided to form the Houston Fire Department as a city department, culling the volunteer forces for men, stations, apparatus, and horses. The city grew in leaps and bounds, swallowing up neighborhoods, communities, and smaller cities along the way, with the fire department nipping at their heels. This brave force battled devastating fires throughout the years, most notably the Great Fifth Ward Fire in 1912, the 1943 Gulf Hotel Fire, the Woodway Square Apartment Conflagration in 1979 and the Southwest Inn Fire in 2013. What was once a smattering of volunteer fire brigades has grown into an imposing force of over 3,000 firefighters protecting over two million people in the fourth largest city in the United States.
Historic Eagle Lake
9780738595122
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
Eagle Lake was named for its large natural lake, which attracted the Karankawa Indians and early settlers from Stephen F. Austin's band of 300 colonists. In its location near the lake, the Colorado River, and the coastal plains, Eagle Lake is a productive agricultural, gravel, ranching, waterfowl, wildflower, and shipping center. In the late 1800s, Eagle Lake was a profitable sugarcane area, with one of the largest sugar refineries in the South. It was founded as the third stop on the first operating railroad in Texas, the Buffalo Bayou, Brazos & Colorado. It became home to the Cane Belt Railroad and received several trainloads of weekend visitors from Houston who came to enjoy the lake pavilion and its dances, skating, boating, and fishing. Real estate trains brought potential residents from Midwestern states to buy land and settle the area in the late 1800s. It is home to the National Attwater Prairie Chicken Refuge. Due to its location in the center of the Texas rice-growing area and the migratory waterfowl corridor from Canada to South America, it is known as the Goose Hunting Capital of the World.
Golden Hurricane Football at The University of Tulsa
9780738532745
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
Since 1895, The University of Tulsa has consistently produced high quality football teams and players despite being one of Division 1-A's smallest institutions. From the perennial bowl teams of the 1940s to the revolutionary passing game of the 1960s, TU has made its mark throughout the history of college football. That tradition has spawned pro-caliber talent including Jerry Rhome, Howard Twilley, Drew Pearson, Tim Gordon, Dennis Byrd, Gus Frerotte and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees Jim Finks, Bob St. Clair and Steve Largent. Legendary coaches such as Francis Schmidt, Henry Frnka, Glenn Dobbs and John Cooper have led the Golden Hurricane to 521 victories and 59 winning seasons. This book takes a look at these impressive historical accomplishments and offers a glimpse of TU's future through the eyes of Coach Steve Kragthorpe and the 2003 team.
Tioga and Collinsville
9781467131278
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
Two small towns in Texas, Tioga and Collinsville have a rich heritage and a mutual bond. Separated by only six miles, citizens of each have relatives in the other city. The silvery railroad tracks that stretch between the two towns have served as a liaison between Tioga and Collinsville—and the rest of the world—for many years. Both towns had train depots, but unfortunately, the depots went the way of the mineral baths and mineral waters of the past. Today, each town has its own municipal court, school district, post office, mayor, and city council. Although they are independent towns, they will forever be joined by their shared bloodlines and rich history.
Lincoln County
9781467111492
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
To the east of Oklahoma City, Lincoln County lies in east central Oklahoma with Chandler as its county seat. The county was opened by two land runs: the first on September 22, 1891, and again four years later on May 23, 1895. The land is primarily rolling grass hills covered with stands of blackjack oak and post oak and is part of what is called the Crosstimbers. Images of America: Lincoln County celebrates the different tribes that lived in the area: the Sac and Fox, the Iowa, and the Kickapoo. It also features famous lawman Bill Tilghman, Olympic athlete Jim Thorpe, poet Jennie Harris Oliver, and governors J.B.A. Robertson and Roy J. Turner. Oil came early to Lincoln County and continues to play a large role in the economy. At one time, the county was covered in cotton fields. It is also a center of transportation with several railroads, old Route 66, and the Turner Turnpike, which today is the major road connecting Oklahoma City and Tulsa.
San Antonio in Vintage Postcards
9780738508795
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
Postcards are an important element of understanding our history, for they provide future generations with a rare glimpse into the past. Since the late 1800s, photographers have traveled around the nation to places such as San Antonio to capture scenes of everyday life and preserve them in this unique form. San Antonio began as a small mission village, a wild west frontier town, and starting point for huge cattle drives northward, and quickly grew into a bustling economic and cultural center for South Texas, luring residents and tourists with its colonial missions, diverse people, prominent military bases, long-standing traditions, and festive celebrations.
Baseball in Dallas
9780738532820
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
The city of Dallas has a rich baseball history extending back to the 1870s when the professional game first found roots in Texas. In 1888, the Dallas Hams were a founding member (and first champion) of the professional Texas League. With the major leagues far away to the north, a relationship was established between the city of Dallas and one of America's premier minor league. It lasted on and off until 1971, when the Texas Rangers entered Major League Baseball. During that by-gone era, players like Curley Maloney, Jewel Ens, and Zeke Bonura were the heroes for countless local baseball fans. Hall of Famers Ted Williams (as manager), Fergie Jenkins, and Nolan Ryan all spent time in a Rangers' uniform. In more recent times, Ranger players like Rafael Palmeiro, Juan Gonzalez, and Ivan Rodriguez have become heroes to baseball fans across the nation.
Colfax County
9781467133562
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
In 1841, Carlos Beaubien and Guadalupe Miranda received a grant of land from the governor of New Mexico in the northeastern part of the Mexican province. Frontier conditions prevented colonization of the grant until 1848, when Beaubien's son-in-law Lucien Maxwell led settlers from Taos to the Rayado River where it crossed the Santa Fe Trail. Maxwell's friend Kit Carson joined him the following year, and their ranch prospered in spite of frequent attacks by Jicarilla Apaches. Later, Maxwell moved north to the Cimarron River. Gold was discovered on the western part of the grant in 1866, and miners rushed to the diggings, establishing the town of Elizabethtown. It became the first seat of Colfax County in 1869. Maxwell sold the grant to foreign investors who organized the Maxwell Land Grant and Railway Company in 1870 and founded the town of Cimarron. The Santa Fe Railroad entered the county in 1879, which precipitated the creation of the towns of Raton and Springer and also fostered large-scale ranching, mining, and lumbering.
The SMS Ranch
9781467126830
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
Few images captivate the Western imagination more than the Texas cowboy at home on the range, herding, corralling, throwing and branding cattle, bronc busting, dining from chuck wagons, and sleeping under the stars. The SMS Ranch in the early 1900s was exactly such a place. Spanning hundreds of thousands of acres and holding land in 12 Northwest Texas counties, the SMS was formed by early Swedish immigrant to the Republic of Texas Swante Magnus Swenson. Swenson, a good friend of Sam Houston, had a penchant for wise financial decisions and, by the late 1800s, lived in New York with offices on Wall Street. Swenson sent his two sons to manage his vast Texas landholdings. In 1902, they hired legendary cattleman Frank Hastings to manage the SMS Ranch, headquartered in Stamford, Texas, north of Abilene and west of Fort Worth. Hastings's wife, Laura, and daughter Ruth photographed life on the ranch, and many professional photographers visited the SMS as well, leaving a rich visual legacy.
Weatherford, Texas
9780738501109
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
Despite the odds of Indian raids, the Civil War, and one man's feud, Weatherford began as a small frontier settlement in the mid-1800s, and quickly grew into a bustling West Texas county seat known for its Victorian beauty, home-grown peaches, and small-town charm. Images of courthouse construction and early pioneering families are among the first glimpses into Weatherford's fascinating history. Other highlights include the development of downtown, forgotten changes to the square, the first city rodeo grounds, photos of the Queen of England sitting for her coronation portrait, as well as rare shots of some of the city's more famous past residents, Larry Hagman and his mother, Mary Martin, and Comanche Chief Quanah Parker. Additional scenes of schools, streets, politics, firemen, parks, hospitals, and residents provide an entertaining and educational illustration of the city's past.
Tulsa's KAKC Radio:
9780738590851
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
KAKC AM 970 dominated radio listening in Tulsa, Oklahoma, like no other station before or since. During its heyday, half of all radios in northeast Oklahoma were tuned to this Top 40 station. The "new" KAKC emerged in 1956 with a baby-boom generation raised on rock and roll, the twist, and transistor radios. But it was more than music that kept KAKC on top throughout the turbulent 1960s, Vietnam, and into the 1970s--it was fun! The station was always out doing something entertaining in the community, usually to benefit a charity, and the Big 7 deejays--including Scooter Segraves, Dick Schmitz, and Lee Bayley--became household names. The images in Tulsa's KAKC Radio chronicle the station's entire history, from its beginnings in the Coliseum to its long ride as the dominant force in Tulsa radio.
Coolidge
9781467133852
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
Even by Arizona standards, Coolidge is a relatively new town. Its original site was platted in 1925 with a modest 80 acres purchased by Phoenix businessman Richard J. Jones, and it would be another 20 years before the town was incorporated. Nevertheless, the Coolidge environs possess a rich and colorful history going back several thousand years when the ancestral Sonoran people began building permanent structures and constructing canals to divert Gila River water for their crops. Two hundred years after the ancient civilization abandoned the area, Spanish explorers passed through on their way to California. But it was ultimately the establishment of main line rail service, the construction of a dam, and the building of the only north-south highway between Tucson and Phoenix that led to the formation of this town named after America's 30th president.
The Quadrangle
9781467128667
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
Designed by Q.M. Gen. Montgomery Meigs and built in 1876 as a quartermaster supply depot, the Quadrangle evolved into a major regional headquarters. The Quadrangle has become synonymous with Fort Sam Houston. It has been immortalized in the art of Porfirio Salinas and the jewelry of James Avery. In Texas, the Quadrangle at Fort Sam Houston stands second only to the Alamo in historical significance. Designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1974 for its military contribution to the defense of the United States through the Indian Wars, the war with Spain, and both world wars as well as Korea, Vietnam, and the global war on terrorism, the Quadrangle continues its role as an active participant in national defense as the headquarters responsible for the land defense of North America. For almost 150 years, military activities have been conducted in the Quadrangle, and many of America's greatest soldiers and airmen have served within its walls—Ranald Mackenzie, Tasker Bliss, Frederick Funston, John J. Pershing, Billy Mitchell, Walter Krueger, and Jonathan M. Wainwright.
Plano
9780738507682
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
The history of Plano, Texas is as rich as the soil that attracted early settlers to the area in the mid to late 1800s. Vividly portrayed here in over 200 images, author Nancy McCulloch recreates for the reader the remarkable history of this forward-thinking town. A large number of residents from Kentucky and Tennessee were attracted to the rich black soil and farming prospects of this part of Peters Colony. Sam Houston, as a former governor of Tennessee, enticed families from these states to travel to the Plano area and seek out a new and better way of life. From 1870 to 1886, Plano's population expanded tenfold. As early as the late 1800s the community developed a reputation for progressive thinking and beautiful homes.
Galveston's the Elissa
9780738578552
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
For nearly three decades, the 1877 sailing ship Elissa has been widely recognized as one of the finest maritime preservation projects in the world. Unlike some tall ships of today, the Elissa is not a replica but a survivor. Over her century-long commercial history, she carried cargoes to ports around the world for a succession of owners. Her working life as a freighter came to an end in Piraeus, Greece, where she was rescued from the salvage yard by a variety of ship preservationists who refused to let her die. The story of Elissa's discovery and restoration by the Galveston Historical Foundation is nothing short of miraculous.
Towns of the Sandia Mountains
9780738548524
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
Despite their seemingly impenetrable western facade, the Sandia Mountains of central New Mexico have been home to humankind for millennia. Ancient cultures ventured into these peaks for the creeks, game, and shelter. The Spanish established protective outposts along the canyons and intermarried with local tribes. Civil War soldiers passed through en route to their infamous battle at Glorieta Pass. Navajos marched around the mountains' southern end after the confinement that ended their Long Walk. Anglo settlers cleared the hilly land and built cabins. And tuberculosis patients moved up into primitive resorts, hoping that the mountains' abundant sunshine and fresh air would help them heal. Today the tiny resorts and traditional hamlets of the Sandias are established villages and communities-Carnuel, Tijeras, San Antonio, Cedar Crest, Sandia Park, San Antonito, Placitas, and others-and the rough dirt roads that once saw the passing of ox carts are highways and even an interstate. The area's history lives on, however, in crumbling adobe walls, bits of rust, fading memories, and in this photographic retrospective.
Port Isabel
9780738596877
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
In the 1830s, a small community known as El Fronton de Santa Isabel set roots on the banks of the Laguna Madre Bay. Official claim for the land was granted to Don Rafael Garcia as part of the Potrero ("Pasture") de Santa Isabel in 1828. Less than two decades later, Point Isabel was home to Zachary Taylor's Fort Polk and found itself a home base during the Mexican-American War. In 1853, construction was completed on the Point Isabel lighthouse, a navigational beacon with a 16-mile view. Port Isabel was incorporated in 1928, and a deep-water port shipped its first commercial load in 1937. By the 1950s, Port Isabel was the "Shrimping Capital of the World," and the first Queen Isabella Causeway connected South Padre Island to the mainland. Port Isabel continues to deepen its roots on the banks of the Laguna Madre Bay. Heritage and cultural tourism, a relaxed quality of life, and an appreciation for all things coastal are synonymous with Port Isabel.
Sweetwater
9781467130967
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
From buffalo hunters and ranchers to rattlesnake hunters and wind farmers, Sweetwater has a rich and diverse history of hearty people flourishing in a harsh environment. Beginning with the Kiowa, Apaches, and Comanche, who migrated through the area following herds, and continuing with hunters after the Civil War, Sweetwater, like many West Texas towns, owes its inception to the buffalo. After the war, the demand for beef, hides, and tallow in the North escalated, requiring hunters to reduce buffalo populations, both for their prized hides and to make room for cattle. The slaughter reached its peak in the South in the 1870s, and in 1877, Billie Knight set up a small store on the banks of Sweetwater Creek to accommodate hunters and ranchers. Since the construction of this humble dugout, the town of Sweetwater has had one racetrack, two locations, three names, four courthouses, and countless snakes, wild fires, and tornadoes.
Rains County
9780738579986
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
This fourth-smallest county in Texas was created in December 1870 from parts of Wood, Hunt, Van Zandt, and Hopkins Counties. The county and the county seat are named after the founding father, Emory Rains. In the early days, cotton was king, and the towns were full of businesses that served the residents' needs. In 1902, the National Farmers Union was formed in Point, and with the decline of cotton, dairy and beef cattle are now the main industries. The Texas legislature designated Rains County as "Eagle Capital of Texas" in 1995 in order to protect and preserve the bald eagles who nest around the local lakes. Today, Emory is the home of the A.C. McMillan African American Museum, which preserves the African American culture of this area. Rains County is bordered by Lake Tawakoni for catfish fishing and Lake Fork for bass fishing. These lakes, along with annual festivals, draw thousands of visitors and outdoor enthusiasts each year. This pictorial history portrays the everyday life, influential people of the county, education, worship, and businesses from 1870 to 1950. "Come to Rains County where it rains when it wants to!"
Delta County
9780738579320
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
During the frenetic days of Reconstruction, Delta County claimed land between two branches of the Sulphur River, from Lamar and Hopkins Counties, and named itself after its shape and the third letter of the Greek alphabet. From its early days, Delta County became home to prosperous farmers who relocated from the South and who brought with them their knowledge of growing cotton as well as their traditions and cultures. At its heyday in the 1920s, the county boasted the densest rural population in the state. These pioneers believed strongly in education, and more than 40 schools dotted the county at one time, with many graduates of these rural schools becoming doctors, engineers, teachers, politicians, ministers, authors, musicians, lawyers, coaches, scientists, and athletes--as well as one All-American. For those who remained, those who returned, and those who chose this quiet corner of Northeast Texas, Delta County is home, with all the sweet and poignant implications of that word.
Muskogee
9781467112680
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
Muskogee was formed in 1872, when the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (MKT or "the Katy") established a depot on an open plain just a few miles to the south of the confluence of the Arkansas, Grand, and Verdigris Rivers in Indian Territory. A small settlement there soon grew to become the center of political and commercial activity in the territory prior to Oklahoma becoming a state in 1907. Muskogee, once known as the "Queen City of the Southwest," enjoyed major growth after statehood due to oil, cattle, cotton, and the railroads. This book features a diverse collection of Muskogee postcard images that take readers on a trip back in time on a virtual tour of the city.
Pilot Point
9780738571003
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
The oldest town in Denton County, Pilot Point is situated atop the highest point in North Texas at a place that was once a landmark for wagon train pilots traveling through the region. In 1854, the town was platted and lots were sold, many to cross-country pioneers who were drawn to the abundance of fresh water, game, and fertile soil. The city began to grow more quickly after incorporation in 1867, and when the railroad arrived in 1880, Pilot Point became one of the busiest trading centers in North Texas, boasting both the largest cotton gin and university. From the early days of cowboys and cotton in the 1800s, to oil and cattle in the 1930s, to the changes that came with the 1960s, this new volume tells the unique story of Pilot Point.
Post
9780738596303
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
Post City was founded in 1907 by an American icon, cereal magnate C.W. Post. Mr. Post acquired approximately 333 square miles on which to construct a unique town and farming community on the plains of West Texas, a place where Comanche Indians roamed until the buffalo hunters depleted the buffalo herds. By 1900, the population for the entire county of Garza was 180—a meager handful of people, mostly cowhands and landowners, scattered amid the vast ranches. Great change would take place with the arrival of C.W. Post, a man with a plan to build a model town in the middle of Garza County. Post's colonizing began to unfold when 72 of Missouri's best mules and 24 wagons were bought by Post for the mule skinners to haul lumber and supplies from the nearest railhead at Big Spring. It took three days to load the 60,000 pounds of freight for the first journey and four days of travel for the wagon train to arrive at the new townsite.
Midlothian
9780738558752
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
The springs that initially attracted settlers to this area sprang from thick deposits of Balcones Escarpment limestone. The springs gave rise to Waxahachie Creek, and many settlers chose land near its headwaters to form the village of Midlothian. The black soil proved excellent for growing cotton, corn, wheat, oats, rye, and barley. When the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad came through in 1883, Midlothian was born. The town was incorporated in 1888, two years after the Houston and Texas Central Railroad reached town. Many settlers were experienced cotton growers, and gins were built alongside the railroads to process and ship the cotton. Farm animals normally kept for family use became more numerous, and several beef and dairy operations developed. Many servicemen returning from World War II, however, chose to commute to the metroplex for various jobs, decreasing the number of farmers. Soon thereafter, major corporations realized that the limestone was perfect for making cement and began operations here. Midlothian is liberally illustrated with historically rich photographs chronicling the development of this industrious region.
Tyler County
9780738584980
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
Before six flags flew over Tyler County, Native American settlers created forest trails and left artifacts. Later, Mexican officials welcomed Alabama-Coushatta Indians and invited adventurous pioneers from southeastern states. The banks of the Neches River supported rustic homes nestled among towering pines and graceful dogwood trees. Southerners brought their culture and lifestyle, and cotton reigned as king in the early days. Timber and tourism industries soon flourished. The Wheat, Shivers, and Kirby families, among the first to put down roots in the yet unformed county, provided leadership for the prospering communities. Sawmills dotted the landscape. Longleaf pine trees provided jobs in the lumber industry for all willing workers. The Dogwood Festival and Tyler County Fair added celebrations of seasonal beauty and bounty. Transportation systems improved to sustain industrial growth and rising tourism. In the 21st century, biofuel producers continue the quest for improved uses of Tyler County's forests and enhanced quality of life for its people.
La Salle County
9780738579382
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
The Nueces River runs west to east across La Salle County, and at one time it served as the boundary between Texas and Mexico. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, signed in 1848, ceded the Nueces Strip to Texas. La Salle County was formed out of some of this land in 1858. Early settlers struggled to survive in the wild terrain amid fears of attacks from outlaws and natives. From the Indian Raid of 1878 and the assassination of a sheriff, to droughts and dust storms, the hardy people of La Salle County persevered. After an election in 1883, Cotulla was selected as the permanent county seat, a courthouse was erected, and churches and schools were built. The lawlessness of the past is gone, but the county's residents share the perseverance of those early pioneers.
Around Timpson
9780738584843
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
A chant used by dice players during both world wars and later made into a song recorded by Tex Ritter, Tenaha, Timpson, Bobo, and Blair made the rural area surrounding Timpson internationally recognized. Situated along the northwest border of Shelby County, the city of Timpson sprang up almost overnight when the Houston East and West Texas Railroad reached its present site in 1885. The city quickly became the major shipping point for the area, with four railroads connecting at Timpson by 1904. Notable in the city's history is its sacrifice of young lives during two world wars. The Timpson Guard Company was called into national service during both wars, and during World War I, Company B, 3rd Texas Infantry was said to have had more commissioned officers than any unit from towns of comparable size. Beginning in the mid-1940s, population slowly declined as families sought opportunities elsewhere. Still predominately rural, Timpson is set to enjoy a steady revitalization as recent gas exploration spurs its growth. Timpson has had its share of tragedy, intrigue, and notable residents, but its lasting legacy comes from the honest, hardworking people who have called Timpson home.
St. Johns
9780738556284
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
Settled in 1872 by Spanish pioneers from New Mexico, the town of St. Johns began as a farming and sheep-raising community far removed from the county seat and territorial capital of Prescott. Soon after, the Mormon Church, represented by Bishop David King Udall, purchased 1,200 acres for Mormon colonizers to settle. With the building of the Lyman Dam, the town was finally able to provide adequate water for crops and began to thrive. The building of a power plant in the 1970s doubled the population of St. Johns, but many of the original settlers' descendants are still there as well, canning their gardens' harvest and dusting from their homes the dirt brought in by the wind that never stops blowing. Although the streets are now paved and many of the old buildings and homes have long been razed, St. Johns has a unique story to tell.
New Mexico's Rangers
9780738579252
Regular price
$24.99
Sale price
$18.74
Save 25%
The New Mexico Mounted Police were forged from a frontier civil crisis and hammered to life upon the anvil of necessity. The Sunshine Territory of New Mexico had become the last outlaw haven in the Southwest. In the tradition of their red-coated namesake, the Northwest Mounted Police of Canada, this small band of range riders used their fists, guns, and brains to restore law and order during the closing years of New Mexico's territorial era. They carried their mission forward into the early days of statehood.
