Name: Santa Clara County
Brand: Mr. Rick Sprain
SKU: 9781467128148
Price: 24.99 USD
Availability: InStock

Santa Clara County

9781467128148

$24.99

Originally inhabited by the Ohlone, Santa Clara County was one of 27 counties created when California achieved statehood in September 1850. The first settlements began when Fr. Junípero Serra established the Mission Santa Clara de Asís in 1777. For over 100 years, the valley was known for its rich soil and thriving farm region. In the 1940s and 1950s, William Hewlett and David Packard, along with Lockheed, IBM, and hundreds of other companies, altered the scope of Santa Clara County forever. With the influx of tech jobs and ensuing building boom, the county went from Valley of the Heart's Delight to Silicon Valley.

Cover image for Santa Clara County, isbn: 9781467128148

Hercules

9780738574400

$24.99

The history of explosives manufacturing in Hercules began in 1879, when the California Powder Works acquired a site on San Pablo Bay, 20 miles northeast of San Francisco. The powder works, subsequently owned by Dupont and the Hercules Powder Company, produced one of the first internationally branded products: Hercules dynamite. It became the world's leading producer of TNT during World War I. The town of Hercules was incorporated in 1900, and for nearly 75 years its population remained under 300. The company-owned village had no retail district, but its employee clubhouse was the anchor for the city's social life. After the explosives plant closed, buildings comprising a small historic district were restored, while a diverse residential suburb grew rapidly around it. Hercules chronicles the city's industrial past and a vanishing way of life.

Ceres

9780738581019

$24.99

Fertile soil drew Ceres founder Daniel Whitmore to the flat land south of the Tuolumne River in California's San Joaquin Valley in 1867. Named for the Roman goddess of agriculture, Ceres was laid out in 1875 among the stalks of grain. A devout Baptist, Whitmore offered free lots to anyone who wanted to make Ceres their home with a pledge never to use alcohol. As irrigation water and railroad tracks were later introduced, the town flourished as an agricultural community where peaches, almonds, and walnuts are grown. Today Ceres has retained its agricultural roots, and drinking is now permissible. In fact, one of the nation's largest wine producers, Bronco Winery, calls Ceres home. Residents come together as a community with the Ceres Street Faire, summer Concerts in the Park, Farmers Market and the dazzling Christmas Tree Lane.

Rexburg

9781467132206

$24.99

The mountainous terrain and abundance of rivers near what would later become the city of Rexburg were a magnet for the Missouri Fur Company; in 1810, Maj. Andrew Henry, a representative for the company, built a trading post seven miles north of Rexburg. On March 10, 1883, Thomas E. Ricks, who was accompanied by 10 men, settled an area located east of the three buttes across the Snake River. Rexburg's early days reflected the typical lifestyle of many northwestern towns in the late 19th century: saloons dotted Main Street, cowboys got into shooting matches in town, and farmers struggled to conquer mother earth while pioneer families endured the cold harsh winters. The combination of tall sagebrush and volcanic ash proved to be an ideal agricultural combination for producing wheat, barley, and potatoes. Education was important, and a college was established in the early years, starting in 1888.

Johnstown

9780738581194

$24.99

The story of Johnstown did not begin with the founding of the town in 1902, nor did it end there. The story begins and ends with enterprising people. These people were determined to make a life for themselves despite all the hardships of living on the prairie of Colorado. These were the same people who were among the first Americans to go west. Trappers came for beaver pelts, and traders set up forts to trade for buffalo hides from the Arapaho. Gold miners whose claims went bust later settled in the Johnstown area. Cattlemen's herds found the prairie grass a natural food source, and they flourished. And, finally, the homesteaders claimed farmland that became rich and fertile with the use of irrigation. Johnstown is the story of people who established a new life in a new world.

Early Salinas

9780738529936

$24.99

The city of Salinas is named for the broad saltwater slough that once seeped in from Monterey Bay, saturating this plain between the Santa Lucia and Gavilian Mountains. Originally used as range land for cattle, a town developed from a stage stop after the Gold Rush, and the drained land produced grain and other crops. After World War I, immensely profitable large-scale lettuce, broccoli, and artichoke production, known as "green gold," made Salinas one of the wealthiest cities in the United States. Isolated from its neighbors by mountains on both sides, early Salinas seemed a world unto itself, and its residents, both humble and wealthy, and the seemingly infinite green rows that surrounded it, provided similarly endless inspiration to novelist John Steinbeck, who recorded life here in the first half of the 20th century and imbued it with meaning.

Irvine

9780738575759

$24.99

The story of Irvine goes back more than 200 years, to a time when it was a vast, sprawling ranch extending from the brush-covered foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains to the dramatic bluffs of the Pacific coast. Since that time, the Irvine Ranch has experienced a revolutionary change from pastoral wide-open spaces to one of the most successful planned communities in the nation. All along the way, there were people whose vision shaped the transformation of Irvine. Among them were the members of the Irvine family, who for nearly a century were stewards of a ranch that amounted to more than one-fifth of modern-day Orange County. The Irvine of today owes its success to the ideals from its past: the determination to develop the immense potential of the land while still preserving its natural beauty.

Cover image for Irvine, isbn: 9780738575759

Wrangell

9780738574981

$24.99

Wrangell is named after Baron Ferdinand von Wrangell of the Russian American Company, who was charged with extending Russia's fur trade into Southeast Alaska. To that end, he ordered a fort to be established in 1833, on Wrangell Island near the mouth of the Stikine River. The Stikine Tlingit Indians, who were scattered in villages nearby, moved closer to take advantage of fur trading opportunities. In 1839, the fort passed into the hands of the British Hudson's Bay Company. With the purchase of Alaska in 1867, the need was urgent to enforce the United States' presence in its recently acquired territory. An American fort was built, which the US Army occupied during a series of gold rushes, ending with the Klondike Rush in 1898. Wrangell began to grow beyond its boom-and-bust origins during the 20th century, becoming a thriving hub for lumber, fishing, and mining, as well as the newly minted tourist industry.

El Cerrito

9780738530284

$24.99

El Cerrito, Spanish for "Little Hill," is a bustling and modern community today, sandwiched between Albany and Richmond along busy San Pablo Avenue. Quaint houses in the hills look down upon an active commercial strip with two BART stations and over the bayfront, where warehouses and processing plants in neighboring Richmond hum night and day. But as modern it is, El Cerrito has roots that run deep. In the early 1900s, only about 1,500 people lived in these hills, then a scruffy cattle-grazing enclave known as Rust. Founder William Rust had a blacksmith shop at the site of the present-day Pastime Hardware. Soon the name was changed to El Cerrito. A tax was levied on the 20- odd saloons scattered through town so that streets could be paved and a modern city administration could be set up. The town grew steadily, especially in the postwar boom years, and today houses roughly 23,000 people in a pleasant and sylvan bayside environment.

Niles, Fremont

9780738529127

$24.99

Beautiful Niles Canyon in Fremont is a chosen spot. Jose de Jesus Vallejo chose it for the first mill town in Alta California, Joaquin Murieta slept here, and Leland Stanford chose it in 1869 for the last leg of the transcontinental railroad, the true "last spike" of the line linking the Atlantic to the Pacific. The home of the largest nursery in the West, Niles could also boast the first gravel mines in California and fine Art Deco tile production. In 1912 world famous Essanay Studios chose the oak-studded hills of Niles Canyon as the location for some of the most famous silent films of all time, including Charlie Chaplin's The Tramp, and the first Wild West movie stars strutted the dusty streets of Niles.

Newhall

9780738580258

$24.99

Newhall's many firsts include the first gold discovery in California and the first commercially successful oil well, which led to the first pipeline and oil refinery in California. Some of the earliest movie location filming was done here. First recorded by Juan Crespi on the Sacred Expedition of 1769, the Little Santa Clara Valley was recognized by the Spanish as an important junction between the mountain ranges separating Northern and Southern California. The early city fathers of Los Angeles saw the settlement of Newhall as an integral part of their strategy for growth from the days of the stagecoach and railroad through to the building of Ridge Route and Interstate 5. This book tells the story of the town that never quite lived up to its potential but still managed a varied history with a colorful cast rivaling those of the movies filmed here.

Cover image for Newhall, isbn: 9780738580258

Cemeteries of Carson City and Carson Valley

9780738581064

$24.99

In Roughing It, Mark Twain wrote that "in order to know a community, one must observe the style of its funerals and know what manner of men they bury with most ceremony." Many of Nevada's most prominent pioneers can be found by visiting the historic cemeteries of Carson City and Carson Valley. A visit to the final resting sites of the pioneers of the Silver State, some dating from the 1850s, will readily provide the confirmation of Twain's statement. Those buried with "the most ceremony" include governors, stagecoach drivers, business owners, soldiers, desperados, and lawmen. Headstones with biographical epitaphs and symbolic expressions of grief are often the only record that still exists to provide a glimpse into a community's history or the lives of the individuals who forged Nevada from the sagebrush. Many locations are readily accessible to visit, while others are not. The sites presented here provide an overview of the state's pioneers and their role in the history of Nevada.

Cemeteries of Carson City and Carson Valley

Ocean Shore Railroad

9780738529387

$24.99

With one of the world's most scenic backdrops as a brilliant seascape for passengers, the Ocean Shore Railroad skirted northern California's coastline to service communities south of San Francisco for the first two decades of the 20th century. As impressive as it was idealistic, the line was held prisoner by natural forces that eventually took too much of a toll to keep its striking route churning. Today's Highway 1 traces the passage once paved with tracks, and points to the few remnants of one of California's most well-known excursion lines.

Cover image for Ocean Shore Railroad, isbn: 9780738529387

Wicked Sacramento

9781467140591

$24.99

In the early 1900s, Sacramento became a battleground in a statewide struggle. On one side were Progressive political reformers and suffragettes. Opposing them were bars, dance halls, brothels and powerful business interests. Caught in the middle was the city’s West End, a place where Grant “Skewball” Cross hosted jazz dances that often attracted police attention and Charmion performed her infamous trapeze striptease act before becoming a movie star. It was home to the “Queen of the Sacramento Tenderloin,” Cherry de Saint Maurice, who met her untimely end at the peak of her success, and Ancil Hoffman, who ingeniously got around the city’s dancing laws by renting riverboats for his soirées. Historian William Burg shares the long-hidden stories of criminals and crusaders from Sacramento’s past.

Cover image for Wicked Sacramento, isbn: 9781467140591

Ferndale

9780738528908

$24.99

The enchanting "Victorian Village" of Ferndale in the Eel River Valley is designated a "Distinctive Destination" by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and is a California Historical Landmark. Named by its founders, the Shaw brothers, to honor the six-foot-tall ferns that once choked the thickly forested valley floor, the town became a vital center for goods bound by water for San Francisco and a crossroads for stages to Eureka and Bear River. For many years after the Shaws first paddled their canoe across the Eel River in 1852, travelers forded it by ferry. This changed when Fernbridge was constructed in 1911, at that time the longest reinforced concrete-arch span bridge in the world.

Nipomo and Los Berros

9780738593098

$24.99

Nipomo, Chumash for "at the foot of the hills," and Los Berros, Spanish for "watercress," comprise an important Central Coast area that is often overlooked by history. First established by Chumash Indians and then formally recognized in 1837 in the form of a 38,000-acre land grant from the Mexican government, the area evolved into a hidden national treasure. What started with a ranch owned by William Goodwin Dana and his wife, Maria Josefa Carrillo, quickly spread and became vast farmlands. With the arrival of the railroad and the immigration of workers, unique local goods found their way across the country and trade networks connected the region to the rest of the world. Much of this legacy still stands and can be found today if you know where to look.

San Bernardino

9780738555812

$24.99

Located 60 miles east of Los Angeles in the heart of Southern California and nestled at the base of the San Bernardino National Forest is the city of San Bernardino. Originally incorporated in 1854, it is the oldest anchor city of the Inland Empire and is the seat of the largest county in the United States. The rich history of the valley includes visits from Spanish missionaries, pioneers Jedediah Smith and Kit Carson, and Presidents Theodore Roosevelt, Lyndon Johnson, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush. Wyatt Earp was just a teenager when his family arrived here in 1864. Home to the National Orange Show and the famous natural landmark Arrowhead, the city also boasts a stretch of the popular Route 66.

The South Bay

9780738569055

$24.99

Los Angeles County's South Bay is referenced by the lower arc of Santa Monica Bay and includes the communities between El Segundo on the north and Palos Verdes Peninsula on the south, eastward to the Long Beach border. Roughly defined over the years as the coverage area of the Daily Breeze newspaper, as well as the confines of the South Bay Council of Governments, the South Bay always has been much more than the beautiful coastlines of Manhattan, Hermosa, and Redondo Beaches, as seen in these vintage postcards. It was, as it is today, also the residential and workaday worlds of Torrance, Hawthorne, Lawndale, Inglewood, Gardena, Lomita, Carson, and the Los Angeles Harbor communities.

Woodland Park

9780738580579

$24.99

Woodland Park, at an altitude of nearly 8,500 feet, is located 18 miles west of Colorado Springs along the north slope of Pikes Peak in eastern Teller County. Much of the history of the West passed through this area on the old Ute Trail--now Highway 24--as hunters, trappers, cowboys, Native Americans, settlers, miners, railroaders, ranchers, and tourists discovered an abundance of natural beauty and varied business opportunities through the years. Woodland Park is now home to about 8,000 year-round residents, many of whom treasure not only the spectacular scenery but also the rich past of the town. This evocative tour through that past shares vintage photographs collected by the Ute Pass Historical Society.

Talkeetna

9780738596280

$24.99

Located at the end of the road in the land of the midnight sun, the historic village of Talkeetna has played a significant role in trapping, mining, railroading, and mountaineering history. Talkeetna's function as a gathering place and transportation hub in America's last frontier has been important from its onset and continues today. People from around the world gather in Talkeetna each year in preparation to ascend Denali (Mount McKinley), North America's tallest peak and one of the world's most challenging mountains. Talkeetna continues to preserve its rural Alaskan character, charm, and culture while annually hosting thousands of climbers and visitors from around the globe. Locals and guests enjoy Talkeetna's Bachelor Auction, Mountain Mama Contest, and Moose on the Loose events.

The Santa Clarita Valley

9781467131537

$24.99

Born in 1987 as the nation's first new city with a population greater than 100,000, Santa Clarita, California, has a fascinating history that stretches back to the rugged Wild West era. Hollywood recreates this history in Santa Clarita and its surrounding valley, to the delight of movie fans worldwide.

Mather Field

9780738588773

$24.99

Born from America's need to train aviators for the Great War, Mather Field has sat sentinel to the east of Sacramento for nearly a century. Overnight, the base transformed a lonely domain of cattle and vineyards into an aerie where fledgling "man-birds" were taught to fly and kill. Although readapted during the interwar period to concerns of fire control and mail delivery, Mather still inspired, as evidenced by the 1930 Air Corps maneuvers. World War II renewed Mather, as training bomber crews and repatriating veterans of the Pacific war were primary responsibilities for what was becoming a self-sustaining city of churches, schools, and burgeoning neighborhoods.

On This Day in California History

9781467137133

$23.99

California has a rich history of cultural innovation and colorful characters. On May 26, 1853, Lola Montez premiered her famous Spider Dance routine in San Francisco. On February 21, 1937, San Diego's Waldo Waterman created one of the first operational flying cars. Emeryville's Wham-O sold the first Frisbee, earlier called a Flyin' Cake Pan, on January 13, 1957. Entrepreneurs Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne established Apple Inc. on April 1, 1976. With a historical account for each day of the year, Jim Silverman highlights the unforgettable stories that have defined California.

Lathrop

9780738580173

$24.99

First home to Yokut Indians, then trappers, hunters, and fishermen, Lathrop was founded by Leland Stanford in 1869 as a railroad town and an answer to Stanford's frustration with his railroad attempts in Stockton. Lathrop's rich history includes the railroad, its Delta waterways, manufacturing and distributing industries, and the fascinating tale of California Supreme Court justice David S. Terry's murder (Terry had previously fought and won the last legal duel in California with U.S. senator David C. Broderick just outside of San Francisco). Reportedly named in honor of a relative of Leland Stanford Jr., today's Lathrop evolved from rugged railroad beginnings to a growing and vibrant community of close to 20,000 residents.

The Building of the Oroville Dam

9781467130790

$24.99

In the early 1960s, thousands of construction workers and their families came to Oroville, in Northern California, to help build the largest earth-fill dam in the world. Located nine miles northeast of town, the Oroville Dam would be the cornerstone of the California State Water Project, which would provide flood control, electric power, recreation, and water to California residents. The project was so massive that it would reinvent the look of much of the area; require the building of roads, bridges, and railroads; inundate much of the area's history under hundreds of feet of water; and greatly effect the lives of the residents of Oroville. The successful completion of the project came at a price—34 construction workers died.

Cover image for The Building of the Oroville Dam, isbn: 9781467130790

Cemeteries of Santa Clara

9780738530130

$24.99

Strolling through Santa Clara's historic cemeteries, you will find architectural treasures, thoughtful or cryptic verses carved in stone, and monuments everywhere that resist and challenge the ceaseless waves of time and change. Santa Clara Mission Cemetery and Mission City Memorial Park were both founded before the city itself. Santa Clara Mission Cemetery was established by the Jesuit fathers along with Santa Clara College in 1851. Many pioneers are interred
here, and beneath the Varsi Chapel floor lies what may be the oldest mausoleum in the valley. Mission City Memorial Park, known simply as the graveyard when it was founded in 1850, once doubled as a dump and a refuge for stray farm animals. It is now a beautifully landscaped, 30-acre cemetery memorializing valley residents of the past 150 years.

Haunted Santa Cruz, California

9781467136037

$21.99

Though generally a peaceful coastal city, the dark stains from Santa Cruz's past still linger. A former Spanish Mission, Holy Cross Catholic Church harbors a dark history of a brutal revolt of native Ohlone Indians that killed the cruel Father Andres Quintana. Frequented by mobsters and celebrities in its heyday, the famous Brookdale Lodge's most talked-about guest is the ghost of a little girl who died nearby in 1892 after nearly drowning. Terrorized by three different serial killers during the 1970s, the city earned the nickname of the Murder Capital of the World. Local resident Alfred Hitchcock derived inspiration for his iconic film Psycho from the haunted mid-nineteenth-century Hotel McRay. Tracing the city's eeriest incidents back to their roots, historical researcher and paranormal investigator Maryanne Porter details these and many more stories of local legend and lore.

Cover image for Haunted Santa Cruz, California, isbn: 9781467136037

The Salton Sea

9780738574554

$24.99

The Salton Sea was an accident of man created when heavy rainfall caused the Rio Colorado to swell and breach an Imperial Valley dike in 1905. For two years, water flowed into the Salton Sink and ancient Lake Cahuilla. Today, the sea is 227 feet below sea level, covers approximately 376 square miles, and is California's largest lake. During the early 1900s, it became an important bird and waterfowl refuge. When many species of fish were introduced, the Salton Sea also became popular for boating, fishing, hunting, and camping activities. Motels, yacht clubs, and marinas developed around Salton City and North Shore. During recent decades, the sea has become polluted from agricultural runoff, creating a doubtful future for the Salton Sea. However, it remains a sanctuary for anyone who enjoys bird watching, desert landscapes, or beautiful farmlands.

Desert Hot Springs

9781467132176

$24.99

Cabot Yerxa's discovery of natural hot and cold mineral water in 1914 was the impetus for the establishment of Desert Hot Springs. His eccentric pueblo-style home, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, is a unique tourist attraction. L.W. Coffee also recognized the value of the hot water, so he drilled wells and opened his famous bathhouse in 1941. The development of more than 200 spas followed. Angel View Children's Hospital, established in the 1950s, uses the therapeutic water to treat disabled children. The city's extraordinary, pure cold water wins awards such as best tasting in the world. Desert Hot Springs is the location of architect John Lautner's first desert commission, and Mary Pickford's house still stands at the famous B-Bar-H Ranch that was frequented by movie stars during the 1940s and 1950s. The historic Two Bunch Palms Resort and Spa is known as an exclusive celebrity hideaway. The city, believed to have an unusually strong vortex, is located just south of Joshua Tree National Park. An elevation of 1,200 feet affords most residents magnificent views of both Mount San Jacinto and Mount San Gorgonio.

Cover image for Desert Hot Springs, isbn: 9781467132176

Covina

9780738555553

$24.99

Covina began as a coffee plantation carved out of Rancho La Puente, which John Rowland had purchased from California's Mexican government. Rowland later shared the land with his friend and partner William Workman, and after Rowland's death, his widow, Charlotte, sold 5,500 acres to Julian and Antonio Badillo, on which they attempted unsuccessfully to grow coffee. Joseph Swift Phillips purchased 2,000 acres of the Badillo land, subdivided the tract, and laid out Covina's town site. Covina came to grow, process, and ship eight percent of California's citrus, transforming into a farming community that was neither rural nor urban. Residents established cultural, social, and civic organizations, founded a scientific study group and a literary society, and even built an opera house.

Building the Caldecott Tunnel

9781467131810

$24.99

Today, the Caldecott Tunnel connects Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, located in the San Francisco Bay Area. The original two bores of this tunnel opened in 1937, the same year as the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, and changed Contra Costa County from an area of small rural communities into one of growing suburbs. But this was not the first tunnel to connect these counties. The Kennedy Tunnel, opened in 1903, was accessed by steep and winding roads and located several hundred feet above today's tunnel. A third bore of the Caldecott Tunnel was opened in 1964 and a long-awaited fourth bore in late 2013. The tunnels have not been without disaster and tragedy over their hundred-plus years of existence, yet they remain an integral part of the commercial, social, and historic fabric of the region.

Vanishing Los Angeles County

9780738581002

$24.99

Home to more than 10 million people, modern Los Angeles County bears little resemblance to the largely agricultural landscape, dotted with small towns, of just over a century ago. Los Angeles County has surged forward on a path of phenomenal growth and constant transformation. Over this course, much of what was both famous and familiar to Angelenos 100 or even 50 years ago has been lost in the name of progress. This collection of more than 200 vintage postcards explores a sampling of these vanishing sites, including the once ubiquitous orange groves, views from the early days of the county's towns, yesteryear's famed attractions, landmarks, hotels, and restaurants, and scenes from the roadside era.

Beaver Creek

9781467131933

$24.99

Since 1883, Beaver Creek has attracted adventurous individuals. The allure of precious minerals brought miners to the valley, and many stayed after the illusion of striking it rich began to fade. Those folks homesteaded and farmed or ranched. Ranching flourished for a few families until the early 1970s. Two men credited with developing the Vail ski area set their sights on the Beaver Creek drainage for a new ski resort. Political battles over permits stretched from Denver to Washington, DC. In addition, environmental issues burgeoning in the early 1970s added another layer of complexity to the proposed ski area. Dark days were looming as interest rates hit 18 percent and a recession hit the national economy. A silver lining in all the turmoil at the fledgling resort occurred when former president Gerald R. Ford bought one of the first residential lots, making Beaver Creek his address. The original visionaries' goal to build a world-class resort was on its way to completion after years of challenges.

Sanger

9781467130189

$24.99

The arrival of the railroad in 1887 brought rumors of Kings River Lumber Company's plan to build a flume for shipping lumber from the forest to the valley floor, and the town literally boomed overnight. Founded in 1888, Sanger officially incorporated in 1911 and was named in honor of Joseph Sanger, secretary of the Southern Pacific Railroad Yardmasters Association. In 1866, early pioneer Mary Jane Hazelton planted the area's first orange grove. Later, Harvey Akers established the first vineyard. In the 1920s, after many years of struggle, the lumber era came to a close and was replaced by agriculture. Packinghouses sprang up around Sanger, and area fruit was shipped around the country via the railroad.

Mira Mesa

9780738582030

$24.99

Mira Mesa is a suburban community in the northern part of the city of San Diego with many qualities of a small town. Mira Mesa is San Diego's largest suburb, with over 75,000 residents, stretching from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar on the south to Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve on the north, and from I-15 on the east to I-805 on the west. When rapid growth in the early 1970s transformed the mesa from rocks and rattlesnakes to tract homes, there were no schools, parks, or other facilities, not even a grocery store. Residents held rallies and marches, and the first schools in Mira Mesa were created inside houses leased from developers. Mira Mesa today is a happily multiethnic community that includes schools, parks, a library, industrial and retail centers, and several supermarkets.

Cover image for Mira Mesa, isbn: 9780738582030

Sacramento's Midtown

9780738546568

$24.99

As Sacramento's neighborhoods grew eastward from Fifteenth Street to Thirty-first Street (later Alhambra Boulevard), the area evolved into a complex mix of housing and businesses known as Midtown. Sutter's Fort was still popular, and community groups like the Native Sons of the Golden West restored its last remnants for future generations. In 1927, the city built Memorial Auditorium, a tribute to fallen soldiers, as a large central venue that continues to serve as an important setting for graduations, concerts, and conventions. The J and K Street business corridors expanded from downtown, and identifiable neighborhoods such as Poverty Ridge, Boulevard Park, and New Era Park developed as people settled and established businesses in these growing areas. Today's Midtown supports numerous Victorian mansions and Craftsman bungalows, as well as the legacies of such employers as the California Almond Growers' Exchange, California Packing Corporation, Buffalo Brewery, Sutter Hospital, and the Sacramento Bee newspaper.

Cover image for Sacramento's Midtown, isbn: 9780738546568

Kings Mountain

9780738558295

$24.99

Rising 2,000 feet above the rural San Mateo County countryside, Kings Mountain rests atop the redwood-ribbed backbone of the California Coastal Mountain Range. Despite inhospitable terrain, its forests lured Spanish padres who envisioned a chain of missions along the California coast. The community grew as its stately Sequoia sempervirens toppled before the influx of sawmills that sprang up in the 1850s. Named for early entrepreneurs Frank and Honora King, the mountain's story features rough-and-tumble sawyers, genteel dairy farmers, ghost towns, subdivisions, summer cabins, schools, and storied hermits. The celebrated annual art fair began in 1963 to raise funds for fire protection and grew into a nationally respected event that draws thousands.

Redding

9780738529349

$24.99

Pierson B. Reading settled on a large land grant in Shasta County in the 1840s, planting California's first cotton and northern California's first grapevines on his Rancho Buena Ventura, which included the current town of Redding. Although first nicknamed Poverty Flats by the early settlers, the Southern Pacific Railroad chose this spot for its turnaround roundhouse in 1872, ignoring the neighboring mining boomtown of Shasta. To honor a powerful Sacramento politician who acted as their general land agent, the railroad named the new town Redding.As Redding grew, so did the tug-of-war with the town of Shasta over the location of the county seat, a contest Redding won in 1884. Redding experienced two growth spurts, one during a copper mining boom before World War I, and the other at the end of the Great Depression, when thousands of workers poured in to build Shasta Dam. A gateway city to the large recreational area that surrounds it, Redding now enjoys fame for its world-renowned bridge designed by Santiago Calatrava.

Cover image for Redding, isbn: 9780738529349

San Diego Yesterday

9781609499761

$19.99

San Diego today is a vibrant and bustling coastal city, but it wasn't always so. The city's transformation from a rough-hewn border town and frontier port to a vital military center was marked by growing pains and political clashes. Civic highs and criminal lows have defined San Diego's rise through the nineteenth and twentieth centuries into a preeminent Sun Belt city. Historian Richard W. Crawford recalls the significant events and one-of-a-kind characters like benefactor Frank Booze Beyer, baseball hero Albert Spalding and novelist Scott O'Dell. Join Crawford for a collection that recounts how San Diego yesterday laid the foundation for the city's bright future.

Yreka

9780738547350

$24.99

Complete with all the trappings of a Wild West gold-mining town, Yreka was incorporated in 1857. Within six weeks of the discovery of gold in 1851, over 2,000 miners had arrived, and a town of makeshift wooden and canvas shelters suddenly appeared, forming the beginnings of what was to become the city. Today Yreka is Siskiyou County's government center. Its National Historic District encompasses both a lovely residential section and charming commercial district, offering a glimpse into the late 1800s. "The Golden City" boasts over 75 structures from the 1800s and early 1900s, wrought by the founders of Siskiyou County's gold, agricultural, and timber industries and preserved by Yreka's community today.

Echo Summit

9781467132008

$24.99

Echo Summit played a major role in early California and Nevada history. Beginning in the early 1850s, fortune-seekers rushed westward over Echo Summit in search of gold in El Dorado County. The discovery of silver and gold in Virginia City in 1859 reversed the travel eastward. After 1869, travel over Echo Summit was reduced to a trickle. Today, Echo Summit is a major route to the south Lake Tahoe basin. There are sites along the summit ridge, like Echo Lake, Berkeley Echo Lake Camp, and Echo Summit Lodge, that have contributed to the history of Echo Summit.

San Francisco's Sunset District

9780738528625

$24.99

The transformation of San Francisco's Sunset District from a seemingly uninhabitable, windswept realm of sand dunes and shrub to a comfortable residential and commercial neighborhood is one of the city's most surprising stories. Originally outside of San Francisco's boundaries on federal land, the district was part of a large tundra-like expanse then forbiddingly called the "Outside Lands." As changes overtook the established parts of the city around the turn of the century, the industrialized eastern edge seemed less hospitable to many citizens. These people looked to the Sunset's open spaces and saw there a perfect place for building homes, shops, churches and schools.

Riverside

9780738547169

$24.99

The thousands of acres of navel orange groves that once blanketed Riverside, California, were one of the most recognizable icons of the state's early citrus industry and also the origin for California's nickname, "The Golden State." Founded as a utopian colony in the wake of the Civil War, Riverside soon began to lure wealthy foreign and eastern investors who turned their sights towards Riverside where the perfect combination of sun, soil, and water turned the opportunity of citrus growing into a multimillion-dollar industry. Twenty-five years after Riverside's founding, millions of dollars of investments had transformed the small agricultural outpost into the wealthiest city per capita in the nation. The city's "Orange Barons" invested their money by building stately Victorian mansions and imposing brick commercial buildings. Others lured additional investors by creating parks with tropical plant gardens, formal avenues landscaped with rare and beautiful trees, and a carefully designed downtown area with beautiful churches, hotels, and civic buildings.

Stockton in Vintage Postcards

9780738528786

$24.99

Today's Stockton is a modern California city, home to a quarter of a million people. But few remember the details of its illustrious past. Influenced by strategic waterways and rich soil, Stockton attracted a succession of miners, farmers,

shipbuilders, and industrial entrepreneurs. Throughout the years Stockton has evolved from a rough-and-tumble harbor town to an agricultural, business, and transportation center and has done so with a great amount of style and finesse. This collection of vintage postcards showcases Stockton's early days from 1900 to 1950, capturing the elegance and industry of a young city on the journey to the modern era. This book contains over 200 images of Stockton including the waterfront, paddlewheel steamers, beautiful hotels, graceful estates, sprawling farm vistas, and the ornate buildings of downtown.

Santa Monica Lifeguards

9780738546988

$24.99

From the early days of the 20th century, when lifeguard legend "Cap" Watkins rode a horse to make ocean rescues, to present-day crew members who are aided by Baywatch rescue boats, the history of the Santa Monica Lifeguards is one of the most colorful in ocean lifesaving. Under these guards' careful gaze, Pres. John F. Kennedy swam along the Santa Monica shoreline, Charlie Chaplin collected seashells, and surfing icons Duke Khanamoku and Miki Dora took to the waves. From historic legends to millions of yearly beachgoers, Santa Monica's lifeguards have provided decades of ocean-lifesaving services. Their work has helped to make Santa Monica Beach the world-renowned destination it is today.

A Brief History of Norco

9781609497019

$21.99

Legend has it that Rex Clark won fifteen square miles of failed farms, rutted roads and broken water mains in a poker game. Using his wife's newspaper fortune, Clark tried orchards and then poultry. Local hot springs inspired Clark's creation of a giant recreational resort. U.S. presidents and Hollywood royalty sojourned at the fabulous Norconian until the Great Depression hit. The spa was converted to U.S. Naval Hospital #1 during World War II and then a top Cold War missile lab. Norco became a horse-raising enclave while staving off annexation from nearby southwestern Riverside County cities. Today, the city is known nationwide as HorseTown, USA. Join former mayor Kevin Bash and his coauthor daughter Angelique Bash for this engaging trail ride through Norco's colorful past.

Forgotten Tales of Idaho

9781626197084

$17.99

Idaho was the forty-third state admitted to the Union, but it just might lead the nation in strange stories and offbeat legends. Author and Idaho resident Andy Weeks fills this collection of tales with stories ranging from compelling and heartfelt to outlandish and bizarre. Discover the boxcar that carried the alleged body of John Wilkes Booth through Idaho. Uncover the identity of Lady Bluebeard, the unassuming Twin Falls housewife who allegedly murdered four husbands. Find out how cars ended up at the bottom of Lake Coeur d'Alene. Learn the grisly story of Gobo Fango, a black Mormon sheepherder whose late 1800s bloody dispute with a cattleman on the open range proved fatal. These tales and many others bring to light Idaho's unruly past in fascinating detail.

Early Cupertino

9780738531410

$24.99

A priest with Juan Batista de Anza's expedition in 1776 named a wild creek where the group camped after St. Joseph of Cupertino, Italy. A village known as Westside adopted the name in 1904 as it grew up by that stream, now Stevens Creek, near the road that is now De Anza Boulevard. Like its Italian namesake, Cupertino once had wineries, and vineyards striped its foothills and flatlands. Later vast orchards created an annual blizzard of spring blossoms, earning it the name Valley of Heart's Delight. The railroad came to carry those crops to market, and the electric trolley extended to connect Cupertino's first housing tract, Monte Vista. When the postwar building boom came, Cupertino preserved its independence through incorporation, but that bold move would not stop the wave of modernization that would soon roll over the valley.

Cover image for Early Cupertino, isbn: 9780738531410

Uintah

9780738579009

$24.99

Nestled at the foot of the Wasatch Mountains is a small community with a grand history. The area's first inhabitants were Native Americans until eight Mormon families arrived in 1850. With the coming of the railroad in 1869, Uintah quickly became a wild and woolly boomtown with more than 100 businesses and a population of about 5,000. But when the Utah Central Railroad moved to Ogden, many people moved out of Uintah. Still, this spirited town has survived, and every year, U-Day celebrates the history of the town with various events and the lighting of the historic "U." Originally built by Uintah residents and located on the northern side of Weber Canyon, the "U" is a meaningful symbol of Uintah's past and present. To this day, Uintah retains its small-town character, and residents honor the history of their town.

Venice

9780738569666

$24.99

From the marshy savannahs of the Pacific coastal tidelands sprang the most amazing Venetian resort of the post-Victorian era. New Jersey-born Abbot Kinney aimed to create a cultural renaissance in 1905 on the sandy shores of Santa Monica Bay. But when the residents of Los Angeles County weren't interested, a carnival-like atmosphere replaced Kinney's opera singers, philosophers, and orators. Through the subsequent 100-plus years, the small resort had both extreme highs and lows, but it still prevails as an unparalleled fantasy by the sea.

North Fork Valley

9780738595849

$24.99

Settlers came to the North Fork Valley after the Ute Indians departed from the area in September 1881. The fertile valley was surrounded by rugged mountains to the east, the majestic Grand Mesa to the north, the bleak "dobie" desert, and the meandering North Fork River. Arriving with just enough provisions to get by, the new settlers brought fruit trees, developed their water sources, and discovered coal, and soon, the arrival of the train made the possibilities of the valley a reality. Working together, the settlers founded the main communities of Hotchkiss, Paonia, and Crawford. Today, coal is the number one industry, wineries are abundant, artists love to display their talents, and it is a great place to live.

Poway

9780738555973

$24.99

The area that would become Poway was once the roaming grounds of the Diegueno and Luiseno Indians, several hundred years before the appearance of the Spaniards. It was also a pasturing place for mission stock, a ranch area for adventurous white settlers, a potential railroad stop that never materialized, and today is a diversified, thriving "city in the country" located within San Diego County. The story of Poway is one of many cultures, of many changes, and of many triumphs. Today it is a very desirable city in which to live, raise families, and send children to school; it is home to about 57,000 residents glad to have found the pleasures of living in Poway.

Northern Calaveras County

9780738547824

$24.99

Northern Calaveras County stretches eastward from the valley towns of Wallace and Jenny Lind, through the Campo Seco and Mokelumne Hill gold country, to the county seat in San Andreas and finally extends to the upcountry mining camps and logging settlements of West Point and Railroad Flat. Historically water and trails connected these diverse regions. The Mokelumne River and its tributaries--diverted into flumes and ditches--brought water to the river bars, mines, ranches, settlements, and towns and provided their lifeblood. Trails first followed Native American paths and then developed into stage roads, railroads, and state highways. These routes connected the valley to the mountains and carried pioneers seeking gold, water, timber, fertile land, and recreation to new lands and new lives.

Cover image for Northern Calaveras County, isbn: 9780738547824

Emeryville

9780738530062

$24.99

Emeryville, one tough square mile wedged between Oakland and Berkeley with its back to the bay, has a gritty, colorful history and a bright future. Before the Gold Rush, its creek-fed grasslands served as a huge slaughtering ground for the Peralta family's hide and tallow operations. Later, railroad tracks crisscrossed a community formed on the fringe of Oakland to catch its cultural and industrial refuse. The stench from stockyards and slaughterhouses, the happy roar of a crowd at the Oakland Oaks Ball Park, acidic plumes from steel and petroleum manufacture, pomaded swells rubbing elbows with rowdies at the racetrack, and smoky gambling dens were all part of old Emeryville. Recently, an innovative, business-friendly city government brought about a striking economic transformation, making once-blighted Emeryville--now home to corporate giants like Pixar Animation Studios and IKEA--the envy of its neighbors.

Maritime Marin

9780738559049

$24.99

Marin County's spectacular Pacific coast has been noted as both one of the most beautiful locations on earth and--for some early mariners--a place of absolute terror. The rocky coast here has claimed hundreds of ships and the lives of thousands of sailors. Though long known for its beautiful natural settings of woodlands, beaches, and hills, Marin's maritime history is surprisingly varied, with tales of English pirates, Spanish explorers, Yankee whalers, and an immense wartime shipbuilding effort. The rocky seascapes and sandy beaches of Point Reyes, Bolinas, and Stinson Beach--along with the bay-side villages of Sausalito, Tiburon, and San Rafael--have long been important ports for commercial and pleasure mariners.

Deer Lodge

9780738570785

$24.99

In the language of the Shoshone, Sacagawea's people, the Deer Lodge Valley was it-soo-ke-en-carne. The name referred to a lodge-shaped mound--a natural salt lick where deer gathered. By the early 1800s, French-Canadian trappers and traders were exploring the valley's river (now known as the Clark Fork River) and its tributaries. The Shoshone name was translated into French as la loge du chevreuil. Soon, as Montana's gold rush began, traders from Fort Hall in southern Idaho settled here. The town became Spanish Fork, Cottonwood, La Barge City, and finally the Shoshone name returned, now in English, as Deer Lodge.

Pioneers of Riverside County

9781609498313

$21.99

Riverside County encompasses more than two million people and most of the width of California, from Los Angeles's eastern suburbs to the Arizona state line at the Colorado River. Historian Steve Loch captures the vanished past of this vast swath of deserts and mountains--the eras of Spanish and then Mexican rule and the exploits of the earliest settlers of the American period. Juan Bautista de Anza, Louis Robidoux and many other namesake figures of today's geography are described in this unabridged excerpt of the author's comprehensive and masterly history Along the Old Roads.

Colorado Legends & Lore

9781626194816

$21.99

Colorado is steeped in stories as unique as the people who settled it. Each wave of exploration and settlement brought new tales to explain the mysteries of this incomparable place. With extreme weather and breathtaking landscapes, it seems only natural that Colorado could play host to UFOs, stripper lightning and the Fountain of Love. From creation myths and rumored Aztec treasure to snow snakes and drunken house flies, professional yarn-spinner Stephanie Waters turns an eye to the ancient lore of the Centennial State.

Cover image for Colorado Legends & Lore, isbn: 9781626194816

Summit County

9780738548463

$24.99

In 1859, a group of men from Denver crossed the Continental Divide with the hope of finding gold in the Blue River Valley. Their initial success changed the landscape as towns blossomed across the countryside, and ranches, which provided much needed food, were established along the lower part of the valley. The arrival of the railroads in 1882 facilitated the movement of people and goods in and out of the area. The railroads also made mining operations much more profitable and diminished the isolation of the county's residents. Women and children began arriving in greater numbers in the 1880s, bringing with them the refinements of the Victorian era. The influx of families spurred the establishment of churches, libraries, social clubs, and hospitals and, at the same time, discouraged gambling, drinking, and prostitution.

Haunted Cripple Creek and Teller County

9781467139601

$21.99

Home to the last gold rush in America, Teller County attracted a slew of peculiar characters. And many never left. A Victor Hotel regular named Eddie met his untimely death when he tumbled down the elevator shaft. A female apparition clad in Victorian clothing appears on the stairs of the Palace Hotel. A closed tunnel on Gold Camp Road is said to echo with the sounds of screaming children. And lingering spirits are still prisoners at the old Teller County Jail. Linda Wommack uncovers the eerie thrills and chills of Cripple Creek and Teller County.

Cover image for Haunted Cripple Creek and Teller County, isbn: 9781467139601

Auburn

9780738559445

$24.99

Auburn, the county seat of Placer County, was founded during the Gold Rush in 1848. Unlike many such towns in the Mother Lode, Auburn has remained a vibrant and growing town ever since. This city's relevance since the initial influx of gold seekers is due in part to its location at a nexus of transportation routes, both old and new. Halfway between San Francisco and Reno and at an elevation of just over 1,000 feet--above the fog and below the snow--Auburn is a very attractive place to live. Furthermore, it is a place with sincere respect for its roots, as evidenced by its restored old town, preserved courthouse building, and other historic structures throughout town.

Cover image for Auburn, isbn: 9780738559445

Legendary Locals of Las Cruces

9781467101332

$24.99

When Las Cruces was founded 164 years ago near a group of crosses marking the graves of travelers and soldiers, a rawhide rope separated acreage for a church, a cemetery, and family lots. That rawhide rope brought to Las Cruces a new era filled with the exhilaration of the Wild West and the people who molded "the City of the Crosses." Over the decades, the number of local men, women, and children who deserve recognition as heroes of history or champions of the present is infinite, including Dr. Nathan E. Boyd, entrepreneurial creator of the Boyd Sanitarium; Gov. Susana Martinez, the first female governor of New Mexico and the first female Hispanic governor in the United States; and Letticia Martinez, a legally blind swimmer who competed with the 2012 London Paralympics Swimming Team. Like thousands of others, theirs is a story of persistent hope, courage, and desire to make a difference.

Midland

9780738578965

$24.99

On the southern edge of the vast Llano Estacado, Midland began as a midpoint along the Texas and Pacific Railway. From its earliest days, entrepreneurs like the Scharbauers and Henry Halff built a city based upon their dreams. Land speculators, ranchers, farmers, financiers, oilmen, investors, and engineers each placed their own unique brands on Midland's landscape. Over time, the community earned a variety of nicknames—Windmill Town, Land of the High Sky, and Tall City, among them. Although seemingly remote, Midland has regularly gained attention at the state, national, and even international level in areas as diverse as airplanes (Texas's first), cattle ranching, and as the home of George W. Bush. Midland's story is an American tale of a successful small city.

Cover image for Midland, isbn: 9780738578965

Sunnyslope

9780738599571

$24.99

Founded in 1911 by William R. Norton, Sunnyslope is older than the State of Arizona. By 1919, the desert settlement had only four or five cottages and no roads, no electricity, and no running water. That soon changed as those recovering from tuberculosis sought the relief of Sunnyslope's dry climate. In 1927, the Desert Mission was established, with its nurses dubbed the Angels of the Desert. This would eventually become the modern, multistory John C. Lincoln Hospital. A post–World War II boom saw Sunnyslope's population grow with small businesses, schools, and churches being established that still serve the community today. Annexed by the City of Phoenix in 1959, Sunnyslope, with its roughly 40,000 residents, retains its unique identity to this day.

Cover image for Sunnyslope, isbn: 9780738599571

Sayre

9780738582528

$24.99

Sayre, Oklahoma, was founded shortly after the railroad arrived on September 14, 1901. Before that, it was known as Riverton because of its location near the North Fork of the Red River. When the Choctaw, Oklahoma and Gulf Railroad completed its line to Sayre, businesses sprang up overnight, causing many people from surrounding communities to move closer to the rail. Sayre's historical downtown area is home to many buildings that date from the city's founding in 1901. When Route 66 was constructed through Sayre, transportation was solidified as the community's main industry. The town began to grow again when Farmrail launched an American Short Line Regional Railroad through Sayre and its surrounding area in 1981. Through the years, many legendary people have called Sayre home, including horseman Walter Merrick, world champion bull rider Justin McBride, bronc riders Gene Ross and Jonas DeArmon, and singer Roger Miller. The community is known for its natural beauty, sensational sunsets, and a flat landscape that allows one to see for miles in every direction.

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

Roswell

9780738558547

$24.99

Best known as the site of an alleged flying saucer crash in 1947 and the Roswell Incident, Roswell began as a humble trading post in the late 1860s along the Goodnight-Loving Cattle Trail and eventually grew into a metropolis of southeastern New Mexico. Once a cow town and home to famous Western figures such as John Chisum, Pat Garrett, and Capt. Joseph C. Lea, Roswell is also the birthplace of the New Mexico Military Institute, the testing grounds for Robert H. Goddard's rockets in the 1930s, and the site of the Roswell Army Airfield and a German POW camp in the 1940s. Today Roswell is a popular tourist destination and home to more than 50,000 residents.

Cover image for Roswell, isbn: 9780738558547

Hearne

9780738585406

$24.99

H earne earned the title "the Crossroads of Texas" by virtue of two rail lines and two highways crisscrossing within its boundaries. A small town with an inordinate amount of heavy traffic, Hearne has always been a place where a lot of moving and shaking occurs. Indeed, "moving and shaking" characterized Hearne from its beginnings when namesake Christopher Columbus Hearne convinced the Houston & Texas Central Railroad to make a tiny, unincorporated village its terminus. Some years after, a visitor referred to Hearne as "19 saloons surrounding an artesian well." Ninety-year resident Bill Palmos described Hearne as a rough town of good-hearted people with a matching reputation. He added that when people traveled by rail, "Houston, Hempstead, and Hell" was the conductor's call. Even after saloons gave way to churches, schools, and service clubs, Hearne's reputation for roughness stuck.

Lubbock

9780738579689

$24.99

The city of Lubbock began as a compromise between two smaller settlements known as Lubbock and Monterey. These settlements agreed to combine on December 19, 1890, and by 1891, the combined settlement was elected the new county seat as farmers, ranchers, and settlers began to arrive. In 1909, Lubbock incorporated as a city, and the Santa Fe Railroad sent its first train south from Plainview. The Texas legislature authorized the establishment of Texas Technological College in 1923, and Lubbock won the regional contest for the new university's location. Today Lubbock is the 10th largest city in Texas with an estimated population of 230,000. The Lubbock economy thrives on agriculture, education, manufacturing, and health industries.

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.

Houston in the 1920s and 1930s

9780738571492

$24.99

Houston was already a dynamic city when it experienced an exciting period of accelerated growth in the 1920s and 1930s. The Roaring Twenties began with a national ban on alcohol and ended abruptly with the stock market crash of 1929, but the prominent and influential Jesse Jones ensured the city's part in the economic collapse was minimal. Despite the country's financial woes, Houston's downtown was booming. Skyscrapers set new records in height, forever changing the skyline and appearance of the city. The introduction and widespread use of air-conditioning tamed the stifling heat and humidity for which Houston was known. The National Democratic Convention of 1928 showed the rest of the nation what a modern metropolis Houston had become. This entertaining new book illustrates how Houstonians lived, worked, and played during both the good times and the bad in the early 1900s.

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.

Forgotten Albuquerque

9780738559674

$24.99

In 1706, Spanish colonists founded the Villa de Alburquerque on the wooded banks of the Rio Grande. Three hundred years later, that once quiet farming community has grown to become Albuquerque, the largest city in the state of New Mexico. Over the centuries, this fascinating city's identity has metamorphosed many times. In 1862, it briefly became the western capital of the Confederate States of America, before Confederate hopes for the territory were destroyed at the Battle of Glorieta Pass. In 1880, the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad brought industry and wealth from the east, as well as tuberculosis-infected "lungers" who came by the thousands to seek a cure in "the Heart of Health Country." Then, in 1926, Route 66 transformed the city into a neon-decked oasis for automobile travelers journeying through the newly accessible West. Though many of these identities have faded, their legacy lives on in the beating heart of an ever-changing city.

Around Benson

9780738558929

$24.99

In 1880, the rowdy town of Benson was born when the Southern Pacific Railroad Company recognized a market for transporting mining and ranching products to growing enterprises in the southeastern Arizona Territory. Leading up to the town's incorporation in 1924, nearly all railroads in the Southwest led to Benson, which by that time boasted several hotels, liveries, taverns, churches, and a smelter. By the 1940s, U.S. Highway 80 and State Route 86 junction brought weary travelers to enjoy Benson's clean air, artesian water, and mountain vistas, creating the core of a multiethnic city whose progeny continue to keep the town alive today as the "Gateway to the Land of Cochise."

Pharr

9781467131377

$24.99

The All-America City of Pharr was incorporated in 1916 and holds precedence as the heart of the Rio Grande Valley. The late Henry Newton Pharr, a sugarcane grower, engineer, and manufacturer, along with his partner John C. Kelly, founded the city for their interest in establishing a sugarcane empire. This borderland is located approximately eight miles from the mighty Rio Grande, and it prospered to become the ideal agricultural grounds that attracted star investors from as far as Louisiana. Pharr benefitted from the fruit and vegetable boom, the introduction of the railroad, great feats in civic progress, and success in international commerce. Now, Pharr is the only city in the state of Texas to be designated as a "Triple Crown City." Pharr's feats include the Preserve America City, National Main Street City, and All-America City awards.

Lee County, Texas

9780738502960

$24.99

Lee County illustrates the region's history through vintage photographs, many of which are previously unpublished. This truly multi-cultural, central Texas county is home to a variety of ethnic communities, including the Wends of Serbin and the Czechs of Dime Box, as well as the more diverse settlements of British and German immigrants and former slaves throughout the county. This pictorial retrospective of Lee County begins before the county was formed and continues to about 1940. Narratives taken from local citizens' letters, diaries, and memoirs provide an informative commentary, and individual portraits personalize the accounts. The major foci are the larger towns of Lexington in the northeast and Giddings in the southwest, and the diagonal of the Old San Antonio Road, although shots of the rural areas and towns give a fascinating glimpse into the everyday lives of residents.

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.

Winslow

9780738596525

$24.99

In 1880, the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad laid out the Winslow townsite along its new transcontinental line through northeastern Arizona Territory because the nearby Little Colorado River supplied a vital water source. The river had sustained the prehistoric Homol'ovi villages, and a passable ford across the river brought trails, wagon roads, and Mormon settlers to the area before the railroad arrived. This high desert boomtown blossomed into a bustling city when the Santa Fe Railway bought the A&P and transferred division headquarters to Winslow. Along with a shipping point for area ranches, trading posts, and lumber mills, the railroad provided passenger service to the alluring Southwest. Travelers enjoyed fine dining by Fred Harvey and the Harvey Girls and lodging at architect Mary Colter's La Posada Hotel. As automobiles replaced rail travel in the 1920s, the highway running through downtown Winslow became part of the famed US Route 66. Interstate 40 eventually bypassed downtown, but Winslow's historic attractions, Standin' on the Corner Park, and nearby Hopi and Navajo lands continue to lure visitors from around the world.

Cover image for Winslow, isbn: 9780738596525

Tempe

9780738548883

$24.99

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.

Dalhart

9780738584669

$24.99

In 1882, the Fort Worth and Denver City Railway made its way to Dalhart, and by 1901 two railroads crossed tracks in the northwest corner of the Texas Panhandle. The twist of tracks was located at what is now the intersection of Highway 87, running north and south, and Highway 54, running east and west, in Dalhart. The second railroad, the Rock Island and Chicago Railway, along with the first, gave rise to Dalhart's first name, Twist Junction, but right away a new name was chosen and Dalhart was soon established as a center of commerce at the beginning of the 20th century. Dalhart flourished with only a short interruption in growth during the Dust Bowl years. Many families left Dalhart during those years but returned later to dig the city out from the devastation of the 1930s and begin again. Dalhart quickly recovered and thrived as it once had and continues as a main thoroughfare for travelers crossing the United States, whether by rail, semitruck, or passenger car.

Fort Worth's Rock and Roll Roots

9780738584997

$24.99

On the evening of February 9, 1964, Ed Sullivan introduced the Beatles to America. Across the country, teens were glued to their TV sets and witnessed a turning point in rock and roll history. Vibrant and creative teen scenes sprang up all across the country. The scene in Fort Worth, Texas, produced an exceptional burst of creativity in songwriting and musicianship. Weekend concerts and battles of the bands drew thousands of fans. Primitive teen recordings were pressed into 45s and received radio airplay in rotation with national acts. Local television shows featured live bands; fashions changed with go-go girls' skirts growing shorter; long hair became the style for women and men; and the seeds of the counterculture were planted and flourished. The music of this generation birthed every rock subgenre for the next 40 years (acid rock, heavy metal, punk, new wave, grunge), and today's musicians still reach back to these recordings for inspiration.

Arizona's Historic Bridges

9781467133449

$24.99

Arizona was once just a passage for pioneers headed west for gold, religious freedom, and cheap land. Native Americans had lived in and explored the territory for years, but it was Manifest Destiny and the western expansionist philosophy of the burgeoning US government that created the impetus for better and faster routes across the vast territory with its topographical challenges. In the 1880s, the railroads first booted their way across the landscape, following historic trails before the highways were built. The Grand Canyon and Colorado River were obvious challenges, but there were also seasonal waterways that needed crossings. The history of the state unfolds with this book, profiling the bridges that define these historic transportation routes. Many of them have been proudly restored by their communities or the state, while others are gone or are in a sad state of decline.

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.

Edmond Oklahoma

9780738519753

$24.99

From its humble beginnings in 1886 as a fuel and water pump house at Mile Marker 103 of the Santa Fe Railroad, through the eras of land run, statehood, oil boom, two world wars and beyond, the city of Edmond has always been growing. Today, a "beacon for the rest of Oklahoma," it boasts a vibrant community of over 70,000 residents. Edmond is home to the state's oldest continuously running newspaper, the Edmond Sun. The first church and schoolyard in Oklahoma Territory were located here, as well as the state's first institute for higher learning. Indeed, Central Normal School, now called the University of Central Oklahoma, has been at the heart of Edmond since the 1890s and is featured prominently throughout this book. Edmond is a railroad town, an oil town and a college town, depending on who you ask; but Edmondites both past and present simply know it as the "perfect town." Edmond, Oklahoma: Always Growing tells the story of this proud city through more than two hundred vintage photographs, many dating back to before the turn of the twentieth century.

Cover image for Edmond Oklahoma, isbn: 9780738519753

Legendary Locals of Marana, Oro Valley, and Catalina

9781467100168

$24.99

Running west to east along the northern boundary of Tucson is a corridor of unique and inspiring communities. In Legendary Locals of Marana, Oro Valley, and Catalina, readers will discover the historical riches, courage, and determination of the Western spirit that shaped the state and the country. George Pusch was a member of the Arizona Territorial Legislature that guided Arizona from territory to statehood. Sam Chu, a Chinese immigrant, turned barren land into one of the most productive cotton farms in America. Sheriff John Nelson helped establish Arizona's reputation as cattle country. Under the guidance of Dick Eggerding, the public arts program made Oro Valley one of the best small towns in America. America's talented athletes have called the corridor home, including Hank Leiber, 1930s baseball star; Maren Seidler, Olympic shot-putter; and Sherry Cervi, barrel racing champion. In these communities, charity work, artistic talent, and military courage are found in abundance. If people make history, then the corridor is a treasure trove of the country's past and future.

Legendary Locals of Marana, Oro Valley, and Catalina

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.

Clarkdale

9781467131391

$24.99

Clarkdale is recognized as a Place of History in the National Register of Historic Places, possessing both historical and architectural significance. Clarkdale's story began eons ago with the creation of its natural environment. The first people came thousands of years ago to this lush land, followed by subsequent cultures that made use of the abundant water, rich soil, and moderate climate. In the early 20th century, mining magnate William Clark built the smelter company town of Clarkdale; the agricultural age was soon replaced by the industrial age. Clark became one of the wealthiest men in America, with most of his money coming from the output of Clarkdale's smelter. Since the smelter closure in 1953, the former workers' homes, smelter site, and company lands have been recycled into today's homes, a tourist destination, and a place of museums, education, and the arts, all located within a spectacular environment of mountains and river. This book presents that story.

Cover image for Clarkdale, isbn: 9781467131391

Tulsa

9780738507811

$24.99

Tulsa, Oklahoma, "the oil capital of the world," has a long and varied history. Evidence of a possible Norse presence dates to 1000 AD. An ancient people known as the Mound Builders populated the area, then disappeared just prior to the arrival of Spanish conquistadors in the 1540s. Osage Indians, as well as other members of the Five Tribes, called this part of Oklahoma home. French trappers made a brief appearance. Finally, outlaws like "Pretty Boy" Floyd and "Machine Gun" Kelly cooled their heels in Tulsa while running from the law in the 1930s. What Tulsa is really known for, however, is oil. The discovery of oil fields in Tulsa at the turn of the century caused an economic and social revolution. The formerly small town became a center of power, and fortunes worth millions of dollars were gained and lost. J. Paul Getty got his start in Tulsa along with his father, who was one of the first to ride Tulsa's tsunami-like oil wave. The town boomed through the 20s and 30s, and oil money built the town of Tulsa into the city it is today. Tulsa currently hosts a population of 380,000 people, and, in honor of its oil legacy, is home to one of the most prominent petroleum schools in the world.

Cover image for Tulsa, isbn: 9780738507811

Sand Springs, Oklahoma

9780738503202

$24.99

One man's dream burst into reality as Sand Springs,
Oklahoma, became the "industrial center of the
southwest" in the early twentieth century. Self-made
millionaire Charles Page recognized opportunity and quickly bought Native American land allotments as they became available for sale, setting about his vision of creating a planned community for thousands of workers. From feverish growth and economic prosperity to violent labor unrest and race riots, Sand Springs exemplifies the opportunities and struggles faced by countless towns across the nation.
The more than 200 images contained within this book
are from the collection of the Sand Springs Cultural and Historical Museum, as well as several private contributors. Focusing on the unusual philanthropic endeavors, industrial and economic diversity, and intriguing political and social structure that has formed this spirited town, the book invites its readers to examine many rare photographs and discover
for themselves the traits that make Sand Springs both unique and ubiquitous.

Cover image for Sand Springs, Oklahoma, isbn: 9780738503202

Railroading in Ellis County

9780738579153

$24.99

The Houston and Texas Central Railroad made its way through eastern Ellis County in 1871 and played an integral role in the founding of Ennis, Texas. Eventually, that community would be designated as a division point along the line. The H&TC's arrival also brought growth and prosperity to other communities on the line, including Alma, Garrett, Palmer, and Ferris. It made its mark on the area. The Waxahachie Tap was the vision of many of that city's earliest settlers. Within a decade of its completion in September 1879, Waxahachie's cotton production multiplied and the town would soon earn the moniker "Where Cotton Is King." Midlothian and its surrounding communities would never be the same once connected by the Chicago, Texas, and Mexican Central Railroad in 1881. The rail had arrived and Ellis County was transformed.

Wicked Albuquerque

9781467137980

$21.99

Albuquerque's early lawless reputation rivaled that of Dodge City and Tombstone. Its red-light district was known as Hell's Half Acre. Brothel owner Lizzy McGrath once had a local church demolished to build her new bordello. Milt Yarberry, the town's first marshal, was hanged for murder. And the controversial Elfego Baca, who had the gall to face Pancho Villa, survived a thirty-six-hour gunfight unscathed. Author Cody Polston presents the tales of those who slipped through the cracks of morality.

Cover image for Wicked Albuquerque, isbn: 9781467137980

Goodyear

9780738571171

$24.99

In 1916, Paul W. Litchfield, vice president of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, purchased 16,000 acres west of Phoenix to grow long staple cotton for use in the pneumatic tires the company manufactured. With this, the Southwest Cotton Company was formed. This huge undertaking required drilling wells and building power lines, roads, canals, and, of course, housing for workers. The war years brought Goodyear Aircraft, built by the U.S. Department of Defense on land leased from Southwest Cotton Company, and Litchfield Naval Air Facility. With the arrival of Goodyear Aircraft and the navy base, homes, apartments, and basic retail services sprang up. The town of Goodyear was incorporated on November 19, 1946, with a population of 1,250. Named an All-America City in 2008, Goodyear is now a thriving community of 58,000 residents and the spring training home of Major League Baseball's Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds.

Cover image for Goodyear, isbn: 9780738571171

The Houstorian Calendar

9781467139878

$21.99

September 4, 2000, was Houston’s hottest day on record, as well as Beyoncé’s nineteenth birthday. Sam Houston was elected president on September 5, 1836. The city was awarded a National League baseball franchise on October 17, 1960, and on November 1, 2017, the Astros won their first World Series. On December 13, 1882, the Capitol Hotel became Houston’s first public building to get electricity. Tragedy struck on April 16, 1947, when a ship carrying ammonium nitrate fertilizer exploded alongside a Texas City dock. James Glassman captures every single day of the year in the prism of Houston history, from the Texas Revolution to the moon landing.

Cover image for The Houstorian Calendar, isbn: 9781467139878

Austin

9780738570679

$24.99

As the capital of Texas, Austin has a long and colorful history. The first residents were nomadic Native Americans who camped here as long ago as 9000 BC because of the area's beauty, the clear Colorado River, and the wildlife. These are the very same things that attract people to Austin today. Originally called Waterloo, Austin has grown from a tiny town on the edge of the western frontier in 1839 into the capital city it is today. The University of Texas lent prestige, the state government erected buildings, the railroads came to town, and Congress Avenue--the "main street" of Texas--filled with thriving businesses.

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

Vanishing Phoenix

9780738578811

$24.99

Lord Darrell Duppa, along with his friend Jack Swilling, suggested the name "Phoenix" for the city he had cofounded because it described a city born from the ruins of a former civilization. Settled on the ancestral lands of the Hohokam Indians, Phoenix was thriving by the early 1920s when craftsmanship and attention to detail were the orders of the day. Buildings were designed to welcome residents and travelers alike. Today the Fox Theater, the Clark Churchill House, the Kon Tiki Hotel, and the Fleming Building exist only in photographs and in the memories of Phoenix residents. The National Register of Historic Places and the Phoenix Historic Property Register have heightened public awareness and appreciation for the community's historic landmarks, but much has been lost already. Remembering these buildings and landmarks is essential to understanding this remarkable city.

Port Aransas

9780738579603

$24.99

Port Aransas, known colloquially as Port A, is on Mustang Island, one of the Texas barrier islands. This community grew from the seed of El Mar Rancho, the homestead an Englishman established for his family in 1855—the name Port Aransas was adopted in 1910. The evolution of Port A includes the guiding of sport fishermen to the hard-fighting tarpon fish, bouncing back from five major hurricanes, and the development of tourism that has made the town a nationally sought out destination. Despite all of the changes that have visited Port Aransas, the pace there still conforms to island time. Indeed, a number of images in this book were selected for how they portray that unique quality of life.

Cover image for Port Aransas, isbn: 9780738579603

Apache Trail

9780738558622

$24.99

Pres. Theodore Roosevelt once referred to the Apache Trail as "one of the most spectacular best-worth-seeing sights of the world." The once narrow, ancient foot trail built as a supply road for the construction of Roosevelt Dam has now evolved into a state highway with majestic scenic vistas and historical grandeur. Even in the 1920s, the Southern Pacific Railroad touted this road as a "must-see side trip." Each year, thousands of people venture along the trail to take a step back in time and relish the breathtaking experience of this fabulous journey. The Fish Creek Hill section remains much as it was back in the early 1900s, a narrow one-vehicle passage on an extremely steep incline that drops 900 feet within a mile along the edge of a steep cliff. Although several miles of the road are now paved, dirt portions remain that allow tourists a sense of perilous adventure.

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.