Name: Los Angeles Railway
Brand: Steven J. Crise
SKU: 9781467105880
Price: 23.99 USD
Availability: InStock

Los Angeles Railway

9781467105880

$23.99

The Los Angeles Railway's Yellow Cars, a system cobbled together from numerous horse-powered lines, cable car lines, and upstart narrow-gauge trolley companies, served downtown and its environs in some iteration from 1898 to 1963. Henry Huntington assembled this conglomerate, making it functionally effective and well patronized.

Farallon Islands

9781467103978

$24.99

The Farallon Islands lie almost 30 miles outside the entrance to San Francisco Bay and are comprised of over 20 islands, islets, sea stacks, and rocks, which span a seven-mile stretch of the Pacific Ocean.

Nineteenth-century sailors called them “the Devil’s Teeth,” in reference to their extreme hazard to navigation, and hundreds of shipwrecks, disasters, drownings, and deaths have occurred here.The sixth lighthouse on the West Coast was lit on Southeast Farallon Island in 1855. Only Southeast Farallon supports historic structures, several of which are maintained for management purposes.Southeast Farallon once served as home to keepers from the Bureau of Lighthouses (1853–1939), the US Coast Guard (1939–1972), and at various times the US Navy. Today, the islands are home to millions of seabirds and five species of pinnipeds.Because of their biological importance, the islands are not open to the public. They are managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service in collaboration with Point Blue Conservation Science. Visitors can explore the islands by boat, at speeds of five miles per hour and from a distance the length of a football field for excellent viewing of globally significant wildlife populations.

Cultural anthropologist and author Marla Daily, of the Santa Cruz Island Foundation, has spent her career researching the histories of the California islands. The California Historical Society bestowed upon Daily its Distinguished Service Award for her extraordinary service and dedicated efforts in preserving California islands history.

Cover image for Farallon Islands, isbn: 9781467103978

Southern California's World War II Aircraft

9781467124461

$34.99

The cities of Los Angeles and San Diego were boomtowns during World War II. California aviation companies designed many of the greatest combat aircraft of the era, and bustling armies of women and men helped quickly churn them out by the thousands. An astounding 41 percent of all US warplanes came from California drawing boards during the war. These planes saw combat service everywhere—from the deserts of North Africa to the frozen tundra of Alaska. Southern California planes were the first to bomb Japan. They turned the tide at the Battle of Midway and dropped paratroopers behind enemy lines on D-Day. They flew tons of fuel, ammunition, and supplies over the treacherous Himalayan Mountains, relentlessly hounded enemy submarines and ships, and helped smash Nazi Germany's war-making industry with thousand plane raids.

Cover image for Southern California's World War II Aircraft, isbn: 9781467124461

Arlington

9780738555805

$24.99

The neighborhood of Arlington, located about five miles southwest of downtown Riverside, was first settled in the 1870s and was later developed as a town site in 1877 by philanthropist Samuel C. Evans and William Sayward. Citrus groves flourished in the area, providing the community with a newfound wealth. Large and gracious homes were built on wide streets lined with beautiful shade trees. Arlington's commercial district at Van Buren Boulevard and Magnolia Avenue expanded to include a bank, chamber of commerce, newspaper, store, church, boardinghouse, and post office with its own Arlington postmark, in use since 1888. In the early 1900s, an electric railway was built down the center of Magnolia Avenue ending at beautiful Chemewa Park with its large trees, dance pavilion, zoo, and polo field. Today Arlington retains much of its neighborhood feeling while undergoing a large-scale redevelopment project for a future retail and commercial district.

Cover image for Arlington, isbn: 9780738555805

The McGlincy Killings in Campbell, California

9781467138437

$21.99

On the morning of May 27, 1896, the peaceful township of Campbell awoke to shocking news. Six people were brutally murdered at the home of Colonel Richard P. McGlincy, one of the town's most respected citizens. The suspect, James Dunham—the colonel's son-in-law—fled the scene and disappeared into the hills of Mount Hamilton overlooking Santa Clara County. This heinous crime triggered a massive, nationwide manhunt while investigators pieced together the details. Author Tobin Gilman examines the mind and motives of the killer, the sensational media coverage and the colorful personalities associated with the protracted and unresolved pursuit of justice.

Cover image for The McGlincy Killings in Campbell, California, isbn: 9781467138437

California Cavalry

9781467131100

$24.99

California was home to the one of the first Native American cavalries and one of the first African American cavalries, commonly known as the Buffalo Soldiers. It was in California where the country saw the last official military cavalry in operation. California Cavalry displays the history of cavalry battalions and regiments, detailing a critical and controversial period and the eventual change from horse to mechanized technology. This book attempts to approach the topic of the cavalry in California both from indigenous and from military perspectives. Geographic regions are expanded beyond California to give context and continuity to the movement of military operations.

Cover image for California Cavalry, isbn: 9781467131100

Hakone Estate and Gardens

9781467106306

$24.99

Hakone Estate and Gardens, the jewel of the Silicon Valley, is 17 acres of landscape architecture designed as a hill-and-pond garden of ancient Japan. Visitors have unforgettable experiences at Hakone, from strolling in a bamboo forest to feeding the magnificent koi. Yet to be appreciated is Hakone's rich history, beginning in 1915, the year of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, with the purchase by San Franciscans Oliver and Isabel Stine of a parcel of land in Saratoga, California. After Oliver's unexpected death in 1918, Isabel carried on with the creation of her Japanese garden, defying anti-Asian nativism. The next owner, Maj. Charles Tilden, protected Hakone during World War II when the Japanese gardener and his family were sent to an internment camp. The last private owners, six couples in partnership, sold Hakone to the City of Saratoga in 1966. The city established the Hakone Foundation in 2000 to conserve and enhance the gardens for the benefit of the public and to serve as a global forum for art, music, culture, and ideas.

Early Mendocino Coast

9780738559469

$24.99

Driving Highway 1 along the Mendocino coast is a scenic adventure that draws thousands of visitors every year. Following the coast from Gualala on the south to Needle Rock in the north can be a challenge and features back-road driving. But imagine 100 years ago. Were there roads then too? How did people move along the coast? And what were they doing? Why did they settle here? Forget the Gold Rush and the forty-niners—timber was king here. Logging, milling, and shipping wood was the focus of the economy. Railcars steamed through the forests, and ships pulled up to rickety landings to load shipments for faraway places. Today some coast views remain the same, while others have changed dramatically, and whole towns have vanished over the century.

Cover image for Early Mendocino Coast, isbn: 9780738559469

Project Quick Find

9780738503547

$21.99

Project Quick Find is the true story of sea lions trained to help U.S. Navy SEALs. Begun in Hawaii in the late 1960s, the project recruited trainers in Coronado, California, to successfully teach the animals to recover objects from the ocean floor. The program eventually received official navy certification, expanded its scope and evolved its mission. Author, photojournalist and former Navy SEAL Michael P. Wood documented the program in the 1970s and presents this fascinating look at the bond between man and beast.

Cover image for Project Quick Find, isbn: 9780738503547

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.

Richmond

9781467161930

$24.99

Founded in 1905, Richmond, California, boasts 32 miles of shoreline and is centrally located within the San Francisco Bay Area. From a nationally registered historic district to its critical role in World War II, Richmond fits the quintessential historic bill—both on land and at sea.

Enjoy this glimpse into a past that is still very present courtesy of two native Richmond daughters, Desiree Heveroh and Victoria Stuhr, with images from Richmond Museum of History & Culture, Point Richmond History Association, and the Richmond Public Library.

Cover image for Richmond, isbn: 9781467161930

Mount Lowe Railway

9780738588797

$24.99

Since Mount Lowe Railway's abandonment in 1936, millions of hikers, mountain bikers, and railfans have followed the long-deserted rail beds to glimpse the scenic grandeur of what was once the "Earth's Grandest Mountain Ride." Now, readers can enjoy local history and fabulous vistas without the effort of a day's hike.

San Diego Baseball Fantography

9781467131698

$24.99

No sport provides a better opportunity to document the fan experience than baseball. Fantography: San Diego Baseball features amateur photographs taken by real fans—ballpark memories that often reach beyond the game-winning hit or strikeout pitch. Within these pages is an assortment of images that peers into the Padres' Pacific Coast League days, the early years of struggling in the National League, the 1984 World Series season, and its recent years. Featured are household names like Tony Gwynn, Jerry Coleman, and Trevor Hoffman, as well as more forgotten players, managers, broadcasters, and ballparks. These are your snapshots, and they are from your personal albums. These images are accompanied by many Padres stories—your stories—that have never before seen print.

Cover image for San Diego Baseball Fantography, isbn: 9781467131698

Los Olivos

9780738556192

$24.99

Los Olivos was named for central Santa Barbara County wine country's other small fruit. The local fascination for vineyards is fairly new, but Los Olivos has thrived as a community since not long after Native American days. Los Olivos grew important enough to local trade and travel to become the inland terminus of the narrow-gauge Pacific Coast Railway, which zigzagged southeasterly from Avila Beach. The town was platted in 1887 by the West Coast Land Company and the railroad's owners. The dry-farming of grain and cattle ranches eventually drove the local economy in the surrounding Santa Ynez River Valley. Today Los Olivos thrives as a way station and gateway for tourists enjoying the beauty of the valley, the Santa Ynez Mountains, Los Padres National Forest, and nearby attractions, including the Mission Santa Ines, wineries, Solvang, and Santa Barbara.

Bay Point

9780738529073

$24.99

To many commuters driving past Bay Point on nearby Highway 4, it would appear that the community sprang up as a housing development sometime in the very recent past, but its unique history is much more than that. During the frontier days, the area was comprised of ranchers and farmers. The large 19th-century district sprouted smaller neighborhoods at the beginning of the 20th century. Nearby the communities of Clyde, Nichols, and later West Pittsburg, the main town was Bay Point, which changed its name to Port Chicago during the Great Depression. In fact, it wasn't until 1993 that the historic name was restored to part of the original district. Today, Bay Point is a residential and business destination, home to tens of thousands of people, as well as high-profile corporations.

Cover image for Bay Point, isbn: 9780738529073

Annapolis and the Gualala River

9780738581149

$24.99

Annapolis--a hidden jewel of a community--is tucked into the timber-filled ridges above the jagged northern Sonoma coastline. Undeterred by the steep, mountainous terrain and rugged living, early settlers were first lured to the area by the timber. They quickly discovered Annapolis had perfect weather for apple farming. At the beginning of the 20th century, almost every farm had apples, and apple dryers dotted the hills. The wild Gualala River, known for Coho salmon and steelhead trout, is 32 miles long and flows through the Annapolis area before meeting the Pacific Ocean. Early Native American Pomo tribes settled along this important river, which eventually served as a boundary between Sonoma and Mendocino Counties.

San Anselmo

9780738596891

$24.99

San Anselmo has been a crossroads if not a center of activity from the days when the Coast Miwok inhabited the valley and fished the fresh waters of the creek. Red Hill, a town landmark, was the meeting point of three 1840s Mexican land grants. The rancho days had come to an end by 1875, when the North Pacific Coast Railroad completed its line, with its tracks branching east and west at San Anselmo. Railroad officials encouraged real estate activity, but it was not until the San Francisco Theological Seminary was completed in 1892 that the town began to grow. Incorporation followed in 1907, after refugees from the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire built permanent homes. The population grew in the years following World War II, but San Anselmo has remained a small, family town.

Prohibition in the Napa Valley

9781626190894

$21.99

To a region flush with the success of alcohol, Prohibition was a sobering thought. Against the backdrop of national events, author Lin Weber introduces a cast of Napa Valley's leading citizens, embroiled in a fight for their livelihood with temperance champions and federal agents. Theodore Bell filed a Hail Mary suit to stop California's ratification of the Eighteenth Amendment. Vintner Georges de Latour made money hand over fist on altar wine. The Nichelini winery hid a cache of contraband under the floorboards, and the Blaufuss Brewery avoided prosecution when the law turned a blind eye. Join Weber as she relates a wry tale of cherished vines, widespread corruption and alcohol-inspired mayhem during a time when morality tightened the noose around Napa's prized alcohol industry.

Cover image for Prohibition in the Napa Valley, isbn: 9781626190894

Niles Canyon Railways

9780738529837

$24.99

All aboard for this photographic journey through the unique railroad history of Niles Canyon, near the city of Fremont. The melodic wail of the steam whistle first echoed off these canyon walls in 1866 when the Western Pacific Railroad laid track into Niles as part of a planned route from San Jose to Sacramento. That was three years before the transcontinental route from Sacramento to Omaha was completed in May 1869. Four months after the driving of the Golden Spike that joined the eastern and western United States by rail, the connecting route from Sacramento to Oakland through Niles Canyon was finished--the very last leg of a rail route that truly joined the Atlantic to the Pacific waters for the first time.

Cover image for Niles Canyon Railways, isbn: 9780738529837

Furnace Creek Resort

9781467134705

$24.99

Since opening on February 1, 1927, with just 12 guest rooms, Furnace Creek Resort has achieved preeminence among US National Park lodges and hotels. Conceived by the Pacific Coast Borax Company in 1926, the inn was the answer to the declining mining industry, which had left the Death Valley Railroad with nothing to haul. The construction of Furnace Creek Inn helped to shift Death Valley's draw from mining to tourism, bringing a new industry to the Old West. Steeped in history and tradition, the inn and the ranch have become as much a destination as the park itself. With naturally heated swimming pools, the world's lowest golf course, four-diamond hospitality, and surroundings of unsurpassed natural beauty, Furnace Creek offers experiences that are long remembered by its guests.

Salinas

9781467130028

$24.99

Salinas is named for the broad saltwater slough that once seeped in from Monterey Bay, saturating the plain between the Sierra de Salinas and the Gavilan Mountains. Originally used for cattle, a town developed from a stage stop after the Gold Rush, and the land was drained and used for grains, potatoes, sugar beets, and other crops. After World War I, irrigation permitted the growing of lettuce, broccoli, and other row crops. Salinas became known as the "Salad Bowl of the World" and one of the wealthiest cities in the United States.

Oakland and Surroundings

9780738594729

$21.99

We have aimed to furnish in convenient form for distribution a selection of some of the most important features of Oakland and its surroundings, as represented in its scenery as well as public and private buildings, which of themselves are monuments to the taste and prosperity of our citizens. To these have been added descriptive articles selected from a variety of sources. Our object has not been to tell a glowing story, but simply to give facts in an interesting manner; to furnish residents with such a description of Oakland and surroundings as they can conscientiously send to friends; to put something in the hands of tourists, and especially to afford reliable and satisfactory information to those who are longing to make a home where they can find health and comfort amid sunshine, fruit, and flowers. The lithograph illustrations are all made from nature, not from photographs. The views cover a great variety of subjects and are of all grades and qualities of workmanship, and all were executed by the publisher at his lithographing establishment in Oakland. The views represent different kinds of artistic work: soft, fine lithograph, crayon etchings, zincographs, wood-cuts, photo-engraving, heliotype, and other processes.

Cover image for Oakland and Surroundings, isbn: 9780738594729

The Napa River

9780738595047

$24.99

During the mid-1800s, the Napa River brought people to Napa City from around the world, attracted by the beauty and bounty of the valley. Riverboat captains played a major role in creating the material wealth of the city as their vessels plied the waters of San Francisco Bay carrying freight and passengers. As the powerhouse of industry, the river attracted several tanneries that needed water to make the now famous "Nappa" leather. Napa became a leather colony with the growth of shoe, glove, and glue factories. The river became a key transportation artery, and its channel became the focus of greater dredging to allow larger ships to anchor downtown. No longer a natural river able to meander, it frequently overran its banks, flooding towns. Industry, agricultural runoff, and population growth caused the Napa River to become polluted and neglected into the 20th century. Today, the Napa River is the centerpiece of downtown renewal. A "Living River" strategy is bringing back its vitality along with fish and wildlife populations, helping the river to regain its importance.

Point Sur

9780738520940

$24.99

Point Sur Lightstation was carved out of solid volcanic rock more than a century ago. When the light was turned on in 1889, no towns or roads were nearby to support the four families that lived atop the giant "moro" rock located just offshore in Big Sur, California. These vintage images tell the story of Pt. Sur Lightstation with its state-of-the-art lighthouse and fog signal system, and the lightkeepers and their families who kept it operating until 1974. The remote location and treacherous coast were constant adversaries. Today, Pt. Sur's lighthouse is automated. The vacant lightstation buildings are a ghost town that reminds us of our proud maritime heritage and the hearty souls who helped light the way.

Cover image for Point Sur, isbn: 9780738520940

Jack London State Historic Park

9781467132626

$24.99

Famed novelist Jack London became America's highest-paid author in 1905, writing about adventures in the Klondike and the Russo-Japanese War and about sailing his self-designed boat halfway around the world. Yet perhaps one of London's finest legacies is his 1,400-acre ranch on the slopes of Sonoma Mountain in California. Sometimes called Beauty Ranch or the Ranch of Good Intentions, the land, buildings, and house museums exemplify both early-20th-century life and London's passionate pioneering efforts in agriculture and architecture. Descendants of Eliza Shepard (London's stepsister and ranch manager) operated the ranch for decades. In 1959, Irving Shepard deeded 39 acres to California to create Jack London State Historic Park. Eventually, 1,400 acres were acquired. Today, more than 80,000 visitors annually enjoy the park, hiking, picnicking, horseback riding, and attending events and touring London's home, gravesite, and farm buildings.

St. George Reef Lighthouse

9781467133173

$24.99

Situated at the end of a reef six miles offshore of Crescent City, California, stands St. George Reef Lighthouse. Constructed after the wreck of the coastal steamer Brother Jonathan in 1865, the beacon warned mariners of the dreaded "Dragon Rocks" of St. George Reef for nearly a century. This book chronicles the loss of the Jonathan, decades of efforts to make the light a reality, the 10-year construction period, manning of the station by keepers of the US Lighthouse Service and Coast Guard, and the struggles and accomplishments of dedicated volunteers to restore what many lighthouse historians refer to as "America's greatest lighthouse."

University of San Francisco

9781467133074

$24.99

The University of San Francisco began in 1855 as a one-room schoolhouse named St. Ignatius Academy. Its founding is interwoven with the establishment of the Jesuit Order in California, European immigration to the western United States, and the population growth of California and San Francisco as a result of the California Gold Rush. For 159 years, the University of San Francisco has enriched the lives of thousands of people. The institution has graduated students who went on to become leaders in government, education, business, journalism, sports, the sciences, and the legal and medical professions. Among its alumni, the university counts three San Francisco mayors, a US senator, four California Supreme Court justices, a California lieutenant governor, two Pulitzer Prize winners, three Olympic medalists, several professional athletes, and the former president of Peru.

Fort MacArthur

9780738530857

$24.99

Fort MacArthur, in San Pedro, became the Army's major regional induction center after Pearl Harbor, processing over three-quarters of a million soldiers into World War II. Named for Lt. Gen. Arthur MacArthur, a Civil War hero, military visionary, and father of Gen. Douglas MacArthur, "Fort Mac" began as a remote military reservation in 1888, was a full-fledged Coast Defense fort by 1923, a blur of GI activity as a portal to all theaters during World War II, a reserve base in 1946, a Nike missile installation in 1954, and again a military reserve base in 1976 following the Vietnam War. The base also played an important role in transforming San Pedro into the Port of Los Angeles, in implementing changes in military technology, in racial integration of the Army in the late 1930s, and in labor history as its soldiers became strikebreakers in the tense early days of the Second World War. The fort's museum, comprising 20 acres above the harbor, is a lasting reminder of the 20th century's vital West Coast national defense facilities.

Culver City

9780738528939

$24.99

Part Mayberry and part Peyton Place, Culver City has provided the backdrop for Gone with the Wind, Citizen Kane, The Wizard of Oz, Men In Black, Jerry Maguire, "The Andy Griffith Show," "Batman," "Lassie," and the films of Laurel & Hardy. Gwen Verdon grew up here, and so did The Little Rascals. Gene Kelly sang in the rain. Harrison Ford commanded Air Force One. But before glitz and glamour set up shop, the open fields of Culver City were peacefully inhabited by the Gabrielino Indians. Spanish grazing grants of 1819 set the stage for development, and in 1913, Harry Culver announced his ambition to found a city. Two years later, Thomas Ince broke ground on Culver City's first major studio. A star was born. Images of America: Culver City guides you on a VIP back lot tour of a movie town's pioneering moments.

Huntington Beach Lifeguards

9780738556055

$24.99

The Surf City USA® lifeguards and marine safety officers protect and serve one of the busiest and most famous beaches in the world. World-class surfing events, volleyball tournaments, and other activities transform Huntington Beach's waterfront into a sea of humanity regularly each summer. The lifeguards patrol three and a half miles of beautiful wide, sandy Orange County shores, which can draw more than 10 million annual visitors, necessitating as many as 3,000 rescues. The ultimate lifeguard sentinel and guardian is the iconic structure on the HB Municipal Pier called Tower Zero, known as The Eye in the Sky, from which lifeguards can see for miles. These vintage photographs include shots of the pier, beach, junior lifeguard activities, competitions, and neighboring Huntington State Beach. Thousands of people and families owe gratitude to the lifeguards of Huntington Beach for nearly a century of vigilance, dedication, and service.

Cover image for Huntington Beach Lifeguards, isbn: 9780738556055

Sports of Santa Cruz County

9781467130073

$24.99

Its inviting climate, enticing rugged mountains, and welcoming beaches have always made Santa Cruz County a haven for athletic activities. A wide variety of sporting endeavors, some beyond the norm, have called Santa Cruz home over the decades. In the 19th century, Santa Cruz served as a springboard for modern surfing. It was an early bastion for organized baseball, too, beginning in the 1860s, and it was home to a series of professional teams as early as the 1870s. Other colorful athletic activities took place here (including fire hose teams, long-distance walking, and bicycling), along with more traditional American sports like basketball, football, boxing, and tennis. The region boasts of a strong tradition of women athletes as well, in particular Marion Hollins, perhaps the greatest all-around woman athlete of the early 20th century.

Cover image for Sports of Santa Cruz County, isbn: 9781467130073

Davis California 1910s-1940s

9780738501512

$24.99

Founded in 1868, Davis''s history is divided into an
initial '"village'" period (1860s'-1900s), a middle
four-decade '"town'" period (1910s'-1940s), and a
current and on-going '"city'" period (1950s to present). Much of what people think of as quintessential '"Davis'" was created in the middle, town period. About 1910 and with the start of the University of California experimental farm, Davis began to grow and become a striving and thriving town. Focusing on the four decades of the 1910s to the 1940s, this book contains over two hundred images of Davis, including downtown streetscapes and businesses, public events and gatherings, prominent families and homes, churches, government, the Old East, Old North, and College Park neighborhoods, schools, and the University Farm.

Plumas County:

9780738524092

$24.99

The expansive national forests, craggy canyons, sparkling waterways, and downy meadows of Plumas County lie along the union of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Mountain ranges in northeastern California. Native home to the Maidu tribes and settled by Euro-American gold seekers, Plumas County evolved as an industrial fulcrum of the Feather River watershed and is a treasured reminder of the strength of the pioneering spirit.

Scotia and Rio Dell

9781467133166

$24.99

On the banks of the Eel River, amongst Northern California's towering redwood forests, lie the towns of Scotia and Rio Dell. Their histories inseparably intertwined, these two towns formed a larger community supporting the needs of local settlers and industry. Scotia, constructed by the Pacific Lumber Company in the 1880s, stands as a pristine example of the once-prevalent company town in America. The small farming community of Rio Dell flourished along with its sister city and grew to accommodate the needs of an expanding workforce in Humboldt's redwood lumber industry. Where Scotia was orderly and tightly controlled by Pacific Lumber Co. management, Rio Dell developed a reputation for its remote setting, rowdy lumbermen, and bootlegged whiskey.

Historic Bay Area Visionaries

9781467139069

$23.99

For centuries, California's environment has nurtured remarkable people. Ohlone Lope Inigo found a way to protect his family in troubled times on the shores of San Francisco Bay. Pioneer Juana Briones made a fortune from her rancho yet took the time to care for those in need. Innovator Thomas Foon Chew discovered a climate for success, in spite of the obstacles. Around the region that became Silicon Valley, filmmaker Charlie Chaplin found inspiration, poet Robert Louis Stevenson uncovered adventure and Sarah Winchester built a house that would intrigue people long after she was gone. Author Robin Chapman shares fascinating tales of those who exemplify the enterprising spirit of the Golden State.

Cover image for Historic Bay Area Visionaries, isbn: 9781467139069

Mexicans in San José

9780738569307

$24.99

Since the founding of California's El Pueblo de San José de Guadalupe in 1777, people of Mexican ancestry have contributed to make San José a rich cultural, political, and economic epicenter. Mexican miners who worked in the local mines helped San José become one of the top mercury producers in the world. In the 20th century, Mexicans labored in the "Valley of Heart's Delight," as the Santa Clara Valley region was called, picking, canning, drying, and packaging fruits and vegetables for America's dinner table. They paid homage to their cultural heritage as they formed ballet folklórico groups, established mariachi bands, painted murals, and wrote literature. Through grassroots organizing and collective action, countless heroines and heroes, such as labor leader Cesar Chavez, dedicated their lives to improving conditions in their neighborhoods and communities. In 1999, the City of San José acknowledged the contributions of Mexicans with the grand opening of the Mexican Heritage Plaza, a cultural center for the performing arts.

Cover image for Mexicans in San José, isbn: 9780738569307

Central Coast Motor Sports

9781467126335

$24.99

From action-packed Model T racing in the 1930s to exotic sports car racing during the 1950s and 1960s, Images of America: Central Coast Motor Sports reveals the colorful history of motor sports and hot rodding in Central California. Sam Foose, one of the pioneers of West Coast car customizing, created several designs that led to fame, while locals raced at the world-famous Bonneville Salt Flats and joined the exclusive 200 MPH Club. Don Edwards entered the exciting world of drag boat and hydrofoil racing and became one of the most successful drag boat racers of the 1960s. This collection of historic images spotlights the many drag strips, racetracks, car clubs, and personalities in the region during racing's golden age. It also features some of the coolest hot rods, customs, dragsters, lake racers, sports cars, formula racers, sprint cars, jalopies, off-road vehicles, and motorcycles around.

Wheatland

9780738569772

$24.99

Against the backdrop of this western town, a number of dramatic historic events took place. While California was still Mexican territory, William Johnson purchased at auction the Mexican land grant formerly belonging to Pablo Gutierrez. Johnson's Rancho, as it came to be called, was the last stop on the Emigrant Trail to Sutter's Fort in Sacramento. Seven members of the ill-fated Donner Party staggered into this ranch in 1847, seeking help for those left in the snowbound Sierra Nevada Mountains. Camp Far West was established here in 1849 as a military outpost to protect wagon trains heading into California, and when the state entered the Union in 1850, the area had become the logistic gateway to the Sierra foothill gold mines. Ultimately carved from Johnson's Rancho and incorporated in 1874, Wheatland became known for its agriculture and as a supply center to the mines, as well as being the site of the bloody 1913 Hop Riot, the first major migrant-worker labor confrontation in California.

Colma

9780738547275

$24.99

The official slogan of this quaint and curious town proclaims, "It's great to be alive in Colma!" In no other city in the United States would such a slogan have the meaning that it does here. Colma, only 2.25 square miles, has 1,500 living residents but more than a thousand times that in its deceased population. Seventeen cemeteries cover 75 percent of Colma's land. There is, however, more to Colma--formerly named Lawndale--than its cemeteries and monuments. A vibrant community, it boasts a rich history, including agricultural and business history, sports teams, schools, a theatre, and drayage businesses. Together, these components comprise a unique and important town and a critical part of San Mateo County's heritage.

Beach Mexican

9781609496616

$21.99

Alex Moreno Areyan's odyssey of growing up Latino in white upper-middle-class Redondo Beach in the 1950s presents a story of assimilation different from that experienced by Mexican Americans in larger barrios. His annual white lie" to classmates was that his father got a job up north and the family was moving. They moved, all right--in a 1941 Plymouth with the harvest. In Marysville, Meridian and Mendota, they lived in tents and cars, under trucks and in corrugated tin hovels while picking cotton, tomatoes, peaches, walnuts and plums. The kid once threatened with permanent expulsion from Redondo Union High for speaking Spanish on campus eventually received a plaque from the City of Redondo Beach for writing the Mexican American history of the city. "Beach Mexican" proves the journey wasn't easy."

Italians of the Monterey Peninsula

9781467133067

$24.99

Since the early 1900s, Monterey was known for its fishing, mostly for salmon and the abalone that was plentiful in Monterey Bay. The migration of the Sicilian Italian community is credited for reaping what was called the Silver Harvest. The Silver Harvest is the name that was given to the fishing of sardines in Monterey, which mostly was done by the Sicilian Italians who established the working fabric in the sardine industry for nearly five decades. Most of that generation is gone, and only a few are memorialized in books. It is this author's attempt to capture the working class that made Monterey the Sardine Capital of the World.

Cleveland National Forest

9780738558042

$24.99

On July 1, 1908, Pres. Theodore Roosevelt created the U.S. Forest Service's Cleveland National Forest. Named for pro-forest Pres. Grover Cleveland--and currently including over 460,000 acres in the mountainous backcountry of San Diego, Orange, and southwestern Riverside Counties--the Cleveland is one of the largest and oldest land-management agencies in the three-county region. During the last century, the dedicated men and women of the Cleveland have worked to establish the administrative systems, build necessary facilities and infrastructure, manage use and users, conserve resources, and protect the forest from the endemic and sometimes large and deadly wildfires, such as the infamous and destructive 2003 Cedar Fire and the October 2007 Southern California firestorms. Today the Cleveland National Forest continues to be a major tourist and outdoor recreation destination for hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, as well as for millions of Southern California residents.

San Francisco Police Department

9780738528984

$24.99

The officers of the San Francisco Police Department would be the first to tell you that police work in this city is nothing like Dirty Harry, The Streets of San Francisco, or Nash Bridges. It's a gritty reality, occasionally infused with glamour, but always characterized by the innovation and unusual proceedings found as a matter of course in this unique city. The department was established in 1849, when the population surge from the Gold Rush created a desperate need for law enforcement. An initial 35-member force was formed to protect over 20,000 residents. Since then, the SFPD has presided over notorious events, including the case of the Zodiac Killer, Zebra Murders, the Patty Hearst Hibernia Bank robbery, the 1975 assassination attempt on President Gerald Ford, and the Golden Dragon Restaurant and 101 California Street Massacres. While the SFPD story includes a gruesome and sometimes scandalous past, its dedicated officers continue to provide a positive and invaluable service to the diverse metropolitan community of San Francisco.

California Vines, Wines and Pioneers

9781609498849

$21.99

Grab your glass and take to the wine trail with food genealogist Sherry Monahan as she traces the roots of California's Vines, Wines & Pioneers." While cowboys and early settlers were writing the oft-told history of the Wild West, California's wine pioneers were cultivating a delicious industry. The story begins when Franciscan missionaries planted the first grapes in Southern California in 1769. Almost a century later, news of gold drew thirsty prospectors and European immigrants to California's promise of wealth. From Old World vines sprang a robust and varied tradition of wine cultivation that overcame threats of pests and Prohibition to win global prestige. Journey with Monahan as she uncorks this vintage history and savors the stories of California's historic wineries and vineyards."

Sacramento

9780738559001

$24.99

California's capital city, Sacramento, has played many roles over time, including Gold Rush boomtown, railroad terminus, regional industrial center, and seat of state government. These varied roles meant dramatic changes as the city grew outward and upward.

Pasadena in Vintage Postcards

9780738508191

$24.99

The postcard has been a popular part of American communication for over a century, documenting both the interest of a place and its history. Captured here in nearly 200 vintage postcards is the unique history of this California town, translated in Chippewa as Crown of the Valley. The City of Pasadena, just north of Los Angeles, sits against the majesty of the Sierra Madre mountain range. Incorporated in 1885, the city was originally known as a resort city, filled with tourists from all over the world. Showcased here through the use of the author's personal postcard collection are vintage images of Millionaires Row, the Tournament of the Roses Parade, the Mt. Lowe Railway, and the Alpine Tavern.

Cover image for Pasadena in Vintage Postcards, isbn: 9780738508191

Corona

9780738546728

$24.99

More lemons once were shipped from Corona than anywhere on Earth, as a dozen citrus packing houses were located along the railroad tracks in this rural Riverside County enclave known for its circular boulevard and hard-working inhabitants. The postcards collected for this trip down Corona's memory lane reflect its six decades of citrus-industry dominance and portray the past in street scenes, commerce, ranches, schools, churches, homes, and the outlying resorts of Glen Ivy and the Norconian Club. The Corona Road Races-spectacular national affairs in 1913, 1914, and 1916-are also depicted.

Cabrillo Beach Coastal Park

9780738571898

$24.99

Located on the edge of one of the largest and busiest ports in the world, the Cabrillo Beach Coastal Park is comprised of several seashore habitats found in Southern California. All are within easy walking distance of each other near the main channel of the Port of Los Angeles. They include a windswept beach and a protected harbor beach separated by one of the largest breakwaters in the world, as well as tide pools, a fishing pier, a man-made mudflat, and coastal cliffs that provide living spaces for coastal marine organisms. The combination of natural and man-made habitats here bordering the San Pedro neighborhood of the huge metropolis of Los Angeles makes this an unusual environment, representative of an urban ocean.

Cold War California

9781467170208

$24.99

In Defense of Democracy

The focal point of western defense against Soviet aggression during the Cold War, California proved instrumental in preventing a Third World War during the twentieth century. The state’s major military presence on land, air, and sea diverged with a peaceful counterpart that created the United Nations in San Francisco in 1946.

Muroc Field, the future Edward Air Force Base, was the site of Chuck Yeager’s feat breaking the sound barrier in 1947, and Lockheed Skunkworks produced the top-secret high-tech U2 Dragon Lady and SR-71 in Southern California. Cold War presidents, stalwarts Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan, both hailed from the Golden State. Billionaire Howard Hughes, who made his mark in aviation and the movies, provided cover for the Glomar Explorer mission to recover a sunken Soviet submarine in the Pacific.

Hollywood was a two-sided coin, supporting both pro-American movie messaging and becoming a flash point for government investigations into Communist sympathies.

Cold War historians Francis Gary Powers Jr., Christopher Sturdevant, and Franky Ortega delve into California’s role in winning the Cold War.

Cover image for Cold War California, isbn: 9781467170208

Corona

9780738593135

$24.99

Corona's circular boulevard gave rise to its nickname, The Circle City. The community hosted three world-class road races on its roadway-racetrack, Grand Boulevard, and became known as the Lemon Capital of the World with more than 11,000 acres of citrus crops. Then & Now: Corona shows the city's amazing transformation from a rural, agricultural enclave to a cosmopolitan, suburban community.

Cover image for Corona, isbn: 9780738593135

Theodore Roosevelt in California

9781467171120

$24.99

"There can be no greater issue than that of conservation in this country." —Theodore Roosevelt

In 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt embarked on one of the most audacious journeys in presidential history: the epic “Great Loop Tour.” This daring nine-week, fourteen-thousand-mile train trek across twenty-five states transformed the landscape of American conservation.

At the heart of this monumental trip lies a legendary three-night camping expedition through Yosemite alongside renowned naturalist John Muir. This profound experience would help spark the creation of the national park system and the preservation of many of America’s wild spaces for future generations.

Roosevelt’s tour broke other boundaries along the way, including the presence of courageous African American Buffalo Soldiers who not only protected the president but also became the first guardians of our national parks.

The remarkable connections between Roosevelt, Yosemite, and President Abraham Lincoln, along with many other fascinating characters, helped shape the modern conservation movement for decades to come.

In this revised and expanded edition, author Chris Epting explores one of the most impactful presidential journeys in American history and the forging of our national parks.

Cover image for Theodore Roosevelt in California, isbn: 9781467171120

Los Gatos Remembered

9781467162814

$24.99

The area now known as Los Gatos dates to time out of memory, when Ohlone Indians settled in a favored locality, rich in natural beauty and resources.

From El Rancho de Los Gatos, the Mexican land grant of 1839, to 1854 when James Alexander Forbes built his flour mill, and to the era of the Valley of Heart’s Delight, an orchardist’s paradise, history has been recorded, and photographs still survive. The railroad arrived in 1877 and put Los Gatos on the map. The town burned down twice, in 1891 and 1901, but was rebuilt by residents who took pride in the matchless small town they called home. In the 1920s, Los Gatos attracted writers, painters, poets, and other assorted creative folk. The population expanded rapidly after World War II, and the orchards disappeared, replaced by homes and businesses. The October 17, 1989, Loma Prieta Earthquake devastated the town, with old unreinforced masonry buildings on Main Street and North Santa Cruz Avenue collapsing and at least 400 homes, including stately restored Victorians, damaged. Images of America: Los Gatos Remembered showcases the memories and history of this picturesque area of California.

Peggy Conaway Bergtold, MA, MLS, retired director of the Los Gatos Public Library, has gathered together photographs from many sources to help preserve the community’s collective memory.

Cover image for Los Gatos Remembered, isbn: 9781467162814

Concord after World War II

9781467162258

$24.99

From the largest explosion in human history to the infamous Port Chicago Mutiny trial, Concord After World War II captures pivotal moments in California's history.

Explosive growth after the war made Concord a popular stop for presidents, celebrities, and musical events. A small town of about 1,500 people in the 1940s now is home to more than 120,000. Jazz musician Dave Brubeck was born here, and the internationally acclaimed Concord Blue Devils still perform here. The 1960s saw the birth of the annual Concord Jazz Festival and Concord Jazz Records. Concord became sister cities with Kitakami, Japan, in the 1970s. The controversial Spirit Poles were erected in the 1980s, and De La Salle High School’s unbelievable 151-game football winning streak began in the 1990s.

Area native Joel A. Harris is the author of Images of America: Concord and Past & Present: Concord. He is a state bar certified specialist in estate planning, trust, and probate law. Harris is a board member of the Concord Historical Society, who provided many of the outstanding images presented in this book. Other wonderful photographs are provided courtesy of the Contra Costa County Historical Society and local residents.

Cover image for Concord after World War II, isbn: 9781467162258

Danville

9781467156783

$24.99

Set in the middle of a lush California valley, Danville, in the last century, has grown from an agrarian hamlet to a bustling town.

On land that once belonged to Native peoples whose lives were upended by Spanish conquest, pioneers came for the Gold Rush and stayed for the fertile land. Farms and ranches took root, and a community arose. The Danville Grange No. 85, Patrons of Husbandry, promoted better farming practices and spurred on the founding of the town’s first library. Nobel Prize–winning playwright Eugene O’Neill called Danville home when he wrote his final, great plays, including Long Day’s Journey into Night, twenty years before a brand-new freeway led the charge into the modern era.

Join local author Beverly Lane as she shares gems from Danville’s past.

Cover image for Danville, isbn: 9781467156783

Rancho Los Cerritos

9781467170987

$24.99

Once a twenty-seven-thousand-acre parcel named for the hills it features, Rancho Los Cerritos is a place where the past meets the present and provides a fascinating glimpse into California’s history.

Home of the Gabrielino-Tongva for more than five thousand years, the land was claimed and colonized by Spain and then Mexico before it became part of the United States. New Englander John Temple, together with his wife, Rafaela Cota, bought the land in the early 1800s. Through a workforce of Indigenous laborers, he built a unique two-story adobe to be the headquarters of a large-scale cattle ranch, propelling Temple and Rancho Los Cerritos to the forefront of Southern California’s prosperity.

Over the next two centuries, the Rancho adobe was home to gold rush miners, Mexican vaqueros, Chinese cooks, and more. These intrepid individuals persisted through feasts and famine, floods, droughts, and even war. Today, the adobe houses a historic museum and connects visitors to those who left an indelible mark on the region.

Join Dr. Leslie Reese as she shares the stories of the people who called Rancho Los Cerritos home.

Cover image for Rancho Los Cerritos, isbn: 9781467170987

Ventura

9780738571553

$24.99

The county seat of Ventura County traces its history back to 1782 and the founding of Mission San Buenaventura. The "City of Good Fortune" incorporated in 1866 and today numbers more than 110,000 residents.

Laguna Beach

9780738599601

$24.99

Everyone loves Laguna Beach; at least authors Foster J. Eubank and Gene Felder do, as well as everyone they know. It has long been an art colony, as indicated by city signs that read Home of the Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters. The city's 23,000 residents work to protect its small-town atmosphere. Laguna Beach is now surrounded by 22,000 acres of protected natural open space that was originally part of Mexican land grants.

Cover image for Laguna Beach, isbn: 9780738599601

Redwood City

9780738580388

$24.99

Located midway on the San Francisco Peninsula, Redwood City's outstanding weather begat the motto, Climate Best by Government Test. Once a Mexican rancho, Redwood City became the port for exporting timber from the coastal mountains and later the San Mateo County seat. Through a series of contrasting vintage and modern images, this book shows the city's amazing transformation. The Veronicos and the McGoverns, who previously authored Images of America: Redwood City, tapped various public and private photo sources for this work.

Cover image for Redwood City, isbn: 9780738580388

Central and Southern California Lima Beans

9781467162562

$24.99

Lima beans have been a part of the central and southern landscape of California for over 150 years. Farmers realized the coast offered fertile soil and the natural moisture of coastal fog, and only a minimal workforce was needed until harvesting.

Robert McAllister’s chance encounter with a ship from Lima, Peru, off the coast of Carpinteria led to a small quantity of beans being planted, and they prospered. By the 1880s, the beans were introduced in Ventura County, and Orange County followed. San Bernardino, Los Angeles, and San Diego all tried their hand at the dry farming crop, as did the farmers in Lompoc, Santa Maria, and Monterey County. California became the largest lima bean producer in the world. While other crops and city encroachment have replaced the vast acreage of lima beans, parts of the Oxnard Plain, Lompoc, Monterey, Costa Mesa, and other scattered fields continue the tradition.

Jeffrey Wayne Maulhardt is a fifth-generation descendant of two lima bean–farming families, the Maulhardts and Borchards. He has written 17 local history books, including his last book, Ventura County Lima Beans: A History. To expand on the central and southern sections of California, Maulhardt traveled the state to showcase the photographic history of the lima bean.

Cover image for Central and Southern California Lima Beans, isbn: 9781467162562

Chula Vista

9780738580166

$24.99

After many decades of being an agricultural community and lemon capital, an aircraft-parts manufacturer moved to Chula Vista. In 1940, Rohr Aircraft Corporation arrived and, due to the demand for workers and housing for them, the agricultural town was on its way to becoming a bedroom community. The city grew rapidly due to the development of a large ranch and the construction of 25,000 homes.

Davis

9781467115780

$24.99

Davis has undergone a major transformation from the mid-20th century to today, growing from a small college town of about 3,000 residents and 1,500 students to a world-class university city of 80,000 area residents and 35,000 students. Major features of this revolution include the creation of a vibrant downtown, environmentally sensitive politics, diverse and innovative neighborhoods, and a citywide system of bike lanes. A thriving University of California at Davis campus was the economic dynamo that attracted talented students and faculty. Their environmentalist values spurred innovations in solar energy, waste recycling, bicycle infrastructure, subsidized public transit, energy-saving construction, and farm-to-fork localization of food supplies, among other new civic directions that remain an essential part of the city's culture today.

Cover image for Davis, isbn: 9781467115780

The Crescenta Valley

9780738580791

$24.99

Despite being within the Los Angeles metropolitan area, the Crescenta Valley manages to retain its small town flavor due to its geography--a small valley nestled between two mountain ranges--and the people who prefer this way of life. The community is marked not only by what has changed, but more importantly, by what has not.

Hanford

9780738593111

$24.99

In 1877, the Southern Pacific Railway laid lines from Goshen to Coalinga. The passageway crossed a Chinese sheepherder's camp, and thus began a city now nearing a population of 60,000. Today, Hanford is brimming with citizens working to maintain the genuine look and historical feel of the little town that was born well over a century ago.

Visalia

9780738569352

$24.99

In the fall of 1852, hardy pioneers camped among the oaks along a meandering creek in an area known as Four Creeks Country. There, in the fertile soil surrounded by abundant water, Visalia took root. Today the county seat of Tulare County is the oldest San Joaquin Valley town between Stockton and Los Angeles, and is the gateway to Sequoia National Park.

Cover image for Visalia, isbn: 9780738569352

The State of Jefferson

9780738547695

$24.99

As early as 1852, the hardy settlers of the self -proclaimed State of Jefferson began to rally against the California and Oregon governments. The autonomous and determined spirit of border-county residents perseveres today, and nowhere is this better evidenced than in the character of the communities that remain.

Ghosts of Santa Barbara and the Ojai Valley

9781625859495

$21.99

From the Chumash legends of the Dolphins and the Whispering Tree to the ghostly sightings at Sedgwick Reserve, hauntings abound here. In beautiful La Conchita, nightfall reveals dark secrets to anyone who will listen. Sightings of mysterious apparitions are common along Creek Road, considered one of the most haunted highways in California. In the 1800s, Summerland was home to spiritualists who held séances in the Big Yellow House. The Santa Barbara Mission is home to many specters, including the famous Franciscan monk said to roam the cemetery and gardens. Discover these stories and more with author Evie Ybarra as she explores the haunted side of history.

Ghosts of Santa Barbara and the Ojai Valley

Inland Empire

9780738559070

$24.99

Southern California's vast Inland Empire is one of the fastest growing regions of the United States. It is a wonderland of old-growth vineyards, citrus groves, hot-water resorts, Wild West landmarks, and Native American territories. America's fabled Mother Road, Route 66, runs right through it. Its fertile valleys are encircled by mountains with famous resort areas such as Idyllwild, Big Bear Lake, and Lake Arrowhead. Those mountains are surrounded in turn by some of the world's best-known desert resort and recreational areas, including Palm Springs, the Mojave, Death Valley, and Joshua Tree National Park. Inland Empire is the first book of its kind, offering a postcard-perfect grand tour of the entire region.

Mexican American Boxing from the Golden State

9781467160919

$24.99

The Mexican American boxer is one who leaves it all in the ring. They have been described as devastating punchers, fearless fighters, and tough competitors by boxing fans, sportswriters, and commentators alike. Mexican American boxers have long carried a reputation in boxing circles as being the ultimate crowd-pleasers. In continuing that tradition, the dramatic testimonies of seven distinct, valiant, and dashing warriors from the Golden State of California are presented here in intricate detail: Aurelio Herrera, Art Aragon, Mando Ramos, Bobby Chacon, “Yaqui” Lopez, Arturo Frias, and Oscar Muniz. By exposing new generations to their action-packed stories, new life is breathed into these talented and gifted boxers, ensuring their fighting spirit and heartfelt memories will never die. This volume salutes these pioneers of Mexican American boxing for opening the doors for today’s boxers.

Cover image for Mexican American Boxing from the Golden State, isbn: 9781467160919

Football in the South Bay

9781626193086

$23.99

Hardly a season passes in which one or more South Bay football stars don't shine in major college or NFL play. Vince Ferragamo led the Rams to a Super Bowl, but in Wilmington, he's the pride of Banning High School. Before he was television's Hunter" or an NFL All-Pro, Fred Dryer was an El Camino College and Lawndale High star. Wesley Walker snagged deep passes for the New York Jets but honed his skills under legendary coach Gene Vollnogle for the Carson High Colts, historically the top prep team in the South Bay. From the inspirational coaches like Mira Costa's Don Morrow and San Pedro's Mike Walsh to the greatest players raised here, author Don Lechman presents the full story of South Bay gridiron glory."

Rio Linda and Elverta

9780738531144

$24.99

Rio Linda and Elverta are now modern suburbs north of busy metropolitan Sacramento. But when Edwin Pitcher first opened his hotel, the Star House, on Nevada Road in 1860, it was only a place to water horses and spend the night on the long, open road to the new state capital. Elverta was the
first community to appear here in 1908, and in 1913, a development group, Suburban Fruitlands Company, promoted Rio Linda as ideal land for growing fruit. Unfortunate orchardists who believed the advertising saw their seedlings wither in hardpan, but those who stuck it out turned to lucrative poultry ranching. Until the 1960s, the area was a major California egg producer. Nearby McClellan Air Force Base, established just before World
War II, was a major employer until it reverted to other military uses in 2001
and is still a point of pride for residents.

Cover image for Rio Linda and Elverta, isbn: 9780738531144

Aliso Viejo

9780738574240

$24.99

It was only 30 years ago that the city now known as Aliso Viejo was a 6,600-acre working ranch, with cattle, goats, and sheep and a variety of crops. Located three miles from the Pacific Ocean on the east slope of the San Joaquin Hills, this land had changed little since it was granted to Don Juan Avila in 1821 after Mexico declared its independence from Spain. But in the 1970s, the burgeoning growth of Orange County spread south throughout Saddleback Valley and created Aliso Viejo, Orange County's 34th city, incorporated on July 1, 2001. Near beaches, parks, and employment, Aliso Viejo is home to about 48,000 residents who like to say their hometown is close to it all.

Baseball in Ventura County

9780738547398

$24.99

Baseball on the West Coast dates back to 1847, when the New York Volunteer Regiment stationed in Santa Barbara batted around a cowhide-covered ball with a stick made from a mesquite branch. By 1873, Venturans were playing baseball at Seaside Park. The first local player to reach the major leagues was Charley Hall, who pitched for the Cincinnati Reds in 1906, followed by Fred Snodgrass, who brought along his New York Giants and the Chicago White Sox to Ventura County in 1913. The county has produced a major-league Most Valuable Player in Terry Pendleton, who won the honor in 1991 as the leader of the Atlanta Braves, and a No. 1 overall draft pick in Delmon Young, who was selected by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2003. The county has also served as the home for minor-league teams affiliated with the Yankees, Braves, and Blue Jays.

Cover image for Baseball in Ventura County, isbn: 9780738547398

Venice

9780738569673

$7.99

Venice boasts a rich history.

Remarkable Women of San Diego

9781467118262

$21.99

San Diego enjoys a diverse legacy of formidable female leaders. Ellen Browning Scripps financed and established the groundbreaking Scripps Oceanography Institute. In 1927, Belle Benchley became the nation's first female zoo director and for nearly thirty years pioneered new forms of exhibition and developed the world-class San Diego Zoo. Guatemalan activist and advocate Luisa Moreno established the United Fish Cannery Workers Union to protect the rights of workers during World War II. Ruth Alexander set new altitude records for light planes at the peak of the city's aviation boom. Bertha Pendleton became the first female and first African American San Diego school superintendent in 1993. Authors Hannah Cohen and Gloria Harris document these and many more stories of extraordinary local women.

Cover image for Remarkable Women of San Diego, isbn: 9781467118262

Seaside

9780738569819

$24.99

Seaside's local history is unique and in many ways a microcosm of the ethnic mosaic that is California. Situated on the Monterey Bay, this working-class community of approximately 33,000 was incorporated in 1954; it was a typical military town, tied to Fort Ord, until the closure of the base in 1994. Seaside was home to a variety of ethnic groups, but after World War II, the city experienced a surge of immigration by African Americans associated with the military. Today the city is witness to another demographic shift symbolic of the state's changing face, as Mexican immigrants and their children now form the largest minority group in Seaside. Over the years, the city has continued to grow and attract new residents and visitors with its friendly community and striking coastal location.

Bonita

9780738570006

$24.99

The small rural community of Bonita is nestled in the fertile valley of the Sweetwater River. For over a century, families from nearby San Diego and Chula Vista have built secluded homes on large lots carved from the pioneer ranches that emerged in the 1870s on Rancho de la Nacion. Ulysses S. Grant Jr. and the Marstons and Allens built homes designed by architects such as Irving Gill and William S. Hebbard. They relished the rural equestrian lifestyle of their valley, and resisted the modernization that began after World War II with highways, shopping centers, and subdivisions.

Cover image for Bonita, isbn: 9780738570006

Kings County

9780738531090

$24.99

Kings County is slowly becoming modern, as California's urban areas continue to expand into rural and formerly agricultural land. Still the open skies here look down upon copious amounts of historical significance. From the dwellings of the early Yokut people, ferries across the Kings River, the arrival of the railroad, and the subsequent Mussell Slough tragedy to the expansion of Highway 198, modernist buildings in Hanford, and the military presence at Lemoore, Kings County boasts compelling stories and a diverse group of people and places. In this engaging retrospective, readers will enjoy fantastic images of a Kings County that some say no longer exists.

City College of San Francisco

9780738581347

$24.99

With an annual student population of more than 100,000, City College of San Francisco has educated one in seven city residents and has alumni in every state. A Depression-era dream of Archibald Cloud, the college opened in 1935 with 1,483 students and no central campus. Today the college not only has a main campus at Ocean and Phelan Avenues, but also has 10 others spread throughout San Francisco. Science Hall, designed by Timothy Pflueger, proudly stands on the hill, a visible landmark beckoning students to walk through its portals. Pflueger's dream also included the incorporation of art into his buildings. His organization of the Art in Action program at the 1939-1940 Golden Gate International Exposition on Treasure Island resulted in the acquisition of Mexican muralist Diego Rivera's Pan American Unity, as well as mosaics and sculptures by other artists that adorn Science Hall.

Glendale

9780738547657

$24.99

Glendale is one of the oldest towns in Southern California, getting its start during the rail boom of the 1880s. In 1904, it was one of the earliest communities to be served by the vast electric streetcar system consolidated throughout the Los Angeles region by tycoon Henry Huntington. In the postwar era, Glendale became a model of suburban growth and today is the third largest city in Los Angeles County. Glendale's diverse neighborhoods and commercial districts have offered pleasant living and a gamut of goods and services to residents, workers, and visitors alike. These vintage postcards spanning generations showed them a vision of Glendale at its most attractive.

Princeton-by-the-Sea

9780738555836

$24.99

The isolation imposed by the sometimes raging Pacific Ocean and breathtaking coastal barrier mountains helped mold the historic personalities of Princeton-by-the-Sea and neighboring Miramar. In the early 1900s, these towns were placed along the Ocean Shore Railroad to attract visitors and settlers from San Francisco to these peaceful shores. Rumrunners, bootleggers, operators of shady roadhouses, and a brazen red-haired madam were characters here in the 1920s. In the 1940s, wind-gnarled fishermen, funky eateries, and a miniature cannery row stood watch over the northern end of the bay, under the stunning rock landmark of Pillar Point. In these pages are the boats, fishermen, buildings, beaches, and personalities that make Princeton-by-the-Sea and Miramar anything but typical Bay Area suburbs.

Reedley

9781467132671

$24.99

It was in 1888, four short years after he first came to Fresno County to farm wheat, that Thomas Law Reed made a deal with the Southern Pacific Railroad. In exchange for a half-interest in 360 acres of Reed's farmland, the railroad would build a depot along its east side branch and help develop a townsite. The town was Reedley. See what happened when settlers arrived. Watch as homes are built, as businesses are started, and as schools and churches are founded. Witness farmers cultivate the region's rich soil, and with irrigation, grow a bounty of crops that they will ship near and far. View a place of dusty streets and simple wooden buildings transformed into a modern 20th-century community. Meet the people of Reedley as they work, learn, worship, and celebrate. This book is Reedley's family photo album.

Mexican American Baseball in Ventura County

9781467117159

$24.99

Mexican American Baseball in Ventura County pays tribute to the legendary teams and players from Ventura, Oxnard, Camarillo, Simi Valley, Moorpark, Santa Paula, and other surrounding neighborhoods. From the early 20th century through the 1950s, baseball in Ventura County safeguarded opportunities for nurturing athletic and educational skills, asserting ethnic identity, promoting political self-confidence, developing economic autonomy, and redefining gender roles for women. Outside the ball field, these players and their families helped create the multibillion-dollar agricultural wealth that relied heavily on their backbreaking labor. These extraordinary photographs and remarkable stories shed unparalleled light on the long and rich history of baseball and softball in this celebrated region of California.

Cover image for Mexican American Baseball in Ventura County, isbn: 9781467117159

Artesia 1875-1975

9780738508788

$24.99

This three-generation endeavor started in 1975 when Albert O. Little, known for his dedication to the community as "Mr. Artesia," began working on two volumes of history: The Artesians: How It Began One Hundred Years Ago and The Artesians: Twenty Years of Incorporation. He gathered photographs and considerable narrative material, hoping that one day he would be able to share his historical knowledge and his love for the city with the rest of the community in a pictorial history. Sadly, while in the process of putting it together, he passed away. Nothing would have made him more proud than to have seen this project be completed and made available to the residents of Artesia. Veronica Little Bloomfield is Albert Little's daughter, and coauthor Veronica Elizabeth Bloomfield is his granddaughter. Together, they have honored his legacy of love and dedication by going through old pictures, talking about the faces and places that defined Artesia, and compiling
these materials into a history. The images and words in this text come from Little's archives and the many friends and associates he had in this town over the years. Images of ranchos, farming, schools and homes, incorporation and consolidation, and of course, the Artesian wells for which the city was
named, document the early agricultural community that was Artesia.

Cover image for Artesia 1875-1975, isbn: 9780738508788

Oxnard Sugar Beets

9781467136792

$21.99

In the early 1890s, farmers Albert Maulhardt and John Edward Borchard discovered Ventura County's favorable conditions for a highly profitable new cash crop: the sugar beet. Not long after inviting sugar mogul Henry T. Oxnard to the area, construction began on a $2 million sugar factory capable of processing two thousand tons of beets daily. The facility brought jobs, wealth and the Southern Pacific rail line. It became one of the country's largest producers of sugar, and just like that, a town was born. Despite the industry's demise, the city of Oxnard still owes its name to the man who delivered prosperity. A fifth-generation descendant, local author and historian Jeffrey Wayne Maulhardt details the rise and fall of a powerful enterprise and the entrepreneurial laborers who helped create a city.

Grossmont Hospital

9781625859341

$21.99

In early 1952, eastern San Diego County's citizens voted overwhelmingly to establish the Grossmont Hospital District. Local civic leaders and physicians envisioned it as the vehicle for building a modern hospital to address the healthcare needs of their rapidly growing post-World War II communities. In August 1955, the district subsequently opened Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa. For the next sixty-five years, the institution grew to serve suburban and rural residents spread over the 750-square-mile district. In dealing with the daunting challenges of modern healthcare, the governing board entered a precedent-setting lease for hospital operations with San Diego-based nonprofit Sharp HealthCare in 1991. Historian James D. Newland has partnered with Grossmont Hospital and the Grossmont Healthcare District in chronicling the inspiring story of this iconic regional institution.

East Contra Costa County

9780738547749

$24.99

Ho for California! The terminus of the first overland immigrant pack train destined for California was John Marsh's adobe, Brentwood. Since 1841, East Contra Costa County has been a grain and fruit basket to the world, a recreational playground for resort living, and a home for health and family life. Its wheat was exported for brewing Guinness beer, and fresh apricots, peaches, and cherries still bring produce fanciers for summer harvest. Weekenders houseboat, wakeboard, and fish through the region's thousands of miles of delta waterways. This sentimental history of the communities of Brentwood, Bethel Island, Byron, Discovery Bay, Knightsen, and Oakley reveals the importance of these California Delta communities in settling and developing the Golden State.

Legendary Locals of Encinitas

9781467100090

$24.99

Drawn by extravagant promises of "a beautiful village of 500 inhabitants, studded with orange trees and grapevines," the Hammond family arrived in Encinitas in 1883 only to find that advertisements had rather overstated the case. Undeterred, these 11 English settlers remained and, in doing so, doubled the town's population overnight. Subsequent pioneers brought wide-ranging talents to this fledgling California coastal town--none more so than the Ecke dynasty, whose flower fields established Encinitas as the poinsettia capital of the world. Today, the city encompasses five distinct communities, and while it boasts many famous celebrities, it is the ordinary folk whose passion and daring have made Encinitas the place their forebears long ago envisaged.

Legendary Locals of Oxnard

9781467100564

$24.99

The roots of Oxnard history begin on the fertile plain of western Ventura County. A century after the Native Chumash were interrupted by the Spanish Mission system, the rancho period that followed was slow to develop on the Oxnard Plain. By the late 19th century, groups of newcomers from Europe, Latin America, and the post-Civil War states began settling on the agricultural terrain. After experimenting with various dry crops, the introduction of the cash crop of sugar beets brought about the next wave of emigration from Asia, as well as a steady flow of emigrants from the Latin countries. As Oxnard has grown, so has its diverse population and the contributions from the many residents who have made this area their home for generations. Legendary Locals of Oxnard offers a glimpse of some of these individuals.

Sonoma Community Center

9781467132596

$24.99

If these redbrick walls could talk, a chorus of voices from 100 years of community use would echo all that was good about Sonoma: the love of food and wine, the search for cultural enrichment, and the need to care for people. Since the day it opened as the Sonoma Grammar School, the center has promoted education, the arts, and a respect for history. Thousands of elementary-age students walked its halls until 1948, when building codes closed it as a public school. But it was reborn in 1952 as the Sonoma Community Center due to generous donors who formed a nonprofit organization to save the building they considered the heart and soul of Sonoma. Since then, thousands of others have used its classrooms, lecture halls, and auditorium to be entertained, to celebrate events, to develop creative interests, and to cultivate their sense of community.

Forgotten Foster Park

9781467132770

$24.99

Surrounded by steeply sloped hillsides, Foster Park was a tiny rural community that took shape during the oil boom of the 1920s. It was situated at a bend on Highway 33 adjacent to Foster Memorial Park, for which it was named. Among the 50 or so homes was a thriving business district that most notably included a dance hall hosting musical greats of the time—such as Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and the Everly Brothers—and a saloon equipped with a boxing ring. The Ventura River, once loaded with giant steelhead trout, and the Southern Pacific Railroad both ran through the town. It has been described as unreal by some and a rural slum by others. With the makings of a Norman Rockwell portrait, it came to its end in the mid-1960s to make room for the hotly contested extension of the Ojai Freeway. To younger generations and newcomers of the area, Foster Park's former existence is virtually unknown.

MacArthur Park

9781467133456

$24.99

Known as Westlake Park for its first 60 years, MacArthur Park is considered one of Los Angeles's original parks. Throughout its history, it has endured countless challenges as the neighborhood and city that surround it grew to become the current metropolis. Born out of progressive vision and drought, MacArthur Park, due to its elegant design and cultural programming, has been referred as a civic jewel and the West Coast version of Central Park. Like many urban parks, it has also been burdened with a negative image due to its many decades of neglect, crime, and municipal disinvestment. Today, MacArthur Park has survived as a critical green and cultural space for one of the most densely populated neighborhoods in the country. More importantly, MacArthur Park has served as an authentic democratic space for local stakeholders and visitors to gather, play, and protest.

San Diego Harbor Police

9781467132428

$24.99

The San Diego Harbor Police Department has proudly provided more than 50 years of law enforcement. From its humble beginnings as a small security force formed after World War II to protect San Diego imports to the modern and sophisticated police force it is today, the San Diego Harbor Police Department serves as a shining example of the exciting and important role law enforcement plays in the development of a busy 21st-century city. Through a stunning collection of never-before-seen photographs, this book tells the story of the officers who have served and protected one of America's most historic and vital harbors. History lovers, police aficionados, and San Diego locals and visitors will be fascinated by the photographs within, which document the department's history from 1934 through its 1962 transition into the San Diego Unified Port District of today.

Cover image for San Diego Harbor Police, isbn: 9781467132428

Legendary Locals of Santa Clara

9781467101219

$24.99

The city of Santa Clara lies in the very heart of the Santa Clara Valley, directly south of San Francisco Bay. It is the home base of the internationally famous Santa Clara Swim Club, the equally famous synchronized swim team the Santa Clara Aquamaids, the International Swim Center, and the San Francisco 49ers professional football team. It boasts world-class parks, theaters, museums, acting groups, a featured chorale, a nationally ranked drum and bugle corps, a major theme park, a convention center, and a first-class hotel system for those who wish to visit. Legendary Locals of Santa Clara celebrates the people who guided all of this to its realization.

University of La Verne

9780738508207

$24.99

In October 1891, Lordsburg College opened its doors to some 65 students in an unused, land-boom hotel in the new town of Lordsburg, California. As the decades passed, the college became one of the most prestigious institutions of Southern California. Detailed here in over 200 vintage images is the history of the University of La Verne, from its first degree granted in 1914, to the eve of its 110th anniversary.

Described in its alma mater as "a dear favored spot, that shall ne'er be forgot," the University of La Verne has seen 3 name changes, 17 presidents, and over 40,000 alumni. The photographs in this volume chronicle the history of this grand institution, from the earliest buildings and dirt basketball courts of the late 19th century, to the new 2001 law school and wooden floors of the Supertents. Filled with diverse images from the University Archives, author Marlin Heckman compiles a visual heritage of the school that can be recognized by students and alumni alike, including the Women's Glee Club of the 30s, the origins of Build La Verne Day, Founders Hall, painting The Rock, and even Leo the Mascot.

Atascadero

9780738589169

$24.99

Atascadero, California--located nearly halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco on US Highway 101--is the brainchild of E.G. Lewis. Thought by some to have been a visionary, Lewis was considered a con artist by others. In spite of his reputation, he founded Atascadero and left in his wake a collection of unique architecture and the first planned community in the state of California. He established roads, water mains, power grids, agricultural cooperatives, and a 17-mile road to the Pacific Ocean. Atascadero was home to an early example of an enclosed shopping mall and magnificent art from the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. Atascadero's creator also founded University City, Missouri, and Palos Verdes Estates, California.

Woodlake

9781467133197

$24.99

Known as the area within the magic circle, the Western town of Woodlake, along with its surrounding valley, is rich in both natural resources and hardworking citizens who are proud of their heritage. Most Tulare County towns sprang up along the Southern Pacific Railroad. Woodlake, designed as a tourist town, drew together farming communities, consisting of people too busy raising fruit and cattle to create a town. Starting with Thomas Henry Davis in 1853, settlers established farms and ranches, which attracted Los Angeles millionaire Gilbert Stevenson when he arrived in 1907. Approved by the Tulare County Board of Supervisors on October 3, 1911, the world-class tourist town named Woodlake grew from Stevenson's imagination into reality. Led by the strong sales personality of its founder, Woodlake grew quickly, yet it remained a Western town, retaining reference points to the early communities that visitors would not find on signs. Visitors to Woodlake today will find Woodlakeans still doing what attracted Gilbert Stevenson: raising cattle and growing citrus within protection of the Sierra Nevada and foothills.

The Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History

9781467128339

$24.99

Facing the radiant Monterey Bay, anchored proudly between Pacific Grove's downtown and famed Lovers Point beach, is the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History. The historic museum was founded in 1883 to house specimens collected by the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle in the days when horse-drawn carriages still meandered down a dirt road known today as Lighthouse Avenue. What started as a small octagonal building in what is now known as Jewell Park soon became a more impressive edifice, thanks largely to the help of community members like Mary Norton, the museum's first curator, and Lucie Chase, who donated to the construction of a new building in 1932. Others, including noted collector and taxidermist Rollo Beck and scientist Ed Ricketts, friend of author and Pacific Grove resident John Steinbeck, donated amazing specimens that remain on display.

The Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History

Legendary Locals of Yosemite National Park and Mariposa County

9781467101646

$24.99

In 1846, Thomas Larkin, American council general to the Mexican government in California, purchased a Mexican land grant, Las Mariposas, for Col. John C. Fremont. The grant consisted of 10 square leagues of grazing land located near the Merced River and west of the Sierra. In 1848, when California became the possession of the United States, the treaty called for the recognition of preexisting grants. Gold was discovered in the foothills of the Sierra that same year. Fremont floated his questionable Mexican grant into the gold discovery region. With the formation of the State of California in 1850, one of the original counties was named Mariposa, Spanish for "butterflies." Located within the county was the Fremont grant and much of the yet undiscovered Yosemite region of the Sierra. Encounters with Native Americans near the mining camps lead to the formation of the Mariposa Battalion, and a search for the natives led to the American discovery of Yosemite Valley. Thus, it was custodians and photographers such as Charles Leander Weed, Carlton E Watkins, J.J. Riley, George Fiske, Ansel Adams, and many others that interpreted and introduced Yosemite to the world.

Legendary Locals of Yosemite National Park and Mariposa County

Legendary Locals of Huntington Beach

9781467101868

$24.99

For over 100 years, Huntington Beach, a.k.a. "Surf City, USA," has come to represent the true beach culture of Southern California. Originally called Pacific City, it was when railroad magnate Henry Huntington first ran his train line down in 1904 from Los Angeles, approximately 40 miles north, that the then-quaint beach town took on the name that made it famous around the state and around the world. In 1914, the legendary George Freeth put on a surfing exhibition the day the city's vaunted concrete pier was opened, which christened Huntington Beach as a soon-to-be surfing mecca. It became a boomtown after oil was discovered in 1920 and, several decades later, morphed once again into a cradle of aerospace engineering when companies such as Boeing arrived. Throughout its tumultuous and dramatic history, Huntington Beach has always boasted a cast of colorful and profound characters. From the first mayor, Ed Manning, to Medal of Honor-recipient Chris Carr, from the Zamboni family (who invented the ice-cleaning machine) to baseball star Jeff Kent: the list is almost endless. But it is not just professional athletes, actors, and rock stars; it is the teachers, crossing guards, merchants, and activists that give Huntington Beach its well-earned reputation as one of the most interesting and charismatic cities in the state.

First United Methodist Church of San Diego

9781467102650

$24.99

First United Methodist Church (UMC) of San Diego has worshipped in several locations throughout San Diego, California, since February 1869. As the city of San Diego grew, so did the church. The first locations were near the waterfront and in the neighborhood that is known today as the Gaslamp Quarter. From 1870 to 1906, the church was in the heart of what is now downtown. In 1906, the congregation decided to move a few blocks northeast, and it worshipped from 1907 to 1963 in a Gothic Revival–style sanctuary designed by Irving J. Gill. In the late 1950s, even with additions, First Church was outgrowing its space, and so it moved again, to a location in Mission Valley. In 1963, construction began on a Spanish contemporary–style church that was completed in 1964 and continues to be an iconic landmark in San Diego. Over the years, the church's reach has expanded to multiple sites and many congregations.