Name: Leavenworth Seven
Brand: Kenneth M. LaMaster
SKU: 9781467140409
Price: 21.99 USD
Availability: InStock

Leavenworth Seven

9781467140409

$21.99

On December 11, 1931, chaos erupted behind Leavenworth's limestone penitentiary walls as seven desperate men put months of planning into action. Aided by notorious gangsters Frank Nash, George "Machine Gun" Kelly and Thomas James Holden, they blazed a path to freedom with stolen cars and terrorized hostages. Anyone who could carry a gun and knew the terrain quickly picked up the pursuit. Kenneth LaMaster wades into the flying bullets of first-person accounts, news reports and official FBI files for the full story of the frenzied prison break.

Overland Park

9780738590646

$24.99

In 1906, entrepreneur and New York railroad builder William B. Strang Jr. started a unique suburban housing development seven miles southwest of Kansas City that he named Overland Park. He chose farmland on a high ridge where the Santa Fe, Oregon, and California Trails once crossed and built an interurban railroad for the use of future commuters and real estate customers. Advertised enticements, such as a lake with camping facilities and weekly entertainments, lured thousands of riders on his Strang Line to the new community. In 1909, he arranged for the first area aeroplane flight that astonished and charmed the metropolitan populace. He built the first private airfield in the Midwest, where he held spectacular air shows and extravaganzas like Buffalo Bill's Wild West. Overland Park has since grown to be the second largest city in Kansas. The highly rated school system has graduated many notable and recognizable figures, such as Paul Rudd, Jason Sudeikis, and former US chairman of the joint chiefs of staff Gen. Richard Myers.

Kansas City Southern Railway

9780738560014

$24.99

The Kansas City Southern Railway initially offered freight service to the immediate Kansas City area south. As the line expanded toward Texas, each tiny community had its own railway station with access to daily passenger service and less-than-carload lot freight services. No one could have foreseen that the road would eventually haul international import and export goods or that its line would reach into Mexico. Photographs in this book include the railway's involvement in operating steam engines over its lines as well as pictures from the files of esteemed rail photographers Harold K. Vollrath and Gary Coates.

U.S. Penitentiary Leavenworth

9780738550916

$24.99

On July 1, 1895, under the direction of warden James French, the first federal prison was born. That same year, St. Louis architects Eames and Young went to work drawing up plans for an institution that would house the most notorious offenders in the nation's history. At sunrise on March 1, 1897, 300 inmates and 30 guards marched three miles to the construction site located on the southwest corner of the military reservation. From sunup to sundown seven days a week in the hot Kansas summer to the harsh prairie winters, inmates labored building their new home. Leavenworth's rich history as a gateway to the Old West is second to none. Name a famous figure such as George Armstrong Custer, John Joseph Pershing, Dwight D. Eisenhower, or Colin Powell. They have all graced the streets of this historic community. Equally pick a name of the most notorious criminals. George "Machine Gun" Kelly, Robert F. Stroud, Frank Nash, Frank "the Enforcer" Nitti, and George "Buggs" Moran--they all stopped by to "spend time in Leavenworth."

Emporia

9781467113182

$24.99

Established in February 1857, Emporia's founding fathers named their new business venture Emporia after a flourishing market center in Ancient Carthage. Located in the east-central part of Kansas, Emporia is known as the "Front Porch to the Flint Hills." William Allen White, publisher and editor of the Emporia Gazette, brought national attention to Emporia in the early 1900s. Known for his fiery political essays, White became an advisor to many US presidents, five of whom visited his home, Red Rocks. Emporia is home to Emporia State University, the state's first normal school, founded in 1863. Located on the university campus are the National Teachers Hall of Fame and the Memorial to Fallen Educators, honoring those who lost their lives teaching and working in America's schools. Honoring fallen heroes is a long-standing tradition in Emporia, as it is also the founding city of Veterans Day.

Bonner Springs

9781467110433

$24.99

From the fabled visit of the Spanish explorer Francisco Coronado to the present-day city situated on the banks of the Kansas (Kaw) River, the history of the growth of Bonner Springs is an interesting story. Indians, fur trappers, ferry operators, merchants, and resort promoters have contributed to make Bonner Springs the city that it is today. Images of America: Bonner Springs aims to present some of this history through the photographs of Urbin Rudell and others, exhibiting the community spirit and pride the town's forward-thinking citizens have shown since its founding.

Topeka

9780738584348

$24.99

The city of Topeka was founded on December 5, 1854, by nine men who made camp by the Kansas River at what is today the intersection of First and Kansas Avenues. During Kansas's territorial days, Topeka played a leading role in the Free State movement. In 1858, Topeka was voted the Shawnee County seat, and in 1859 secured the position of state capital at the final constitutional convention, which took effect when Kansas achieved statehood in 1861. In the century and a half that followed, Topeka grew as America grew, developing a rich history. Now home to 125,000 citizens, Topeka has become one of the leading metropolitan cities in the Midwest. Images of America: Topeka celebrates the city's history in photographs, drawing on the vast photographic collection of the Kansas State Historical Society as well as other private and public collections.

Hays

9780738560243

$24.99

Hays was founded in 1867 as the Union Pacific Railroad moved west. Its early history includes Wild West antics with famous people like Wild Bill Hickok, but soon Hays became a center for agriculture, commerce, and education. By 1930, the population of Hays was 5,000, and it grew to 7,000 by the end of the decade. Although the 1930s were a time of economic depression, of agricultural drought and dust storms, these photographs of Hays show a much different story. They are positive, even energetic, showing the upside to a depressed decade. Photographer R. E. Ekey began his studio in 1928 and retired in 1955. His photographs of Hays portray the special events as well as the routine of everyday life. They show a variety and richness that exemplify the character of Hays, both then and now.

Wichita's Legacy of Flight

9780738531809

$24.99

Known as the "Air Capital of the World," Wichita, Kansas, has been continuously associated with aviation longer than any city in the world. The city's inventive and entrepreneurial spirit made an early mark on the aviation and aerospace industries. From the first hot air balloons floating over the wheat fields to the major aviation corporations that still call the city home, Wichita has been associated with the wonder of flight, which celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2003. The images in this book document the evolution of flight and its subsequent effect on the cowtown that dared to dream it could become an international center for aviation.

True Tales of Kansas

9781467146845

$21.99

True Tales of Kansas offers the historic, never-before-heard stories that make the state what it is. The historic tales of the Sunflower State and its people are as interesting as the days are long. A pair of brothers went from making airplanes to tractors and soon became part of John Deere. Kansan Captain Donald K. Ross won the first Congressional Medal of Honor at Pearl Harbor. The first telephone exchange in the area was invented by a Mr. Strowger because a rival funeral director had a girlfriend who was an operator for the local telephone company and kept sending his business to her friend. Nannie Jones, who stood up to Jim Crow racism and won her case in court, is memorialized by a headstone in Highland Cemetery. Author Roger Ringer details these stories and more.

Haunted Lawrence

9781625859204

$21.99

Founded in 1854 as an abolitionist outpost, Lawrence is a seemingly unassuming college town with a long history of hauntings. A ghostly guest never checked out of the Eldridge Hotel's mysterious room 506. Sigma Nu's fraternity house, the former home of Kansas's eighteenth governor, is still haunted by the specter of a young woman. Learn the tragic stories of Pete Vinegar, George Albach and Lizzie Madden and uncover the devilish truth behind the "legend" of Stull Cemetery. Author Paul Thomas reveals the ghoulish history behind these stories and many more.

The Ghostly Tales of Lawrence

9781467198837

$12.99

Ghost stories from Lawrence, Kansas have never been so creepy, fun, and full of mystery! The haunted history of Lawrence comes to life--even when the main players are dead. Wander into Lawrence Cordley Elementary School, but keep your eye out for the ghost of little Tommy. Or stop into the Eldridge Hotel for a glimpse of guests who checked in but never checked out. Dive into this spooky chapter book for suspenseful tales of bumps in the night, paranormal investigations, and the unexplained; just be sure to keep the light on.

Marshall County

9781467113014

$24.99

The Oregon-California Trail carried more than 100,000 settlers west over the prairies of the future state of Kansas in the mid-1800s. Pioneers and Pony Express riders crossed the Big Blue River at Independence Crossing or at Frank Marshall's ferry near present-day Marysville. In 1846, members of the Donner Party discovered and named Alcove Spring, now one of 20 county sites listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Kansas Territorial Legislature established Marshall County in 1855. After the Civil War, rich soil and abundant water attracted farmers, and its location attracted railroads and industry. Today, the same occupations still sustain the 16 towns and villages. As the "Gateway to the Flint Hills," the county's rolling hills are dotted with picturesque prairie, woods, limestone outcrops, rivers, and creeks. Even though the county is a crossroads for modern highways US 36 and US 77, pioneer wagon ruts are still visible in Marshall County.

Iconic Eats of Wichita

9781467148818

$23.99

Located a long way from any ports of call, Wichita is perhaps the last place where you'd expect to find a diverse culinary scene. From its early days as a rough-and-tumble cow town on the Chisholm Trail, the city first achieved dining sophistication through the efforts of the Thursday Afternoon Cooking Club, now the oldest such club in the United States. Steakhouses in the north end invented and popularized what some consider the city's signature dish: garlic salad. Waves of immigrants from three parts of the world--Mexico, Lebanon and Vietnam--stamped the dining habits of residents with dishes such as piratas, shawarma and Saigon Oriental Restaurant's famous No. 49. Author Joe Stumpe tells these stories and more while providing nearly two hundred prize recipes from restaurants and home cooks.

Wabaunsee County

9780738560779

$24.99

In 2009, Wabaunsee County will celebrate its 150th anniversary. Although Wabaunsee County was first created in 1855 by the Kansas territorial legislature as Richardson County, it had no county government and was attached to neighboring Shawnee County in legal jurisdiction. In 1859, the legislature renamed the county Wabaunsee, after the Potawatomi Indian chief, and in March of that year, the first election for county officers was held. The county lies in the heart of the Kansas Flint Hills, and it boasts some of the most beautiful landscapes in the state. While located only 30 miles from the state capital in Topeka, it retains its rural atmosphere, even today. The largest of its seven incorporated towns has less than 1,000 residents. The earliest settlers lived among large populations of Native Americans. During the Civil War, the Underground Railroad operated actively in the county. In 1880, the first railroad was built in the county, and the towns along its line boomed. When a second line was introduced in 1887, the county saw its greatest growth. Today residents enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the rugged Flint Hills, lush pastures, and fertile bottomland sustaining the local economy as it has for a century and a half. A large section of highway across the county has been designated the Kansas Native Stone Scenic Byway, and tourism has begun to play an increasingly larger role in the county's economy.

The Carey Salt Mine

9780738561806

$24.99

In 1923, Kansas governor Johnathan Davis traveled to Hutchinson to dedicate Emerson Carey's new rock salt mine whose shaft provided access to an ancient salt bed 650 feet under the earth's surface. The Carey Salt Mine, advertised as "the most modern in the world," served as a companion to Carey's already-existing evaporation plants. Miners used the newest technology to blast and crush the mineral into gravel and haul it to the surface to provide rock salt for livestock, industries, and roads. Throughout the 20th century, thousands visited Carey's mining operations. Ever since the day Governor Davis presided over the opening ceremony, the Carey Salt Mine has served as a landmark for Hutchinson and helped shape its identity as "the Salt City."

Concordia

9781467113298

$24.99

In 1869, Concordia, Kansas, was declared the county seat of what would become Cloud County. At first, the town existed only on paper as a project being pushed by James M. Hagaman and a small group of partners. Once development started, Concordia rapidly grew to become a center of commerce south of the Republican River that eventually attracted four railroad lines. It became a town of landmarks, including several famous hotels, two opera houses, Nazareth Convent, and a thriving downtown area. Characters in the story of Concordia include French Canadian immigrants, nuns, pilots, quarreling newspaper editors, German prisoners of war, and politician Frank Carlson. Readers can enjoy visiting the community's past in the pages of Images of America: Concordia.

Kenneth & Helen Spencer of Kansas:

9781626193895

$24.99

Born on opposite sides of the Kansas/Missouri border in 1902, Kenneth Aldred Spencer and his wife, Helen Foresman Spencer, were transformative figures in the Midwest during the twentieth century. Kenneth grew up in the small town of Pittsburg, Kansas, but by the 1950s, his innovation in the chemical and coal industries had earned him mention in Forbes" magazine for his role as one of the nation's great industrialists. But it is the couple's remarkable philanthropic work that stands as their true legacy, preserved in places like the Kenneth Spencer Research Library and the Helen Foresman Spencer Museum of Art.."

African Americans of Wichita

9781467114813

$24.99

The African American community of Wichita is as old as the city itself, dating back to early pioneers, cowboys, and business figures. Once relatively integrated, Wichita became more segregated as the 20th century unfolded. In response, African Americans developed a lively neighborhood downtown with its own businesses, churches, schools, and organizations. World War II brought new populations to work in the aircraft industry and set the stage for profound changes. In the 1950s, a younger generation of leaders challenged racism and discrimination, unleashing a period of change that was both hopeful and painful. In recent years, the African American community has become more complex, with generations of established families joined by recent transplants, emigrants from Africa, and children of mixed marriages. While challenges remain, African Americans are more visible than ever before in local life, evident in politics, business, sports, and education.

Emporia State University

9780738598741

$24.99

On February 15, 1865, eighteen anxious students gathered on the second floor of a stone building belonging to School District No. 1 of Lyon County to begin their quest for learning at the Kansas State Normal School. It was less than two years after Gov. Thomas Carney signed the bill creating what has become one of the most renowned teacher education universities in the nation. Despite economic setbacks and the loss of the main building to fire in the 1870s, the normal school attracted students from every county within the state. By the end of 1892, the board of regents reported that the Kansas State Normal School was the largest in the nation. In 1923, the school's name was changed to Kansas State Teachers College, recognizing its importance in teacher education. Today, Emporia State University continues to offer outstanding academic programs and an energetic campus environment that has been changing lives since that day in 1865.

Cover image for Emporia State University, isbn: 9780738598741

Kansas Wesleyan University

9781467125840

$24.99

On September 15, 1886, Kansas Wesleyan University opened its doors for the purpose of higher education. Through strategic plans and successful fundraising campaigns, the campus has grown and evolved remarkably over the past 130 years. The university has employed numerous skilled and passionate faculty members who mentored students toward academic success. As each academic year passes, the school marks notable achievements with pride in areas of academics and athletics as it also stays on the cutting edge of science and technology. Although Kansas Wesleyan has endured struggles, challenges have been promptly met with innovative leadership that laid the groundwork to propel the campus forward, demonstrating perseverance and resilience to craft a lasting legacy. As alumni expand throughout other communities, they carry the university with them. The images within this pictorial history illustrate the university's institutional history and the enduring Coyote spirit.

Post Rock Country

9781467112482

$24.99

Rush County, at the south end of Post Rock Country, was organized on December 5, 1874, and named in honor of Capt. Alexander Rush, Company H, of the 2nd Kansas Colored Infantry. The first settlers arrived in 1869 and established homesteads along Walnut Creek near the Fort Hays-Fort Dodge Trail. With few trees on the vast, dry prairie, settlers searched for alternative building materials. Post Rock, a unique limestone bed that sat within inches of the surface, was so well used and became such a curiosity that it gave rise to the Post Rock Museum in 1963.

Lansing Correctional Facility

9781467112468

$24.99

Since 1868, the Lansing Correctional Facility (formerly the Kansas State Penitentiary) has stood watch over what would become the city of Lansing. Designed by Erasmus Carr, architect of the Kansas State Capitol, the prison is the oldest in Kansas. In the beginning, it housed male and female inmates from Kansas and Oklahoma, as well as inmates serving federal sentences. Today, the facility's population of minimum, medium, maximum, and special management custody offenders is approximately 2,400. Leavenworth County has also seen the addition of the United States Disciplinary Barracks, United States Penitentiary-Leavenworth, and Corrections Corporation of America-Leavenworth, making it the only county in the country to host a state, military, federal, and private prison. Images of America: Lansing Correctional Facility features photographs of the early days, when inmates were on the "silent system" and could not speak to one another, to more modern times when rehabilitation has become an important component of prison life.

Kansas Beer

9781467140119

$24.99

Prohibition came early to Kansas in 1881, driving more than 125 breweries out of business or underground. Refusing to even vote on the 1933 national repeal, the state remained dry until 1948, with liquor by the drink finally being approved in 1987. Lawrence's Chuck Magerl worked with the legislature to pen new laws allowing something (little known at the time) called a "microbrewery.'? Chuck started the state's first brewery in over a century, appropriately named Free State Brewing Company. John Dean of Topeka's Blind Tiger Brewery counts more awards than any other brewer in the state, including Champion Brewer at the World Beer Cup in 2014. Props & Hops Brewing, in tiny Sylvan Grove, is owned and operated by an enterprising pilot who also owns and operates a crop-dusting business on the weekdays. Author Bob Crutchfield explores the state's breweries and recounts the Sunflower State's hoppy history.

Salina's Historic Downtown

9781467110037

$24.99

Salina got its name from the Saline River that flows north of town. Its founders were a close-knit group of Scotsmen related by blood or marriage; most came to America from southwestern Scotland between 1839 and 1854 and settled in Randolph County, Illinois. Horace Greeley of the New York Tribune sent correspondent William A. Phillips from Randolph County to Lawrence, Kansas, to cover the turmoil caused by the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 and the doctrine of popular sovereignty. The residents of Kansas were to choose whether the territory would come into the Union as a slaveholding or free-soil state. To affect that outcome, both Southerners and Northern abolitionists sent colonies of settlers to Kansas Territory. Out of this conflict was born the Salina Town Company. William A. Philips, his brother David, his sister Christina, and his brothers-in-law Alexander C. Spilman and Alexander M. Campbell, along with close friend James Muir, preempted a 320-acre town site in north central Kansas in 1858. From humble beginnings grew the largest commercial center in the area: Salina.

Liberal and Seward County

9780738582795

$24.99

From towns like Liberal and Beer City to Kismet and Arkalon, Seward County has been the home of a tough, yet imaginative, people. Seymour Rogers, who homesteaded in the southern portion of the county, hand-dug a well and provided travelers with free water. Before long, the "liberal well" became the town of Liberal. The late 1880s saw settlers making their way to southwest Kansas to claim their 160 acres and hopefully fulfill their dreams. Farmers, ranchers, newspaper editors, shopkeepers, and a few ne'er-do-wells populated Seward County. Liberal became the county seat after a battle between what are now the ghost towns of Fargo Springs and Springfield. Horrific dust storms, grinding depressions, blizzards, and droughts tested the pioneers. Those that stayed were eventually rewarded by returning rains, the discovery of oil and gas, and the construction of a B-24 Army Air Base. With a spirit borne of those sturdy pioneers, the people of Liberal and Seward County have come a long way.

Saline County

9781467111836

$24.99

Early Saline County was a land rich in Native American history. Only a few settlers migrated to the area prior to the railroad development that started in 1867. Milling and grains, livestock, and even gypsum mining all influenced the growth of Saline County. Salina became a prominent city, whereas Hedville and other towns were altered, almost lost, as the railroads continued to build and change their depots, creating boom and bust economies in the county. Tornados, fires, droughts, and floods challenged the hardy souls who called this area home. Salina and the towns that have survived the booms and busts have a robust history.

Wichita Haunts

9780738582870

$24.99

Shadowman is seen roaming the grounds at Cowtown. The blacksmith touches investigators in his shop. The former church on Hillside Street has a friendly ghost named Belle. These are just a few of the characters that linger in Haunted Wichita. Wichita grew from the prairie as a cattle town into "the Peerless Princess of the Plains." Influenced by bold settlers, the city reflects the American spirit of capitalism and manifest destiny. Explore the haunted history of Wichita through supernatural tales from Cowtown, the Delano District, theaters, and hotels. Most are authentic haunted locations, as documented by Wichita Paranormal Research Society (WPRS) and Paranormal Research Investigators (PRI).

Baseball in Wichita

9780738533162

$24.99

The art of baseball is evident at Wichita State University's Eck Stadium. The bronze sculpture, "Put Me in Coach," overlooks the stadium entry. Behind it a 70-foot mural, the longest of its kind at any university ballpark, depicts WSU's storied baseball history. The art of baseball has also been evident on Wichita's playing fields for well over a century. During and after the Civil War, baseball quickly spread across the nation. When Wichita was incorporated in 1870, the town and the game were ready for each other, and Wichita had its first professional nine the following decade. Baseball in Wichita tells the story of local baseball at all levels-amateur, collegiate and pro-in words and images dating from the 19th century to the present day.

Mulvane

9780738598710

$24.99

Mulvane sits on the Sedgwick/Sumner County line, adjacent to the Arkansas River, and is roughly 10 miles south of Wichita. It was founded in 1879 by the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway on the rail line that comes south from Wichita and evolved as a railroad town and agricultural community. It has survived floods, droughts, tornadoes, and fires and is now the home of over 6,000 residents. Mulvane is a progressive city filled with people who have a keen eye on the future while celebrating their past. Thousands of residents and visitors come to town during the third weekend of August for the annual Old Settlers Days celebration, which has taken place each year since 1873; the event was actually established before the town was incorporated. Images of America: Mulvane offers a glimpse of the people and events of the past that helped shape the present of "The City of the Valley."

Notorious Kansas Bank Heists

9781626198357

$23.99

Bank robbers wreaked havoc in the Sunflower State. After robbing the Chautauqua State Bank in 1911, outlaw Elmer McCurdy was killed by lawmen but wasn't buried for sixty-six years. His afterlife can be described only as bizarre. Belle Starr's nephew Henry Starr claimed to have robbed twenty-one banks. The Dalton gang failed in their attempt to rob two banks simultaneously, but others accomplished this in Waterville in 1911. Nearly four thousand known vigilantes patrolled the Sunflower State during the 1920s and 1930s to combat the criminal menace. One group even had an airplane with a .50-caliber machine gun. Join author Rod Beemer for a wild ride into Kansas's tumultuous bank heist history.

Cover image for Notorious Kansas Bank Heists, isbn: 9781626198357

Southwestern College

9781467114820

$24.99

Southwestern College is located in Winfield, Kansas, on a prominence that overlooks the Walnut River Valley. Determined to bring education to the plains of Kansas, Methodist leaders founded the college in 1885. These early pioneers and their successors built beyond their dreams, creating a strong, unique, and vital institution that has produced close to 25,000 Moundbuilders across the globe. Today, that Moundbuilder tradition educates thousands of students at the main Winfield campus and online.

Wichita's Lebanese Heritage

9780738577173

$24.99

Wichita, a city of entrepreneurs, offered an ideal home for Middle Eastern Christians who started arriving in the 1890s. Initially identifying themselves as Syrians, they operated as peddlers across southern Kansas and northern Oklahoma. Peddling rapidly gave way to wholesale, grocery, and dry goods companies. Patriarchs such as N. F. Farha and E. G. Stevens established themselves in local business and civic circles. Primarily Eastern Orthodox, the Lebanese established two churches, St. George Orthodox Church and St. Mary Orthodox Christian Church, that became focal points of community life. After World War II, entrepreneurs responded to new opportunities, from real estate to supermarkets to the professions. In recent decades, an additional wave of immigrants from war-torn Lebanon has continued the entrepreneurial tradition.

Mexican Americans of Wichita’s North End

9781467107693

$23.99

While the North End has long been the beginning of the American dream for many peoples including African Americans, Southeast Asians, and Anglo Americans, it is perhaps the Mexican American community that most visibly embodies the hopes and struggles in this part of the city. The first wave worked in the packinghouses, and communities with names such as El Huarache, La Topeka, and El Rock Island emerged nearby. As the 20th century unfolded, their children and grandchildren established a vibrant neighborhood along Twenty-First Street and Broadway. In recent years, the old industries of the area have faded, while a new wave of immigrants from Latin America has been able to redefine an area. Today, the Mexican American heritage in the North End has become one of its most defining features, an example of a broader diversity that has always made this part of the city special.

Mexican Americans of Wichita’s North End

Celebrating Kansas Breweries

9781467151924

$23.99

A Tour of the Kansas Beer Industry

Breweries in the state of Kansas are opening at a fast pace, in communities from Council Grove to Olathe. As the industry grows, the opportunities for craft beer fans to enjoy the communities and beer abound. Check out Ryan Triggs and Nick Feightner at Tall Trellis Brew Co. where you can enjoy a pint while sitting next to hop bines. Visit Fields & Ivy Brewery, the only brewery in the state with an active grain silo. Author Michael Travis traveled for a year and visited every brewery, capturing the heartbeat and story behind the owners and head brewers who make the magic happen.