Technology & Engineering

The story of the bridge that transformed Maryland's Eastern Shore from a sleepy backwater to a major tourism destination and caused an economic boom in Baltimore in the west.

When it opened to traffic in 1952, the William Preston Lane Jr. Memorial Bridge - simply called the Chesapeake Bay Bridge - was the third-longest bridge in the world. The four-mile long span was constructed over the Chesapeake Bay in a dramatic 2.5-year period of progress that became known to the workers as Operation Link, because it would be the first physical connection between the two widely separated parts of Maryland. Today, the two spans - the original Bay Bridge from 1952 and the parallel span built alongside it in 1973 - are towering architectural landmarks along the East Coast of the United States.

Organized fire protection in Frederick County, Maryland, existed before the adoption of the Constitution. Follow the colorful history of the fire companies from the first fire engine in 1764 to the fire company militia units that were summoned to Harper's Ferry and fire halls used during the Civil War. Learn how the fire companies in Frederick County had statewide influence by organizing the Maryland State Firemen's Association in 1893. Read of the tradition of fire engines "throwing water over the town clock"--sometimes to test performance, other times just for bragging rights. Local author and volunteer firefighter Chip Jewell provides a snapshot of how each fire company was organized from the early 1800s to the most recent companies in the 1970s.

The remarkable story of the people who built the Conowingo Dam brick by brick and bill by bill, and the impact that goes on today.

Second in size only to the massive hydroelectric works at Niagara Falls, the Conowingo Dam across the Susquehanna River was celebrated as a miraculous feat of modern engineering when it opened in 1928. The dam was built with astonishing speed and efficiency and completed on budget and ahead of schedule, and its generators came on line at the very crescendo of the Roaring Twenties, when the race toward electrification was changing American life. The hydro dams of the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Bonneville and Grand Coulee Dams in the Pacific Northwest, and the great colossus of Hoover Dam were all constructed in the next two decades, but handsome, indomitable Conowingo Dam preceded them all and remains in effective operation to this very day.

Join former forest manager Champ Zumbrun as he traverses hidden trails to tell the remarkable story of Green Ridge State Forest.

Green Ridge State Forest is a haven of calm and natural beauty among the Appalachians of western Maryland. This land was once the frontier of the nation, and trailblazers such as Thomas Cresap and George Washington were among the first Europeans to discover its wonders: the swift Potomac, the flowering dogwood and pine in the mountain reaches and the nighttime calls of the bobcat and the barred owl. The vision and stewardship of people like forester Fred W. Besley preserved the forest for future generations of hikers, explorers and families. Join former forest manager Champ Zumbrun as he traverses hidden trails to tell the remarkable story of Green Ridge State Forest.

Few things in our world today can be described as truly "unique," and yet, this word is aptly attributed to the USS Constellation. The last all-sail warship constructed by the United States Navy, the Constellation is the last surviving vessel afloat that actively served in the Union or Confederate Navies during the Civil War. While hundreds of battlefields commemorate the valor of the legions of soldiers who served in our nation's most divisive conflict, this ship is the last buoyant memorial to those who served their country and their cause upon the precarious seas. From her 1854 mystery-shrouded construction, through her numerous roles and assignments, to her several "restorations" over the last 40 years, this majestic vessel has a fascinating story to tell. USS Constellation: An Illustrated History, the first comprehensive account of the Constellation's journey through the years, tells this story and showcases over 200 images, including photographs, engravings, paintings, and sketches gathered from museums, archives, and private collections. These visual records, and the informative captions that accompany them, testify to the engaging tale of this seminal piece of American history, dispel the myths of her past, and set straight her record of accomplishment and endurance.

The story of firefighting in Frederick, Maryland, is a complex tale of heroism, sacrifice, and duty that dates back to 1818.

Firefighters play a vital role in any time, but it's almost easy to forget the days before mandatory fire safety practices, when most buildings were made of wood, how often the fire department was the only thing to prevent a fire from destroying an entire city. This volume describes the heroic role the fire department has played in defending the city of Frederick for close to two centuries. Highlighted in this work are the Independent Hose Company, Junior Fire Company, United Steam Fire Engine Company, Citizen's Truck Company, Fort Detrick Fire Department, as well as historic fires, emergency medical services, and major disasters throughout the region.

The story of firefighting in Hagerstown is almost as old as the town itself. From the bucket brigades in 1791 to the modern fire apparatus used today, the fire department of Hagerstown has played a significant role in protecting local citizens and structures from the ravages of fire. By highlighting the major components of the fire department, including firefighters, fire stations, and the blazes that have spread throughout the city, Images of America: Firefighting in Hagerstown chronicles over two centuries of protection in Hagerstown. This work touches on the dedication, sacrifice, and willingness to serve by the members of each fire company. With over 200 archival images, this volume highlights many rarely seen photographs, including horse-drawn equipment, firehouses, and many of Hagerstown's most challenging fires.

Since the 19th century, the Hagerstown Fire Department has consisted of the following companies: First Hagerstown Hose, Antietam Fire, Independent Junior Fire, Western Enterprise Fire, Pioneer Hook & Ladder, and, since 1950, South Hagerstown Fire. In about 1895, the Hagerstown Fire Department began the transition from an all-volunteer force to a combination volunteer/career force. This second collection of historic firefighting images is a chronology of the Hagerstown Fire Department from 1791 to 2005. During that period, there were significant advances in firefighting equipment, technology, and firefighting training. In this volume, more than 200 images capture the firefighters and fire apparatus in action at fires and also the daily activities defining each era. Whether they were using buckets, hand- or horse-pulled apparatus, or half-million dollar motorized equipment, the firefighters of Hagerstown have always faced challenges with courage. The images in this volume bring to life the men and women who sacrificed so much.

Firefighting in mountainous Allegany County has evolved from bucket brigades and hose reels to a paid fire department in the county seat of Cumberland and 23 modern volunteer fire departments. Highlighted in Firefighting in Allegany County is the Cumberland Fire Department, which formed in 1906 as the second paid fire department in Maryland. The oldest all-volunteer department, Frostburg, is also given extensive coverage as well as the volunteer fire companies in the coal-mining region of Georges Creek. The more rural area of eastern Allegany County and suburban Cumberland have been protected by volunteer fire companies since the 1930s and 1940s.

Images of America: Firefighting in Frederick County honors the contribution of both volunteer and career firefighters through the years. Captured in these 200 vintage images are the local volunteer fire companies, many support agencies, and other emergency services organizations that have been assisting Frederick County for centuries. Featured also will be photographs of the Independent Hose Company of Frederick, which has the honor of being the oldest continuously operating fire company in Maryland, having been founded in 1818. Today, Frederick County is home to the National Fire Academy and the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial, both located in Emmitsburg and featured in the book.

Once, Kent Island homes that caught fire often burned to the ground. That changed in 1947 with the founding of the Kent Island Volunteer Fire Department, and for more than half a century, local volunteers have protected their community from fire and flood. Author Brent Lewis charts the history of this Kent Island institution with firsthand accounts from ordinary heroes, humorous stories of late-night practical jokes and recipes for applesauce cake and oyster fritters from the ladies auxiliary. Join Lewis as he tells the stories of the men and women who have dedicated themselves to the service of their community and created a family in the Kent Island Volunteer Fire Department.

For 100 years, the Maryland State Forests and Parks Services have maintained and provided public access to Maryland's most beautiful and historic places. These include Assateague, Elk Neck, the first completed Washington Monument, Fort Frederick, Green Ridge, and Swallow Falls. Maryland's Forests and Parks: A Century of Progress captures the development of the state's forests and parks from their inception in 1906 to the present day. Take a journey with first state forester Fred W. Besley: witness his pioneering efforts to protect Maryland's forests, promote outdoor recreation, and establish the state's earliest public lands along the Patapsco River and throughout Western Maryland. Experience subsequent endeavors of the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Department of Forests and Parks to build on Besley's examples to create one of the finest state park and forest systems in the nation. Finally explore the efforts of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to fulfill the mission envisioned by Besley a century ago: to protect, enhance, and restore Maryland's natural resources for the wise use and enjoyment of all citizens.