The History Press [New Releases]

From abandoned gristmills to Olmsted-inspired landscapes, the Gwynns Falls is a virtual time capsule of Baltimore's natural, social and cultural history. Stretching from the city's waterfront to its northwest uplands, this cascading stream and its valley have played a key role in the area's heritage, yet often have been treated as neglected resources. Today, the Gwynns Falls Trail provides a new opportunity to discover this natural
corridor and to connect the diverse neighborhoods along its route. Step off the bike trails and footpaths with W. Edward Orser to discover the rich legacy and contemporary stories of West Baltimore's Greenway to the Chesapeake Bay.

From headless men and ghostly soldiers to unlucky bootleggers and ominous gravediggers, Haunted Annapolis narrates the tales of these and other supernatural residents of Annapolis.

Beneath the statehouse dome and from the banks of the Severn River, the ghosts of Annapolis rise to roam the red-bricked streets of the old city. The capital of Maryland since 1694, the city hosts the restless dead who never left the narrow alleys, taverns and homes where they met their ends. Come dine with Mary Reynolds at the tavern she's been keeping since the 1760s, stand vigil at the sarcophagus of Admiral John Paul Jones and search for the figure of Thomas Dance, who plummeted from the heights of the statehouse dome in 1793. From headless men and ghostly soldiers to unlucky bootleggers and ominous gravediggers, Annapolis Ghost Tour founder Mike Carter and tour guide Julia Dray narrate the eerie tales of these and other supernatural residents of Annapolis.

The mountain snows melted and the rains came. In 1853, thousands fled the rising water; in 1889, two days of torrential rain ravaged the city; and in 1936, the infamous St. Patrick's Day flood saw a swell of ten feet. Perched on the banks of the Potomac River, the city of Cumberland, Maryland, has been plagued by devastating floods since its foundation. Time and again, deluges have brought the city to its knees. Yet the Queen City has always risen triumphant and undimmed from the raging waters. With this stunning collection of images, historian and author Albert L. Feldstein chronicles the history of Cumberland through its floods and the valiant efforts of its citizens to stem the tide.

Strange lights float in the Pocomoke Forest, withering houses decay in lonely fields and spirits linger along the shores of the Chesapeake Bay. The eerie landscape of Maryland's Lower Eastern Shore teems with stories of the supernatural. A spectral candle moves past a window at the Teackle Mansion in Princess Anne, while the friendly ghost of old Rock makes his presence known at the Headquarters Firehouse in Salisbury. At the headwaters of the Pocomoke River, Snow Hill's sprawling River House echoes with phantom footsteps that hint at a sad history. Author and guide Mindie Burgoyne uncovers the mysteries and ghost lore of one of the state's most haunted regions.

Shady hills, rolling lawns, and gardens in the core of the city: Druid Hill Park lies at the heart of Baltimore, and
made history as one of the first public parks in
America. One of Frederick Law Olmsted's commissions, it led the way for other estates and green spaces
to be deeded as parks that are open to all. Druid Hill's
design reflects the tradition of European garden style and
it stands as a natural refuge for fun and relaxation amid
the urban neighborhoods of Baltimore.

When Great Britain levied heavy taxes against the colonies, the Eastern Shore's first beer geek, John Beale Bordley, swore off English ales and set his substantial estate to perfecting his own home brews. It took another two centuries and a revolution of a different kind to bring brewing back to the Maryland shore. In 1989, Wild Goose bore the gospel of drinking local to Cambridge before falling victim to the first craft beer bubble. The next wave of high-gravity harbingers like Eastern Shore Brewing, Burley Oak and Evolution Craft Brewing fought to change collective palates and legislation allowing them to serve up their frosty pints. Beer bard and blogger Tony Russo taps into this full-bodied history while introducing the region's bold new batch of brewers.

Victorine Quille Adams was a Baltimore native and the first African American woman elected to the city council. Born in 1912, she lived through stringent segregation, racial violence and economic turbulence

Victorine Quille Adams was a Baltimore native and the first African American woman elected to the city council. Born in 1912, she lived through stringent segregation, racial violence and economic turbulence.

Educated at Morgan State and Coppin State Universities, she took to the classroom and enriched the lives of her students. In 1946, she founded the Colored Women's Democratic Campaign Committee to educate African American women about the vote and the power of the ballot box. In concert with fellow educators Mary McLeod Bethune, Kate Sheppard and Dr. Delores Hunt, she persisted in educating and empowering voters throughout her life. Author Ida E. Jones reveals the story of this civic leader and her crusade for equity for all people in Baltimore.