Utah

Gilsonite is a solid hydrocarbon mined in vertical veins in southern Uintah County, Utah. It is found in veins anywhere from a foot to twenty-two feet in width, and a depth of a few feet up to 2,000 feet. The black shiny mineral is not commercially mined anywhere else in the world and only found in a few other places.

Following discovery, miners began working the gilsonite mines in the late 1800s. With the remoteness and distance to the mines, mining camps were set up at the various mine sites. The Uintah Railway was built from Mack, Colorado, over Baxter Pass, to transport gilsonite and eventually passengers and freight to and from the mining communities.

Families joined their husbands and fathers at the camps. Communities sprang up, namely the communities of Dragon, Rainbow, Watson, and Bonanza, along with others. Stores and boarding houses were opened to accommodate the miners and their families and schools were built for the children to attend.

The rich history left behind from the gilsonite mining communities gives an understanding of those that worked and lived there and certainly deserves its place in history.

The Transcontinental Railroad in Utah shows the impact of the large number of new arrivals on the population and economy of Utah, as well as the impact of the people of Utah on those newly arrived. This fascinating history includes descriptions and photos of the living conditions, types of work, locations of railroad stations, and interactions with the local populations of the various ethnic and religious groups who arrived in Utah from 1869-1940. Detail is provided on the employment of the new arrivals and the businesses they owned, as well as the neighborhoods in which they lived and the churches they established. Their lives are described, as well as details of the locations of the railroad stations where they first arrived, plus the deaths and burials that occurred among them. Some arrival names are included with family stories, along with references to source materials at various repositories. A multitude of photos provide depth to the story.

The time has come for an adventure like no other. Explore derelict buildings, missile bases, satanic ritual sites, mortuaries, ghost towns, and more. Picking up where he left off in his first book, Abandoned Utah, part two continues Nick's never-ending quest to explore every corner of this dark and dreary state. This journey isn't for the faint of heart. Along the way, face poisonous spiders, angry squatters, and the ever-present danger of structural collapse. Local lore insists that many of these locations are haunted as well. Nick leaves that up to you to decide. We are a strange breed of individuals. We're attracted to things and places that are supposed to scare us. We see beauty where others see repulsiveness. Our minds thrive in dark and dreary environments yet often falter within everyday life. Why are we like this? Is it our drive for discovery? That voice in our heads telling us to keep going? Or is it the danger factor, and the adrenaline rush when exploring an old mine or climbing onto the roof of a crumbling structure? For Nick and his readers, it's often a form of escapism, a way to forget the stressors of everyday life and wander within a strange world. Whatever your reason for picking up this book, one thing is certain: a grand adventure awaits within these pages. What are you waiting for?

Haunted mansions, legendary gravesites, ghost towns, and fascinating history lie within these pages. His first book in the Photographer's America series, join author Nick Bagley as he takes you on a photographic tour of some of his favorite places. Diverting from the norm, Nick explores unheard-of areas that are regularly missed by the public. By no means a complete list, this book is designed to spark your imagination and motivate you to go out and explore on your own.
Photographer's America: Utah Unique follows Nick as he investigates and photographs local legends and lore. Visit the grave of Jacob Moritz, who has been spotted haunting the Salt Lake Cemetery. Explore the famed McCune Mansion and discuss the many paranormal encounters that have happened within its walls. Stop by the Alta Club, where a fire burned a man to death in the 1950s. Not interested in the creepy side of things? Well, Nick has you covered. Visit gardens, historic homes, and explore the streets of Salt Lake City. A photographic masterpiece mixed with local history, this is Photographers America: Utah Unique.

The city of North Ogden, Utah, that we know today has seen many changes through the years. Although the majestic Ben Lomond Peak still towers over the city, homes continue to spread further into the foothills. The land that greeted early inhabitants was mostly sagebrush-covered desert, which was steadfastly transformed into rich farmlands and orchards. Today these farmlands and orchards are being developed into housing and commercial areas, creating a flourishing city. Approximately 20,000 citizens take pride in residing and raising their families in this community; among those are many descendants of early settlers. Humble homes, businesses, schools, landmarks, and people have been preserved in this album of photographs, along with more recent comparative images, bringing the past into the present.
The North Ogden Historical Museum members are dedicated to preserving the history, stories, and artifacts of the city, honoring the legacy of our hardy pioneers. All proceeds from this book benefit the North Ogden Historical Museum, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

Crumbling ceilings, collapsing floors, and caved-in mine shafts are but a few of the perils that await the reader. A new adventure presents itself to all who dare explore these dark and dreary locations. Every place tells its own unique story. Every ounce of dust contains a gold mine of historical significance. Remember, all things are doomed to be erased by time and decay.

Abandoned Utah follows photographer Nick Bagley as he attempts to preserve the past through his photos. Reading more like a history book, Nick researches each location he visits, providing the reader with detailed information behind each image. More adventurous than your average photographer, Nick uses his camera as an instrument to showcase all his photographic expeditions. Each trip he takes opens new doors in time, revealing how things once were. Believing that history repeats itself, Nick attempts to preserve it by using his unique point of view. Now grab your camera, dust off your lens, and join Nick on his exciting journey through Abandoned Utah.