West

Rollins Pass holds 12,000 years of history; Paleoindians utilized the pass 65 centuries before the invention of the wheel.

Later, wagon and rail magnates saw the pass as a “Great Gate” across the Continental Divide. Today, the area is listed as one of Colorado’s Most Endangered Places.

B. Travis Wright, MPS, is a 2022 Colorado Preservation Inc. State Honor Award recipient for his advocacy of Rollins Pass. As historians and photographers, B. Travis Wright and Kate Wright, MBA, document the timeless landscapes atop Rollins Pass.

Las Vegas is truly a city unlike any other. Beginning as a railroad stop in the desert and growing to become one of the top tourist destinations in the nation, the city continues to grow and redefine itself.

Maggie Bukowski Gaspar has lived in Las Vegas for 20 years and is the curator of Manuscripts, Photographs, and Library at the Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas. All historic images in this book come from the museum’s collection. 

The Grand Canyon is one of the most inspiring and accessible natural wonders in

the world. More than a century ago, visionaries developed it as a tourist destination, and today, it sees more than five million visitors per year to experience its geology, cultural history, and wildlife. Relying on historic images primarily from the Grand

Canyon Museum Collections, historian Kevin S. Schindler traces the development of the Grand Canyon as a bucket-list destination for people of all ages.

Comparing our present to our past is how we understand our history. Arcadia’s

Past & Present series makes such local comparisons available. Books in this series

offer a special view of American life by placing historical images side by side with

contemporary photographs.

Established in 1811, Astoria, Oregon, holds claim to being the oldest US settlement west of the Rockies. After surviving devastating fires and severe economic downturns, modern Astoria—with its well-preserved historic homes and bustling downtown—is a beacon on the scenic Columbia River.

Celebrating this multilayered history, author Dr. Chelsea K. Vaughn is a native of the Pacific Northwest who has called Astoria home for the past nine years. She now works as the curator for the Clatsop County Historical Society.

Fruita, Colorado, was founded by William Pabor in 1884 as a family-friendly community based on fruit-growing. The town was designed with a compact central business area filled with shops and a park and surrounded by residences. Although Fruita has changed, many early downtown buildings and houses still remain, and historic images are stored in the Lower Valley Heritage Room.

This book vividly traces the captivating evolution of Concord, California, from its humble beginnings to its vibrant present. Delve into the city’s rich history through a blend of archival and contemporary photographs and narratives. 

Local history author and longtime Concord resident Joel A. Harris captures the essence of Concord’s resilience, showcasing how it has grown into a dynamic hub while preserving the echoes of its remembered past through images provided by the Concord Historical Society, the City of Concord, and local citizens.

In June 1959, fifteen thousand people arrived at Perl-Mack Enterprises show homes in North Glenn. What Life magazine termed the “most perfectly planned community in America” incorporated in 1969 to become the city of Northglenn. The neighborhoods built around schools, parks, churches, and businesses developed into a city that is continuing to change while embracing its history.

Founded by the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad in 1880, Winslow evolved from a company boomtown into a small city whose historic character is defined primarily by its location along US Route 66 since the highway’s designation in 1926. Now Historic Route 66, it runs the length of Winslow on Second and Third Streets, which are lined with renovated early- to mid-20th-century buildings.

As director of the Winslow Historical Society’s Old Trails Museum, author Ann-Mary J. Lutzick researches and writes about how Winslow’s rich history is reflected in its buildings and sites along Route 66 and beyond, many of which are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

A City of Excellence

Located at the confluence of the Arkansas River and Fountain Creek, Pueblo, Colorado, began as a trading post but formally incorporated as a city in 1870. An important location in the Colorado Gold Rush of 1859, by the time that Pueblo became an actual town, steel was the most important metal. Early visionaries quickly developed business, heavy industry, and other enterprises that, in turn, attracted diverse communities making the city what it is today.

Established in 1858 on the brink of the Comstock Lode discovery, Carson City quickly became a hub for industry and transport in western Nevada. Following the turn of the 20th century, Carson City’s proximity to the Lake Tahoe area was attractive for early tourists and recreation enthusiasts, ultimately leading to the establishment of the Lincoln Highway down the city’s main street. Carson City’s landscape continues to change with new businesses and expanded infrastructure. Alexis K. Thomas is an architectural historian who has worked in Carson City as well as the rest of Nevada.

Noe Valley is known as San Francisco’s “Village within the City.

” Originally part of Jose de Jesus Noe’s old Spanish land grant, Noe Valley became a vibrant neighborhood that is considered to be one the city’s most desirable residential areas.

Bill Yenne is an award-winning, best-selling author and historian whose many works include previous books on Noe Valley and San Francisco. He and his wife have lived in Noe Valley for four decades, watching their children and grandchildren grow as members of this community.

Located in the heart of Ventura County, Camarillo, named after Adolfo Camarillo, sits on the northern edge of the Oxnard Plain.

Adolfo Camarillo inherited and operated the 10,000-acre Rancho Calleguas, one of the last Mexican land grants, helping Ventura County become the world’s top lima bean producer. Camarillo’s excellent climate and rich topsoil brought farmers to the area, but as time passed, farmland was sold to land developers and patchwork housing tracks sprang up in addition to light industry and small businesses.

David Reel has lived in Camarillo for 38 years. As a literary writer, historian, photographer, and podcaster, Reel presents Camarillo as his first book—but not his last.

Newberg has experienced significant growth in the last century, with a notable uptick in the 1990s. This growth can largely be attributed to increased employment and education opportunities. George Fox University along with ADEC and the ever-expanding wine industry have significantly contributed to Newberg’s growth. For much of the 20th century, Newberg was removed from urban life and was simply a place people stopped on their way to the coast. Today, it is a thriving community in the heart of Oregon wine country. Manufacturing advancements in the dental industry were pioneered by the Austin family and their ADEC business. Additionally, as Newberg wines gained worldwide recognition, people began moving to the region to plant their own vineyards. The tourism industry throughout the Willamette Valley grown largely because people come to taste world class wines. Additionally, George Fox University continues to offer a top-notch education and has seen continual enrollment growth since the 1990s. 

Holbrook was established in 1881 when the railroad came through Northern Arizona. Surviving a catastrophic fire, it was the playground for the Hashknife cowboys, giving it an unparalleled Wild West history.

It also endured floods caused by the Little Colorado River, and although it was once a major stop along Route 66, it was bypassed by Interstate 40 in the 1980s. Nevertheless, Holbrook is still a vibrant community today.

Residents for more than two decades, authors William Gibson Parker and Linda Louise Parker document this rich history.

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.

Located along the west bank of the Willamette River at the falls in Oregon, the West Linn area offers a vibrant and interesting array of geological history, including ice age floods and the Willamette Meteorite. It is a significant historic site for Native Americans because of fishing and trading at the falls, and it was a settling place for early pioneers at the end of the Oregon Trail. It was known as an important hub of the paper and electric production industry.

The West Linn Historical Society has been sharing “History Without Walls” since 2014.

In the heart of the Pacific Northwest sits the Palouse, and at its core is Moscow, Idaho.

Throughout its history, Moscow has been known as the home of the University of Idaho and various agricultural businesses. As the town has grown and evolved, Moscow has become the commercial hub of the area, and it took on a new slogan, the “Heart of the Arts.”

The Latah County Historical Society explores over 130 years of Moscow’s history through photography and traces its roots back to the Latah County Pioneer Association, founded in 1891.

Through a side by side comparison of historic and modern photographs, Ryan Lee Price illustrates the evolution of Glendora from a quaint town known for its abundant citrus groves to the beloved suburban community it is today, affectionately called "The Pride of the Foothills'? by locals.

Through this juxtaposition of old and new photographs, see why so many historic buildings in Ripon, CA have endured into the present day through the thoughtful care and preservation of its citizens.

Settled in 1868, Prineville was the first community in Central Oregon.  Primarily focused on the livestock industry, the area experienced a period of vigilante action in the 1880s and sheep-and-cattle wars just after the turn of the 20th century. Prineville remained the predominant community in the region until about 1915, when major railroads arrived and passed over it. This book showcases key images of Prineville, beginning with its first-known photograph in 1881 up until the early 2000s. /Steve Lent has authored several books on local history and provides historical perspectives to both the past and present photographs.

Oregon City’s storied past remains embedded in its architecture, where impressions of earlier generations linger beneath bricks and plaster. These structures narrate the city’s growth and are concrete reminders of those who labored in its transition.

Anchored between historical and modern lenses, writer Johna Sans Heintz and photographer Jo Lynn Dow have combined their academic backgrounds in history and education to present time-capsuled snapshots of Oregon City. Their street scenes and anecdotes humanize those whose legacies are interwoven into the city’s fabric. 

Brigham Young sent the first pioneers to Mesa in the late 1870s to help support the Mormon Church’s expansion into Mexico. Some of the earliest businesses during those days included a blacksmith shop, theater, lumberyard, and mercantile. Much of the early architecture still exists among the downtown buildings, churches, and schools.

Author Patty Molinaro has paired rare historic images with contemporary views to display the intriguing history of Red Lodge, Montana. As intriguing and inviting as its name, Red Lodge, has retained its charm and historic character much the same as when first revered by early Native tribes and frontiersmen.

Once Crow domain, the settlement of Red Lodge was established along a mail route in 1884, slowly evolving as home to coal miners, immigrants, cattlemen, homesteaders, recreationists, and a tourist industry.

Those who have not been back to Galt in years might be surprised to find beloved places like the old Galt High School, Galt Frostie, and the Galt Pharmacy on Fourth Street are all gone.

An agricultural community at its inception, Galt has maintained its small-town charm and remains a stopping off point for those traveling State Highway 99.