History

Winston Churchill called it one of his biggest wartime failures—the shift of British and U.S. support from Yugoslavia's Draža Mihailovic and his royalist resistance movement to Tito and his communist Partisans. This book illuminates the complex reasons behind that failure through the incredible story of what has been called the greatest rescue of Allied airmen from behind enemy lines in World War II history, a rescue executed, incredibly, with minimal official support from the United States and none such support from Great Britain.

• Recounts an unknown chapter of World War II history and the single largest rescue operation of the war
• Starting with Serbia's tragedy and triumph in World War II through civil war in Yugoslavia during World War I, focuses on the history of the Balkans, a tragically misunderstood part of the world
• Sheds new light on the OSS-SOE relationship and manipulations of intelligence that profoundly altered policy decision making
• Reveals how failed Allied policy set the stage for Yugoslavia's breakup in the 1990s
• Details the wartime camaraderie of unlikely warriors who became fast friends, outcasts, and heroes in executing the rescue

Written with the drama of a novel and the insight of serious history, Shadows on the Mountain is essential reading for anyone interested in World War II, European history, and the Balkans.

The Ultimate Warship

Her keel measured 126 feet, and she stretched to 160 feet overall. Her 46.5-foot beam sacrificed speed for the sake of stability, and the 19 feet of water she drew denied her access to smaller ports. Some saw her enormous size and ungainly proportions as serious drawbacks, but the 102 pound heavy bronze cannon that bristled from her flanks guaranteed that this black-hulled, ornately decorated monster would live up to her name: Sovereign of the Seas. The Dutch sailors who faced her in battle called her by another name, “The Golden Devil.” 

This immensely powerful floating fortress was the culmination of more than two hundred years of competition among the kingdoms of Europe to create the perfect marriage between guns and ships. Their relentless quest for maritime supremacy had produced a seemingly endless succession of grandiose flagships, from Henry V’s Grace à Dieu to Sweden’s ill-fated Vasa. Emerging nation-states had invested vast portions of their treasuries, kings had vied as much for prestige as for power, and thousands of hapless seamen had perished in pursuit of this goal.

Sovereigns of the Sea is a gripping tale of an arms race that created and ruined empires, changed the map of the world, and led Europe out of the Renaissance and into the modern age.

Who can hear the words grassy knoll or Texas School Book Depository without a shudder of horror? Who can forget that one minute the handsome, smiling president was waving to the crowds, and the next minute his wife was bravely trying to hold his shattered head together? The story of what happened on that day is very poignant for Antoinette Giancana. Her father, Sam Giancana, ordered the assassination of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy.

JFK and Sam is a tale of two murders. The first occurred in Dallas on November 22, 1963, the second in Oak Park, Illinois, on the evening of June 19, 1975. The first was ordered by Sam Giancana to avenge his betrayal by the Kennedys. The second assassination was carried out to prevent Giancana from testifying before the Church Committee about his role in the many plots of the CIA to assassinate Fidel Castro. Ironically, both men--John Kennedy and Sam Giancana--were killed because of their relation ship to each other and the events that grew out of that association. In short, if the two families had never worked together, JFK would not have been assassinated in 1963--but he also would likely never have been president.

JFK and Sam is unique among the many books about the Kennedy assassination. Written by someone with access to the key figures in the tragedy, it names the murderers and traces their movements on November, 22, 1963. It also discloses the identity of the shooter from the grassy knoll near the Texas School Book Depository, his taped confession, and his face-to-face meeting with Antoinette in the Joliet state prison where he is serving a life sentence for killing a policeman.

Coauthors John R. Hughes and Thomas H. Jobe--experts in neurophysiology, neurology, and neuropsychiatry--also provide expert analysis that shows what could not have happened and what did happen in Dallas on November 22, 1963. Basing their analysis on the nature of President Kennedy's injuries and his body's reaction to the bullets, Hughes and Jobe provide. medical basis that supports the story told by the man who assassinated the president of the United States.

The Titanic was the biggest, most luxurious passenger ship the world had ever seen; the ads proclaimed it to be unsinkable. When it sank in April 1912 after hitting an iceberg, killing more than 1,500 people, the world was forever changed and the public has been spellbound ever since. Now, a century later, the Titanic is about to disappear again: its infrastructure is set to collapse in the next few years. In this book, scientist Charles Pellegrino offers what may be the last opportunity to see the ship before it is lost to the seas for eternity. The last book to be written while survivors were still alive and able to contribute details, Farewell, Titanic includes many untold stories about the sinking and exploration of the unsinkable ship.

• Author Charles Pellegrino provided source material for James Cameron's Oscar-winning Titanic film, which is being re-released in 3D at the same time as the book
• Includes 16 pages of never-before-published photographs of the sunken vessel
• Includes all-new information about the Titanic research that has been carried out in the last decade
• Written by a New York Times bestselling author who participated in the post-discovery analysis of the Titanic's remains during the expedition that immediately followed Robert Ballard's Titanic discovery in 1985

They sailed north, all the way to Indonesia, traveling some thirty-six hundred treacherous miles in ten weeks—an incredible feat of seamanship. For a time, Mary and her companions were able to convince the local Dutch colonial authorities that they were survivors of a shipwreck, but eventually the truth emerged and they found themselves back in captivity, in irons, on their way to England for execution.

In time, Mary's fateful journey would win her tremendous admiration. A woman once reviled as a criminal would become a London celebrity, ultimately finding forgiveness and freedom.

In The Girl from Botany Bay, distinguished historian and biographer Carolly Erickson tells Mary Bryant's remarkable story at full length for the first time—the story of a woman whose impoverished Cornwall childhood led to a life of outlaw daring and thievery, then to harsh imprisonment and exile. Erickson recounts Mary's bold ventures from her point of view, beginning with her conviction and death sentence for highway robbery. Reprieved, she was sent to New South Wales to serve out her time, one of dozens of female convicts chosen as sexual companions for the hundreds of male convicts destined for settlement in the remote continent of Australia.

From Mary's perilous sea journey to Botany Bay and Sydney Cove, to the inhuman conditions at the penal colony, to the risky escape to the Indonesian island of Timor and the horrors of the sail back to England—during which Mary's husband and two children died of disease—the story is harrowing yet heroic. With the dramatic narrative skill for which she is acclaimed, Erickson brings Mary and her companions to life in compelling detail. All the dangers of seafaring adventure are here: violent storms, near drownings, severe hunger and thirst, and the perils of relentless exposure to sun, wind, and salt spray that left the convicts with their skin scraped raw and their strength leached away.

When she finally landed in England and testified before the magistrate's court, Mary was magnificent in her own defense. No one had the heart to condemn her; had she not, through her suffering, paid for her crimes? Impressed by Mary's sturdy self-possession and courage, lawyer and author James Boswell came to her rescue, ensuring that "the Girl from Botany Bay," as the newspapers called her, was freed and able to begin a new life.

The epic story of Mary Bryant, the brave and resourceful girl from Botany Bay, is compelling narrative nonfiction at its very best.

Beloved food historian and chef George Geary is back with even more remarkable stories of the countless international chains that started in the Golden State.

Ruby’s Diner. Panda Express. Yogurtland. Wetzel’s Pretzels. The Cheesecake Factory. California Pizza Kitchen. These and many more iconic American culinary establishments have their roots in California.

Focusing on the years 1951 to 2010, the second volume of Made in California highlights fifty more food startups that have captured America’s hearts and stomachs, from the Claim Jumper to the Green Burrito, Chuck E. Cheese to Mrs. Fields Cookies, Jamba Juice to Bubba Gump Shrimp Company. Brimming with captivating historical detail and more than 200 dazzling full-color photos, George Geary’s newest journey into California’s culinary history is sure to awaken every reader’s inner foodie.

Who was Rome’s greatest general, statesman, and nation-builder: Caesar or Pompey?

Few people have had as many words written about them down through the centuries as Julius Caesar—the brilliant general who made Queen Cleopatra of Egypt his mistress. He has captured the imagination of playwrights, historians, soldiers, and emperors.

Little has been written about his ally, son-in-law, and eventual enemy Pompey the Great, who crashed onto the Roman scene as a victorious twenty-three-year-old general and who, at the height of his career, was arguably more famous, more popular, and more successful than Caesar.

Caesar Versus Pompey tells the parallel life stories of Julius Caesar and Pompey the Great, as their lives and loves became intertwined and interdependent, as they grew from rivals to partners, then from joint rulers to warring foes. One strove to preserve the Roman Republic, the other destroyed it.

Who was Rome’s greatest general, statesman, and nation-builder: Caesar or Pompey?

Few people have had as many words written about them down through the centuries as Julius Caesar—the brilliant general who made Queen Cleopatra of Egypt his mistress. He has captured the imagination of playwrights, historians, soldiers, and emperors.

Little has been written about his ally, son-in-law, and eventual enemy Pompey the Great, who crashed onto the Roman scene as a victorious twenty-three-year-old general and who, at the height of his career, was arguably more famous, more popular, and more successful than Caesar.

Caesar Versus Pompey tells the parallel life stories of Julius Caesar and Pompey the Great, as their lives and loves became intertwined and interdependent, as they grew from rivals to partners, then from joint rulers to warring foes. One strove to preserve the Roman Republic, the other destroyed it.

Discover the Surprising History of Ordinary Things

"Emily magically weaves a vibrant history of simple everyday objects we often take for granted. The Story Behind will surprise and delight..." ─Deana Marie, Creator & Host of the Twisted Philly podcast

#1 Best Seller in Trivia & Fun Facts, Art History, Design History & Criticism, Reference, Decorative Arts & Design, and History of Technology

Learn the fascinating history and trivia you never knew about things we use daily, from the host of The Story Behind podcast.

Everyday objects and major events in history. Every single thing that surrounds us has a story behind it. Many of us learn the history of humans and the major inventions that shaped our world. But what you may not have learned is the history of objects we surround ourselves with every day. You might not even know how the major events in history (World Wars, ancient civilizations, revolutions, etc.) influenced the inventions of things we use today.

The history and science behind the ordinary. From the creator of The Story Behind podcast comes one of the coolest coffee table books ever written. The Story Behind provides insight into everyday objects we don’t think much about as we use them. Topics covered in Emily’s podcast are examined in more detail along with new fascinating topics. Learn how lollipops got started in Ancient Egypt, how podcasts were invented, and why Comic Sans was created. Learn the torture device origins of certain exercise equipment and the espionage beginnings of certain musical instruments. Ordinary things from science to art, food to sports, customs to fashion, and more are explored.

Inside:

• Learn obscure history and fun facts and change the way you see the world
• Discover how major historic events still affect us today
• Become a formidable trivia master

If you have enjoyed books such as Now I Know, What If?, Ever Wonder Why?, The Greatest Stories Never Told, or Atlas Obscura; you will be entertained by The Story Behind.

The race to make the first nonstop flight between the New York and Paris attracted some of the most famous and seasoned aviators of the day, yet it was the young and lesser known Charles Lindbergh who won the $25,000 Orteig Prize in 1927 for his history-making solo flight in the Spirit of St. Louis. Drawing on many previously overlooked sources, Bak offers a fresh look at the personalities that made up this epic air race – a deadly competition that culminated in one of the twentieth century's most thrilling personal achievements and turned Charles Lindbergh into the first international hero of the modern age.

• Examines the extraordinary life and cultural impact of Charles Lindbergh, one of the iconic figures of the twentieth century, and his legendary trans-Atlantic flight that captured the world's imagination
• Explores the romance of flying during aviation's Golden Age of the 1920s, the enduring mystique of the aviator, and rapid technological advances that made for a paradigm shift in human perception of the world
• Filled with colorful characters from early aviation history, including Charles Nungesser, Igor Sikorsky, René Fonck, Richard Byrd, and Paul Tarascon

History and the imagination take flight in this gripping account of high-flying adventure, in which a group of courageous men tested the both limits of technology and the power of nature in pursuit of one of mankind's boldest dreams.

The atomic age began at 5:30 a.m. on July 16, 1945, with the explosion of “the Gadget” at Trinity near Alamogordo, New Mexico. Prelude to the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which forced the capitulation of Japan and ended World War II, the Trinity test was the culmination of herculean efforts by scientists, civilians, and the military of the United States to tap the potential of the atom for a wartime emergency. If Nazi Germany could engineer the bomb first, an Allied victory against Hitler was all but lost. Historic Photos of the Manhattan Project is a look back at the epic struggle to build the world’s first atomic bomb. 

Nearly 200 images in vivid black-and-white reveal the project as it unfolded, from its secretive origins at Oak Ridge, Hanford, and Los Alamos, to the day Americans celebrated triumph over the Axis powers with victory over Japan. A pinnacle moment in the history of the United States, the Manhattan Project’s application of Einstein’s famous equation E=MC² shows, perhaps better than any other single endeavor, what can be achieved by human ingenuity when the citizens of a great nation are united in freedom against a fearsome and despotic foe.

The history of law enforcement in the Lone Star State goes back well before photography, dating to Texas’ days as part of the Spanish empire. After that Texas became a province of Mexico and for nearly a decade stood among the nations as an independent republic before becoming the 28th state in the Union in 1845. Beyond the contribution to law and order made by constables, sheriffs, town marshals, city police officers, and federal lawmen, Texas is the birthplace of a law enforcement institution unique in the world, the legendary Texas Rangers. 

With a selection of fine historic images from his best-selling book Historic Photos of Texas Lawmen, Mike Cox provides a valuable and revealing historical retrospective on this important aspect of Texas history. Remembering Texas Lawmen features more than 125 images of Texas lawmen, bad men (and a few bad women), assorted characters with a law enforcement connection like the legendary Judge Roy Bean, and shots of the places they did their work—for good or bad. Each photograph has a story to tell, and all of the images command attention, many as attention-getting as the business end of a Texas Ranger’s .45.

Norfolk’s history has been described as one composed of a series of challenges and responses to those challenges. Burned to the ground in early 1776, financially ruined barely 30 years later, decimated by yellow fever in 1855, occupied by a hostile Army during the American Civil War, Norfolk has always found a way to rise to its feet and rebound stronger than ever.

With a selection of fine historic images from her best-selling book, Historic Photos of Norfolk, Peggy Haile McPhillips provides a valuable and revealing historical retrospective on the growth and development of Norfolk. Remembering Norfolk examines the history of this spunky City by the Sea during the century from Civil War to Civil Rights, a period that included two world wars, massive urban renewal, and new beginnings.

Published in striking black-and-white, the images on these pages capture historic events and everyday moments from Norfolk’s past, and turn a lens on challenges met and mastered for future growth and prosperity.

From its birth to the present, Sacramento has consistently built and reshaped its appearance, ideals, and industry. Through changing fortunes, Sacramento has continued to grow and prosper by overcoming adversity and maintaining the strong, independent culture of its citizens.

With a selection of fine historic images from their best-selling book Historic Photos of Sacramento, James Scott and Tom Tolley provide a valuable and revealing historical retrospective on the growth and development of Sacramento. Remembering Sacramento captures this journey through still photography selected from the finest archives. From the 1860s to the 1960s, Remembering Sacramento follows life, government, education, and events throughout the city’s history.

This volume captures unique and rare scenes through the lens of more than a hundred historic photographs. Published in vivid black-and-white, these images communicate historic events and everyday life of two centuries of people building a unique and prosperous city.

Colorado Springs has always held a special fascination for visitors. Early Indian tribes, trappers and hunters, the railroad builders, gold and silver prospectors, health seekers, tourists, and the U.S. military have all left their mark on the area. Set against magnificent Pikes Peak and the front range of the Rocky Mountains, Colorado Springs enjoys a history rich with all that is authentically American.

With a selection of fine historic images from her best-selling book Historic Photos of Colorado Springs, Sharon Swint provides a valuable and revealing historical retrospective on the growth and development of the city. Remembering Colorado Springs showcases more than 125 photographs of the city, focusing on hallmarks of its past while paying homage to lesser-known points of interest. Printed in vivid black-and-white and handsomely bound, these vignettes of Colorado Springs are sure to delight the history buff, the curious student, and all citizens wishing to explore their colorful local heritage.

In 1766, Moravian settlers, most having migrated to the Crown colony of North Carolina from Pennsylvania, established the town of Salem. Over eight decades, Salem became a key transportation nexus for both east-west and north-south traffic, yet never lost its Moravian trappings. In 1849, North Carolina established Forsyth County and incorporated Winston as its county seat. In the aftermath of the Civil War, this virtually undamaged region of the state began a rapid period of industrial and economic development, spurred by the pungent aroma of Bright Leaf tobacco. Population growth accompanied prosperity, and in 1913, the towns merged into a single municipality: Winston-Salem.

With a selection of fine historic images from his best-selling book Historic Photos of Winston-Salem, Wade G. Dudley provides a valuable and revealing historical retrospective on the growth and development of Winston-Salem. Its history is as diverse as the two towns from which it arose, one steeped in religious values and the other born from political expediency. Remembering Winston-Salem captures that diverse history in more than 125 vividly reproduced and captioned photographs, a tribute to the citizens, past and present, of the fine city of Winston-Salem.

Founded in the late nineteenth century as a railroad town, St. Petersburg quickly emerged as the "Sunshine City,” a preferred gulf-coast destination for Americans seeking Florida’s sun, sand, and surf.

With a selection of fine historic images from his best-selling book, Historic Photos of St. Petersburg, Andrew N. Edel provides a valuable and revealing historical retrospective on the growth and development of St. Petersburg. The images collected in Remembering St. Petersburg combine to form a remarkable portrait of this unique community. Among numerous subjects key to the city’s past are an early Mirror Lake, the Detroit Hotel, the Million Dollar Pier, the Snell Arcade, shuffleboard courts, Whitted Airport, Festival of States parades, the Orange Belt Railway, and of course, the famous green benches.

Spanning two centuries and more than 100 stunning black-and-white images, the book follows the building of this history-rich city, offering a compelling look into the past for any longtime resident and every history buff of St. Petersburg.

With a selection of fine historic images from his best-selling book Historic Photos of Chicago Crime: The Capone Era, John Russick provides a valuable and revealing historical retrospective on Chicago’s gangster era.

Perhaps no city has a more fabled past than Chicago, home of legendary Al Capone. But that fabled past is often portrayed separate from the surrounding web of social realities, without which no event, no period in time can be understood. Remembering Chicago: Crime in the Capone Era addresses this problem by opening with a compelling look at Chicago’s cityscape to include a broad range of cultural phenomena—from suffrage to jazz—essential to the contextualization of crime in the 1920s and 1930s. The history then proceeds as its title suggests—to a riveting overview of crime in Chicago, chock-full of images documenting notorious gangsters and gruesome gangland wars. Al Capone, John Torrio, Earl "Hymie” Weiss, George "Bugs” Moran, and a host of others are all here. Complete with insightful captions by historian John Russick, these photos offer a unique view into Chicago and its nefarious past.

With a proud tradition reaching back to its founding in 1845, the United States Naval Academy today pursues its role as the nation’s premier institution dedicated to teaching and molding the naval leaders of tomorrow. Graduates of the academy include famous athletes, fleet commanders of the world wars, and astronauts. Great Americans like George Dewey, Chester W. Nimitz, and Alan B. Shepard are but a few of the many graduates whose contributions to the defense and dexterity of the United States are legendary.

With a selection of fine historic images from his best-selling book, Historic Photos of United States Naval Academy, James W. Cheevers provides a valuable and revealing historical retrospective on the development of the United States Naval Academy. In stunning black-and-white photography, Remembering United States Naval Academy tours the institution from its earliest days up to recent times, encapsulating its history in more than 100 images from the storehouse of the academy, the Library of Congress, and other key archives. Through captions and essays, Cheevers does commendable work recounting the story of this unique school, pivotal to maintaining the nation’s naval supremacy on the seven seas.

The largest island in the continental United States, Long Island comprises Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk counties. With a rich history that has included American Indian tribes such as the Massapequa, Shinnecock, and Quogue, among others; colonists from England and the Netherlands; and immigrants who arrived by way of Ellis Island; Long Island thrives today on its wealth of industry, agriculture, natural beauty, and the contributions of its nearly eight million residents. Those very attributes are showcased in this volume, Remembering Long Island.

With a selection of fine historic images from his best-selling book, Historic Photos of Long Island, Joe Czachowski provides a valuable and revealing historical retrospective on the growth and development of Long Island. From the lighthouse at Montauk to the factories of Long Island City, the breadth, contrasts, and vitality of the Island through a century of its life shine forth in the black-and-white images collected here. Windmills and tide mills, potatoes and oysters, aviators and fishermen—all are a part of the Island’s history, and all are represented vividly among more than 100 images seen in Remembering Long Island.

Long after the gold rush had faded into history, San Francisco was still earning its title as the capital of the Wild, Wild West. Beneath its cosmopolitan, urbane veneer, the city at the dawn of the twentieth century still seethed with crime. Raucous crowds still gathered at the Old Barbary Coast dives and dance halls, hangouts for thieves and prostitutes, and by 1906, San Francisco’s elected officials had embarked on a spree of corruption that would eventually result in grand jury indictments, a kidnapping, bombings, and at least one murder.

With over 200 high-quality images, Historic Photos of San Francisco Crime sifts through the city’s misdeeds, murder, and mayhem, from the tongs and hatchet men of Old Chinatown to civil disobedience and protests at City Hall in the 1960s. The Preparedness Day Bombing of 1916, the trials of Roscoe "Fatty” Arbuckle for murder of Hollywood starlet Virginia Rappe, the lynching of the Howard Street Gang, the lethal Longshoremen’s strike and street riots of 1934, and the 1946 "Battle of Alcatraz” are just a few of the stops along the route of this riveting tour of San Francisco’s underworld.

Founded in the late nineteenth century as a railroad town, St. Petersburg quickly emerged as the "Sunshine City," a preferred west-coast destination for Americans seeking Florida's sun, sand, and surf.

The images collected in Historic Photos of St. Petersburg combine to form a remarkable portrait of this unique community. Among numerous subjects key to the city's past are an early Mirror Lake, the Detroit Hotel, the Million Dollar Pier, the Snell Arcade, shuffleboard courts, Whitted Airport, the Aquatarium, Festival of States parades, the Orange Belt Railway, Roser Park, and of course, the famous green benches.

In stunning black-and-white photography, this handsome coffee-table book details the historical growth of St. Petersburg from its early days up to recent times. Spanning two centuries and nearly 200 images, the book follows the building of this history-rich city, offering a compelling look into the past for any longtime resident and every history buff of St. Petersburg.

Pensacola is a city of many firsts. It was home to the first documented European settlement in North America, the first hostilities of the Civil War took place here, and it is the home of the first Naval Aviation training base. It was also the only natural deep-water port on the Gulf of Mexico.

With a selection of fine historic images from her best-selling book, Historic Photos of Pensacola, Jacquelyn Tracy Wilson provides a valuable and revealing historical retrospective on the growth and development of Pensacola. Focusing on the downtown area, Remembering Pensacola has captured the history of Pensacola from the Civil War to the 1970s. This walk through time documents Pensacola's move from a town of unpaved streets to a modern city. Unbeaten by a devastating fire in 1880, the city rebuilt and continued to grow.

In stunning black-and-white photography, this handsome book details the historical growth of Pensacola from its early days up to recent times. Spanning two centuries and more than 100 images, the book follows the building of this history-rich city, offering a compelling look into the past for any longtime resident and every history buff of Pensacola.

Inviting beaches, scenic vistas, magnificent architecture, and a fascinating history have made Palm Beach one of America’s premier tourist destinations. Beginning with Henry Flagler’s construction of railroads, and the Royal Poinciana and The Breakers luxury hotels in the late 1800s, the county has been a beacon for vacationers seeking escape from everyday life and winter weather for more than one hundred years. With a selection of fine historic images from his best-selling book Historic Photos of Palm Beach County, Seth H. Bramson provides a valuable and revealing historical retrospective on the growth and development of the area. Remembering Palm Beach presents the story of this popular section of Florida, told through vivid black-and-white photographs carefully selected from the finest archives. The images in these pages show how the region grew from “almost a wilderness” to become a place where beachfront property is coveted.

The Blue, the Gray, and the Red is the first book dedicated solely to chronicling the numerous campaigns waged against the Indians in the American West during the Civil War. In fact, more Indians were killed between 1861 and 1865 than in any other period in history. Some of the most noteworthy Indian Campaigns ever conducted, featuring a fascinating cast of larger than life characters, took place during these years.

Award-winning author Thom Hatch offers chronological narrative rich in details and full of new revelations of the bloody hostilities in the West. The Blue, the Gray, and the Red will appeal to all those interested in the Civil War and the Indian War in American history. It provides a thoroughly researched background of the conflicts and cross-references simultaneous battles and events in the eastern theater of the Civil War. The exhaustive documentation and analysis paired with the uniqueness of the subject will cast new light on this most turbulent period.

Situated at the mouth of the Golden Gate is the Presidio of San Francisco, one of the nation’s most famous former U.S. Army bases, currently a National Park in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and a distinguished National Historic Landmark.

From its humble beginnings as a distant outpost of the Spanish Empire on the Pacific Coast, the Presidio evolved into the most important American military post in the Western United States, playing a key role in America’s wars in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. As an active military base and the guardian of the Golden Gate up to 1994, and as a National Park today, the Presidio has played an important role in the lives of the citizens of San Francisco, both during wartime, and in times of peace. The Presidio’s stunning natural beauty and military and cultural importance make it one of our nation’s historic treasures.

An exploration of myth, legend, and origin stories passed from generation to generation.

In the thirteenth century BC, a quarter of a century before the Trojan War, seven Greek warrior heroes went against the Greek city of Thebes to restore one of their number to the throne of his father, the famous King Oedipus. Several children of those seven heroes would later take part in the siege of Troy.

This adventure was equal in the minds of Greeks and Romans with the siege of Troy as told in Homer’s epic The Iliad, an event which it predated by a generation. And while the story contains mythical elements, there are no factual, historical, or archaeological reasons to suggest that the military campaign did not take place much as described.

Initially sung in verse and later committed to written form via histories, ancient poems, and plays, Seven Against Thebes is a historical narrative concerning one of the greatest military adventures of all time.

Much of Arlington typified the "sleepy Southern town,” decades into the twentieth century. It was initially part of, then (merely) the closest neighbor to the District of Columbia. Often, Arlington was a place passed through on the way to somewhere else. With better transportation at the beginning of the twentieth century, it became a destination instead. Towns sprang up along the rail lines. An overflow of home-seeking government workers joined the earlier settlers, ultimately developing the suburban community of today. The federal government joined in, placed facilities in the county, and developed the Custis-Lee estate into the national Arlington Cemetery.

With a selection of fine historic images from his best-selling book Historic Photos of Arlington County, Matthew Gilmore provides a valuable and revealing historical retrospective on the growth and development of Arlington. Remembering Arlington brings together many different images and perspectives on Arlington, from the nonrecognizable rural nineteenth century to quite recognizable images from the 1970s. It captures the manifold aspects of the county in vivid black-and-white photographs. Images of local businesses, countywide parades, and shaded streets mingle with those of visits to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

West Point, New York, home of the United States Military Academy, is one of the nation's most famous and unique landscapes. Established in 1802 to train engineer officers for the Army, West Point has for over two hundred years produced many of the country's greatest leaders, including Ulysses S. Grant, Dwight D. Eisenhower, George S. Patton, and Douglas A. MacArthur.

Using nearly two hundred historical photos from the Library of Congress, National Archives, and collections at the United States Military Academy, here is West Point as it was from the mid-nineteenth to the mid-twentieth century. These priceless, black-and-white photos highlight cadets in classrooms, during military training, and on the fields of friendly strife. West Point buildings long demolished are shown as they were when Eisenhower and MacArthur were cadets. Also featured are special occasions such as graduations and visits by presidents, celebrities, and world leaders. This is West Point as you have never seen it, from the early days of photography through world events that thrust the Academy's graduates onto the world stage.

With a selection of fine historic images from her bestselling book Historic Photos of Rochester, Ruth Rosenberg Naparsteck provides a valuable and revealing historical retrospective on the growth and development of Rochester.

By the late nineteenth century, the city of Rochester had risen to become a vibrant cultural center of the North. Remembering Rochester captures this journey through still photography selected from the finest archives. Join the author on this tour of Rochester’s illustrious past. See the first Reynolds Arcade, ice skaters on the Erie Canal, Coggswell Fountain, the Lyceum Theatre, penny farthings on parade, a John Frisbie test flight, and many other remarkable and unique scenes and events.

Published in vivid black-and-white, more than a hundred images spotlight historic events and the everyday life of two centuries of people building a unique and prosperous city. Remembering Rochester is sure to delight all visitors and every citizen interested in learning more about this great American city.

As office and residence of the president of the United States, the White House is uniquely tied to both the life of the nation and the private lives of the building’s occupants. Americans have approached its grounds for celebrations and demonstrations, for Easter Egg Rolls and the right to vote. Citizens have looked to the White House for leadership during times of the gravest national import, yet also to share in the joys and sorrows experienced by the families living there.

The White House has undergone many changes through the years—some by blueprint, some by chance. Yet the building has always stood solid, each alteration becoming a part of its life experience.

Historic Photos of the White House contains nearly 200 images taken between the years 1846 and 1977. They show scenes of presidential business, intimate family moments, public interaction, and various changes to the White House itself. Together, these images provide a fascinating view through history of an institution described as "the most famous and highly cherished building in the whole country.”

The Blue, the Gray, and the Red is the first book dedicated solely to chronicling the numerous campaigns waged against the Indians in the American West during the Civil War. In fact, more Indians were killed between 1861 and 1865 than in any other period in history. Some of the most noteworthy Indian Campaigns ever conducted, featuring a fascinating cast of larger than life characters, took place during these years.

Award-winning author Thom Hatch offers chronological narrative rich in details and full of new revelations of the bloody hostilities in the West. The Blue, the Gray, and the Red will appeal to all those interested in the Civil War and the Indian War in American history. It provides a thoroughly researched background of the conflicts and cross-references simultaneous battles and events in the eastern theater of the Civil War. The exhaustive documentation and analysis paired with the uniqueness of the subject will cast new light on this most turbulent period.

Rolling green hills, cozy villages, covered bridges, maple trees—these are the images that have made Vermont. Residents and visitors alike appreciate Vermont for its old-time values that have steered clear of the modern world. But Vermont’s traditional values have been challenged and adapted—and even consciously sculptured. Vermonters have shown great creativity in preserving the past while admitting the new.

With a selection of fine historic images from her best-selling book Historic Photos of Vermont, Ginger Gellman provides a valuable and revealing historical retrospective on the growth and development of the state. Remembering Vermont tells the story of the nation’s 14th state in more than 125 vivid black-and-white photographs, all printed in an attractive and handsomely bound format. Integral to Vermont’s story of creativity are people like Ara Griggs, a one-man patrol who once enforced state laws on 15,000 miles of roads. Or Gilbert Hastings, who put a toy whistle in every loaf to move bread off his grocery shelves. Or J. Allan Clerkin, who ran a blacksmith shop in Jericho in the days of the horse and buggy. Take this journey into the past and discover the Americans who built Vermont and why it is they cherish the land they call home.

Washington State has a rich history. Known for its stunning natural beauty and diversity, Washington was populated for centuries by a large number of Native American tribes. Explored by British sea captains in the late eighteenth century, the region was opened in the early nineteenth century with the aid of explorers Lewis and Clark. With the coming of the railroads, cities such as Seattle, Tacoma, and Spokane grew rapidly, while other communities sprouted up around the state. From coal mining in King County and logging in the deep forests, to farming in the Palouse and fishing on the Columbia, everyday men and women attempted to carve a living.

With a selection of fine historic images from his best-selling book, Historic Photos of Washington State, Dale E. Soden provides a valuable and revealing historical retrospective on the growth and development of Washington State. Selected from several archival collections, these photographs include a number of images from two of Washington's best-known photographers, brothers Edward and Asahel Curtis. Published in striking black-and-white, Remembering Washington State reveals the history of what has become one of the most intriguing states in the nation.

With a selection of fine historic images from her bestselling book Historic Photos of Cincinnati, Linda Bailey provides a valuable and revealing historical retrospective on the growth and development of Cincinnati.

Before the emergence of the Midwestern industrial centers of Chicago and Kansas City, Cincinnati was the fastest-growing city in what was once considered the West. Throughout its history, Cincinnati’s leaders adapted to ever-changing economic forces. Today the city has a diverse collection of institutions that make it a vital cultural center.

This volume, Remembering Cincinnati, captures this journey in still photography from various collections in the archives of the Cincinnati Museum Center. The book follows life, government, education, and events spanning two centuries of Cincinnati’s history. It captures unique and rare scenes through the original lens of more than a hundred historic photographs. These images portray the events and people important to Cincinnati’s history and the building of a unique and prosperous city.

In 1766, Moravian settlers, most having migrated to the Crown colony of North Carolina from Pennsylvania, established the town of Salem. Over eight decades, Salem became a key transportation nexus for both east-west and north-south traffic, yet never lost its Moravian trappings. In 1849, North Carolina established Forsyth County and incorporated Winston as its county seat. In the aftermath of the Civil War, this virtually undamaged region of the state began a rapid period of industrial and economic development, spurred by the pungent aroma of Bright Leaf tobacco. Population growth accompanied prosperity, and in 1913, the towns merged into a single municipality: Winston-Salem.

In 2005, Winston-Salem boasted an estimated population of over 200,000, making it the fifth largest city in North Carolina. Its history is as diverse as the two towns from which it arose, one steeped in religious values and the other born from political expediency. This volume captures that diverse history in word and photographic image, a tribute to citizens, past and present, of the fine city of Winston-Salem.

Mobile’s long history includes joyous Mardi Gras celebrations and tragic natural disasters. Civil War and segregation, shipping and manufacturing, dirt streets, and booming wharves are part of its fascinating story. Cargo shipped to and from its busy docks gradually shifted from cotton to timber to bananas to manufactured goods. In World War II, its population grew exponentially as the city became an important shipbuilder for America’s arsenal.

With a selection of fine historic images from their best-selling book, Historic Photos of Mobile, Carol Ellis and Scotty E. Kirkland provide a valuable and revealing historical retrospective on the growth and development of Mobile. Remembering Mobile transports readers to a time of hoop skirts and horse-drawn carriages, then shows them how the city changed during the first half of the twentieth century. Timeless, black-and-white images capture historic colleges, family-owned shops, the longest American flag ever displayed, hurricane damage, social change, tall ships, and scenes of daily life in generations long gone.

By the late nineteenth century, the city of Raleigh was a vibrant cultural center of the Southeast. Through changing fortunes, the city has continued to grow and prosper by overcoming adversity and maintaining the strong, independent culture of its citizens.

With a selection of fine historic images from their best-selling Historic Photos of Raleigh-Durham, Dusty Wescott and Kenneth E. Peters provide a valuable and revealing historical retrospective on the growth and development of Raleigh. Remembering Raleigh captures this journey through still photography selected from the finest archives. From the city’s earliest days to recent times, Remembering Raleigh follows life, government, education, and events throughout the city’s history.

This volume captures unique and rare scenes through the lens of more than a hundred historic photographs. Published in vivid black-and-white, these images communicate historic events and everyday life of two centuries of people building a unique and prosperous city.

The 1950s, 60s, and 70s were defining moments in our nation’s history, and San Francisco was at the forefront of the avant-garde artistic, intellectual, and cultural movements of the time. The city gave rise to the most significant countercultural revolutions of the century, including the Beatniks of the 1950s, the hippies in the 1960s, and the gay rights movement in the 1970s. With a selection of fine historic images from her bestselling book Historic Photos of San Francisco in the 50s, 60s, and 70s, Rebecca Schall captures in this companion volume, Remembering San Francisco in the 50s, 60s, and 70s, the revolutionary and tumultuous spirit of these historic times in stunning black-and-white photography.

Bay breezes from the Gulf of Mexico sweep into this sparkling city by the sea. The sound of the wind, waves, and shore birds transport harmonic music to the ears of those who walk its beaches and parks. Corpus Christi, Texas, one of the most pristine coastal cities, lies at the mouth of the Nueces River, and from its humble beginnings as a simple nineteenth-century trading post, it has developed into a major city. Farming and ranching, the railroad, port, Naval Air Station, and the oil and gas industry have aided this city in realizing its growth potential.

With a selection of fine historic images from her best-selling book, Historic Photos of Corpus Christi, Cecilia Gutierrez Venable provides a valuable and revealing historical retrospective on the growth and development of Corpus Christi. Remembering Corpus Christi brings to life the evolution of this growing community through more than one hundred black-and-white photographs, drawn from a wide pool of topics to depict the history of the people, community, events, and businesses that have shaped this area. The rarely seen images gleaned from several archives provide a unique opportunity to peer into the past and discover the richness of this South Texas city.

Washington State has a rich history. Known for its stunning natural beauty and diversity, Washington was populated for centuries by a large number of Native American tribes. Explored by British sea captains in the late eighteenth century, the region was opened in the early nineteenth century with the aid of explorers Lewis and Clark.

With the coming of the railroads, cities such as Seattle, Tacoma, and Spokane grew rapidly, while other communities sprouted up around the state. From coal mining in King County and logging in the deep forests, to farming in the Palouse and fishing on the Columbia, everyday men and women attempted to carve a living.

Historic Photos of Washington State provides a compelling visual record of this past. Selected from several archival collections, these photographs include a number of images from two of Washington’s best-known photographers, brothers Edward and Asahel Curtis.

Published in striking black-and-white, these images reveal the history of what has become one of the most intriguing states in the nation.

The White House has undergone many changes through the years—some by blueprint, some by chance. Yet the building has always stood solid, each alteration becoming a part of its life experience. As office and residence of the president of the United States, the White House is uniquely tied to both the life of the nation and the private lives of the building’s occupants. Americans have approached its grounds for celebrations and demonstrations, for Easter Egg Rolls and the right to vote. Citizens have looked to the White House for leadership during times of the gravest national import, yet also to share in the joys and sorrows experienced by the families living there.

With a selection of fine historic images from their best-selling book Historic Photos of the White House, Emily J. and John S. Salmon provide a valuable and revealing historical retrospective on the growth and development of this national treasure. Remembering the White House contains more than 125 photographs taken between the years 1846 and 1973. They show scenes of presidential business, intimate family moments, public interaction, and various changes to the White House itself. Together, these images provide a fascinating view through history of an institution described as "the most famous and highly cherished building in the whole country.”

The birthplace of both the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution, Pennsylvania is steeped in history as deep as that of the United States as a whole. Founded by William Penn in 1682, Pennsylvania would see America’s first public protest against slavery, its first colonial constitution to ensure freedom of conscience, and a daguerreotype image of Philadelphia’s Central High School that remains the oldest known photograph taken anywhere in the United States. That landmark image is among the many highlights of Remembering Pennsylvania. With a selection of fine historic images from her best-selling book, Historic Photos of Pennsylvania, Laura E. Beardsley provides a valuable and revealing historical retrospective on the growth and development of Pennsylvania. Reproduced in vivid black-and-white, over 100 photos in this volume showcase Pennsylvania’s natural beauty, industrial might, and advances in education and the arts. Farmlands and waterfalls, coal mines and steel mills, museums and universities—all contribute to the tapestry that is Pennsylvania’s landscape and history. Most of all, the images in this collection pay tribute to the people who have made up Pennsylvania’s storied past, even as the state looks ahead to a hopeful future.

On January 30, 1892, on a field adjacent a small university’s quadrangle, just behind its New College, a mascot—the university goat—was paraded before approximately 1,500 spectators. The goat was followed by students rooting "Rah, rah, rah, ta Georgia!” for the school’s newly established athletic team. Football was about to be introduced at the University of Georgia in a contest against Mercer College. It was the first football game in the deep South.

Through hundreds of spectacular photographs, Historic Photos of University of Georgia Football recounts the first nine decades of one of the most storied college football programs in the nation, beginning with its inception nearly 120 years ago. Relive Georgia football’s mostly peaks and some valleys through its 1980 season, when mascot Uga III patrolled the sidelines, fans in red and black shouted "Go You Silver Britches!” and everyone marveled "How ’Bout Them Dawgs?” as the Bulldogs captured their first undisputed national championship.

West Point, New York, home of the United States Military Academy, is one of the nation’s most famous and unique landscapes. Established in 1802 to train engineer officers for the Army, West Point has for over 200 years produced many of the country’s greatest leaders, including Ulysses S. Grant, Dwight D. Eisenhower, George S. Patton, and Douglas A. MacArthur.

With a selection of fine historic images from their best-selling book, Historic Photos of West Point, Eugene J. Palka and Jon C. Malinowski provide a valuable and revealing historical retrospective on the development of West Point. With over 100 photos from the Library of Congress, National Archives, and the United States Military Academy, Remembering West Point shows the academy as it was from the mid-nineteenth to the mid-twentieth century. These black-and-white photos highlight special occasions, demolished and existing buildings, and cadets in class, during military training, and on the fields of friendly strife. This is West Point as you have never seen it.

Founded in 1906 in Gainesville as a consolidation of several smaller institutions focusing on agriculture, teacher training, and the military, the University of Florida enjoys a storied history. From its first year’s enrollment of 102, the school has grown to become one of the largest educational institutions in the country. As a world leader in the disciplines of engineering and science, the university conducts important research in agriculture and other fields and boasts a medical school with an international reputation. Sports fans cheer the Gators football team, which holds an unbroken string of winning seasons since 1988.

With a selection of fine historic images from his best-selling book Historic Photos of the University of Florida, Steve Rajtar provides a valuable and revealing historical retrospective on the growth and development of the university. Join Steve in this jaunt down memory lane as he revisits key moments, pivotal leaders, and important landmarks in the history of UF, from its origins in the nineteenth century to its progress in the mid twentieth. Remembering the University of Florida belongs in the library of every alum and all supporters of one of the nation’s leading public universities.

From its birth to the present, Tucson has consistently built and reshaped its appearance, ideals, and industry. Through changing fortunes, Tucson has continued to grow and prosper by overcoming adversity and maintaining the strong, independent culture of its citizens.

With a selection of fine historic images from his best-selling book Historic Photos of Tucson, Mike Speelman provides a valuable and revealing historical retrospective on the growth and development of the city. Remembering Tucson captures this journey through still photography selected from the finest archives. From its early days to recent times, Remembering Tucson follows life, government, education, and events throughout the city’s history.

This volume captures unique and rare scenes through the lens of more than a hundred historic photographs. Published in vivid black-and-white, these images communicate historic events and everyday life of two centuries of people building a unique and prosperous city.