Miami and Erie Canal, Ohio, Images of America, Paperback

Miami and Erie Canal, Ohio, Images of America, Paperback Travel through the history of Ohio’s historic canals and follow its growth throughout the years told with hundreds of photographs.In the 1800s, the United States was a nation obsessed with finding a form of transportation that was the fastest, cheapest, and most reliable; at the time, canals were the answer. Canals broke through vast, open countryside, forested woodlands, and rolling hills to expose the heart of the nation to development. They took passengers and goods off of dusty or muddy roads and delivered them to their destinations faster and cheaper than by any other means. From Toledo to Cincinnati, the Miami and Erie Canal provided western Ohio with that sorely needed waterway and became part of the 1,000 miles of Ohio canals contributing to the national network of canals. Today, with the help of government, corporations, and citizens, many parts of the Ohio canal system have been preserved or restored and can be visited and experienced. Watered sections of canal quietly reflect a bygone era and lead an explorer down the towpaths of history.

Canterbury, Connecticut, Images of America, Paperback

Canterbury, Connecticut, Images of America, Paperback Canterbury: The First 300 Years provides glimpses of the people, places, and events that have given this town on the west bank of the Quinebaug River a rich and interesting history-three hundred years of history. Beyond the well-known account of Prudence Crandall’s opening of New England’s first academy for young black women, and fellow citizen Andrew Judson’s efforts to close it down, are the stories of Moses Cleaveland, namesake of Cleveland, Ohio; Lillian Frink, one of the first women elected to the state legislature; and Benedict Arnold, Canterbury student and notorious traitor. Canterbury: The First 300 Years reveals a town of industrious businesspeople who have produced items as varied as textiles, fly-fishing rods, mast hoops, and rare orchids, and of farmers who have raised everything from potatoes to skunks.

Palmdale, California, Images of America, Paperback

Palmdale, California, Images of America, Paperback One of the nation’s fastest growing cities and a center for the aerospace and defense industries, Palmdale began in 1886 with the doomed colony of Palmenthal in a land plentiful with Joshua trees and jackrabbits but very little water. The gateway to the southern Antelope Valley, Palmdale has enjoyed a rich, diverse, and eventful history while resourceful pioneers created neighboring communities of unique character. Littlerock, a „pearadise,“ became the fruit basket for the Antelope Valley. Neil Armstrong, before becoming the first man to walk on the moon in 1969, resided in Juniper Hills. Pearblossom’s rustic landscape was ideal for early cowboy movies. The crumbling site of Llano del Rio is the location of perhaps the most important nonreligious utopian colony in Western American history. Valyermo owes its existence to the San Andreas Fault, and the Big Rock Creek area became known for Noah Beery Sr.’s Paradise Trout Club, a favorite rendezvous for many Hollywood movie stars and notables.

Conway, South Carolina, Images of America, Paperback

Conway, South Carolina, Images of America, Paperback Conway was established in 1732 as Kingston, the principal seat of Kingston Township, but was renamed in honor of local politician Robert Conway, who distinguished himself in war service under the heroic „Swamp Fox,“ Francis Marion, following the American Revolution. Situated where Kingston Lake joins the Waccamaw River, Conway was originally isolated by wetlands and developed slowly, primarily supported by subsistence farmers in surrounding Horry County. Lacking the tidal rivers of remaining coastal South Carolina, area residents harvested turpentine and timber, improved transportation via steamboats and trains, and cultivated tobacco and tourism as the 20th century spawned nearby Myrtle Beach. Today, Conway reveres its 1825 Robert Mills Courthouse anchoring a picturesque downtown highlighted by moss-draped live oaks and a Main Street bridge beckoning visitors to frequent festivals, live theatre, and a scenic river walk.

Bellevue, Kentucky, Images of America, Paperback

Bellevue, Kentucky, Images of America, Paperback A river town located on the banks of the Ohio, the city of Bellevue is nestled in Northern Kentucky among several small cities, including Newport, Dayton, and Fort Thomas. Bellevue became an independent city when its founders‘ petition to the Kentucky legislature for a charter was granted on March 15, 1870. At that time, there were only 380 people residing in Bellevue. In the years that followed, major religious and educational institutions were established, including Calgary Methodist Church in 1870, Sacred Heart Church in 1873, and the Bellevue Independent School District in 1871. Business and industry began to flourish in the early 1880s, especially along Fairfield Avenue, where at least 13 businesses had been established by 1882. Along with the growth of businesses and institutions, the Ohio River grew to become a very important part of Bellevue’s history. Offering countless opportunities for recreation, the Queen City Beach was considered the most popular freshwater beach in the region.

Point Reyes Peninsula, California, Images of America, Paperback

Point Reyes Peninsula, California, Images of America, Paperback The Point Reyes Peninsula has a rich history encompassing thriving Native American settlements, visits by Francis Drake and Spanish explorers, dramatic shipwrecks, Mexican rancheros, famous dairy farms, railroads, and one of the country’s most spectacular lighthouses. These historical facets spawned the three small towns of Olema, Point Reyes Station, and Inverness; each is unique with its own distinctive foundations. Most of the land is now within Point Reyes National Seashore, a refuge created during the Kennedy administration and now one of the more popular destinations on the California coast. The unique geography of the forest, bay, and ocean environments and the abundant wildlife in Point Reyes offers fine scenery, diverse recreational opportunities, and good food and lodging, while the towns retain their old-time character.

Elk County, Pennsylvania, Images of America, Paperback

Elk County, Pennsylvania, Images of America, Paperback Elk County, located in the scenic Allegheny Mountains of north-central Pennsylvania, is named and known for the wild, free-roaming elk herd that has become a valuable source of tourism. Sportsmen are attracted to this hunting and fishing paradise, which includes the Allegheny National Forest and the headwaters of the Susquehanna River system. Camping and canoeing entice visitors to the natural beauty of this wilderness setting. Elk County is a worldleader in the fields of carbon and powdered metallurgy. A modern paper mill enriches the local economy, and thousands of people each year visit the Chainsaw Carvers Rendezvous, which is part of theLumber Heritage Region of Pennsylvania. The historic photographs featured in Elk County illustrate the industry, character, and faith of the county’s residents from pioneer spirit to present progress through the wealth of its vibrant and enduring communities.

New Orleans, Louisiana, Images of America, Paperback

New Orleans, Louisiana, Images of America, Paperback See how New Orleans became a place where several cultures met and blended to create a city and lifestyle unlike any in the United States.Few cities boast a heritage as rich and a local color as dynamic as that of New Orleans, which is known around the world for its unique architecture, exquisite cuisine, flamboyant celebrations, and exotic peoples. Founded in 1718 as a backwater outpost of France, New Orleans was the catalyst for the greatest land deal in the history of the world, the Louisiana Purchase. Discover in these pages what made one city so appealing that one-third of the continental United States was purchased in order to obtain it. Images of the old city streets and such well-known districts as the French Quarter reveal the charm and mystery of New Orleans, and are complimented by informative and historical captions. A virtual tour of the city, New Orleans provides readers with a glimpse into the past and preserves the images of landmarks that have vanished. A scrapbook of memories for longtime residents of the city, this unique pictorial history will also be embraced by the millions of visitors who are captivated by the Crescent City.

Bemiston, Alabama, Images of America, Paperback

Bemiston, Alabama, Images of America, Paperback Built in 1928, the mill town known as Bemiston was a development of the Bemis Brothers Bag Company. This village was built as a model city and boasted all-cement sidewalks and paved streets, which was an unheard-of feature in the late 1920s. The 700,000-square-foot bag plant, which was the center of the community, took almost two years to build due to the lack of electric tools or cranes. Therefore, mules equipped with scoops were given the arduous task of moving the mounds of earth to facilitate construction of this vast plant. Bemiston had its own general store, fire department, and medical office with nurses around the clock. It also had its own electric system, water department, and garbage collection. The community building was the center of social life, and residents spent many hours socializing there. The town was known as a good place to raise children and enjoy family life.