The history of Galveston is the history of Texas. Beyond that, it is the history of the European colonization of the New World. Galveston has seen cannibalistic Indians, Spanish conquistadors, explorers, filibusters, pirates and their treasure, ship wrecks, Civil War battles, yellow fever epidemics and survived all these to become the leading city in Texas in both population and commerce during the mid and late 19th Century. The heroes of the Alamo and San Jacinto have walked her streets. ...

Victorian Texas Courthouses have been called the “architectural treasures of the state”. Although they have a number of characteristics in common, such as the use of wrought iron, stained-glass, towers, turrets, and gingerbread, the architecture of the Victorian Era was not just one style but a collection of many styles. Coinciding with these architectural styles in Texas was the “golden age” of courthouse design and construction. The Victorian styles fit perfectly with the public’s idea o...

Explore the mystery and beauty of historic ghost towns from Illinois to California with this gorgeously illustrated guide to America's favorite highway.The quintessential boom-and-bust highway of the American West, Route 66 once hosted a thriving array of boom towns built around oil wells, railroad stops, cattle ranches, resorts, stagecoach stops, and gold mines. Join Route 66 expert Jim Hinckley as he tours more than twenty-five ghost towns, rich in stories and his...

"William C. Davis's Three Roads to the Alamo is far and away the best account of the Alamo I have ever read. The portraits of Crockett, Bowie, and Travis are brilliantly sketched in a fast-moving story that keeps the reader riveted to the very last word." — Stephen B. OatesThree Roads to the Alamois the definitive book about the lives of David Crockett, James Bowie and William Barret Travis—the legendary frontiersmen and fighters who met their des...

A traveler's guide to ghost towns and historic villages of Arizona and New Mexico, featuring maps, historical background, and color photos.The Southwest is home to an enticing array of ghost towns and historic villages. Once-bustling mining camps, frontier towns, and railroad towns stand today as reminders of the glory days of mining and the Wild West. Historic buildings, abandoned schoolhouses, old mills, and overgrown cemeteries offer fascinating glimpses into the...

2020 Philosophical Society of Texas Nonfiction Book Prize2019 Nonfiction Book Award Finalist, Writers’ League of Texas2021 Citation from the San Antonio Conservation Society"Harrigan, surveying thousands of years of history that lead to the banh mi restaurants of Houston and the juke joints of Austin, remembering the forgotten as well as the famous, delivers an exhilarating blend of the base and the ignoble, a very human story indeed. [ Bi...

“Riveting...A great read, full of colorful characters and outrageous confrontations back when the west was still wild.” —George R.R. MartinA propulsive and panoramic history of one of the most dramatic stories never told—the greatest railroad war of all time, fought by the daring leaders of the Santa Fe and the Rio Grande to seize, control, and create the American West.It is difficult to imagine now, but for all its gorgeous scenery, the Am...

Billy the Kid spent part of his youth in Santa Fe in the 1870s.~ What was New Mexico's territorial capital like in Billy's day?~ How did Santa Fe's frontier character and its Hispanic culture shape the development of this future desperado?~ What other residents did Billy encounter who would figure significantly in later chapters of his brief life?~ And how did Billy spend his days and his nights as a youngster in Santa Fe? Did he ice skate? . . . play baseball?...

You are holding a ticket to one of the largest and most magnificent celebrations of all time -- the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair!For seven months nearly twenty million visitors from around the globe flooded the fairgrounds of Forest Park. Many explored the twelve mammoth palaces (made of plaster and horsehair!), which showcased amazing exhibits. Others enjoyed watching the first Olympic Games in the United States, keeping cool all summer with a new treat that became an instant hit -...

Praise for KINGS OF TEXAS"Kings of Texas is a fresh and very welcome history of the great King Ranch. It's concise but thorough, crisply written, meticulous, and very readable. It should find a wide audience."-Larry McMurtry, author of Sin Killer and the Pulitzer Prize--winning Lonesome Dove"This book is about the King Ranch, but it is about much more than that. A compelling chronicle of war, peace, love, betrayal, birth, and death in the region where the Texas-Mexic...

This edition in the Historical Cities series explores landmarks and sites within the city of San Francisco. Over 50 sites are divided into the east and west side of the northern end of the Peninsula. Maps and GPS coordinates are included.

There is no better way to see America than on foot. And there is no better way to appreciate what you are looking at than with a walking tour. Whether you are preparing for a road trip or just out to look at your own town in a new way, a downloadable walking tour is ready to explore when you are.Each walking tour describes historical and architectural landmarks and provides pictures to help out when those pesky street addresses are missing. Every tour also includes a quick primer o...