The picturesque Gettysburg Battlefield has long been memorialized as an iconic landscape of America's national identity. The tumultuous Civil War battle and Abraham Lincoln's subsequent address transformed the country in profound ways that continue to echo throughout the ages. In the aftermath of the struggle, Gettysburg National Military Park was embraced by citizens not only as a shrine of commemoration but also as a public space utilized for leisure, education, politics, and discovery. ...

For over a century, Altoona, Pennsylvania, was a bustling industrial hotbed. The town thrived as a gem of the Pennsylvania Railroad, which constructed some 6,000 steam locomotives. However, like so many communities in the wake of World War II, Altoona struggled amidst deindustrialization and cultural shifts. The 1968 end of the Pennsylvania Railroad, a decreasing population, and a dying downtown slowly made the city a shadow of its former self. However, recent developments reveal potential...

Fans of Stephen E. Ambrose’s Band of Brothers will be drawn to this complex portrait of the controversial Ronald Speirs, an iconic commander of Easy Company during World War II, whose ferocious courage in three foreign conflicts was matched by his devotion to duty and the bittersweet passions of wartime romance.His comrades called him “Killer.” Of the elite paratroopers who served in the venerated “Band of Brothers” during...

Major Dick Winters of the 101st Airborne gained international acclaim when the tale of he and his men were depicted in the celebrated book and miniseries Band of Brothers. Hoisted as a modest hero who spurned adulation, Winters epitomized the notion of dignified leadership. His iconic World War II exploits have since been depicted in art and commemorated with monuments.Beneath this marble image of a reserved officer is the story of a common Pennsylvanian tested by the dail...

Fans of Stephen E. Ambrose’s Band of Brothers will be drawn to this complex portrait of the controversial Ronald Speirs, an iconic commander of celebrated Easy Company during D-Day and beyond, whose ferocious courage and drive across three wars were matched by a devotion to duty and a hidden heart shadowed by lost love.Fight Like You Mean to WinHis comrades called him “Killer.” Of the elite paratroopers who served in the venerated ...

Popular media can spark the national consciousness in a way that captures people’s attention, interests them in history, and inspires them to visit battlefields, museums, and historic sites. This lively collection of essays and feature stories celebrates the novels, popular histories, magazines, movies, television shows, photography, and songs that have enticed Americans to learn more about our most dramatic historical era.From Ulysses S. Grant’s Memoirs to Abraham Lin...

The compelling WWII correspondence of Major Dick Winters, commander of the Band of Brothers.Major Dick Winters of the 101st Airborne gained international acclaim when the tale of he and his men were depicted in the celebrated book and miniseries Band of Brothers. Hoisted as a modest hero who spurned adulation, Winters epitomized the notion of dignified leadership. His iconic World War II exploits have since been depicted in art and commemorated with monume...

One of the last great memoirs of World War II, Into the Cold Blue is a riveting account of the air war over Europe, when hell was four miles above the earth.A born daredevil, John Homan joined the Army Air Forces after the Pearl Harbor attack. By 1944, he was co-piloting a B-24 Liberator over Nazi Germany, raining death and destruction on the enemy. This first-person account of his harrowing missions—chronicling deadly flights through skies of red-hot flak...

In "Some Winter Days in Iowa," Frederick John Lazell presents a contemplative and evocative narrative that captures the stark beauty of Iowa's winter landscape. Through lyrical prose and vivid imagery, Lazell explores themes of solitude, resilience, and the interplay between nature and human experience. The text is imbued with a sense of introspection, as the author reflects on the quiet moments that define the winter season, masterfully interweaving autobiographical elements with broader ...

In "The Romance of the Colorado River," Frederick Samuel Dellenbaugh delivers a captivating account that intertwines exploration, adventure, and intricate depictions of the American West during the late 19th century. Dellenbaugh's lyrical prose evokes the majestic landscapes and the multifaceted experience of navigating the Colorado River, capturing both its perilous beauty and historical significance. Drawing on his firsthand experiences as a member of John Wesley Powell's 1869 expedition...

Welcome to this remastered best-of collection to showcase the highlights of the entire out-of-print Planetary Anthology series from Sol to Pluto and everything in between.Sol:Sundown And Out (David Hallquist)Let The Dead Bury Their Dead (Caroline Furlong)Mercury:The Mirror of Circe (John C. Wright)The Element of Transformation (L. Jagi Lamplighter)Venus:The Fox’s Fire (Danielle Ackley-McPhail)The Rocket Raising (Freder...

In early June 1863, the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia launched a summer campaign that brought horrific war to the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. In just over three days of cataclysmic battle, 51,000 individuals were killed, wounded, or captured. Although the fighting concluded by July 4, 1863, the struggle to recover continues to the present day. On November 19, 1863, the dedication of a new Soldiers National Cemetery marked a critical point in American history. From its concept...