Pictorials category: 9720 books

From the inauspicious beginnings in 1884 of a town named Bug, the two communities of Sedro and Woolley grew together, consolidated in 1898 by a lifeline of three railways: the Seattle & Northern, Seattle & International, and Fairhaven & Southern. Nestled in the beautiful Skagit Valley, Sedro-Woolley...

Captured here in over 200 vintage images is a photographic documentation of a section of America that was all but uninhabitable until the late 1800s. Before that time, the area was the home of a few scattered Native American bands and traditional eastern Washington desert wildlife: sagebrush, rattlesnakes,...

The Thousand Islands' very name conjures up images of great natural beauty and nautical wonders. They are forested islands replete with storybook stone castles. Exquisite mahogany runabouts can be seen speeding across the placid surface of the mighty St. Lawrence. Names like Boldt, Bourne, Emery,...

From prairie to river�s edge, the Pierre and Fort Pierre area resounds with historical adventure. Visited in 1743 by French explorers�the Verendrye brothers�and by Lewis and Clark in 1804, Fort Pierre was established as a significant fur trading post in 1817 and served briefly as a military fort...

Rugged individuals armed with hand tools, sweat, and ambition began building covered bridges in Oregon during the mid-1850s. These bridge builders often camped out at remote sites, living off the land or contracting with local farmers for food. Early owners of covered bridges financed construction by...

The boots a passenger had on when his plane landed on the Hudson River. The tank top Andy Warhol’s assistant wore to one of their nightclub outings together. The jacket a taxi driver put on to feel safe as he worked the night shift.  — These and over sixty other clothing-inspired narratives...

The history of rock music in Milwaukee began at an age when some musicians played in a segregated part of the city. At the same time, a young singer named Buddy Holly kicked off a tour that ended with a plane crash in Iowa 11 days later. The following years brought the Beatles, Rolling Stones, and the...

Starting with a few songs and a dream in 1943, King Records�a leading American independent�launched musical careers from a shabby brick factory on Brewster Avenue in Cincinnati�s Evanston neighborhood. Founder Sydney Nathan recorded country singers Cowboy Copas, Hawkshaw Hawkins, Wayne Raney, and...

The Garden District of New Orleans has enthralled residents and visitors alike since it arose in the 1830's with its stately white-columned Greek Revival mansions and double-galleried Italianate houses decorated with lacy cast iron. Photographer West Freeman evokes the romance of this elegant neighborhood...

Enslaved Africans and free people of color of Louisiana deserve the title of �Founding Fathers� just as much as the French, the Spanish, and the Americans. In spite of their subjugated role as slaves, African Americans of Louisiana, and subsequently New Orleans, were contributors to the success of...

Louisiana's famous Cajun Country is a place where today's travelers can still experience the rich heritage and traditions that began in the eighteenth century. From foodways and folktales to music and festivals, Acadiana offers something you can't get anywhere else. Journey through this historic and...

In the late 1890s, the Blue Ridge Parkway was envisioned by many as a great getaway and nature preserve. The concept materialized in the early 20th century, when John D. Rockefeller donated the first $5 million to begin purchasing land for the project. Located at the top of the great Appalachian ridges,...

Native Americans used Okwata, meaning �wide water,� as a shortcut for inland trade between the Gulf of Mexico and the Mississippi River. When the Europeans arrived, the original inhabitants showed them the route�the settlement near the river became the city of New Orleans, other lakeshore communities...

Within these pages are vintage postcards, created between 1900 and 1950, that depict an area known across the country as Kentucky�s Bluegrass. From its horse farms to its military forts and river commerce, this seventeen county region exemplifies the spirit and pride of Kentucky, and the images preserved on these postcards bring the history of this unique area to life.